Heists can be incredibly cinematic. Look through the history of film and TV, and you will find some great examples of just how thrilling they can be; Michael Mann‘s Heat and the opening sequence to Christopher Nolan‘s The Dark Knight are prime examples. Hell, even the Halloween Heist episodes of the hilarious Brooklyn Nine-Nine are always a treat to sit through on a rewatch. There’s something about them, whether it be the planning, the execution or the aftermath, and 12 12 12 does a fine job in keeping you on your toes through all three stages.

The series follows three separate stages surrounding a heist in Zurich: the 12 months of planning leading up to the heist, the 12 hours during the heist itself, and the 12 days following the heist. Each stage opens a window into those involved and so begins an enthralling game of cat and mouse across Europe.

What Jim Keeble and Dudi Appleton have created here has the potential to be incredibly confusing, with the three different timelines on the go at once with a non-linear narrative full of, as you’d expect, plenty of twists and turns. With each narrative shift, it’s made clear as to which timeline we are in, at what exact moment, in a fashion that reminded me very much of how 24 used to display the time of day in its episodes. It may sound simple, but it really does help stop the series from becoming a convoluted mess.

Each of the three timelines is as slick as the other; the planning is meticulous, the heist not going without a hitch or two, and the aftermath being as tense as you’d expect. The team of writers do a great job in fitting it all together, the jump from one time to another always feeling relative to what came before, by choice rather than random, thankfully. Even with three directors working on the series, every episode possesses the same style and pacing, whether it be trying to crack into a safe or facing an avalanche. Kari Skogland is the most present, with four episodes in her name, and she bookends the series with a strong pilot and finale to boot.

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There’s definitely a suspension of disbelief that has to be present when watching because, even if the series tries to feel grounded, there’s always something around the corner that will make you second-guess logic. It’s all part of the fun, though, trying to guess what convenient plot point may come along next to help either side of the law.

Anthony Mackie and Jamie Dornan lead the series, reuniting after their work together on the underrated Synchronic, and they both bring their high level of charisma to proceedings. Mackie is FBI Agent Jack Strickland, determined to catch those responsible at any cost, while Dornan is Paul Galvin, a criminal mastermind as elusive as they come. There’s more than meets the eye to both characters, and they share a history that makes the dynamic far more interesting, with their scenes together being highlights of the series. The rest of the cast makes this such a thrilling watch too, Agathe Rousselle and Jack Kesy in particular, as characters close to Galvin make their mark.

While 12 12 12 doesn’t rank amongst the best in the genre, it’s a crime thriller that provides plenty of entertainment and two actors with tons of screen presence to make this a captivating watch from start to finish.

★★★★

Streaming from November 13 on Apple TV / Anthony Mackie, Jamie Dornan, Jack Kesy, Kali Reis, Agathe Rousselle / Showrunners: Jim Keeble and Dudi Appleton / Apple TV