Dope Thief kicks off with Ray (Brian Tyree Henry) and Manny (Wagner Moura), childhood friends who decide to pose as DEA agents to rob drug dealers. Right off the bat, the first two episodes do a solid job of setting the stage for some high-energy, emotional drama.
Brian Tyree Henry is perfect as Ray. He brings a lot of depth to his character, making you care about his journey even when things get crazy. And then there’s Wagner Moura, who plays Manny—he’s got this fun, dynamic energy that balances things out nicely. Their chemistry on-screen is pretty fire.
By the time we meet Manny and Ray, they’ve already hit up pretty much every small-time drug dealer in Philly, and now they’re ready to level up. They bring in Rick, a sketchy ex-con who Ray knows from prison, which is just one part of Ray’s backstory that we get a glimpse of through some quick black-and-white flashbacks. We also learn about Theresa, Ray’s unofficial adoptive mom. She’s tough but cares about him, and she basically took Ray in after his dad got hit with a long prison sentence.
The show’s direction by Ridley Scott gives it this cinematic feel that pulls you into the gritty streets of Philly. There’s a good mix of action and quieter, character-building moments, which makes you invested in their crime-fueled chaos.
That said, the tone switches between super intense and kind of goofy, which can throw you off. But honestly, the performances from Henry and Moura make it worth the watch.
On the flip side, there are real DEA agents like Mina, who Rick almost kills after shooting her. There's also this shady Boston-based kingpin who starts closing in on Ray and Manny once they swipe millions in cash and liquid meth. After Rick messes up big time, Manny and Rick’s lack of experience really starts to show, but they’re desperate, so they take off. Manny and Ray have no idea what they’re actually up against... they just grab the cash and make a run for it.
All in all, the first two episodes of Dope Thief are a pretty solid start. It’s fresh, exciting, and the two lead actors really carry it.
The first two episodes of Dope Thief are out now on AppleTV+, with further episodes dropping on Fridays.
