twothousandoperas
This show is so good. I don't care that much about its commentary on wealth and the "American Dream" - it's not that clever. But the plot itself is top notch entertainment! This family gets into situations so intense that you are literally on the edge of your seat waiting to find out how they will get out of this one - and the payoff is always extremely satisfying. It is about a family who are walking on VERY thin ice, and it is cracking all around them, but they keep on floating. Not to mention that the performances were good from every cast member (Minnie's son is a bit annoying, but we forgive him). I am tremendously upset that this show got cut off in the middle of the second season - I am still hoping that someone will come to their senses..
Jordan Allen
I heard that the show was canceled, and I didn't watch it. I had heard a little about it, but I wasn't interested enough to watch it. I let the rumors that I had heard prevent me from watching the show. I usually don't listen to critics when movies come out, or they talk about a show. I did with this show - and I have no idea why I listened to any of them! I had the opportunity of watching the whole series and I'm nearly finished with the first season. I've been very impressed with the show, and have full intention of taking my time with the last season. It's sad to know that the movie was canned and all subsequent seasons were never planned.
jax713
I'm going to suppose that only die-hard Eddie Izzard fans love this show. Even though I'm a fan of his stand-up and I enjoy seeing him on TV in a different kind of performance, I can't say this is a good show. It's boring, dispiriting, and sometimes disgusting. I made it 3/4 of the way through the first season and then gave up because I didn't care what happened to any of the characters. The story lines put me to sleep and the scam situations were replays from old material invented decades ago. When I turn on the TV it's most often because I'm looking for some kind of entertainment and The Riches is too depressing for that. The biggest disappointment is that a fine cast is at work here. Izzard is just right as a guy walking a tightrope between legitimacy and crime. Minnie Driver shows her range but what can she really do with a character who is one minute very smart, the next very dumb. Gregg Henry, as usual, puts out an electric vibe as soon as he enters a scene. Sadly, these highly creative actors can't induce me to keep watching stories that arouse no interest or curiosity.
vagabondjonson
This is a good show. There are several areas where it is lacking i.e. believability, charisma between leads, but besides these, this show is truly original. Even if you look at the similar titles that IMDb might offer at the bottom of the page, none of them are even remotely close to this show. The idea of the American Gypsy is a rather undocumented story and this show gives a rather entertaining glimpse at an unraveled corner of it.I'm a huge Eddie Izzard fan and while he might not be suited to this character as such, he is still phenomenal. He plays it a lot less seriously than another actor might have, and definitely less seriously than the rest of the cast, but I think this gives his character a slight quirkiness that makes for incredibly entertaining situations at the law firm where he works. The charisma between Izzard and Minnie Driver seems strained and actually Izzard has better back and forth with Gregg Henry who plays his ethically-challenged boss.There is a constant feeling of urgency due to the rather convoluted-ness of the plot. The characters and the way of life that they are living seem to be hanging by a thread and every episode they have to out-think about a dozen different scenarios that threaten to cut it.It's entertaining television and if you've got time for another good series, this one is worth watching.