User Reviews (65)

Add a Review

  • I missed the first airing of the pilot but caught an encore Saturday night, and I am glad I did. The plot was challenging, characters engaging, dialog tight and raw, atmosphere gritty.

    I have an inexplicable soft spot in my heart for Gypsies, and I am usually disappointed in how cold and inaccessible modern nomads are in film and T.V. The Riches family are portrayed with enough warmth and pathos (and unexpected poetry!) to let the viewer in, while in no way slipping into the criminals-with-a-heart-of-gold cliché. This ain't no Hallmark channel program!

    I was particularly impressed with Eddie Izzard's rich use of language which really did touch on the poetic at times. Minnie Driver was especially compelling and complex. And their marriage was one of the few believable mature relationships I've seen on television in a long time.

    With the absurd premise and the comedy-background casting, I expected a few laughs, but didn't find them. Instead, I had the strange yet familiar feeling reminiscent of picking up a Frank Miller comic book the first time, expecting superheroes and finding horror in its place.
  • hcurschel13 March 2007
    This show is not nearly as funny as I thought it would be (damn those trailer editors!), but it is better than I imagined. It's amazing what a couple of excellent actors and good writing can bring to a series. Seeing Minnie walk out the gates with those braids and that pallid, dead face! I disagree with a previous poster: Minnie is excellent with accents, and EDDIE IZZARD!! We have been fans of his stand up for years, and he is unrecognizable. He prides himself on having an almost incomprehensible English accent, but his American accent is--so good. Americans are so often casted in Brit flicks, so it's refreshing to see a couple Brits doing the same routine. I'm so excited there is something on to watch--we have no shows left. Hope this doesn't go the way of Wonderland, Wonderfalls, Freaks and Geeks . . . I do hope that it doesn't push itself into some of those Rescue Me directions (cheap thrills, cheap thrills). But would Eddie sign onto something that wasn't special?
  • I see HULU has this for new viewers. Don't miss out as one of the better ones to watch, while locked inside with Corona. Great cast, one of first to go with theme has for this generation.
  • 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
  • The Riches is simply one of the best shows on television. If you are a fan of drama, comedy, and action – this is the show for you. The Riches stars Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver as a family of con-artists who steal the American Dream. The dialogue is witty and the acting is superb. If you haven't seen the pilot yet, don't wait another minute! Once you watch the first 5 minutes, you'll be hooked. There's a magic to the show, one that steals your heart and leaves you wanting more. It's compelling television in a sea of banal programs. I can't wait until the next episode!!! Eddie and Minnie make a dynamic tandem; the soundtrack is eloquent and inspired. Kudos to FX for bringing America a show with complexity, character, and spirit.
  • 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!
  • I heard about the series when Minnie Driver was interviewed. My dad took us traveled around the US by motor home when I was a kid. We had encountered the "Gypsy crowd" many times in campgrounds/road. Dad warned us about "them", but in reality we never had any problems. It's the same all over. You have to watch out not to be taken by anyone. Stock broker, President, or Gypsy. I was curious how they were going to portray what is considered an under-class by many. Good or Bad. I don't know the inner workings of gypsy family clans, but from what I see so far, the portrayal is as close to reality as the censors will allow. The first 2 episode have already shown that no matter what social class you are in we are all the same. We all have the same needs and temptations. We all want the same thing. "The American Dream". I think the "Riches" are going to realize they were happier on the road. Proverb: You don't own possessions, possessions own you. Only two flaws, the accents, and how did he find time to learn how to golf that well on the road? I finally understand what preacher cookies are. Only took 50 years. Da!!!
  • wcpom2 June 2010
    This was advertised in our TV guide as a comedy. It's also listed on IMDb as a comedy. I watched the first episode and I must say I didn't find much to laugh about. It took me a good 15-20 minutes to get into it, as I was expecting something funny to happen. But once I realised that was not what it was going to be, I started to appreciate it.

    It was well acted, well filmed and an interesting concept, so I'll be back for more. I've got a feeling it is going to get better.

    It's interesting that they cast two English actors in the lead roles as American Gypsies. But I am a fan of Minnie Driver and Eddie Izard so I'm not complaining.
  • cdsutton-115 March 2007
    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?
  • Warning: Spoilers
    I have been looking forward to this show sense I first saw the previews. And I was not disappointed. I figured that if it was any-ware near as good as Dirt,the show that came just before it, this show would be worth watching.And I was not disappointed.As of now, the show has some plot holes in it. But I have a feeling those will be addressed later in the season. Minnie Driver and Edie Izzard are very watchable, and I love the way that the characters blend. I'm really looking forward to the rest of the season to see how things unfold. And the cross dressing son thing is really quite unusual for a network TV series, not something you would expect from something so mainstream. It's a truly enjoyable show.
  • jng945113 March 2007
    Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver had great chemistry and really portrayed their characters to the T. From the opening scene until the very end I couldn't take my eyes off of the TV. When a show keeps you for that long, you know it's good. FX needs to keep putting out the "out of the ordinary" shows. Dirt and Nip/Tuck along with the Riches gives TV a breath of fresh air. They are not the average copy cat crime show or hospital drama (which isn't a bad thing all together). But it was time for something new! I thought this show was awesome! It had everything you need in a show and more! The plot line was awesome and I can't wait until the next episode. It will be fun to watch how the characters and the story evolve over the next 12 episodes.
  • Warning: Spoilers
    The show had an interesting premise, so much so that, even given my 4/10 rating, I had to watch it to the bitter end. Unfortunately, the show didn't live up to its potential.

    The acting on the show was fairly good, but there were too many character developments and plot points that didn't seem to make good sense, or at least weren't developed thoroughly enough to make sense. Here are a few:

    1) Sammy's gender battle. The youngest child, a boy named Sammy, kept wanting to be a girl and would oftentimes dress up as a girl despite the fact that it very well could have compromised their operation. This was kind of interesting at the outset, but they never went anywhere with it. The character himself never really went anywhere. He was just the quiet "other kid" who would occasionally dress like a girl at inopportune times. What was the point? Who knows. Also, what about the murals he kept drawing? Pointless.

    2) Dahlia's dentistry gig. As part of Dahlia's effort to take over the life of Mrs. Rich, she had to attend a job interview at a dentist office. Somehow, she got the job and managed to work at the office for a few days despite her obvious lack of qualifications. This was way too far fetched. I guess the writers understood this, because, with very little set up or mentioning of it afterwards, the Dentist that she was working for committed suicide when he couldn't handle the grief of having recently lost his wife. The office then closed down and she didn't have to work there anymore. How convenient! How random and pointless...seriously, why did they even have her work there in the first place? It added absolutely nothing to the plot or to her development.

    3) The family's "conscience" and their criticisms of the "buffer lifestyle". They are a family of travelers. They roam around the countryside in their RV scamming, pickpocketing, and otherwise conning their way through life at the expense of everyone they come across. They have no problem with this. For some reason, though, when they take over the lives of the Riches, their moral compass comes from nowhere and creates arbitrary drama. Whenever they cross into the slightest grey of moral areas, they freak out because they're supposedly these moral and righteous people who have the right to look down their noses at "buffers". Hello! At the start of the season, these people went into a High School reunion and pick pocketed EVERYONE there! And now they're freaking out about winning a court case against a lesbian couple, temporarily covering up someone's accidental murder (which they had ALREADY DONE when they took over the Riches' lives), or cutting Wayne's boss (a corrupt asshole) out of a multimillion dollar real estate deal? And yet, they had no problem scamming an ex-athlete who was in dire financial straits out of half a million dollars, or ripping off a woman who was suing because her arm was eaten by alligators, or selling a breeding Alpaca for $100,000 even though it was infertile, or any number of their other scams. Their selective morality just made no sense and got old very fast, especially when their son, Cael (the most ruthless and morally ambiguous traveler of all of them) ran away from home because of who they had "become". Come on...

    4) Dahlia's parole fiasco. Everything is going right for them. They're on track to get $13 million and retire for life. All they have to do is carry on like normal for just a few months. Then, out of nowhere, Dahlia gets some crazy idea after sitting in on an AA meeting to confess to the police that she is a parole violator (something that could get her thrown in prison and/or blow her family's whole operation). What in the world?! This made absolutely zero sense.

    I think the writers had just run out of good ideas and were trying to throw whatever mayhem they could think of into the mix. It just wasn't sustainable and it didn't work out.
  • Warning: Spoilers
    The Riches is a roller coaster ride in the dark: you have no idea which way it's going until you take that turn. And wow, what a ride! The plot is simple. A group of grifters are taking innocents for cash and trinkets, by going to various towns in their RVs and swiping what they can from those unfortunate enough to cross their paths. One branch of these "travelers" is the Molloy family, Wayne, his fresh from prison wife, Dahlia and their three kids.

    When Wayne rips off the family fortune and tries to break away from the rest of the group, and when the other members of this group come after them, a chain of events takes place that leads to the death of an unrelated couple on their way to their new home. The result is Wayne and family get to assume the identity of these well-to-do people, and they become The Riches.

    The brilliance of the program is the counterpoint storytelling of this group of vagabonds, now set up in the wealthiest area of suburbia, who have the ultimate con going on: pretending to fit in to society!

    Sterling performances from the always watchable Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver, as the leads, and a very talented ensemble cast make this a worthwhile watch, and great, twisted, hilarious and unpredictable scripts give them all something spectacular to do in every episode.

    I really don't know where this series is going, but I wouldn't have it any other way. It's definitely a ride worth taking.
  • Warning: Spoilers
    This show is a breath of fresh air. I haven't enjoyed the pilot episode of a series this much since Lost first aired. The writing was brilliant, and Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver shine in their leading roles, particularly the most excellent scene-stealer Izzard. I laughed out loud several times and I came close to tears during the scene where Mr. Rich dies. This show has a perfect mix of drama and comedy and balances them out in a way few shows can. I seriously cannot think of one scene I did not enjoy in the episode. If it continues to be as brilliant as it was in the pilot, it will certainly be around for a long while.
  • The guy brings me to tears doing his stand up. He has acted before, but never so much as a straight guy. He's either a British guy (not a stretch) or a transvestite (not a stretch either). Here he is a father who loves his kids, loves his wife (dearly) and is also a Modern Gypsy (thief). His whole family comes from a sub culture where you lose your sole of you sleep in a house. There is a hierarchy to a "Gypsy Family" to which this family belongs. Eddie pulls off this "father with flaws" perfectly. Minnie Driver plays the wife who just got out of jail and has been scared by that experience. There must be some top notch production/direction/writing going on because all the actors are very believable. It's very much a dark comedy type show. We have only seen the pilot, but it's on our Tivo from now on. 9/10
  • icon195931 March 2007
    Wow! Even better than expected. Eddie Izzard is an amazing talent. The writing is very much like his one man shows of a few years ago, very stream of consciousness, witty and satirical and funny and, laced with equal doses of understanding and pathos. I finished high school in a town like that in south Louisiana, frighteningly accurate portrayal of suburban insecurities and social climbing. But then again, it could be anywhere, and Izzard is everyman for the new millennium. And the willingness to make the character of the youngest child a cross dresser, not always in the pursuit of the Con, so very Eddie.I sure hope this show captures enough audience to survive. BY the way what is that Poem Eddie recites at the end of the Pilot episode? Good Job and Good Luck!!
  • 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.
  • Warning: Spoilers
    WARNING: Spoilers. I watched this mainly for Eddie Izzard because I love his stand-up, and I was not disappointed. There's a compelling plot-line centered around this gypsy-like con-artist family and the bigger family they belong to. After Wayne Malloy (Izzard) gets into a fight with the boss of the family, he steals cash belonging to the boss or family, I wasn't quite clear on that, and he and his wife Dahlia (Driver) take off in their old RV with their daughter and two sons. Fellow members of their 'family' run into them at a gas station, and after a little conflict, two RVs are chasing one another. The RV not belonging to the Malloys forces a car off the road, and they flee. Wayne decides to try and help whoever was in the car, and instead he finds a dead woman and her husband, still alive though he dies soon after from a piece of wood that impaled his heart. Long story short, Wayne finds a paper belonging to the man, Douglas Rich, entailing the new home he has bought in a planned community. Wayne takes his cash, credit cards, and ID before having his family assist him in pushing the car and its occupants into a lake. Wayne decides that it's time for his family to live the American dream, so they pose as the Riches and move into their home. Over all, it's a satisfying plot with some laughs and also some deeper drama. I would recommend that anyone give it a try, I'm certainly glad I did.
  • I find it almost impossible to believe that this show gets such stellar ratings. The premise is great, but the writing and execution is horrendous. I am a big fan of Eddie Izzard and I like Minnie Driver as well. I find it depressing to see their talents squandered on abysmal writing.

    Eddie Izzard is the only saving grace of this show. His performance is the one and only reason I was able to make it through the first two episodes. Minnie Driver's character is beyond annoying and feels completely false. She really should not attempt a southern accent - it isn't remotely believable. Great idea for a character, but horrendous execution.

    I love offbeat, dark and quirky shows, but this one seriously missed the mark. What a disappointment.
  • I am a big fan of Eddie Izzard and find his comedy remarkably insightful and clever. So, when I first heard the premise of "The Riches" a while back, I dreaded the thought that he would be in a sitcom akin to another version of "The Beverly Hillbillies." However, when I saw the pilot last week I was mesmerized by the quality of the acting and writing; and the concepts that were spring-loaded into this first episode. It was like reading a great novel when virtually the entire story is laid before you early on, but the art and craft comes in the characters pulling the pieces apart and then putting them back together, saying: "If you come with us on this journey, you will have some questions and confusion. At times we might make you laugh, or we might break your heart. You might not always like what you see, but you will never be bored." This is what "The Riches" promised the viewer in that first episode. After viewing the second episode last night, I believe they intend to keep that promise.

    As a longtime TV viewer I have watched many a new show, digging through the dreck and the dross, seeking gold. I believe there is gold in "The Riches."
  • sarahkm19 March 2007
    This is honestly one of the best, if not the best, new series of this year - Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver ARE the Malloys. They both exude brilliance in their performances as the flawed couple conning their way to the American Dream. Izzard and Driver is the main reason why I'm watching this show because they are so compelling and entertaining. Also, I should note that the casting is top-notch with the younger actors as the Malloy children, providing great support and laughs. Never have I seen such a quirky show about the American Dream concept

    Come Emmy season, Izzard and Driver should reaping the rewards for signing on such a great show and making it even more fantastic!
  • After watching five episodes of this show, I am completely hooked on this smart, funny, intelligent, dramatic and engaging show. The acting is excellent. Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver just shine in their roles as the Riches. It is different, much so than anything else on T.V. right now. If you tried one episode but turned it off - I would suggest trying it again! Although I absolutely loved the first episode, I am finding that it is developing and growing into an even better show now! It is a unique combination of comedy, sometimes a dry sense of humor or outright comedy coupled with some very dramatic moments that leave you speechless. The dark themes of cross-dressing, confused kid, drug use, possible danger and theft are dealt with in a mature, intelligent manner. The show is worth seeing- more than once since there are some comedy and drama that can be missed the first time around.
  • Sylviastel13 March 2007
    Warning: Spoilers
    I have to say that I was really excited for this show to appear last night but I have to say that I have mixed feelings about the whole premise of Gypsy Travelers roaming the American South in prey of loot on us buffers. I think Eddie Izzard is brilliant as Wayne and I like Minnie Driver as Dahlia. As a couple, they have a lot of chemistry. I just love Eddie Izzard now. He can make me believe anything but somehow it's all hard to swallow. For example, he cons his way into a class reunion with his teen daughter and young son who likes dressing his older sister's clothes. Didn't anybody notice that he brought his kids while nobody else did. After all, it's kind of hard to believe that buffers are that dumb in general or they wouldn't have more. After almost getting busted by a cop on the road, they head to pick up Dahlia for a family reunion and a celebration of her release from prison. Anyway, Wayne steals from the Godfather of the Gypsy Travelers's safe because the heir has already fixed his teen daughter up to be married to a slightly slow relative for marriage in the fall. The Malloys take off after running into relatives. Dahlia is considered Gypsy royalty whatever that means and Wayne is not. They are fortunate to witness a terrible car accident who takes the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Rich who were on their way to their new home in a gated community. Wayne or Doug has a plan to move his family into the new digs. Will they fit in? No, but they plan on trying to live a normal life whatever that means. I just have trouble believing that the producers didn't have a character with some moral conscience. Of course, it's only a show and it is to be entertaining but I was hoping for so much more but I love Eddie Izzard now.
  • Marked30 March 2007
    I finally got around to watching the pilot last night and was so impressed. So far, so damned good.

    I do have to take slight issue with those reviews that bag on Driver and Izzard's "accents". For one, although Irish Travellers live in the Deep South, they have their own language, accent, and (sometimes) melodic way of speaking. I think the leads did a wonderful job at oscillating among a variety of accents in order to fit in contextually no matter where they were. I saw the accent-shifting as another example at how flexible they are and how they try to adapt to every situation they find themselves in.

    I really look forward to future episodes.
An error has occured. Please try again.