From the creative mind of Shonda Rhimes comes Inventing Anna.
It’s the story of Anna Delvey that you’ve likely heard before, but with Shondaland’s exclusive twist on it.
Delvey, real name Anna Sorokin, was a faux socialite who scammed New York’s high society, including hotels, banks, Wall Street, and elite friends.
The Russian immigrant posed as a German heiress in an attempt to steal millions of dollars from the wealthy.
But despite having Sorokin’s name in the title, the first episode of the Netflix limited series hinges heavily on Vivian Kent, the ambitious journalist who landed the tell-all interview with Delvey.
Anna Chlumsky (who you might remember from the ’90s My Girl fame) is a powerhouse in the role as she sets her sights on Delvey/Sorokin (played by Ozark’s Julia Garner) in order to revive her career.
Inventing Anna. Anna Chlumsky as Vivian Kent in episode 103 of Inventing Anna. Cr. David Giesbrecht/Netflix © 2021
Kent has been banished to “Scriberia,” a corner of the office where she’s convinced journalists go to die. After coming upon Delvey’s upcoming trial, she sniffs out a case and tries to convince her bosses — Paul and Landon — to cover the story.
Unfortunately, neither of them seemed particularly moved by her spiel as they insist she covers the women of Wall Street’s #MeToo plight.
Kent, however, doesn’t feel compelled to bully these women into telling their stories for clickbait and pursues the Delvey story instead.
The more she digs, the less she knows.
Delvey is an enigma who seemingly crafted many personas while schmoozing with New York’s upper echelon.
Eventually, Kent is able to convince the editor of The Manhattan (the show’s New York magazine) to let her roll with the story.
It’s unclear why her editor, Paul, has it out for her, but the series seems to purposefully leave Kent’s background vague throughout the episode.
All we know is that something went wrong, a little boy was involved, Google will remember it forever (the internet never forgets), and that’s she’s desperate to revive her career, a feat she hopes to accomplish before she has her baby girl. When she realizes that it might not be possible, she has an entire breakdown at the gynecologist’s office during the ultrasound, which, as a woman trying to juggle a career and motherhood, is all too relatable.
And then — she gets the absolute motivation to convince Delvey to reject the plea deal being offered and fight for her reputation as well.
In an intense meeting where Kent levels with Delvey, she convinces her that she deserves to have her story told.
But that’s not what ultimately persuades Delvey. As a journalist, you want something from your subject, but in order to get it, you also have to know what your subject wants. So, in exchange for her story, Kent promises Delvey the one thing she wants more than anything: fame.
After all, Delvey herself claims that the persona she made up is a “masterpiece, bitches,” while the friends she conned note that she was a “legend” and “icon.”
In that pivotal scene, it seems as though Kent has fully tapped into why Delvey concocted her scheme in the first place. While she claims to be a businesswoman who wanted to secure a loan for an exclusive club she wanted to open up, Delvey was obsessed with the high life; the exclusivity of being an “it” girl.
Kent tapped into the vein fueling Delvey’s motivations this whole time — even from the depths of Rikers.
While the series is based on a true story, it’s definitely not an accurate depiction of what really happened, but that’s neither here nor there because the episode is wildly entertaining and keeps you hanging on to every single delusion Delvey divulges.
Much of Kent’s background — even if vague at times — is presented, while there’s just enough of Garner’s Delvey, with her intense accent, to hook you into coming back for more.
Though neither would admit it, Delvey and Kent have one thing in common — the need to prove themselves, which makes this profile something that’s in both of their best interests.
Inventing Anna. Julia Garner as Anna Delvery in episode 104 of Inventing Anna. Cr. Nicole Rivelli/Netflix © 2021
And it’s even in the interest of Delvey’s lawyer, Todd, who also wants to prove himself as an ADA.
Todd, played by Arian Moayed, is definitely battling some insecurity issues. He even tells his wife, a powerful attorney working at her father’s firm, that he feels inferior to many of their friends. He may be defending the world’s biggest con artist, but somehow, he’s the one feeling like a fraud while Delvey remains adamant she’s not the criminal they are painting her out to be.
At times, you almost feel for Delvey and start to believe her story, only to realize that her act is one big manipulation tactic. It also becomes harder to empathize with her when she calls Kent out for looking “very poor” and “very, very fat.” However, those moments paint a vivid photo of the kind of things Delvey prioritized, even while spending time in one of the most dangerous prisons.
All of this likely proves that Garner has nailed the role of the woman who was able to manipulate some of the smartest people in the city.
Of course, while much of the back-and-forth dance happens between Kent and Delvey, there’s an incredible supporting cast.
Todd faces off assistant DA Catherine McCaw played by Westworld’s Rebecca Henderson.
Rhimes takes care of her own as Scandal’s Katie Lowes and Jeff Perry; Lowes plays ex-Vanity Fair picture researcher and Delvey’s bestie Rachel DeLoache Williams, while Perry is Kent’s fellow journalist.
The Bold Type’s Alexis Floyd as Neff, an employee at the hotel Delvey stayed at who assists Kent with her story, while Orange Is the New Black’s Laverne Cox will appear as celebrity fitness trainer Kacy Duke.
Inventing Anna has all the makings of a Rhimes hit series, so strap in for the ride because from the looks of it, Delvey is just getting started as we take a peak behind the curtain to figure out what exactly led up to this very prison meeting.
And we can’t wait to see where Garner takes this role as the trial ramps up, which leaves all of NYC’s finest quaking in their boots.
After all, did you ever imagine that Ruth would become the moral heartbeat of Ozark?!