Ripley….watch it or not?

[Wheredidmywaistgo]

I loved the books. I like Andrew Scott. But isn’t he way too old?!

Does being shot in black and white disguise his age?

He did seem a bit too old, yes. But I enjoyed the series. It is stonkingly beautifully filmed and the Italian inspector who shows up after the first few episodes is sooo engaging I would watch it just for him!

I also felt that the series did a better job than the film in terms of giving some depth and reality to Ripley. In particular I was moved by how lonely he seemed.

I haven't read the book, but I felt most of the characters (other than Freddie) had more depth in the series than in the film

Haven’t read the book but the series was very good, we enjoyed it.

Oh that sounds worth a try. I have been looking for something “really good” to watch. Beautifully filmed appeals

I got more and more impressed by the beauty the longer the series went on. Sometimes I thought the filming was even taking the mickey just slighjtly, by kind of saying "This is just too ridiculously beautiful,somebody stop me with these luscious camera angles!!!"

I loved it! the settings and atmosphere were fantastic.. only thing spoiling it was Stings offsprings (Freddie character) wooden acting, but thankfully they're not in it for long.

It was fantastic

It was so beautiful. Worth watching for the scenery alone (even though Andrew Scott looks like ant and dec in it)

I can’t unsee the ant and dec thing!

Then my work is done 😀

OP i've enjoyed the books and loved the first film. This series is different from both but definitely worth a watch on it's own merit - it's like a third unusual option.
And he is too old if you go by the books, but it doesn't really matter to the story (he's just a weird creepy guy who is a bit older but makes little difference really)
The B&W added to the atmosphere but actually annoyed me as I wanted to better see the pretty scenery!

Worth it for the cat alone

I liked it, the real star of the show is Atrani I think, so beautifully filmed, agree with pp about Freddie casting vv weird, Philip Seymour Hoffman couldn't be bettered for that role though imo.

Agree about the perfectness of Philip Seymour Hoffman. The person who played Freddie in the series just seemed to be shadowing the performance that he gave, rather than bringing anything remotely distinctive to it. It was like the mere casting of someone who regards themselves as non-binary was meant to be innovative, so that any considerations about giving an interesting performance went out the window.

We are part way through watching it and are hooked. Once you accept it's quite slow to start with and different to the film (which we loved) it's great.

The portrayal of the sheer effort involved in covering up the murders is so good.

The portrayal of the sheer effort involved in covering up the murders is so good.
Yes, yes. That is what I thought too. The physical effort of hiding bodies is portrayed at such length that it helps to convey the long-term psychological effort that Ripley has to make in order to hide his crime (which is so clearly present in Scott's wonderful performance).
Combined with his awful loneliness it really does make you think about two things. One is whether or not he is a psychopath. He so much needs Dickie, not just out of sexual attraction but as a friend. There is so much potential warmth there alongside the terrifying coldness.
But the other question is: Perhaps that's what psychopathy is? Not coldness but an intense potential warmth and commitment coupled with a total inability to climb out of a space inside oneself into a place where you are really present with other people and they start to become genuinely real to you, rather than puppets to be manipulated.
Perhaps all the blood and gore is a way to experience vividity, the reality of others, and to finally be with them.

A few episodes in. Enjoying it.