"Ripley" on Netflix Reminds Us What Prestige TV Is | Review

Ripley, streaming now on Netflix, reminds us what prestige TV is. In the early 2000s there was this idea that TV was going to be the salvation of narrative visual work. That promise never really materialized but every once and a while a show comes along that is so good it reminds us how great TV can truly be, something cinematic and artistic on every level. The editing, directing, writing and acting in Ripley (2024) are all so fantastic that it even competes the 1999 movie "The Talented Mr.Ripley" I may even like this version of "Ripley" more. Andrew Scott's portrayal of Tom Ripley is in many ways more complex and nuanced than Matt Damon's interpretation of the character of Tom Ripley. It's very difficult to create a good remake and even harder to create a remake of piece of media (movie or TV show) when that media is well-liked and well-done. Ripley is able to create a streaming show that is unique from the original, bringing up new themes, ideas, and aesthetics, while still staying true to the overall themes and story. Excellent show on Netflix, high recommend!
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[@MintVolcano]

What is you favorite modern TV show?

[@lvhakola]

Succession. Love these essays and going to give Ripley a shot!

[@MintVolcano]

I recently heard that was the best show of the last 10 years I need to watch that

[@dbfisher]

Thanks for the heads up!

[@goodcitizen3027]

The Wire. I have seen it more than 10 times.

[@MintVolcano]

Same! I must have rewatched the wire more than any other show, except maybe early Simpsons seasons

[@jjgreen1333]

Thanks for reminding me to watch the rest of Ripley! I find Netflix does sometimes create some gems. I started watching the romantic drama One Day on a whim. Never usually watch that genre. I was hooked. Watched the whole thing to the end. I think - as with Ripley - it helps if the source content is high quality. I discovered after watching One Day that it was based on a very popular novel. Perhaps the Netflix execs are more inclined to trust the writers when they're working with something already proven, and they're less likely to push for their tried-and-tested but also tired and hackneyed formulas.

[@HNCS2006]

I also found taking "talented" out of the title interesting. The movie version is implied to be talented, he plays classical music, impersonates well, picks language quickly. A lot of these traits are shared by the series version. I actually think the series emphasizes way more than the movie how talented Ripley actually is. It's explicitly shown how Ripley is more talented than Dickie in painting, more talented than Marge in writing, very quick at picking up not only Italian but Sicilian dialect, he in fact is deeply moved by Mina's music and Caravaggio. Damon Ripley came to like Jazz but never had an affinity with it. Despite the crimes having to be reactive, i think the final act of trickery was very clever with forethought. That letter to the landlady was planted quite ahead of time. The series does emphasise however just how difficult it is to get rid of a body, hence it may seem like series Ripley is a little less "competent".

[@MintVolcano]

Yeah perhaps it’s simply more realistic so even being talented you also need some luck to pull off what he does

[@marcelac13]

Great video thanks! Loved Ripley, so much to take from it. What's your view on the character Freddie? The fact the only character Ripley can't read/control is portrait by a nonbinary actor was interesting.

[@MintVolcano]

Yeah I loved how they reinterpreted Freddie in this version. That’s a cool idea that Ripley developed skills for both men and women but wasn’t able to deal with someone who was non-binary

[@julias3386]

Hmm you have too few views. 😆Thank you for your analysis. I don’t agree though that Ripley isn’t talented. I think his talent is just more realistic.