Suranne Jones’ daring ITV thriller packs a punch but falls short of perfection

Jodie Whittaker and Suranne Jones have electric chemistry in ITV’s new thriller, Frauds, and it is the show’s saving grace.

It’s hard to go far wrong when two of Britain’s best actors go toe-to-toe in a heated heist drama that delves into messy friendship, the existentialism of legacy and just how destructive the thrill of the chase can be.

And that’s just the first three episodes.

Co-created by the Hostage star and Maryland’s Anne Marie O’Connor, the show hinges on the toxic relationship between the newly by-the-book Sam (Jodie), with plenty of rage simmering away under the cool facade and Bert (Suranne), whose reckless attitude has increased only tenfold after a ten-year stint in prison. 

Freshly reunited, the lightfooted duo must prepare and execute their biggest heist yet, but the logistics of the theft are far from their biggest problem.

The pair of tricksters must reckon with all the ways they’ve grown apart over the past decade – and see if the spark that keeps their criminal alliance alive is still there.

The premise of a heist with plenty of obstacles in the way is hardly a new one, but there’s something exhilarating about watching two women in their 40s take the reins and make the genre their own – along with all the nuance that middle-aged womanhood comes with and none of the testosterone. 

This refreshing change of pace, effortlessly helmed by our two lead stars, and supported by a delightful ensemble cast filled with kooky characters of all shapes and sizes, is enough appeal alone to give the show a try. 

Frauds takes a gamble in its opening episode and, instead of hitting the ground running with a pacey heist-driven plot, it decides to ground viewers in the beating heart of the show – the friendship between Bert and Sam. 

So, instead of plunging straight into high-stakes theft, we really cut to the bone of what makes this Thelma and Louise-style couple tick – and why we should even be rooting for them in the first place. 

Although it does risk losing some of the audience’s interest, ultimately, it is one that pays off as we dive headfirst into the rest of the season. 

Of course, while it does make some fun, unconventional plotting decisions to set it apart from other heist dramas, it also has plenty of the tropes we know and love as we watch Sam and Bert scheme and hoodwink their way across Spain.

Frankly, it’s a hoot.

Where the series falls short, however, is the times when Suranne and Jodie’s acting prowess has to make up for somewhat clunky dialogue, occasionally filled with ineloquent exposition and unnatural repartee.

And, although having time with the characters in the first episode grounds the whole show, the pacing starts to wildly fluctuate as the season progresses.

In certain scenes, it felt all at once as though we’re skipping through major, story-altering plot points and, at times, like you want to hurry the scenes along just slightly to move our characters forward.

All in all, our two stars portray an endearing friendship that will keep you coming back for more if only to see what will fall apart first – them or the heist.

Frauds airs tonight on ITV1 at 9pm.

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