Seasons 1&2 were so good and loved the whole French Riviera with its glam and glitz. Billionaires, yachts, money, fast cars, corruption all perfect. Season 3 lost this and most of the cast that we grew to love or hate from the first 2 seasons. Rupert graves was just a bit flat and didn't really add a lot. It tired to be deep with the story with his wife but it just fell short.
174 Reviews
What on earth happened in Season 3 ??????
lapaulmac22 October 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Good season 1 decent season 2 then WTF season 3!
Never has there been such an off the beaten track follow up season in the history of TV. Absolute pointless watching season 3. Suddenly Georgina turns into a kindle of political investigative journalist in the Argentinian election & the acting is atrocious. Nothing else to say really. Shame as first 2 seasons had a lot of what You want for compelling TV, if not a little far fetched but it is San Tropez after all.
worth it
mr-w-1404118 June 2017
I have just watched all 10 episodes back to back and really enjoyed,it from start to finish,beautiful locations,a decent story line ,Julia stiles(Bourne movies) played her role really well,and what a change of role for Iwan Rheon,(Game of Thrones),overall some parts of the series could have been better,but well worth watching,would love to see a second season.
Over promised
daveylang3 July 2017
Started with great promise, but faltered early on. This show seemed to lose its way about half way through. Some of the casting was ridiculous and Lena Olin mumbled her way through some of the scenes where her dialogue was important. And the ending was a joke, it was like we've run out of time, let's end this now. Very disappointing overall.
An enjoyable summer tv show
andrealeonti30 July 2019
Let's be clear: Rivera is not a masterpiece neither is what you would call "an art show".
Thanks to a pretty envolving plot and a wonderful mise en place it's a show you can perfectly enjoy unpretentiously.
Its strong point is certainly the photography and the breathtaking locations of the French Riviera, that unfolds between cover villas and luxury cars and yachts.
I define it a "summer" show because it's definetly one of those show you can enjoy in summer, when after lunch the weather it's too hot to do anything.
I define it a "summer" show because it's definetly one of those show you can enjoy in summer, when after lunch the weather it's too hot to do anything.
Loved it!!!
sassyzen20 June 2017
Just finished bingeing on the entire series and loved it. I thought the acting good. Loved Julia she was great. Loved the storyline (for the most part), loved the settings. I thoroughly enjoyed it and have no idea how others can give it such a low rating, esp. compared to some of the other series currently out there?? I mean, it was no Breaking Bad, but it was a good series. I hope there's another to come!
an upgrade on the rich and filthy vintage soap operas
lonesomedove_809 April 2020
No matter how flawed and chaotic it is ... it is one of those few shows that actually shows you wealth..also give me a feeling of nostalgia cause it reminds me of the soap operas of the 90s ..... it is all so lavish and the locations are to die for ........
I got attached to the Clios family to each and every one of them and the actors really brought them to life ... and even though it all went down the hill in season 2 .. it is still one of my fav wealthy families on TV...in my book it is much better than famous shows >>>>revenge... gossip girl and the OC all of which were unwatchable for me
Very Nice
wthst-2192718 June 2019
Really nice
ITrifonov21 June 2017
I am enjoying this series 8 episodes in it is really good. The conspiracy and intrigue is very well served on the screen. The sets are more than magnificent and the actors are doing a great job. Watch it and you won't regret it, quality smart series. It reminds me of "The Night Manager" and I think the rating here should be a lot higher than it is now.
Season 3 is awful...
Veritas9929 October 2020
Despite the huge plot holes, I liked the first 2 seasons, for the amazing scenery and all the glitz and glamour...
Julia Stiles is ok, but is hilarious she was made to wear stilettos absolutely all the time, no woman wears that on lawn or gravel alleys...
But season 3 is the worst "telenovela", nothing makes sense, nothing....
A bit irritated
onyinyeolive7 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The first season gave us a good show. It was quite intriguing and fascinating. I found myself engrossed the whole 10 episodes. When I saw that the 2nd season was out, I had high expectations but it turned out to be a bit bland. I kind of expected more from it seeing that Constantine was actually alive after all (Spoiler alert!) But then he was killed almost immediately, it was pointless to have added him to the script that season in the first place. Also, Nico becoming a villain from nowhere was a bit annoying. I feel the writers should have added a bit more character development. In the end, I thought the 2nd season was tolerable, and hoped the 3rd would continue from where it actually stopped (with Irina in the hospital and what was going to happen next). Only to find us on a wild goose hunt in Buenos Aires in season 3. Georgina actually risking her life for something that doesn't even concern her. Then the whole plot that was unfolding didn't even make any sense because we don't care about Victor Alsina-Suarez and his schemes, we just want to see the Clios family and their extravagant lifestyle and dirty secrets.
Season 1 & 2 only please
indialm5 June 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Julia Stiles is a decent actress, but nothing about her rings true as a rich, albeit from a poor background, woman who makes good as an art dealer who lucks out and marries a millionaire. From her unattractive costumes to her dull hair style and makeup, I never believed she belonged in this high dollar world. The other actors, including the stunning Lena Olin, did a wonderful job of fleshing out their characters. The first two seasons, about a woman who believes her husband cheated on her and died on an exploding yacht, were good enough to keep me watching and to keep my subscription to Sundance. But this 3rd season, even with the wonderful Rupert Graves, is making it hard for me to get through the rest of the episodes. I don't know why the writers felt the need to add political intrigue but it doesn't work.
Jack Fox is pretty delightful as the smarmy, evil brother of a woman Stiles meets on their family yacht. Of course the scenery and photography is beautiful, but if they were really so desperate to shoot a third season why not just stick with the same actors we learned to love to hate? Probably best to watch seasons 1 & 2 and skip 3 altogether, unless you need a good sleeping pill.
Jack Fox is pretty delightful as the smarmy, evil brother of a woman Stiles meets on their family yacht. Of course the scenery and photography is beautiful, but if they were really so desperate to shoot a third season why not just stick with the same actors we learned to love to hate? Probably best to watch seasons 1 & 2 and skip 3 altogether, unless you need a good sleeping pill.
I enjoy it
ger55champ6 June 2019
Great start but AWFUL ending - Spoilers
saintgirluk-696-14449730 June 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This contains spoilers throughout.
I appreciate that Riviera is all about glitz and glamour so the beautiful scenery and fantastic clothes lured me in at first I was interested in the premise and the show had a lot of good actors in it so I decided due to all of this to watch. While SKY are touting this as some complex thriller, it is a high budget Dallas-esq type of Drama. I should have seen earlier that this show would have issues with it's very odd casting- for example an French family who have a Dad with an American accent and three children all utterly different and with British accents (especially bizarre as one child is suppose to be a love child of two dark Olive skinned people and is ghostly white and ginger haired!) That being said there was some half decent writing and acting in parts of the show early on, a lot of different stories weaving around but it managed to bring a lot together and keep me interested. Is Constantine actually dead, who would have wanted the family dead and what, if anything are the family hiding? Around episode 6\7 it feels like someone else took over the entire story and that everything that came before was a different show. Characters and plots disappear without explanation to make way for mafia and helicopters and a whole new line of plot. All of this happens for no reason and no one questions what is happening. I really dislike it when I feel like I have wasted a lot of hours on a show and that is how this show made me feel.
So many plot holes and unanswered questions as the show goes and even at the end it is all left without explanation as the ending points to the fact he may have been alive or planning to run away but the show never explains these things, there are many unnecessary deaths which add nothing to the plot but sensationalism and the ending, which manages to be dizzying stupid, out of character,pointless and badly executed all in one hour episode, seems to point to them wanting to make another season. Watching the final 10 minutes which was a desperate gasp to keep sensationalism all the way through, was like watching the characters have an out of body experience. Maybe if season 2 bought the addition of aliens they would not seem out of place in this production as it seems to have multiple new personalities as it ends and nothing is off limits. If you like character based, well written and thoughtful drama's this is not for you.
I appreciate that Riviera is all about glitz and glamour so the beautiful scenery and fantastic clothes lured me in at first I was interested in the premise and the show had a lot of good actors in it so I decided due to all of this to watch. While SKY are touting this as some complex thriller, it is a high budget Dallas-esq type of Drama. I should have seen earlier that this show would have issues with it's very odd casting- for example an French family who have a Dad with an American accent and three children all utterly different and with British accents (especially bizarre as one child is suppose to be a love child of two dark Olive skinned people and is ghostly white and ginger haired!) That being said there was some half decent writing and acting in parts of the show early on, a lot of different stories weaving around but it managed to bring a lot together and keep me interested. Is Constantine actually dead, who would have wanted the family dead and what, if anything are the family hiding? Around episode 6\7 it feels like someone else took over the entire story and that everything that came before was a different show. Characters and plots disappear without explanation to make way for mafia and helicopters and a whole new line of plot. All of this happens for no reason and no one questions what is happening. I really dislike it when I feel like I have wasted a lot of hours on a show and that is how this show made me feel.
So many plot holes and unanswered questions as the show goes and even at the end it is all left without explanation as the ending points to the fact he may have been alive or planning to run away but the show never explains these things, there are many unnecessary deaths which add nothing to the plot but sensationalism and the ending, which manages to be dizzying stupid, out of character,pointless and badly executed all in one hour episode, seems to point to them wanting to make another season. Watching the final 10 minutes which was a desperate gasp to keep sensationalism all the way through, was like watching the characters have an out of body experience. Maybe if season 2 bought the addition of aliens they would not seem out of place in this production as it seems to have multiple new personalities as it ends and nothing is off limits. If you like character based, well written and thoughtful drama's this is not for you.
Too obvious
davidwilliamwoodrow22 June 2017
Warning: Spoilers
We really enjoyed the series until the finale. Gripping enough that we binge watched it over a couple evenings, with some seriously excellent performances from Julia amongst others. The ending, however, was far too obvious, and even with this didn't have any gravitas whatsoever.
Worth a watch, but the ending made our rating plummet from a solid 8/10 to a steady 'easy to watch' 7.
Worth a watch, but the ending made our rating plummet from a solid 8/10 to a steady 'easy to watch' 7.
Series 2 and 3 Disappointing and goes over the cliff
tm-sheehan22 July 2021
My Review - "Riviera " Season 2 and Season 3 on SBS Iview
Season 1. Rating 8/10 Season 2. My Rating 7/10. Season 3. Rating 6/10
This is just a short review as I think this Series is a text book case of a good beginning to a Series that shows promise but doesn't deliver the same impact or script standard that its subsequent series had with it's script writers going off in silly tangents .
It was so interesting to read that Neil Jordan the original writer and creator has disowned Riviera, due to his scripts being reworked by others. He says he has no idea who rewrote these episodes. "They were changed, to my huge surprise and considerable upset. There were various sexual scenes introduced into the story and a lot of very expository dialogue. I objected in the strongest terms possible."
After I gave Series 1 a very credible rating of 8/10 it was soon obvious in Series 2 that the melodrama and incredible plot line had derailed the quality of Series One .
However I ploughed on hoping for some improvement. We still had the beautiful setting of The lavish Clios Villa in the Côte d'Azur plus other glorious locations but the characters especially Georgina (Julia Stiles) and their self serving self indulgent motives really started to irritate.
I think it's because in Series 1 Georgina had some motive for her behaviour after all she'd innocently married into the Clios family and discoverd it a nest of vipers but in the following series she becomes just as calculating and nasty as the rest of them.
We're introduced to a new character Lady Cassandra Eltham (Juliet Stevenson who has a chalet down the road that houses secrets that will bring the Clios family and Georgina to their knees.
Sound melodramatic? It is ,she even has a prisoner locked in her tower and her son and daughter Daphne (Poppy Delevingne ) and Nico (Jack Fox) add to the drama and suspense.
If I thought the plot twists started to go to turn into bad melodrama in Series 2 they really became unfathomable in Series3.
Series 3 was just silly Georgina now Georgina Ryland ( her name before Clios) has left the vipers nest in The Riviera and all the mayhem behind.
She is now an Art Dealer in London and begins hunting for the stolen Art Treasures that were the spoils of War by the Third Reich.
She partners up with Gabriel Hirsch Rupert Graves and sets off to Venice another glorious location.
I like Rupert Graves work but in this role he didn't impress me at all and I think it's because his role was so undefined. He and Georgina are not romantically involved, Georgina's too driven and involved with herself for that. Gabriel Hirsch seems just an accessory along for the ride and gets into much strife and inconvenience along the way because of Georgina.
We also find Georgina forcibly committed to the most lavish resort style Asylum against her will by a wicked Pharmaceutical CSO.
This provided some very melodramatic moments that reminded me of Mel Brooke's "High Anxiety" Then the series turns to another glamour location Buenos Aires Argentina for a Political twist it all gets too much to consider why or how Georgina and Gabriel got to this newest adventure.
I'm glad I stayed with the 3 Series but I'll not watch a fourth if that happens "Riviera" looks fabulous but it's a shame as the original creator said his vision was "reworked" and not effectively in mu opinion by others .
As of now, Sky Atlantic hasn't confirmed that there's going to be a new season. However, the show hasn't been cancelled either, so there's hope for a 'Riviera' Season 4 release date to be announced soon. Additionally, Stiles has talked about the future of the show in an interview.
Season 1. Rating 8/10 Season 2. My Rating 7/10. Season 3. Rating 6/10
This is just a short review as I think this Series is a text book case of a good beginning to a Series that shows promise but doesn't deliver the same impact or script standard that its subsequent series had with it's script writers going off in silly tangents .
It was so interesting to read that Neil Jordan the original writer and creator has disowned Riviera, due to his scripts being reworked by others. He says he has no idea who rewrote these episodes. "They were changed, to my huge surprise and considerable upset. There were various sexual scenes introduced into the story and a lot of very expository dialogue. I objected in the strongest terms possible."
After I gave Series 1 a very credible rating of 8/10 it was soon obvious in Series 2 that the melodrama and incredible plot line had derailed the quality of Series One .
However I ploughed on hoping for some improvement. We still had the beautiful setting of The lavish Clios Villa in the Côte d'Azur plus other glorious locations but the characters especially Georgina (Julia Stiles) and their self serving self indulgent motives really started to irritate.
I think it's because in Series 1 Georgina had some motive for her behaviour after all she'd innocently married into the Clios family and discoverd it a nest of vipers but in the following series she becomes just as calculating and nasty as the rest of them.
We're introduced to a new character Lady Cassandra Eltham (Juliet Stevenson who has a chalet down the road that houses secrets that will bring the Clios family and Georgina to their knees.
Sound melodramatic? It is ,she even has a prisoner locked in her tower and her son and daughter Daphne (Poppy Delevingne ) and Nico (Jack Fox) add to the drama and suspense.
If I thought the plot twists started to go to turn into bad melodrama in Series 2 they really became unfathomable in Series3.
Series 3 was just silly Georgina now Georgina Ryland ( her name before Clios) has left the vipers nest in The Riviera and all the mayhem behind.
She is now an Art Dealer in London and begins hunting for the stolen Art Treasures that were the spoils of War by the Third Reich.
She partners up with Gabriel Hirsch Rupert Graves and sets off to Venice another glorious location.
I like Rupert Graves work but in this role he didn't impress me at all and I think it's because his role was so undefined. He and Georgina are not romantically involved, Georgina's too driven and involved with herself for that. Gabriel Hirsch seems just an accessory along for the ride and gets into much strife and inconvenience along the way because of Georgina.
We also find Georgina forcibly committed to the most lavish resort style Asylum against her will by a wicked Pharmaceutical CSO.
This provided some very melodramatic moments that reminded me of Mel Brooke's "High Anxiety" Then the series turns to another glamour location Buenos Aires Argentina for a Political twist it all gets too much to consider why or how Georgina and Gabriel got to this newest adventure.
I'm glad I stayed with the 3 Series but I'll not watch a fourth if that happens "Riviera" looks fabulous but it's a shame as the original creator said his vision was "reworked" and not effectively in mu opinion by others .
As of now, Sky Atlantic hasn't confirmed that there's going to be a new season. However, the show hasn't been cancelled either, so there's hope for a 'Riviera' Season 4 release date to be announced soon. Additionally, Stiles has talked about the future of the show in an interview.
Good reviews are all shills, this is unbelievably bad.
VoyagerMN198624 August 2017
Firstly let's get the issue of shilling out of the way. click on the names of the reviewers who gave this a 10. Notice in virtually all cases their entire IMDb activity is reviewing this title? OK, first off the scenery is nice in the series. Literally everything else about is terrible. Sorry but the acting is terrible, the dialogue is stilted and silly, and the plot after the first couple of episodes would be downright laughable if it were not about as trope filled and idiot the worst of programming.
I must say I am generally a fan of Julia Stiles and Lena Olin, but really, trust the reviewers who were aghast and just how bad "Riviera" is.
I must say I am generally a fan of Julia Stiles and Lena Olin, but really, trust the reviewers who were aghast and just how bad "Riviera" is.
Great binge watch
davidgeller4123 June 2017
Terrific show, well acted with some nice surprises. Ms Stiles is awesome, as is her nemesis first wife. excellent entertainment. The cars, villas and hotels are all fabulous, as is the styling of the super rich. the parricidal baby sister is a great acting performance. I thought the good police guy was great, and the Russians as bad as ever.
What happened?
benjamin-norris17 September 2021
Season 1 & 2 held their own, with some good parts.
Season 3 could be some of the worst TV I've watched. The writer must have been smoking crack. Hammy dialogue and the acting is truly appalling.
The best thing is the scenery, some beautiful shots.
Avoid season 3 at all costs, unless you like punishing yourself.
Season 3 could be some of the worst TV I've watched. The writer must have been smoking crack. Hammy dialogue and the acting is truly appalling.
The best thing is the scenery, some beautiful shots.
Avoid season 3 at all costs, unless you like punishing yourself.
Riviera fun
morehamptonlane29 June 2017
I loved it! Julia Stiles is excellent - no over-acting, credible, well cast. I watched all 10 episodes last night and started all over again tonight. It's fun. Great locations, good wardrobes, good story line, lots of action. The script is so-so but it works. I hope they iron out the weaknesses and make a sequel.
High hopes but alas disappointed...
jexe-511458 June 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This show starts off promising with tons of tons intrigue. But somewhere along the way it just becomes a convoluted mess. They throw every soapy drama troupe in there. Rush into storylines and just as quickly rush out of them. Nothing ever feels resolved. The intention was to keep you interested but it all just feels too far fetched and borderline ridiculous by the end.
One season too many!
AVM_LDN24 October 2020
what a show
kim_slade718 June 2017
this is the best series I have watched in a long time I had to watch one after another, lots of twists and turns, Julia stiles outstanding acting, great cast, great to see British actors as well, didn't want it to end, I hope there will be a second series it could go on and on, fantastic setting loved it
its not so bad, just okay enough,
diananaccessories4 September 2020
half and half
noxcuces11 October 2017
First half:
A slowly unravelling mystery around a rich art dealers death seen through his widows eyes. Very enticing plot development and pace, great settings, outfits, direction, editing etc.
Second half:
A bit of a mess that never recovers. Im not sure if all the episodes where written by the same people and didn't bother to check. But the second half of the series was seriously lacking in all above mentioned areas, except setting and outfits which didn't change. Not much made sense, and the quality of the whole show plummeted to a cable channel daytime soap opera level.
Watch it if you have nothing to kill some time with, or leave it on in the background while you make use of your time otherwise. Don't expect any brilliant twists or a great ending.
A slowly unravelling mystery around a rich art dealers death seen through his widows eyes. Very enticing plot development and pace, great settings, outfits, direction, editing etc.
Second half:
A bit of a mess that never recovers. Im not sure if all the episodes where written by the same people and didn't bother to check. But the second half of the series was seriously lacking in all above mentioned areas, except setting and outfits which didn't change. Not much made sense, and the quality of the whole show plummeted to a cable channel daytime soap opera level.
Watch it if you have nothing to kill some time with, or leave it on in the background while you make use of your time otherwise. Don't expect any brilliant twists or a great ending.
See also
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