With the regular network TV viewing season coming to a close, it’s time to up our binge watching. Whether it’s Hulu, Amazon, Netflix, iTunes or old DVDs of the Gilmore Girls gathering dust in the basement, now is the time to watch those shows you might have overlooked during the year because you just couldn’t fit in ONE MORE SHOW. I feel you. You are my people.
Now the big question is, what show do you invest your time in? If you are like me, you want a show that maybe isn’t 22-24 episodes per season, has less than three seasons, has a premise that doesn’t revolve around a courtroom, emergency room, or police station, and has some man candy.
Enter Bravo’s new scripted series, Imposters. It has only ten episodes, just aired the finale of its first season, centers around con artists and their unwilling victims, and has Parker Young (Suburgatory, Arrow). I think we have a winner kids!
I kept hearing about this show and seeing ads for it while I was watching Real Housewives and decided to give it a go. I watched all ten episodes in 48 hours. Now I understand this is no feat for binge watching champions, however let me just state, I have a five-year-old who never, ever stops talking and has been sick so you know this show is good if I watched the entire season in less time than it takes for the five caterpillars in my child’s room to become butterflies. (Caterpillars are gross by the way. The whole thing is creeping me out. I just dry heaved.)
In the first episode we meet Ezra (Rob Heaps), a lovable dolt who learns his credit cards have been maxed and banks accounts drained when he’s trying to buy his Belgian wife, Ava (Inbar Lavi), a 29-day anniversary puppy. He goes home to learn all of her belongings are gone, the safe is empty and his wife is gone. She leaves him a website in lipstick on the fridge which tells him if he tries to find her she will tell his mother about his father’s philandering ways and how dear old dad stole a patent for the company’s boot business. This sends Ezra into a suicidal spiral where he just goes through the motions of his everyday life and cannot “just move on.” What’s great about this show is that it goes a little dark, but not too dark, not ‘Abby on Scandal digging into Frankie Vargas’ intestines for the third bullet’ dark….it goes gray….maybe charcoal, but never black. It never gets too depressing or too heavy. I don’t need heavy in my life. I need funny. I need smart. I need abs. I digress.
We then meet Richard (Parker Young), who was also married to Ava, but she wasn’t Ava, she was Alice. She wasn’t Belgian, she was a high brow New Yorker who was great at encouraging Richard to follow his dreams of becoming a senator. Ezra and Richard decide to team up to track down Ava/Alice and learn a little grifting skills of their own along the way…neither of them have any money remember?? Side note: Am I the only one who never realized they speak French in Belgium? Please tell me I’m not alone. Am I? I can’t be. I’m alone. I am an island.
The series also stars Brian Benben (Private Practice, Dream On, and a million other things) and Katherine LaNasa (Satisfaction) as Ava/Alice’s cohorts. What’s that? A supporting cast that has a purpose and moves the story along??? Can I get an Amen??!! I also judge a show by my ability to remember the names of all the characters. I still watch shows where I refer to series regulars as “the tech girl” and “the hot one with the freckles.” I’m looking at you, ABC’s The Catch. I remember everyone on Imposters, which is no easy feat since multiple characters have multiple names and aliases.
If I had to hand out awards for this series, they would be:
Best Cameo/Guest Star, hands down, goes to Uma Thurman. That’s right, Uma “Frickin’ Beatrix Kiddo” Thurman. She plays Lenny Cohen, the cleaner for Ava/Alice’s boss, and let’s just say she is one scary bitch. Do not mess with Lenny.
Favorite Couple goes to Sally and Max. It’s mature, it’s built on mutual affection and admiration, it’s real. When Max looks at her and says, “It’s always been you, Sal,” you believe it. I love the character of Sally so much. She’s also a mother figure and mentor to Ava/Alice, which is a nice layer to the character that helps the audience become invested in her. See what I mean about the supporting cast having a purpose???
Favorite Episode was easily Episode 6. So. Much. Goes. Down. There is a surprise birthday party, a huge reveal and Richard in a tank top. What more could you ask for?
Best Supporting Character – All of Ava/Alice’s wigs.
Throughout the series, we learn some back-stories, true motivations, see some unlikely friendships formed and definitely experience a few twists and jaw dropping moments. I watch a lot of TV. A lot. I’m an only child. TV is my friend so I like to think I can spot a twist coming from a mile away and usually figure things out PRIOR to them happening or am underwhelmed when a twist is revealed. Without getting too spoilery, Imposters definitely delivers at least two jaw-dropping moments that I did not see coming, I’m looking at you Episode 6. The episodes move quickly and there were no “filler” episodes because there are only ten in the season. The show isn’t perfect and definitely got a little off track about halfway through the season for a few episodes but quickly righted itself and got its mojo back by the finale. It is definitely worth your time and just got renewed for a second season!
Imposters Season 2 is set to air in 2018.
Written by Andrea
Current Obsessions: Any and all drive-thrus, crushed ice, Kimmy Schmidt, flavored creamer, Kristen Ashley’s alpha males, jimmies (not sprinkles, never sprinkles), JAMMF, moody vampires, movie popcorn, my eyebrows, Graham Norton, beauty masks and Amazon Prime.
