Apple TV’s new heist series “12 12 12” divides one Swiss bank robbery across three timelines, but Tom’s Guide’s review says the format does not fully distinguish the show from the crime thrillers that came before it. The outlet gives the series a rating of 3 out of 5 stars.
The first two episodes premiered Friday, Nov. 13, on Apple TV. New episodes are scheduled to arrive Fridays. The season runs for eight episodes and follows a professional criminal and the police officer pursuing him, played by Jamie Dornan and Anthony Mackie.
A familiar formula with a divided timeline
Created by Jim Keeble and Dudi Appleton, “12 12 12” builds its structure around a statistic introduced at the start of each episode. The premise says a major professional heist takes 12 months to plan, 12 hours to carry out and 12 days to solve before the thieves avoid capture permanently.
The series uses those three time spans as separate narrative tracks. Tom’s Guide says onscreen graphics make it relatively easy to identify where viewers are in the story, despite the possibility of confusion created by following the same characters and robbery across different periods. The review describes the structure as more distracting than transformative, because it often draws attention away from the basic mechanics of the heist.
- Platform: Apple TV
- Premiere: Friday, Nov. 13, with two episodes
- Schedule: New episodes Fridays
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars from Tom’s Guide
Performances carry the series
Tom’s Guide’s review identifies Dornan and Mackie as the show’s central strengths. Dornan plays the criminal at the center of the robbery, while Mackie portrays the police officer attempting to stop him. The outlet says both actors effectively anchor the series and give it enough momentum to remain entertaining even when the storytelling device begins to slow the season.
The review also credits the production with polished action, expensive-looking locations and a fast-moving presentation. At the same time, Tom’s Guide says the show offers limited character development. The outlet describes “12 12 12” as a conventional heist thriller with stylish execution rather than a reinvention of the genre.
Momentum becomes less consistent
Tom’s Guide says the eight-episode length creates a challenge for a story focused on one crime. As the season progresses, the review finds that the pace loses force, particularly when later episodes fill in events viewers have already watched from another timeline.
