Ep 2. Believe the Lie

As the opening credits roll, the family of grifters known as the Malloys continues to navigate their new life in the upper-middle-class suburbs of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In episode 2 of The Riches, entitled "Believe the Lie," Wayne (Eddie Izzard) struggles to maintain his cover as Doug Rich, a successful lawyer and pillar of the community, while his wife, Dahlia (Minnie Driver), grows restless and begins to question their risky new venture.

The episode opens with Dahlia working a con at a local clothing store, posing as a wealthy socialite in search of a wardrobe for a charity event. Her natural charm and savvy salesmanship win over the store's owner, but after she leaves, it becomes clear that she's stolen some expensive jewelry from the display case. Meanwhile, Wayne is grappling with the pressures of his fake job, trying to keep up with the endless meetings, emails, and paperwork that come with being a partner at a prestigious law firm.

As the week drags on, the tension between Wayne and Dahlia grows, and their children, Cael (Noel Fisher) and Di Di (Shannon Woodward), become more entrenched in their double lives. Cael, who is struggling in school, starts to act out, stealing a fancy sports car from one of his father's clients and taking it for a joyride. He's caught by the police, but Wayne manages to pull some strings and get him released with a warning.

Dahlia, meanwhile, begins to indulge in some risky behavior of her own, including drinking heavily and flirting with her neighbor, who is suspicious of the Malloys' sudden wealth and status. She also starts to reach out to her old friends from the trailer park, despite Wayne's warning that they can't afford to have any loose ends. Her desperation to escape the suffocating lie they're living in becomes more and more palpable.

Throughout the episode, there are glimpses of the Malloys' complicated backstory, including flashbacks to their former lives as low-level con artists with a tragic past. It's clear that they're all haunted by their past and struggling to come to terms with their new identities as the Riches.

The climax of the episode comes when Wayne is tasked with giving a speech at a charity event, and he realizes that his cover is in danger of being blown. The pressure of the situation causes him to have a panic attack, and he flees the event, leaving Dahlia to cover for him and try to salvage their reputation. It's a foreshadowing of the dangers that lie ahead for the Malloys, as they navigate the treacherous waters of their new life and try to keep their past from catching up with them.

Overall, "Believe the Lie" is a tense and gripping episode that explores the complex dynamics of a family on the run, desperate to make a new start but constantly threatened by their past. The characters are richly drawn and nuanced, and the plot moves along at a brisk pace, with plenty of twists and turns to keep the audience engaged. It's a promising start to a compelling drama that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats.