Review of New TV Series The Riches

The Riches, a new series debuted this season on FX, which in my opinion is the best show on TV. The show features the lives of a family of Irish Travellers, a relatively unknown sect of Americans refuted to have descended from Irish *gypsies*.

The series began with Dahlia, played by the lovely and talented Minnie Driver, being released from prison. Her husband, Wayne, played by the also incredibly talented Eddie Izzard, had been raising their 3 children for two years in an RV, traveling the South as con artists. When Dahlia is released, she carries the burden of a severe methamphetamine addiction, referenced several times throughout the series.

After being picked up from the penitentiary, they return to the family's *camp*, where a welcome home party is thrown. The leader of their clan, Earl, is in ill health, and Wayne is slated to take over as elder, much to the dismay of Dahlia's cousin, and assumed sociopathic son of Earl, Dale Malloy.

After robbing the *family* cash stash of $70,000, the family hits the road to save their oldest daughter, DiDi, from being married off as a minor in an arranged marriage. While on the road, the family witnesses a horrible accident where a married couple, Doug and Cherien Rich are killed. At that point, the family reluctantly becomes the Riches, assuming the identities of the couple.

They move to the exclusive gated community of Eden Falls, where Wayne, living as *Doug*, scams his way into taking Doug's job at the Panco Corporation as the head of the Legal Department. Dahlia, acting as *Cherien*, after losing her job as a dental hygienist, joins him at Panco as the assistant to Hugh, the eccentric and sometimes insane CEO of Panco.

The story follows the lives of the family adjusting to the *buffer* (a term used to describe the boring law-abiding citizens so easily scammed) life. The kids, DiDi, Cael, and Sam, are enrolled in exclusive private schools after never having attended school while on the road. Also, an interesting variable is thrown in as Sam, a boy, is gender confused, somtimes dressed as a girl.

This show is full of interesting cultural dichotomies from the substance abuse in the suburbs, to the irony of corporate culture as compared to the life of a thief. I'm actually not a huge TV fan, but the show has been nothing less than gripping, informative, and fascinating from episode 1. In the quest of not getting caught, some hilarious and original antics have taken place. The series highlights the dysfunctional lives of the *buffers* the Malloys have accepted as friends and neighbors, as well as looking into themselves to find who they are and who they are morphing into as the result of being wealthy.

The Riches also touches on the proverbial scenario escaping your past. The Malloys have been chased to Eden Falls twice so far by members of their former clan. They have managed to escape being exposed as of this point. This is one of the major plot points in the series, will they or won't they be caught, and can they keep pretending to be this family without a surprise relative or friend finding them out? Identity theft is a serious charge, and with Dahlia having jumped parole, the family is at serious risk 24 hours a day.

I highly recommend this show to anyone, the plot has twists and turns that would satisfy even the pickiest of TV fans. FX has had a great lineup for some time now, and this series has only added to current buzz. The Riches is well-written, culturally relevant, and features some of the best acting I have ever seen. The show airs on Monday nights at 10:05 ET.