The Riches — “Operation Education”
While watching The Riches this week I noticed something. The episode had started and I was excited to be watching it because the past two weeks had convinced me it was one of the better things to be watching on television. Though during those first few minutes of the episodes I just couldn’t get into it. The show seemed off. It felt different. It was like I was watching it again for the first time, feeling my way around and trying to see if it was going to fit. I suspected the problem was Eddie Izzard’s horrendous “southern” accent. I quote “southern” because I’m not even entirely sure that’s what he’s going for. It could be Australian for all I know. Either way it’s bad.
Then about ten minutes into the show Izzard’s character “Doug” (which technically isn’t his real name) has to lie his way through an introductory speech at his new job. He fumbles around, looking for the right way to sell his falsity, and eventually finds his groove. Obviously by the end of his presentation the whole office is with him. That’s his game and he does it well. What was interesting was the speech seemed to win me over just as it had the officemates. From this moment forward, I was back in love with the show. The accent didn’t bother me because his performance selling himself in that early scene sold me.
I’m curious if this pattern will continue each week where Izzard has to personally win me over each and every time? I suspect watching it week to week might make this the case as just as I start to buy that damn accent, the show ends and I have to get reaquainted all over again the next week.
We’ll see how this all plays out. All in all, it’s still a great series.
Listen to “Something In The Air” by Thunderclap Newman which played during the last scene.
