The Riches

Before I begin, I must say I understand those of you who have said you dislike this program. It is sometimes difficult in the touchy feely world of crime investigation and counter-terrorism dramas to understand the wild notion of anti-heroes serving as a story's protagonist.

But that is exactly what has come together here. Make no mistake, the "heroes" of this television program are low down, dirty criminals. Criminals without regard for anything or one except themselves. Criminals who off their own grandmothers to profit on the sale of a gently used pacemaker.

In my experience, there is one other television show that this combination character malice and despair come together to make a wholly entertaining program. That show is Six Feet Under.

With the sublime dark and almost tragic comedy underlying and fantastic character performances (I know the accents are a little off), this show promises something on television to those of us still grieving from the loss of Six Feet Under.

If you were a fan of Six Feet Under, or if you appreciate the intricacies of dark comedy; where the goal is not entirely a plot to make you laugh, I believe you will very much enjoy this show.

Give it a look see.

I now have something to look forward to on the most dreaded day of the week. I love every single character on this show, I love every line, every look, every scene, EVERYTHING.

When I first watched The Riches I was a little confused. It was funny and touching but at the same time rather dark (much like Director Peter O'Fallon's first feature "Suicide Kings")  Upon further examination I have realized that it is this contrast that makes the show so incredible. Hollywood does an amazing job at painting the perfect portrait of "the American dream" while simultaneously ignoring its dark corners and stark realities. The Riches takes the shiny and manufactured concept of the American dream and strips it down to reveal the reckless and desperate nature of those aiming to achieve it. Though Wayne and Dahila Malloy initially seem like terrible parents, they are the perfect (albeit extreme) representation of American society's obsession with materialism and are, therefore, much like the rest of us. Though it is hard to picture yourself stealing the lives of a dead couple, I'll bet it is not as hard to picture yourself sacrificing everything for the well being of your children. I love this show because it forces me to think about my own borders and limitations. Right now there is no way I could carry on like the Malloy's but if push comes to shove, I could be singing another tune.

Long live The Riches!

As a general fan of Eddie Izzard, I was surprised to see that both he and Minnie Driver were taking on a television show. While most TV pilots seem hackneyed and forced, this had the quality of a feature film. Pilots are out there to bait the audience and this one did so with a pace that, if they can keep it up, will have the viewer exhausted by the end of every hour. My surprise turned to sheer joy by the end of this first episode. Both Izzard and Driver are amazing in their respective roles, flowing effortlessly through their very complex characters. The writing is intense and raw and the dialogue is both natural and on point. I had no idea what I was getting into when the show opened and the thread of the drama pulled me right through to the end. I'm not one to watch many TV shows on a weekly basis but for this show, I'll make the time. Definitely the best TV I've seen in years.

Sure, it was only the pilot I saw, but I had very high hopes coming in, being a big, big fan of Eddie Izzard's. I was just worried that for a drama/comedy with what appears to be an actual storyline (unlike many serials, such as the CSI's or Law and Order's - not that there's anything wrong with that), a stand up comic was a rather strange choice for the lead character. But Izzard plays his role straight, not slapstick, and very well. Between him and Driver, definitely seems to be a good foundation (and at least most of the time, they did a good enough job of dropping their accents and picking up the southern one). The kids were good enough, which is really all I needed out of them for now. Not a distraction, added well to the ensemble.

Plot seemed dodgy when I read the synopsis. But it actually does make some sense, seems the writers are going to use one new thing going wrong per episode, such as their old family members possibly showing up. I just hope, that even though it just started, it stays fresh. But the outlook looks bright for the Riches.

10/10

It's got to be hard for TV producers and writers to come up with a new theme for a series... but they have scored a bit "10" with this one. I believe The Riches will go down in history as one of the truly "different and great" ones. I'd bet it will soon be a cult series. I'm hooked already!

Yes, it was a bit dark - I wasn't prepared for the violence and dark themes - drug use, cross-dressing child... but everything was portrayed intelligently. I thought it would be funnier, and perhaps future episodes will be, but I absolutely loved it - sort of the way I loved Fargo and Twin Peaks. Very clever, great acting, intelligent, and what a different idea for a theme.

Living in Tampa myself and knowing a little about the "Travelers" - modern day gypsies (and yes, there are some that live nearby) - made it hit home even more. Plus I've been hankering for an RV, so I am really enjoying seeing them ride down the highway.

Haven't we all had a little dream about living this type of life?