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Over the weekend I binged a 6-episode show titled Fake Heiress.
The show released all of the episodes last month, but I only discovered it when I saw it featured in PocketCasts.
The title was intriguing, and the show description was just enough to get me to download the first two episodes.
I finished all six episodes within twenty four hours (thanks to a long cardio session and some heavy housecleaning). I also rehashed everything to my husband in between episodes, and sometimes even pausing to share something super juicy.
Here's what I thought of the show (no spoilers!)
Fake Heiress: What's it about?
Fake Heiress tells the true story of Anna Sorokin, a 20-something Russian woman who convinced New York's high society that she was one of them.
Going by the made up name Anna Delvey, Sorokin conned hotels, banks, and friends out of thousands of dollars between 2013 and 2017.
The story of how she did it is so outrageous that both HBO and Netflix are planning shows around it.
The podcast starts at the beginning of Anna's life and proceeds through major events that (seem to have) contributed to her transformation into a con woman.
Fake Heiress' Unique Format
Each episode of Fake Heiress starts with the host, Vicky Baker, explaining that the show is a mix of drama and documentary. The show is partly based on official court documents and transcripts, and played out by actors, including one who plays Anna Delvey throughout all six episodes.
There are also interviews with people who actually knew Anna, most of which were conned by her.
Additionally, the host and playwright Chloe Moss (a co-writer on the podcast), have completely fictionalized some scenes in the show, because—as they put it—What's Anna Delvey's story without a bit of make believe?
I wasn't sure how to feel about the made up scenes when I first heard about them; I'm not big on true stories being muddied by "what if" scenarios.
But after listening to the first episode, I understood how incorporating them into the podcast helped set the scene.
If you've listened to the Imagined Life podcast, or the new show Wicked Game: American Elections, you've heard this type of fictional scene. The writers take known personality traits (or, in this case, character flaws) of the main character, and create dialogues between other characters from the story.
Although you quickly come to realize how totally fake Delvey is, these mini scenes have a humanizing effect on her character. They also lighten all the heavy facts and details that are being thrown at you.
Although bits of Fake Heiress' format are comparable to some other shows (as mentioned above), adding all the different part together made for a unique format.
The show—and the scandal—remind me a lot of The Dropout, the podcast about Elizabeth Holmes, but Fake Heiress is more fast paced and fun to listen to.
[Related Post: The Best Podcasts of 2019]
The Soundtrack
Part of the fun of listening to Fake Heiress is the soundtrack. The show was produced by BBC Radio, so the production quality and audio mixing is top-notch
The show includes several popular, upbeat songs that echo particular moments in the story.
Hearing the music gave me a rush, but in a bad way. It was like the feeling of a car speeding towards a cliff, which is how I felt about Anna's life as each episode progressed.
Miscellaneous Stuff
I don't want to give any spoilers, so here are my other random thoughts about Fake Heiress:
The whole thing is just BONKERS.
Seriously, I had not even heard of Anna Delvey or this scandal until I read the podcast description. Trust me: there's a reason HBO and Netflix want to make screen versions of the story (I personally think it would be best as a 2-hour movie).
Even if you don't like the format or soundtrack, I know the story will get you hooked. It's just too unbelievable not to
I hated Anna Delvey's voice.
Having never heard of Anna before, I certainly don't know what her voice sounds like. I can only assume that the actress who plays her in the podcast did a great impersonation. Still, her voice got on my nerves, and it was only thanks to the story—and my desire to hear how it ends—that got me through it.
The host confused me at the end.
Throughout the podcast, host Vicky Baker drops a few of her own opinions and questions about Anna Delvey. She often wonders what Anna was thinking during a certain situation. I basically agreed with Baker.
Then, at the end of the last episode, Baker questions "why this story caught fire" (meaning, why are people so interested in it). When I heard this, I actually said out loud, "What are you talking about, you MADE A PODCAST ABOUT IT!"
Baker then goes on to explain why she thinks people are so intrigued by the story, and I totally disagree with her. It almost felt like me and the host were on the same page until the very last second, when I realized she had a different take on the whole thing.
This doesn't take anything away from the podcast, but I had to mention it. (I'd love to know what you think after you listen to the show; leave a comment here on this page).
Go Listen to Fake Heiress
Overall, I think Fake Heiress is a fun look at a crazy story. It's well-researched and told in a truly entertaining way. I highly recommend that you go listen to it.
