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Andrew Scott: "Ripley"

 One enduring mystery (for me) is what Patricia Highsmith may have meant by her title, "The Talented Mr. Ripley."


It seems debatable that Tom Ripley is talented. He leaves an obvious bloodstain on a heavily trafficked staircase -- after a crime. (He gets lucky because the landlady concludes that the blood came from a mouse. The landlady blames the cat.) Tom does not check that he has locked his door before (eerily) dressing as his friend and speaking in his friend's voice. And Tom neglects to change out of a particular pair of ostentatious shoes before meeting Freddie Miles; the shoes tell Freddie that Tom is weaving an elaborate lie.

In any case, Tom seems to be slightly *more* talented than the people around him. He can write Marge's book -- when Marge herself is an obviously bad writer. He can quickly reproduce Dickie's paintings, without training (though Dickie thinks of himself as an artist).

These are wonderful, pitiful characters. Marge loves Dickie (though she should not be wasting her time on this guy). Dickie is spoiled and indolent, and also stupidly invested in a dream of "proving one's greatness." In other words, he is human. Tom seems to be a sociopath--but, because he comes from nothing, and because he works quite hard, he is oddly sympathetic. If I had to choose lunch with either Dickie or Tom, I'm almost certain I'd choose lunch with Tom.

I think this series is spellbinding--especially Andrew Scott's contribution. What a gift to have eight hours to get lost on this strange, and strangely plausible, "Highsmith Planet."
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