M.I.A., a Miami-set revenge thriller on Peacock, is a meandering and sporadically entertaining series. It's a blend of prestige antihero drama and pulp, but it fails to fully capture the pleasures of either. The show's premise, involving a neurodivergent Haitian immigrant seeking revenge, is intriguing, but the execution falls flat. The main character, Stanley, is a yacht rock fan, and the show attempts to juxtapose his love for adult contemporary music with youthful criminality, but this dissonance doesn't work. The series is plagued by narrative slack, with dull middle sections and underdeveloped characters, particularly the cartel bosses Mateo and Samuel. The show's attempt to connect the Holocaust to the deaths of Etta's family is also awkward and forced. Despite some engaging guest stars and a promising start and end, M.I.A. ultimately fails to deliver a compelling and cohesive narrative. It's a missed opportunity, as the premise held potential, but the execution falls short, leaving viewers with a sense of disappointment.
