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Dead Lucky

Dead Lucky

2018Miniseries1 season4 episodes~60 min/epTV-14Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

Two feuding detectives hunt down a cop-killer who leaves a trail of broken lives across Sydney.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Dead Lucky?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Dead Lucky streaming on Acorn TV via Prime Video, AMC+, Pluto TV (free), The Roku Channel (free) and Tubi (free) and to rent or buy on Prime Video.

Rent / Buy

Buy

Reception

Is Dead Lucky worth watching?

Dead Lucky's Midcredits score is the 41st percentile of all shows, from 1.3K ratings across 2 sources. 67% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

41st percentile

Better received than 41% of shows

32nd percentile among Crime39th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)39th
Approval (how many liked it)44th

Acclaim

Mixed: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

68 /100

39th percentile of all shows

34th percentile among Crime38th percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.9 — solid but not unanimous.

Approval

How many liked it

67% liked it

44th percentile of all shows

32nd percentile among Crime42nd percentile among 2010s
67% rated it 7–1033% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

51st percentile

1.3K ratings across platforms

30th percentile among Crime56th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 2% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Fans praised

  • Twisty plot with unexpected turns
  • Strong cast chemistry especially Griffiths and An
  • Authentic Sydney setting and cinematography

Detractors panned

  • Wooden acting and terrible accents
  • Cliched script with forced plot twists
  • One-dimensional characters and weak direction

What stands out

CinematographyDivisive70

Sydney backdrops praised; some call it ugly or stale

AtmosphereDivisive55

Gritty Sydney vibe praised by fans; detractors see no credibility

ActingDivisive50

Polarized; Griffiths praised as standout but detractors call performances wooden

Plot and storyDivisive50

Twists praised by fans, panned as contrived and predictable by detractors

PacingDivisive50

Fans say solid momentum; critics find slow and uneven

OriginalityDivisive40

Fans see fresh multicultural angle; detractors call it formulaic

CharactersDivisive35

Fans enjoy Grace/Charlie partnership; critics call one-dimensional and symbolic

Dialogue30

Derided as cliched and unrealistic

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 2 points apart
  • US vs non-US 3 points apart

Episodes

1 season

Season 1 · 2018 · 4 episodes

  • S1E1

    Episode 1

    Jul 25, 201854 min
  • S1E2

    Episode 2

    Aug 1, 201852 min
  • S1E3

    Episode 3

    Aug 8, 201853 min
  • S1E4

    Episode 4

    Aug 15, 201854 minFinale

Watch experience

What is Dead Lucky like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, dark and charged — an even-paced watch that leaves you thinking.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
TenseDread
Heaviest: middle
Register
Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.SerializedSingle-season story
ToneA gritty police thriller played straight, with a brooding atmosphere and a serious tone.
The rideThe manhunt maintains a consistent tension, with dread building as the robber resurfaces.
StructureConventional chronological chase narrative across four episodes.
Episode formatA 4-episode limited series telling one continuous manhunt story.
Season formatOne season, concluded, telling a complete story.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Thought-provokingUnsettling
Why it leaves you this wayThe complexities of the crime and the exploitation of international students leave a lingering unease and provoke reflection.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterPredator
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18% (this title): Predator 7% (this title) · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Predator: A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).

18% of shows fit this archetype

Why this archetypeTwo detectives pursue a serial armed robber through Sydney; their personal connections to the case add pressure.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfJusticeMorality
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11% (this title): Justice 14% (this title) · Duty 2% (this title) · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% (this title) · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Morality

Justice · 14% of showsSurvival · 12% of showsDuty · 2% of shows
Observes its theme: Presents its theme neutrally, declining to judge.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe central drive is capturing a violent criminal, exploring the pressure on police to deliver justice while protecting the public.
StanceThe series follows the police's pursuit of justice, presenting it as a professional duty observed rather than celebrated or critiqued.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanRealistic
Orchestral modernSupportive music · original score · Michael Yezerski
SettingSydney, Australia
MusicLikely a tense, atmospheric score typical of crime thrillers.

Content guide

Is Dead Lucky okay for kids?

TV-14

Dead Lucky is rated TV-14. As of August 29, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its language at moderate (57/100). It has too few votes to rank yet.

Ratings in 2 other countries
  • Canada14+
  • AustraliaM
Overall
needs 3 or more scored categories
not ranked
Profanity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
too few votes to rank (7 votes)

Overall standing needs at least three scored categories; this title has 1.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Dead Lucky have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Dead Lucky?

Cast

Rachel Griffiths
as Grace Gibbs
Yoson An
as Charlie Fung
Mojean Aria
as Mani Dalir
Ian Meadows
as Corey Baxter
Rhys Muldoon
as Richard
Anna Samson
as Anna Jamison
Xana Tang
as Bo-Lin
Matt Nable
as Matt O'Reilly
Sara West
as Leah Baxter
Aldo Mignone
as Eduardo Torres

Crew

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