TV
DOPE THIEF
THE DRUGS DON’T WORK
DEA(d) man Ray (Brian Tyree Henry).
★★★★
OUT NOW (APPLE TV+) / EPISODES VIEWED 8 OF 8
SHOWRUNNER Peter Craig
CAST Brian Tyree Henry, Wagner Moura, Kate Mulgrew, Marin Ireland
PLOT Two Philly felons inadvertently rip off a major drug operation, putting them on the wrong side of a cartel, a gang of bikers, and the cops.
DOPE THIEF OPENS with a bang. Two DEA agents storm a stash-house in Philadelphia, subdue the suspects, control the room and carry out a thorough search of the premises, turning up both narcotics and cash. The operation is efficient, detailed and by the numbers. “Just because we’re not real law enforcement,” insists Ray (Brian Tyree Henry), “doesn’t mean we’re not professional.” Manny (Wagner Moura) and Ray bring home the bacon by posing as federal agents and ripping off small-time dealers. The pair see it as a low-risk, moderate-reward hustle that doubles as public service —a benevolent cull, if you will, only of crankheads’ pocket money instead of badgers. The scam goes tits up when they strike it (un)lucky with a huge haul of cash at what turns out to be a cartel-backed meth lab catering to tweakers up and down the entire East Coast.