'Nemesis' centers love in epic heist drama. Stars, creators talk show

Editor’s note: This story includes spoilers for Season One, Episode One of "Nemesis" on Netflix.

You want your cut? The protocol is simple: In and out. No distractions or improvisations.

From the brains of Courtney A. Kemp, famously known for the “Power Universe,” and co-creator Tani Marole, Netflix’s new crime thriller, “Nemesis,” brings high-powered heists and drama to the West Coast. 

The show follows criminal mastermind Coltrane Wilder, played by Y'lan Noel (“Insecure”), and LAPD Detective Isaiah Stiles (Matthew Law of “Abbott Elementary”), who is determined to bust him.

“We're doing a lot of momentum and great action, and also a really great set of family stories with marriages at the core of it,” Kemp tells USA TODAY. “So there's something for everybody.”

Marole added: “I'm really excited to bring really elevated entertainment, a real moment for people to sit down. And there's going to be a lot of ups and downs and twists and curves in the season.”

In “Nemesis,” Coltrane studies the job and, along with his four-man crew, executes it. Then the earnings are split. As one of his members reiterates, he “got mouths to feed.” 

The first episode kicks off with an intense heist at a Halloween party at a mansion. In full costume, the guys slyly walk away with money bags without being made. 

“You get to see Coltrane doing what he does best, being an expert. I think he sets the bar very high for the heists to come,” Noel said. Coltrane’s tactical heist operations begin to unravel and land him on the police’s radar when one of his crew members becomes distracted during multiple jobs. 

And Detective Stiles, relying on a hunch, is not convinced by Coltrane’s daytime Brioni suit-wearing, philanthropist persona. 

Stiles believes Coltrane is linked to the death of his detective trainee. At the station, he is willing to put his reputation on the line to close the cases despite pushback from his colleagues. 

“When the heists happen, we get to see on the other side, on the law side…just exactly how hell-bent he is on making sure these things don't happen,” Noel added.

More than action, ‘Nemesis’ touches on love, marriage, and heartbreak

The audience will not only get to witness a cat-and-mouse game between Coltrane and Stiles, but also how it affects their personal lives, Law said. Stiles’ obsession with Coltrane and his crew is putting a strain on his already rocky marriage and relationship with his son. 

Off the heels of a miscarriage, Coltrane and his wife dream of a normal life outside of their undercover thieving and scheming. But of course, he needs to complete a few more jobs before bidding adieu.

“Most of it is a chase. And I think that cat-and-mouse thing goes beyond maybe what we think about an action of two men coming head to head, because there's more than that that's colliding,” Law explained. “It's their lives. It's their social lives. Their marriages…are basically kind of put at odds with each other. So you see how close your enemies really can be.”

Creators Kemp and Marole penned these complex love stories while their own was blossoming in real life. The two announced their engagement on social media in 2024, and they reflected on collaborating together on this project. Kemp called it “one of the greatest gifts and challenges of my life.”

She continued, “It is a little bit like parenting because you're both so invested, but you both have your own ways of doing things. What was cool was there were things that I was really interested in, or things that I was really focused on, and there were things that he was really focused on, and it was so great because we actually got to hand off.”

Marole says he was a fan of his fiancée’s previous work before he met her and enjoyed having a front row seat to her process. “ Being in service of the brand, while also elevating it and creating something completely distinct for Netflix that can hopefully live on for a while: That's been wonderful.”

Kemp says ‘Nemesis’ is a love letter to ‘Power’ fans

Kemp is hailed as the creator of the “Power” crime franchise on Starz, which has racked in millions of viewers for the premium cable network.

The flagship series, which debuted in 2014, introduced the world to Ghost (Omari Hardwick), a kingpin trying to balance his legitimate business and his drug enterprise in the gritty streets of New York City. In “Nemesis,” she says, Coltrane looks at his exit from crime differently. 

“Ghost wanted out of the game. Coltrane is like, people are asking me to get out of the game, but I'm actually super good at it, and I really love what I'm doing, so maybe I can just hold on a little bit longer,” Kemp shared. “And he has that burden of having a lot of people who depend on him, so he can't make a clear decision just for himself and what he needs.”

The new show uses similar themes as "Power" — surprises, humor, and internal conflict — some of which will pull at your heartstrings or, at other times, make your jaw drop. Kemp aimed to continue the tradition of using the city as a main character in the show. “Nemesis” has Black Los Angeles on full display. She acknowledged the fans for sticking with her throughout the years.

“I just want to say thank you to all the ‘Power’ fans who are out there. I love you guys. I appreciate you," she said. "Thank you for hanging in with us all this time. I would say, of course, this is a love letter to them."

All eight episodes of “Nemesis” are currently available to binge on Netflix. The show premiered on the streaming platform on May 14.

Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at [email protected].