With so many streaming services competing for our attention, the amount of TV shows on offer can be overwhelming but to hopefully make your choice of TV a little easier, The Focus has picked out a series that should be well worth your time, the new Netflix arrival Ripley.
Starring Andrew Scott of Sherlock and Fleabag fame, the limited series is coming to Netflix on April 4 and several elements both in front of the camera and behind the scenes make Ripley essential TV viewing.
What is Ripley about?
Ripley is a gripping psychological thriller that is based on the acclaimed 1955 crime novel The Talented Mr Ripley by Patricia Highsmith.
The book spawned a novel series spanning five entries in total and while Ripley may be billed as a limited series, the possibility of future seasons hasn’t been ruled out if it proves successful.
Set in the early 1960s, the series begins in New York as it follows the titular Tom Ripley, a master con artist, who is hired by a wealthy shipping magnate to travel to Italy and convince his wayward son to return home.
However, the seemingly innocuous job proves to be the first stepping stone down a path of deceit, fraud and murder.
Why it’s my TV pick of the week
As he portrays the titular character in Ripley, Andrew Scott is easily the biggest selling point of the Netflix series.
But while the Irish actor may have become synonymous with his comedic role as Fleabag’s Hot Priest in recent years, his BAFTA-winning performance as the scheming Moriarty in Sherlock is more relevant to his latest project.
That is reason enough to check out Ripley as Moriarty was a standout highlight from the BBC series and even after the character met his grizzly end, Scott’s incredible performance meant that he was invited back on several occasions to appear in flashback scenes.
If Scott succeeds in bringing an ounce of the talent he displayed in either Sherlock or Fleabag, then Ripley is worth diving into for him alone.
However, there are several other reasons why Ripley should be deserving of your time. Chief among them is the award-winning novel upon which it’s based. Despite being published almost 70 years ago, The Talented Mr Ripley is still highly regarded and any adaptation should pique the curiosity of viewers.
On the subject of which, the most high-profile adaptation of the novel to date is the 1999 movie starring Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow and Cate Blanchett. The movie was adored by critics and earned five Oscar nominations. If nothing else, Netflix’s TV series is worth watching for comparison’s sake at the very least.
And finally, Steve Zaillian, the man responsible for writing and directing Ripley should make potential viewers sit up and take notice. That’s because he’s the Oscar-winning writer of 1993’s Schindler’s List who has also received nominations for his work on Awakenings, Gangs of New York, Moneyball and The Irishman. With an Emmy also in his collection for his work on the HBO series The Night Of, Zaillian brings plenty of behind-the-camera pedigree to Ripley, making the show an appetizing prospect indeed.
Ripley will be available to stream on Netflix from Thursday, April 4, 2024.
