Sneaky Pete

[peter]

Can't find a thread dedicated to this (now into it's nth series) so having just watched the first series almost compulsively, I decided to give it a plug. It's on Amazon Prime and if you haven't already seen it I highly recommend it.

Focusing on the activities of recently paroled con artist Marius Josipovic (as portrayed by Giovanni Ribisi) the series kicks off almost from the initial off, such that by the end of episode one there is no doubt you are in it for the duration. Marius, finding himself in the sights of one of the nasty individuals he has wronged prior to his arrest and imprisonment, takes on the identity of a fellow prisoner who, having shared cell time with him, he is aware has not had contact with his remoter family for twenty plus years. Inveigling his way into the family home he soon discovers that he has entered a complex and troubled group of oddball individuals who are having multiple problems of their own.

Never quite letting you forget that Pete is the supreme conman, the series leads you into thinking he is falling for the undeniable charms of the group, before pulling you back with a sudden cold glance or dubious action, swiftly covered, as he performs his desparate balancing act of convincing the family, covering his tracks from the hoods who seek him (and are holding his brother).

All in all it's been a good teh hours of viewing, with a nice little hook at the end to set you up for series two. Fully recommended.

[peter]

Watched series two...... and then three......both of which were good viewing, with an ending to the third series that left you wanting to see the resolution of a building romance (with difficulties) between two of the lead characters........

And then nothing!

The fourth series was pulled by Amazon and never got made. Damn, there should be a law against that; I had really invested in the story and almost physically needed to see where it would finish up - and then was left hanging with no resolution of any kind to fall back on. Maybe the viewing figures were simply not up to the mark - I don't know - but it was a serious let down for anybody who had been following it and a real black mark against Amazon.

Lesson to would be writers of TV series; finish your stories in any given series - tie up all the loose ends! You can't trust the money men behind your funding to stick with you if they see a sweeter pie on the other side of the room.