The Ripley TV series Crime Drama follows the adventures of the slightly unhinged grifter Tom Ripley. Based on Patricia Highsmith’s novel, The Talented Mr Ripley. It is part of her series of books about her anti-hero. It is one of the most stylish Netflix Tv crime dramas in recent years. Note the series is just called ‘Ripley’.

First Impression

It’s an art-house representation of the Ripley books, filmed in black and white. It is relying on Ripley’s general behaviour and unspoken emotions to make it work. He’s generally very placid, almost unsettlingly so — a far cry from the more colourful antics of other crime dramas including other attempts of Ripley dramas.

You soon realise he isn’t normal. His body language and general “weirdness” fill the screen where colour would have been in a more conventional in this adaptation.

Will I watch more?

Yes, definitely. I want to know what Ripley is truly capable of — which is exactly what makes this psychological thriller so compelling. A riveting Ripley TV Series

Contains Minor Spoiler

As the story takes root, Ripley is sent to southern Italy to bring home the son of a wealthy shipping merchant. This is where the story really begins.

Ripley tracks down the merchant’s son, Dickie, who’s living the good life with his girlfriend, Marge. Even early on, it’s evident that Ripley wants to steal his host’s identity — and, rather brutally, he does.

The second half of the Ripley TV series evolves into a caper, with Ripley living a far better life than his old one in New York as a small-time thief. He achieves this by taking over the identity of his host, Dickie Greenleaf, the man who welcomed him into his home in southern Italy.

Amid the comfort and beauty of Rome, Ripley has to shift identity depending on who he’s with — by fair means or foul. Sometimes he’s Tom Ripley, but he prefers being Dickie Greenleaf, as it comes with wealth and a better life. This constant shape-shifting is at the heart of the Tom Ripley identity theft storyline that drives the entire series.

Ripley has plenty to manage: Dickie Greenleaf has friends, a love interest in Marge, and — occasionally — the police to contend with. Tom has to think on his feet, and he certainly does.

Whether he stays Dickie Greenleaf is hard to predict — but Tom is a grifter, and a very good one, an amoral one. I will not spoil the end of the story by revealing the end of the story which I stuck with till the end