Riches is a cross-Atlantic diasporic story that follows a Black British family as they vie for the family business, Flair and Glory, after the death of the patriarch and original founder of the family company dies. The show has all the trappings of a primetime hit show with acting veterans such as Sarah Niles, Hugh Quarshie, and Brendan Coyle but the freshness of a pilot featuring newer actors like Ola Orebiyi, Adeyinka Akinrinde, and Nneka Okoye. The show is wildly lauded for its similarities to shows like Succession or Empire for its powerful appeal- intriguing and challenging audiences. While there seem to be ample similarities to other primetime shows, you might be thinking what makes Riches worth watching?

Cultural Relevance and Visibility

This goes without saying or writing, but Riches presents several varieties of diasporic stories. For context, Nina Richards (Deborah Ayorinde) and Simon Richards (Emmanuel Imani) are a part of their Father’s secret family in the United States. Nina’s presence is integral to the storyline. And in true American fashion, both children are scrappier, bold, and forthright unlike, their monied siblings in London; characters Alesha (Adeyinka Akinrinde), Gus (Ola Orebiyi), and Wanda (Nneka Okoye). It’s interesting how Simon and Nina’s backgrounds subtly translate to their role in challenging the family status quo and, ultimately, saving of the family company Flair and Glory. More broadly, the family’s representation is a subtle nod to the US and U.K. (which are some of the largest Nigerian populations outside of Nigeria, by the way). With the advent of Netflix Africa, pushes for diversity across the arts, and increased visibility of the African diaspora It's largely affirming to see a platform like Amazon prime follows suit with highlighting the diaspora. More specifically, for holding space, if you will, for the complexities and connections that are not immediately apparent to the wider public. Beyond the intentionality behind casting, and storytelling, it was also encouraging to see other Black professionals, like Jourdan Dunn, or Patricia Bright and Candice Braithwaite featured. It was incredibly refreshing to see a relevant story that spanned beyond traditional media. This element was certainly intriguing but was only the beginning of what the show had to offer.

Storyline

The show is chalk-full of suspense-filled drama. As if it was not enough for the audience to be dropped in the middle of a family feud, the audience can expect a potential re-appearance of the dead, a string of affairs, and a thieving mistress. There are a lot of twists and turns, for now, I’ll resist the temptation to spoil the series.

Character Development

It's also a pleasure to see the characters progress and become more dimensional as the story progresses. Alicia, the confident eldest sister who is quick to slide in with quick wit and candor when she can, is ultimately confronted with dealing with her dyslexia when elected to a role in the family business. She also pushes her emotional boundaries expands as she deals with confronts more family secrets. Similarly, Wanda can find her voice as she navigates her own understanding of a complicated family dynamic, and later, her love life. Understanding each of the character’s individual journeys to define their voice and reconciling with their family dynamic is one of the show’s best elements.

Ultimately, Riches is a solid weekend watch for the individual looking for a light-hearted yet engaging show.