Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Inventing Anna’ On Netflix, The Shondaland Series About The Fake Heiress Who Conned New York’s Wealthy & Glamorous

It’s been almost 4 years since we learned about Anna Delvey (or Anna Sorokin, depending on who you ask) in the viral New York Magazine piece that exposed this prolific scammer. This stranger-than-fiction story seemed made for an on-screen adaptation, and who better to tackle it than bonafide hit-maker Shonda Rhimes. Inventing Anna, starring Ozark and The Americans breakout Julia Garner as the titular con artist, is now streaming on Netflix. 

INVENTING ANNA: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

Opening Shot: A story goes to the printer in a warehouse.

The Gist: It’s 2017. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office announces the indictment of Anna Sorokin – also known as Anna Delvey (Julia Garner) on more than a few counts of grand larceny and theft of services. There’s a small writeup about her arrest in the Post, but for the most part, Anna Delvey’s story flies under the radar. That is until journalist Vivian Kent (Anna Chlumsky) hears about it. Sensing the potential in the story, she brings it to her editors at Manhattan Magazine, who quickly shoot her down and tell her to focus on her piece about #MeToo on Wall Street. Undeterred, she heads to court for Anna’s arraignment, where she tries (unsuccessfully) to poke at Anna’s attorney Todd (Arian Moayed). Anna is remanded to Rikers Island until her trial. Behind her editors’ backs, Vivian writes Anna an impassioned letter, hoping she’ll have the chance to go visit her in person.

With her head in Anna Delvey’s world, Vivian stands up her husband Jack (Anders Holm) at an ultrasound appointment. He’s supportive, but his patience seems to be wearing thin with her attitude towards her pregnancy (a later gender reveal ultrasound sends Vivian into a bit of a panic when she realizes that this baby is very real, and very much arriving sooner rather than later). Even with back pain and a belly to lug around, Vivian makes it to Rikers, where she meets Anna for the first time. The scammer puts on quite the show, crying as she tells Vivian that she didn’t do what they’re saying she did, and that she was just trying to start a business. She doesn’t agree to an interview quite yet, but their meeting only motivates Vivian to dig deeper. It’s not long before she’s caught working on this story, and her boss agrees to give her two weeks to come up with something or the whole thing is done. When Vivian finds out that Anna is set to take a plea deal, begins to panic: no trial means no story.

With some help from Anna’s Instagram, Vivian begins talking to people from her past, putting together a bizarrely inconsistent character sketch of the apparent German heiress. A few reality checks from the people she speaks to – particularly Anna’s friend Neff (Alexis Floyd), a hotel concierge – make Vivian realize that she’s going to have to give Anna the VIP treatment if she wants this story. On the big day in court, Anna surprises everyone – including Todd – when she changes her mind about the deal and declares that she wants a trial. And so the story begins.

What Shows Will It Remind You Of? Inventing Anna may remind you a little bit of shows like the OG Gossip Girl, Good Behavior, The Catch, and Imposters. It’s definitely got that Shonda vibe.

Our Take: For fans of the Jessica Pressler’s original piece, Inventing Anna probably feels like it should have had more in common with Succession than Gossip Girl, but this is a show that fits right in with the buzzy, broad Shondaland titles that have been dominating primetime on ABC for the last decade and change. Inventing Anna, despite its title, fails to do its titular character justice, neglecting some of the more interesting real-life details from her story in favor of some occasionally bizarre narrative choices. Vivian, especially in Anna Chlumsky’s hands, is not a compelling enough character to use as a framing device for this story. Chlumsky thrived on Veep, but seems totally out of her element on Inventing Anna as a dogged reporter, leaning into tropes we’ve seen time and time again. I’m sure Jessica Pressler has lived a totally intriguing life, but her story is not what made Anna Delvey an icon. We’re all here for Anna, the endlessly fascinating con artist who became something like a folk hero following her admittedly impressive streak of scams. In making Vivian Inventing Anna‘s heroine, we lose out on what made Anna’s story such a page-turner (page-scroller?) to begin with.

Despite these, however, the show remains compulsively watchable, even with its overlong episodes. It’s juicy and trashy and fun, the perfect weekend binge to pair with a glass (or two) of wine (even if you’re hate-watching it, which would be totally fair). Some of the lengthier installments are admittedly a slog, but the performers make it worthwhile, embracing some of the series’ campier elements and wearing the hell out of some of the series’ flashier fashion moments. Julia Garner, who most recently delivered an absolutely gutting performance on Ozark, is utterly ridiculous as Anna, and I mean that in the best way possible; she commits to the silly, sing-song accent and delivers each of her abrasive, on-the-nose lines with total conviction. It’s no secret that Garner is special, and it’s her charisma and electrifying screen presence that help keep the series afloat. The rest of the ensemble is stacked with Shondaland vets and newcomers alike, and they help Inventing Anna to shine even when the script struggles (and attempts to see the story through one too many lenses). The unsubtle Greek chorus of veteran reporters – played by Anna Deavere Smith, Jeff Perry and Terry Kinney – are particularly lovable, helping move the oft-oblivious Vivian from Point A to Point B. Inventing Anna might offer more of a messy, glitzy fantasy than any real insight into Anna Delvey, but it’s undeniably fun to watch unfold.

Sex and Skin: None.

Parting Shot: Nora and Val have a drink as they lie to each other about talking to Vivian.

Sleeper Star: Arian Moayed, Succession‘s stealthy MVP, is a welcome presence on Inventing Anna, equal parts grounding force and comic relief. The show is full of Shonda staples, and Moayed fits right in with the rest of them, shaking things up with each of his scenes (even the more boring ones involving his wife and Succession costar Caitlin Fitzgerald). It’s fun to watch him play a guy who seems torn between doing the right thing and moving his career forward, and he’s totally believable as a dedicated father and determined lawyer. We can only hope this streak of buzzy roles turns into a pattern for the consistently delightful Moayed.

Most Pilot-y Line: Gotta hand that honor to the opening narration from Anna Delvey herself, which kicks off with “This whole story, the one you’re about to sit on your fat ass and watch like a big lump of nothing, is about me.”

Our Call: STREAM IT. Even with an occasionally clunky script, Inventing Anna is ridiculously watchable, aided in part by another scene-stealing performance from Julia Garner and a top-notch ensemble.

Jade Budowski is a freelance writer with a knack for ruining punchlines, hogging the mic at karaoke, and thirst-tweeting. Follow her on Twitter: @jadebudowski.