The Riches Recap: Pilot
This has got to be one of the more confusing episodes (and shows) to get into in quite some time. That doesn't mean that it isn't worth watching (it is). It's just not the easiest thing to pick up. Unlike Dirt, the other new FX show to come out this year, The Riches takes a completely different approach.
Have no fear, for there is plenty of language you won't hear on the major networks, and you will see some situations that you aren't likely to pick up elsewhere (though likely not any that you'll see on Dirt), but this is more of a thinking-mans show. Nothing wrong with that, to be sure. Just be prepared for the ride.
We first meet the Malloy family (bear with me) as father Wayne (Eddie Izzard), son Cael (Noel Fisher), daughter DiDi (Shannon Marie Woodward) and gender-challenged son Sam (Aidan Mitchell) fleece unsuspecting marks - dubbed "buffers" at a high school reunion.
This is where we first find that dad Wayne has a wonderful gift for gab, easily allowing him to blend into almost any situation, even as he badly flubs most any line and recover well from his mistakes. As he addresses the crowd, the kids roam the hall, picking pockets and making away with whatever they can.
As their welcome wears out, they make for their RV - apparently part of their required uniform - and hightail it out of town. Not long after, the police catch up to them, and lighten their load. Not sure if this is a bribe or what (it seems to be, since no one is arrested). And that's when we meet the mom.
Dahlia (Minnie Driver) is fresh out of prison, hooked on who-knows-what, and isn't too happy that her ride was late. Luckily the kids bail dad out of hot water for talking up the cashier at the convenience store, and everyone heads for home, which is a sort of commune-in-the-woods where all the "travelers" meet up when they're not out taking advantage of buffers.
Wayne has decided he's had about enough of this life, so one night he sneaks in, and under the sickly nose of Earl, the head of the family who is confined to bed, he sneaks off with the "family bank" - somewhere around $40,000, and the family hits the road. Not that $40,000 is that much, but when you're used to relying on your wits and not much else, it's a good start.
Unfortunately, while they are out, they run into another family, and that doesn't end well - they run another car into the woods, and while the Malloys stop and see what's happening, the other family takes off. What the Malloys find is a couple of rich people (conveniently named the Riches) who are dying. So they do what any other opportunistic family would do. They take over their lives.
Actually, they just decide to check out their house first. So they do, and they spend the night there. But the next day, furniture is delivered. Then "Doug" (Wayne) is invited to play golf and Dahlia meets her neighbor, who shares a little secret (she likes to take pills), so it seems like they're going to stay for a while.
