Friday, February 18, 2022

What I’m Watching: Inventing Anna (Penultimate Episode)

Inventing Anna: Season 1, Episode 8 “Too Rich for Her Blood” (B+)

This show has smartly continued its focus on Vivian and her life after the article got published, including a handful of news clips but otherwise relegating it to how the world reacted, like with the “Fake German Heiress” t-shirt that Vivian was not happy to see someone wearing. Neff was overjoyed to see her on a billboard in Times Square, though the story really didn’t paint her in a very positive light, even if Vivian thought everyone completely misunderstood the takeaways. Anna telling her that she had thought she was a real journalist was cruel, as was her comment that she lost weight, which prompted the far kinder and more observant guard to congratulate her on having the baby. Going to Germany was a big move, one that resulted in some interesting interactions with her translator and those who knew Anna growing up. The flashback to Anna’s father diluting his 3,000 EUR wine to make a point was very informative, and the idea of Anna going from social outcast to fashion police felt very right. She was unexpectedly honest – and perhaps completely deceitful – in her psych evaluation at Cedars-Sinai, and her attitude towards rehab was just as out of touch as all of her other endeavors. Rachel calling her to get her to leave the facility so she could be arrested was an unexpected and major move from the woman who knew Anna would believe that she had just “gotten over” the fact that she wasn’t sure she would be able to pay her rent since Anna still hadn’t paid her back. Anna telling Vivian she would have to wait to find out with the rest of the world was the best tease I can think of for the finale, which I’m sure will still leave many questions up in the air since Anna is truly an enigma.

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