It’s Wayne’s world; Priscilla is just living in it.

In the first episode of Apple TV‘s new crime thriller, Lucky — an adaptation of Marissa Stapley’s 2021 novel — Priscilla Matheson (Annette Bening) appears to be our main antagonist. While trying to find a missing half a billion dollars, the ruthless mob boss has her daughter-in-law Lucky (Anya Taylor-Joy) kidnapped and roughed up in hopes of scaring her straight. Bening’s dynamic character is a tough, formidable, seemingly untouchable businesswoman who calls the shots. But in Episode 2, we meet someone even she’s afraid of: Wayne Whittaker, played by William Fichtner.

“Oh my god, what a relationship,” Bening told DECIDER over Zoom when asked about Priscilla and Whittaker’s intense dynamic. “The writing and their past — they have this long, complicated, horrible past. And I think that Priscilla’s still trying to get his approval, and trying to get his love. She wants something back from him. And she deserves it. And she does not get it.”

We’d heard rumblings of a man who was missing his money and would kill Lucky if he didn’t get it back. But it wasn’t until a leather-draped Priscilla confidently strutted into his stunning mansion in Episode 2 that we finally understood the true terror that is Wayne.

As he blended kale and explained that the superfood is rich in lutein, which reduces muscular degeneration of the eyes, it seemed like he was just a wealthy man with immense resources and an interest in his health. Then, he added, “Healthy vision, Priscilla, is the key to seeing through bullshit.” And it was clear that something sinister lurked not-so-far beneath the surface.

Priscilla tried charm and banter, noting that it was funny how someone so obsessed with being green made his fortune on a fossil fuel scam. But Wayne quickly demanded an explanation for his missing cash.

“It’s a clusterfuck out there, but we have picked up the trail,” Priscilla said before reminding Wayne she tried to warn him the money was coming in faster than she could wash it. “The clusterfuck, as it were, is that a second-rate confidence man like John Armstrong was able to play you in the first place,” he snapped.

We learn that Priscilla was the brains behind the scheme, but after she got caught up with John, things went awry. “Must be one hell of a cock,” Wayne said. He approached Priscilla, claiming that he might be jealous of John. He held her head in his hands, and just when it seemed like the two might kiss, he started strangling her instead. “There’s something pathetic about a woman at your age thinking sex still enters into the equation. Have some dignity for fuck’s sake,” he said in a disgusted tone. When he finally released his tight grip, Priscilla gasped for air and started crying, begging him not to threaten her son.

I’ve been terrified of Fichtner ever since watching him in Prison Break when I was just in middle school, and Lucky reminds us how good he is at being bad.

“[Fichtner] is scary, and he’s so handsome. In life, he’s the loveliest man. He completely loves to mix it up, loves to play together. I enjoyed him thoroughly. But he’s so terrifying,” Bening told Decider. “In the scenes, he’s scary and tough, and that was all really fun to play. We were shooting in this amazing house above Hollywood. And we were up there at night, and it was great. But he scares the hell out of her, and she’s not easily scared.”

No spoilers, but as Lucky‘s story unfolds, we’ll see a lot more of Wayne and Priscilla’s dynamic and more incredible performances from Fichtner and Bening. So buckle up!

New episodes of Lucky premiere Wednesdays on Apple TV.