bob the moo Nick Atwater and his gang of professional thieves have just completed another successful robbery for agent Roselyn Moore, however a rare moment of greed saw them take money they found as well as their target. Unfortunately for them this money is the property of the Chinese mob and, although Roselyn gives the money back as soon as she learns of this – the Chinese still intend to have them all killed to send a message. Meanwhile Nick has two very immediate problems – one of the gang has started messing up due to heavy drug use and his step-daughter is in trouble with the police herself. Neither problem in itself is insurmountable but with the Chinese, a crooked cop and a personal tragedy, things suddenly get infinitely more difficult.As a Homicide: Life on the Street fan, I was looking forward to seeing Thief when it came to the UK but managed to not notice its arrival on Sky until it was too late. Having spent ages waiting for a DVD release that never came I managed to get in touch with someone in the US who recorded it off TV for me (thank you!). This hadn't hyped it up for me but I was hoping that it would be good. The plot is solid from the start and I was engaged, thinking that this was going to be a fast paced six episodes. On the contrary though, the mini-series moved surprisingly slow and I'm not totally convinced that it had the depth to enable it to do so. I hate to always bring it into my reviews, but The Wire springs to mind – a slow pace but every hour is rammed with material and "action".Thief cannot compete on this level but it does still work for what it is. The crime plot is good but it doesn't all fit together as well as I think was the intension; the main heist is engaging enough but the Chinese mob and crooked cop bits don't really fit. It also ends rather abruptly as well – so I'm not sure if originally the writers were hoping for more episodes to try and run everything equally and dove-tail more effectively. What does work as part of the heist plot is the family material with Nick and his stepdaughter Tammi. I am used to seeing this sort of material be an afterthought – perhaps even a cynical attempt to wider the viewer demographic but neither of these appears to have been the case with Thief. Although not perfect in itself, this material does strengthen the story and make it more engaging than a straight heist series. However none of these things would have worked as well if it had not been for the single biggest asset in the series – Braugher.Of course I can be accused of bias since he was the reason I came to the show, but he did not disappoint. He lifts the material with a performance that is brooding at times, broken at others and, most importantly, he makes Nick convincing and real and goes beyond just being the character that each specific scene requires. I'm not describing it very well but at no point did he seem to be flicking a switch to act different things – it all seemed to just be the same person in different moments. He dominates the cast for this reason but the others do still do their bits well. Whitman is not perfect here but she benefits from working with Braugher – her character is annoying at times but her performance is good (and a nice surprise for this Arrested Development fan). Arias, Collins, Yoba and Yun Lee, Kim, Hamilton and Hall are all solid in support but Rooker is a disappointment. His character seemed incidental but was somehow pushed forward as a main one – his bits distract more than they add and his performance doesn't produce anything to improve this situation.Thief may not have been as good as I would have liked but it is still a solid, if slow mini-series. Attempts to vary what it is about are worthy even if some parts of it feel out of place or laboured but ultimately it still engages thanks to the usual high-quality work from Andre Braugher in the lead role.

Al Navarro Got home late last night from work, just to correct the Tivo from missing the last episode of "Thief" due to a May channel lineup change by our cable company.So glad I did, because now I have all 6 episodes to watch over the summer. I've been a big fan of Andre Braugher since "Homicide" (and Shakespeare in the Park!) and was very excited when this show was announced. Neat that Yancey Arias posted here (no reason to believe it was not him, right?) Yancey is a dashing actor who reminds me (and I'm sure many casting directors) of a younger Benjamin Bratt.While I admit to have been taken aback by the cursing and violence on a network show (I'm a 30 something dad of two young kids), and by a lot of the darkness that pervades even the "good" characters in "Thief", it's this last element that made watching the series so appealing to watch from start to finish. Unlike more commercial shows, things in "Thief" aren't so black and white.Which brings me back to the finale. I really appreciated the way each member of the team had to find their own way, and each was not exactly what you might expect. Gabo did not get miraculously cured by the older ex-con who "helped" the team and took in Tammi. (Say it ain't so Yancey!) Malik Yoba's character got nabbed (partially due to his need to be constantly on the phone with his wife after the job). Jack looks like he gets away relatively scott-free, but not with what he really wants, his church-going girl to build a new life together with his share of the take. And Nick, well, as a father of two girls, I understood his choice.So, while things were wrapped up well enough in the finale, it wasn't the "Let's all go build great new lives in an anonymous Mediterrean or Caribbean town" that you got in Oceans 11, The Bourne Identity, or might in other TV dramas. I wonder, even if the demand as there, how they'd build another season out of the loose ends of the finale. Even if they don't, the six episodes of "Thief" stand as great storytelling and greater TV.

blueandgold9 Over here in England we are awaiting episode three. Have to say I am hooked big time and its great to see one of my favourite actors Andre Baugher back on the screens.Homicide. Life on the streets was this guy. Pembelton was/is A God!! A strong actor who is vastly under rated.Long may this show thrive,and please please don't kill the f**king thing off like they have done with another of your cracking shows after one series "Over There"Thanks US for another top notch t.v show.Keep the faith

yancey-3 Most of the people who posted here really understand the dynamics of this kind of show. I can tell we have some real promising fans for the show already. For those of you who aren't as enthusiastic as the millions of other viewers thats to be expected. Every one has different tastes. I can tell you this- that given the chance this show will prove to be a very compelling and exciting show to watch every week. This coming from an actor who is in the show and has a biased opinion. I'm honest, and I can proudly say that by the end of 6 episodes you will be left wanting more.I'm Yancey Arias I play Gabo AKA Gabriel. I want to share with all of you some details about each episode without giving too much in the future Episodes. The first episode was meant to establish the intense pace and risky conditions of which these guys must work and live in to pull off a score. In the whirl wind of the storm people get hurt and relationships are forged and broken. The second episode begins to tell you how those relationships are affected by what happened in episode one. In each future episode you will get to know each character much more intimately. It is also the introduction of the biggest most daring heist that will go down in the air and on the ground. So episodes 3 and 4 will involve all the challenges that could possibly come up in order to plan such a score. The noose gets tighter around each characters neck, and the body count will increase by the end of all 6 episodes. Who will it be? Well you'll have to watch wont ya.;)Episodes 5 and 6 is the Big Bang and the score is in full effect!!!! But you cant miss episode 3 and 4 simply because you wont feel the impact as hard. Follow the journey my friends. Trust me; Andre and the rest of us will keep you fully entertained in all the episodes. So you don't want to miss anything, All of your questions will be answered by the end, and you will be completely enthralled by the shows quality at all levels. Just give this show a chance the way you gave "THE SHIELD" and "NIP TUCK" a chance. Tell all your friends to watch. The Reviews are awesome. More people need to watch this great show. I'm not just saying this cause I'm in the show. I happen to love movies such as Heat, Oceans 11, Colateral, and Ronin. If your like me then you'll be all into our show "THIEF". Every Tuesday Nights at 10pm on FX. If you have (Dish Network) then it's on at 7pm Pacific 10pm eastern. You can Also go to FXnetworks site and visit our THIEF message Board write in and express your support. A good old fashion letter to the FX studio to express your support is always welcomed. Many Blessings to all of you.Yancey Arias