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June 4, 2007: I Hate Cliff-hangers
I'm glad The Riches has been renewed for a second season. It may not be my favorite show, but I would have been really annoyed if this episode had been its last. So much was left up in the air: Will Dale kill Pete? Will the Malloys flee? (I suspect that's a no.) Will Nina help them cover the ever-increasing cracks in their story? I had hoped that this episode would be the last of Dale, but no such luck. Looks like he'll be coming back next season, although how great would it be if Pete, fed up with being a perpetual victim, found a way to turn the tables on him? Oh Riches writers, if you're reading this, I think I speak for pretty much everyone watching when I say, do what the Travelers did to Dale and cut him off. I never need to see his ugly mug again.
That opening scene with Hugh's clearly disturbed stepson was unsettling. I assumed, as did the PANCO employees, that Davy was toting a real gun. Even though it turned out to be fake, it still gave Wayne enough time to cook up a new story about why he was posing as Doug to appease Pete. I can't believe Pete bought that whole bit about Doug paying Wayne and Dahlia (er... Gene and Louise) to take over his life. What possible reason could he have to ask that? And why did he send Pete his address if he knew he wasn't actually going to be living there? No matter, Pete, trusting sad sack that he is, wanted to believe Wayne. Because if he didn't, he would have had to face the fact that he would never see his best buddy Doug again.
Although I had a smile on my face throughout most of the episode, there weren't many laughs. Still I marveled at Eddie Izzard's improv skills. The way he sang "Amazing Grace" into the phone as a "signal to Doug." Or his response when Dahlia asked, "What's your plan?" "It's... developing." The trouble with Wayne is that he thinks he can talk his way out of any situation, no matter how dire. That's how Dahlia ended up going to jail instead of him. One day his cocksure attitude is going fail him, and the consequences will be awful.
Dale did make me chuckle when he crashed into Wayne's car and introduced himself as Greg Buffer. What did he hope to gain by doing that? He already had entry to Eden Falls courtesy of Hartley, who was sadly MIA tonight. I guess it was just another way for him to bully the Malloys.
My heart went out to the kids as they packed their bags. When Cael asked Didi why she was making the beds, she replied, "It's important how we leave things." She didn't want to tarnish the image of the buffer life they had led. Although Sam dubbed himself "a conscientious objector" and initially balked at running, he soon realized that it was their only option. He even agreed to paint over his wonderful mural that told their tale thus far. But "grandma" provided a few comforting words: "Life takes from you... it's taking from you right now, but it's always there underneath."
Hugh calling Wayne at the very moment they were trying to escape seemed a tad contrived. But Hugh was right, Wayne is his only friend. I almost expected Wayne to drop everything to go comfort Hugh. Although Wayne was truly the one who needed comforting at that point.
Nina turned out to be a true friend as she helped Didi get the RV in order. She clearly longed to experience the kind of "freedom" the Malloys had, telling Dahlia she wished she had the "guts" to go with them. Meanwhile Wayne was out in the forest, trying to dispose of Pete. But Wayne's no killer. Instead, he tried to trick Pete into thinking Doug was in some sort of witness-protection program. The plan might have worked, too, if his water gun hadn't started leaking.
That scene between Dale and Dahlia was chilling. I kept expecting him to try to rape her, honestly. But worse, he wanted to violate the whole family by taking a piece of their hard-earned pie. Poor Pete. He thought that Dale was rescuing him when in fact he was another one of those "criminals" Pete always complained about.
Well everyone, I can't say it's always been fun. You all know by now that I had my issues with this show. But I am glad we got to share it together and discuss our varying takes on it. Sure beats watching the tube alone!
Now that The Riches are gone for the summer, relive their adventures in our new Online Video Guide.
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Jun 4, 2007 10:28 PM
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I loved this show from the first episode, and I'm very glad it will be back. I also think your blog is great-intelligent and entertaining. I hope you'll be back, too. 
I have to admit tho', this last show disappointed me a bit. You'd think that as things were starting to crumble, Wayne might have started to come up with an actual plan, even if he is a fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants kind of guy. The script had a desperate, hurried feel to it, and while that may have been intended, illustrating just what the family was feeling, it was (to me) unsatisfying tv. The show ended so suddenly, it wasn't as much a cliffhanger, as an interruption.
Still, the possibilities are there for a great second season. I'll have to find a new favorite show in the meantime.
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Jun 5, 2007 8:08 AM
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I think the writers were of the same mind as Doug Rich in that they were trying to devise a "plan" to get out of this season. At one point I really sympathized with Pete in that I was really, really tired of waiting for something to happen. I'm 100% with you on Goober (Dale) in that he needs to fall into a plot hole and disappear. Maybe the Rich's should hit the road again after all, taking Nina and Hugh with them. I've seen some pretty good season finales this year but this wasn't one of them. I'm invested in the characters enough to watch next year but if the show is to survive it's going to have to raise the bar up to where "Rescue Me" and "Nip/Tuck" are. Several episodes this season have shown that it can achieve that.
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Jun 5, 2007 8:40 AM
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Very disappointed. I think this would have better if it was one complete story arc like "Thief" last year. It was almost like they ran out of ideas. I still think this show would have worked better as some time of mini-series instead.
Is this show better or as good as the Shield, Rescue Me, Nip/Tuck, Philadelphia? Dirt was horrible but had some type of trashy soap opera vibe going on at least. The Riches has been so uneven throughout the season, I hope the early renewal will help them focus.
PS: Get rid of Dale!
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Jun 5, 2007 9:59 AM
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Now that this season is over let me say that this is one of my new favorite programs. Hell, I even love the Traveller stuff. I like that these people DO live in 2 different worlds. I like the contrast of the code of Traveller life, and the code of Buffer life. I like that Dale is a troublemaker, thieving, violent person, no matter which world the Malloy's happen to be occupying. I like that the family of conmen have a heart of gold.
Last week you complained that not enough fans of the show responded to your blog. A lesson I learned on the internets along time ago is you don't flame people, especially when it's their blog. So all season I kept my thoughts to myself. But I wondered, do they pay you to watch this show? Why do you torture yourself? If you really dislike this show so much STOP WATCHING please! There has to be someone else at the TV Guide offices who likes this show. If not maybe you could promote one of us to write the blog next season.
Out of 13 episodes of this brilliant show, I think you once (last week, and not really) tried to give an all positive review. Maybe you'd be better off blandly recapping and not giving an opinion. I'm not sure.
Eddie Izzard is fantastic, the supporting cast is great. I can't wait to find out how they wiggle out of this. I also can't wait to see what kind of an ally Nina will be for them next season. Somehow I think she's the key to letting them stay.
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Jun 5, 2007 10:07 AM
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topoopon, you should have spoken up sooner!  Seriously, I like to hear differing thoughts (and anyone who takes their name from Triumph the Insult Comic Dog shouldn't be shy!) I don't consider that flaming. As for my take on The Riches, if you go back to the beginning of my blog, you'll see that I initially enjoyed it and that I was very disappointed when it became clear the writers had little idea of where the show or the characters were going. As for TVG paying me to watch the show, we all take on shows on a volunteer basis. I signed up for this because it looked fantastic and I'm a huge Izzard fan. But my expectations were not met. We're encouraged to give our honest opinions of the shows we cover, not just gush over them (unless, that's how we actually feel). Next season though make sure you create your own blog on it! I'd love to read your take on it.
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Jun 5, 2007 10:46 AM
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Raven - Thanks for contributing a great blog. I am in total agreement with you - I REALLY wanted to love this show but found it very difficult to even like on a consistant basis. My favorite parts of the show are where they were being themselves - "Travelers". I loved the scams, and the weird relatonships but I really had little interest when they became normal "buffers".
I have to say that I found FX's "DIRT" to be a much more entertaining show even though it was flamed by critics.
I will return to watch next season and I hope that Raven does too! If the writers are reading this I would like more scams, no Dale, more Hugh and Nina!
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Jun 5, 2007 11:07 AM
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I really enjoy The Riches although I don't like it so much when Dahlia goes off the deep end. I love the kids and Wayne and Grannie. Last night I totally cracked up when Wayne delivered the line about being a 'mechanic'. Eddie Izzard is wonderful in the role...as is Minnie Driver but I wish her character would't be so dark sometimes. I'm sorry it's over and I look forward to the next season. BTW, Minnie Driver should be an emmy nominee.
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Jun 5, 2007 5:43 PM
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Eddie & Minnie are a riot in these roles. Not my most favorite show but I did enjoy this season and I'll probably be back next season.
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Jun 6, 2007 10:25 AM
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I enjoyed this show much more than I thought that I would. I love Minnie Driver now! I can't wait to see how they manage to stay on as the "Riches". Dale seems to hated by most bloggers. I think he adds an interesting twist. He is skanky and evil, but every show needs a villain. That youngest kid of the Malloy's creeps me out way more than Dale. Next season I would like to some of the REAL Riches, via home movies or flashbacks. With Pete as a best friend, I think my take on Doug Rich was off. I love Nina and totally agree that I wish I could go with the Malloys on their next adventure!
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Jun 6, 2007 1:58 PM
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Watching the finale of The Shield one night after watching the finale of The Riches only points out how far The Riches has to go to become an elite show. I know it's probably not a fair comparison (not many shows on ANY network could measure up to The Shield), but watching their finales back-to-back on consecutive nights only highlighted their differences. I was on the edge of my seat for 90 minutes during The Shield, while I couldn't believe how little actually happened in 60 minutes on The Riches.
I know they're different types of shows, but they need to raise the bar next season on The Riches. More happened before The Shield's opening theme than the entire finale of The Riches...
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Jun 6, 2007 4:11 PM
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Love it...cant wait for this show to come back....
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Dec 28, 2007 10:02 PM
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Are we going to get an updated blog for the Riches
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Mar 25, 2008 3:18 PM
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