Ozark Creator’s Grittiest Crime Thriller Yet Just Dropped on Peacock
Four years after Ozark ended, creator Bill Dubuque returns with a new nine-episode crime thriller at Peacock, as the streamer doubles down on its crime slate led by Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
Peacock just pulled Ozark creator Bill Dubuque back into the crime sandbox with a new nine-episode revenge series, M.I.A. If you remember how Ozark wrapped four years ago and wondered what Dubuque would do next, here you go: all nine episodes hit Peacock on May 7, built for a straight-through binge. And because this is a very network move, NBC will also air the pilot on May 14 at 10 p.m. ET to give it an extra push.
The setup
This one is bloody and personal. Shannon Gisela plays Etta 'Tiger' Jonze, a young woman in the Florida Keys whose family and their drug-running operation get wiped out. She heads into Miami’s neon- soaked underworld to find the people who did it and make them pay. Expect fast-paced chases, gunfights, and a lot of very bad decisions made with total commitment.
Who is making this thing
Dubuque is back as creator for the first time since Ozark, with Karen Campbell (Dexter) running the show. It fits right into Peacock’s crime lineup alongside long-running staples like NBC’s Law & Order: SVU and originals like Poker Face. In other words, they know the lane, and this slots in cleanly.
Early word
No Rotten Tomatoes scores yet. First reactions from critics are mixed-to-positive: solid bones, strong Miami vibe, sometimes gets chatty with subplots, but the action moves. Gisela’s performance is getting real praise for pushing it past a basic revenge template into something more psychological.
"M.I.A. is at its best when it stops trying to be Ozark and lets itself be Ozark's sweatier, more deranged cousin. From the nine episodes provided for review, it hasn’t fully accepted that fact yet, but maybe a Season 2 pickup will help it come to terms."
The pitch, in plain English
Think John Wick- style payback energy blended with a glossy nighttime soap. When it leans into its Miami grime and heat, it works. When it tries to feel like Ozark, less so. That tug-of-war is there, but there’s plenty here to hook you if revenge thrillers are your thing.
- Where to watch: All 9 episodes stream on Peacock starting May 7
- Broadcast boost: Pilot airs on NBC May 14 at 10 p.m. ET
- Creator: Bill Dubuque (Ozark)
- Showrunner: Karen Campbell (Dexter)
- Star: Shannon Gisela as Etta 'Tiger' Jonze
- Vibe: John Wick payback + glossy soap; neon Miami; lots of chases and gunfights
- Reception so far: No Rotten Tomatoes scores yet; early reviews mixed-to-positive
Season 2 prospects
Peacock has not renewed or canceled M.I.A. Season 1 leaves room for more, so if it catches on, the door is open. For now, it’s a one-sitting revenge ride with potential to grow if it sticks the landing with viewers.