The Riches

[rick]

I just finished watching the premiere of the new FX series starring the wonderful pair of Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver, The Riches.

I really don’t want to spoil it, but I did really enjoy the opening with its look into the lives of American gypsies and how they scam their way through life and about this one family who sort of fall into a completely different world.

Izzard is funny, charismatic and quietly moving as the head of the family, Minnie Driver is sexy and sharp with the perfect combination of toughness and fragility.

The three kids are all okay and while they are all a bit clichéd, all three seem to be happy to take big bites out of their parts.

All in all I have to say that the story was excellent despite the huge stretch of the imagination it takes to buy into the premise, and I think I have a new show for Monday nights.

On a one to ten scale, I give it a high 8.

[IamtheRock3]

yea pretty good

Although how they got in there position was rather dirtbaggy and a lot more darker then the commercials suggested. I wasn't expecting it be more Dirty Rotten Scoundrel, This has more drama

not that it a bad thing, but may put people off due to the misleading commericals

[rick]

yea pretty good

Although how they got in there position was rather dirtbaggy and a lot more darker then the commercials suggested. I wasn't expecting it be more Dirty Rotten Scoundrel, This has more drama

not that it a bad thing, but may put people off due to the misleading commericals


It really was darker then I thought it would be.

The whole bit with the real Rich sitting in his car with the branch sticking out of his chest was just nasty.

Still, it does say something that they at least stopped and tried to help, even if in the end they turned it to their advantage.

[IamtheRock3]

It really was darker then I thought it would be.

The whole bit with the real Rich sitting in his car with the branch sticking out of his chest was just nasty.

Still, it does say something that they at least stopped and tried to help, even if in the end they turned it to their advantage.

The fact what they did with the car aftewards, means although it says something that they stopped, it doesnt say MUCH


but still they do seem better then the other gritter

the woman in cornrolls was funny. Was shock by the addiction


I wonder how real the promblem will get, and what will the gloss over for suspension of disbeleif purposes


Like IRS
paying Bills
Enrolling in school and info tha provided
backround checks when someone become a lawyer

Lot of LITTLE stuff besisde the obvious that may be overlooked for this con to work. Stuff I may not be thinking of

There ways for the charcters to solve these promblems if the writer good enough.

But hope they dont gloss over it and hope the audience dont ask question

Cause I like con stories where they actully show you the working of the con
I know it wont be perefect, I know you have to take some leaps of logic here.

But still hope you see some inner workings

[Frodo-X]

I rather liked this show.

Although I must say, Minnie Driver looked horrid. Particularly in the beginning, but even in the end when she's all cleaned up I still think she didn't look very good.

[kalorama]

I had mixed feelings. I thought the premise was intriguing and has definite potential, and the plot of the pilot played out pretty well, with a number of intrguing future possibilities set up. But I think it would have worked better/been more believable with different actors in the lead. I didn't really buy Minnie Dirver as a trailer park Southern ex-con mom. And I had an especially hard time buying Eddie Izzard as, well, anything other than Eddie Izzard. He didn't much look the part and every time he opened his mouth he took me right out of the story. I'll give it a couple more tries, but this one will be a hard sell for me.

On a semi-related note, what is it with English actors and Southern accents? They all seem to have some compulsion to try it, but they're rarely very good at it. At least Driver's sort of came and went. Izzard seemed to give it up entirely after a few seconds.

[Deathstroke]

The premiere episode drew 3.8 million viewers.

[kalorama]

I rather liked this show.

Although I must say, Minnie Driver looked horrid. Particularly in the beginning, but even in the end when she's all cleaned up I still think she didn't look very good.

Well, she is playing a drug-addicted just released ex-con. I don't think glamour was really called for.

She is way too skinny, however, an effect that's exacerbated by her freakisly large, oddly angular head.

[Shadowfax32]

Well, she is playing a drug-addicted just released ex-con. I don't think glamour was really called for.

She is way too skinny, however, an effect that's exacerbated by her freakisly large, oddly angular head.

Dahlia's weight is intentional. Minnie Driver lost 20 pounds for the role because her character got hooked on meth while serving in prison.

[Aggie]

I just finished watching the premiere of the new FX series starring the wonderful pair of Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver, The Riches.

I really don’t want to spoil it, but I did really enjoy the opening with its look into the lives of American gypsies and how they scam their way through life and about this one family who sort of fall into a completely different world.

Izzard is funny, charismatic and quietly moving as the head of the family, Minnie Driver is sexy and sharp with the perfect combination of toughness and fragility.

The three kids are all okay and while they are all a bit clichéd, all three seem to be happy to take big bites out of their parts.

All in all I have to say that the story was excellent despite the huge stretch of the imagination it takes to buy into the premise, and I think I have a new show for Monday nights.

On a one to ten scale, I give it a high 8.

i just watched it tonight and as others have mentioned, i was shocked by how dark it was given the promos prior to the premier...i've always found eddie izzard kind of creepy...and i think a subdued eddie izzard is creepier than the manic one we're use to seeing and it works for him perfectly in the riches...the set up is pretty good, and as i'm sitting there watching very aware of how far fetched and problematic the premise is, it dawns on me this it what the tension hinges on...it's not a matter of if they get caught, but when and how...it's way better than i expected...FX is doing something right w/ the hour long shows they've green lit...i'm hoping they can work the same kinda mojo w/ their comedies, aside from "it's always sunny..." they've been really bad.

[EZMOHR]

I don't know, I just couldn't get into it. I don't think it was bad....I just thought it seemed like it could've been better.

[kalorama]

i've always found eddie izzard kind of creepy...and i think a subdued eddie izzard is creepier than the manic one we're use to seeing

That's exactly why I thought he didn't work in the role. (That and the fact that he looks nothing like a southern, trailer park living, nomadic con man; even if he'd managed to pull off a southern accent it wouldn't have helpedthe fact that he actually looks British.) His character is supposed to be a con man. But in order to con people you have to get them, strangers, to trust you. With their time, their money, their secrets, their lives even. Would you trust someone who looked like Eddie Izzard? Of course not. He's creepy. There's nothing about him that projects the kind of ingratiating vibe a guy like that would have to have.

[Aggie]

That's exactly why I thought he didn't work in the role. (That and the fact that he looks nothing like a southern, trailer park living, nomadic con man; even if he'd managed to pull off a southern accent it wouldn't have helpedthe fact that he actually looks British.) His character is supposed to be a con man. But in order to con people you have to get them, strangers, to trust you. With their time, their money, their secrets, their lives even. Would you trust someone who looked like Eddie Izzard? Of course not. He's creepy. There's nothing about him that projects the kind of ingratiating vibe a guy like that would have to have.

i think this is on of those cases where you have to watch a few eps. first...i mean you really don't buy him as an american gypsy, but i think you can totally buy him as the sort of shady maybe lawyer suburban guy...

[kalorama]

But whatever else he pretends to be after they move into the house is just a pose. A trailer park nomad con-man is who he really is. It's the foundation on which the character is built. If Izzard can't pull off that part of it, then there's a problem with his performance.

[IamtheRock3]

yea but wasnt the charcter not born in the lifestlye and just met her and married her

[IamtheRock3]

ok the last 2 episode was better, more fun, and a lot less dark

but it still has the edge

Eddie was funny at the school and introducing himself to the other lawyers


Seem the guy he fired is his possible future

[Frodo-X]

"A Mountain?"

"....Yes! A mountain!"

:D

[IamtheRock3]

another good

not as many laughs but more drama.

Still good sense it not as dark as pilot


I like so far the manage to get him in tough situation without making the way out THAT outrageous.


Nor THAT crooked. I mean sense this FX, I was half expecting them to clun the X wife to death with a turkey leg and bury her in the basement

[IamtheRock3]

was not expecting that ending

Also
Dont know the lawyer would get scared that easly, I mean could always say "Yea ice skating fun, but our people rather have there home"

But then again if it like REAL intiminditied domian cases you dont need THAT much of an excuse or justication to take your home. Just as long as it a POSSIBLE benifit

just assume they got away with cause those people couldnt afford good lawyers

Do like thier cons arent as PERFECT AND JAMES BOND SMOOTH as most con artist flicks. They a a little rough around the edge, Heck the wife kind of thuggish. So it makes it more real, and gives a little morr suspense if they will make it. Cause their very much underdoge


Also like that Wayne by going straight some ways doing more crimnals thing he did as an actual criminal. Cause his boss super crooked

[kalorama]

There's still something very wrong and off about this show. I still don't buy, for a second, that Izzard is a southern, trailer park bred drifter con man. And I don't believe for a minute anyone would buy that he was a lawyer for even 5 minutes. But for some reason, I keep watching. Maybe I'm hypnotized by Minnie Driver's massive dome.

[Frodo-X]

"Didi's fiancee."

:rolleyes:

And just like that, I lose interest in this show.

[Angel of Sorrow]

There's still something very wrong and off about this show. I still don't buy, for a second, that Izzard is a southern, trailer park bred drifter con man.

I'm pretty sure they insinuated that he was not trailer park bred.

[IamtheRock3]

yea they called him a HALF BREED

he never really fit in. Remeber the wife was trailer park ROYALTY before he married him, what ever that means

[kalorama]

yea they called him a HALF BREED

he never really fit in. Remeber the wife was trailer park ROYALTY before he married him, what ever that means

I must have missed the "half breed" reference. But my point still stands. Even moreso, in fact. He was still one of them, he lived their life ("on the grift" as it were) with Dahlia in prison. And if he wasn't born one of them, that would mean he'd have to work even harder and be even better to pull off the con act successfully. And I don't see anything in Izzard's portrayal that makes me believe his character could do that.

[OhMyGato]

Not sure if anyone stuck with this, but the season 2 premiere is 3/18. I really liked season 1, and i thought the performances from minnie and eddie were excellent.

[Sean Whitmore]

I finally caught up with this series about a week ago. Watched the entire season in about two days, and I can't wait for the second one to start.


SEAN

[Affinity]

I'm so excited for season two.

I don't watch Nip/Tuck or Rescue Me but I loved Damages a lot; FX has high quality television; the next best thing for those of use without Showtime or HBO.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

There's still something very wrong and off about this show. I still don't buy, for a second, that Izzard is a southern, trailer park bred drifter con man. And I don't believe for a minute anyone would buy that he was a lawyer for even 5 minutes. But for some reason, I keep watching. Maybe I'm hypnotized by Minnie Driver's massive dome.

I pretty much gave the show a glance and really kept going. Its not that I wouldn't like it...its that I saw the premise and it was too "Hollywood". I guess the whole conning to be a lawyer is some kind of Hollywood thing.

[IamtheRock3]

must say A lot more fast pace and Jumpy this time

Still dark, but FEELS less Dark. Hard to put my finger on why. Cause really an innocet guy had died. It also more exciting. Guess cause of the somewhat comical scenes with the 3 guys in the house and all the stuff piling up on Hank

Love that there still wheeling the granmother who not there mother around

[Matt K]

I thought it was a pretty good start (god knows how this season will end since it has 7/13 filmed). It seemed pretty short especially since they ended it before 10:50.

There is a lot of potential for this season and I can't wait.

[Sean Whitmore]

Great season opener. Everything went to shit, and I love it.

I'm very much looking forward to Nina's evolution as a thief, Hugh's mayoral campaign, and the introduction of a bad guy even crazier than Dale.


SEAN

[OhMyGato]

Hugh's mayoral campaign looks like it might be the storyline of the season...could reach epic proportions.

I really liked the football game con from last nights episode. Dahlia is pretty creative, but i think she works a lot better with wayne around so i'm glad everything is back together again. Anyone else think cael didn't believe wayne at the end of the ep in the RV?

[PamGrierOverdrive]

This show is a real gem which seems to be flying under the radar. I thought this season might jump the shark, but they're established a setup that makes me think this season will be even better than last year's.

[OhMyGato]

agreed...

ep 3 was quality too.

wayne's continued pursuit of the money was on full display...the con skills in essentially talking hugh out of a mistake were key...

the scenes with dale and dahlia this were almost spooky...although im sure thats how they wanted you to see it...that dale is a crazy bastard.

[Sean Whitmore]

Jesus H. Christ.

Doug is gonna need to drill himself some more orifices to make room for all the people who are in a position to screw him after this episode.


SEAN

[OhMyGato]

whoohoo...finale tonight..(only a few hours left)..so many stories going on...dahlia about to go off the reservation...cael hanging with quinn...there has to be a season 3...has to be!

[brundlefly]

Did Season Two get truncated because of the writers' strike? Seems like the Riches just returned a few weeks ago and already it's the season finale. Plus this ep didn't real feel like a season finale, despite the "I have your son" cliffhanger ending.

Still love Eddie Izzard as Wayne/Doug and Greg Henry as Hugh; those two are the show's standouts for me. Dahlia is one of the most absolutely infuriating characters currently on TV, imo, but I guess that means Minnie Driver and the show's writers are doing something right to get that kind of reaction from me. Also amusing how Dale went from dim-but-menacing in Season One to almost comic relief in this season, eclipsed by Quinn and Felix Minkov as far as villains go.

[Matt K]

Did Season Two get truncated because of the writers' strike?

That was my understanding. It was supposed to be 13 episodes but only 7 were filmed.

[brundlefly]

That was my understanding. It was supposed to be 13 episodes but only 7 were filmed.

Ah, I see. Thank for the info, Matt.

[kalorama]

So when did Dahlia have time to have an affair with her parole officer? If I remember it correctly from the series premiere, the family picked her up from the prison and were AWOL and on the run within a matter of hours. She never even had time to meet with her parole officer, let alone sleep with him.

[IamtheRock3]

well that ending was....abrubt

[Sean Whitmore]

well that ending was....abrubt

To say the least.

I realize the writers may not have had a choice in the matter, but still, what a weird way to structure the season. Pile on the problems, pile them on, pile them on....season over, to be continued. Wha--?


SEAN

[IamtheRock3]

worst let it might not get another season.

[brundlefly]

worst let it might not get another season.

Really? I thought it had done really well ratings-wise, as far as FX shows are concerned. Are there internal cast/crew problems or something similar going on that would torpedo a third season?