Inventing Annahas taken the internet by storm, from trending TikTok sounds to memes. The Netflix series follows the story of faux-German heiress Anna Delvey as she worms her way into New York society while trying to start her own foundation, aptly named The Anna Delvey Foundation, with a multi-million dollar loan she nearly secured from an equity firm. The show is based on theNew York Magazinearticle by Jessica Pressler published in 2018. This isn’t the first article by Pressler to be given a media adaption. Her 2015 article “The Hustlers at Scores” was turned into the major motion pictureHustlersin 2019.
While many crimes series are scheduled to come out this year,Inventing Annais going to be the one to remember. It was created byShonda Rhimes, creator of shows likeGrey’s Anatomy,Bridgerton, andScandal. Like her other shows, it has been incredibly well-received. Rhimes is not new to writing drama, butInventing Annais based on different material than her others. That said, what aboutInventing Annahas captivated everyone so much? What makes it different from other dramatized true crime shows airing this year?Inventing Annastands out in many ways, but mostly for its subject, the way the show is formatted, the cast, and the secondary story revealed near the end.
The Subject
Something about Anna Delvey, also known as Anna Sorkin, stands out to audiences. Anna isn’t trying to cover up a death; she’s trying to infiltrate New York high society, and she succeeds. It’s a different crime story than what other shows portray, which makes it stand out and grab interest. Additionally, she shows a life on social media that many want to experience, some of her friends included. It’s infectious to watch her life, and viewers can’t help but want to be part of it.
Related:6 Shows Like Inventing Anna You Need to Watch Next
AsInventing Annatakes us on Vivian’s journey, the reporter trying to tell Anna’s story, the pieces the audience learns are intriguing. Anna goes from one life to the next, sometimes in the same scene. Everyone Vivian speaks to shows Anna in a new light, often opposing something said by another, and it’s fascinating to try and determine who Anna really is. The audience is almost given the task of determining who the real Anna is for themselves, which makes the show more interactive than most. Even as Vivian tells Anna she can’t confirm any of what she’s telling her, Anna sticks to her story. Anna’s confidence is fascinating to watch, drawing the viewer in for more.
The Format
Unlike other true crime series, the audience isn’t given episode after episode of archival footage and recordings, interviews with the real people involved, and haunting voiceovers. Viewers experience Anna’s story through Vivian in scenes that act almost like flashbacks. They show the audience parts of Anna’s life as Vivian discovers them, which, as a viewer, feels like you are being let in on whatever Anna’s secret to life is. It’s not a unique viewing experience, but it is different from what most true crime series offer and works to the shows' advantage.
WhileInventing Annaisn’t the first dramatized true crime series out there, it is one of the most well-done. Part of the success of the series is that the audience doesn’t know what’s true and what isn’t, mostly due to the disclaimer at the beginning of the first episode. It’s exactly like the life of the real Anna Delvey. This uncertainty has caused viewers to further research her, reading the original articles that inspired the show and bringing new attention to the case. This adds to the hype of the series and brings in new viewers as they see the show or Anna herself trending across social media from the increased searches.
Inventing Annais perfectly cast.Julia Garnerportrays the infamous Anna, and she captures her essence flawlessly, including the hard-to-place accent.Garner has discussed how she achieved the accent, layering different ones until she sounded the part. Not only did she sound like Anna, she also exuded a sense of authority and class that’s hard to ignore. She commanded the screen well, and while Anna is the titular character, not every scene focused on her. Garner managed to steal every scene she was in, from her mannerisms to her facial expressions, really driving home Anna’s attitude to the audience. It added to the story’s believability and intrigue.
Related:Here Are the True Crime Documentaries We’re Looking Forward to in 2022
The rest of the cast has amazing chemistry, both with each other and Garner. Anna Chlumsky (Vivian Kent), Laverne Cox (Kacy Duke, trainer and lifestyle coach), Katie Lowes (Rachel Williams), and Alexis Floyd (Neff Davis, employee of the 12 George) all interact well and make the audience care for their characters and the plights they end up in at Anna’s hand. The audience is taken on their journeys too, and the cast sells it.
The Friend
The story of Rachel Williams, Anna’s friend that was left with $62,000 in debt on her company credit card, is also intriguing. She published an article inVanity Fairin 2018 detailing her experience as Anna’s friend. Rachel’s testimony during Anna’s trial in the series adds a new layer to the story, causing the viewer to question if they should feel bad for her. In the show, Rachel had the debt waived, received a book deal, a television show option, and helped the NYPD arrest Anna by luring her out of rehab. She seemingly gets off well, considering everything. This storyline adds another curiosity for a viewer to get wrapped up in, which adds to the show’s appeal.
Inventing Annabrings the audience into the story and has a compelling subject and great cast. This, combined with the delivery, make it the true crime series to beat this year.
