Con man schemes and dysfunctional families. That is a combo you can’t deny for your weekend binge.
It’s hard not to like a con man. That is precisely why they are good at what they do, and Sneaky Pete is no exception. With a balance of conning schemes, and a somewhat dysfunctional family, Sneaky Pete flows into your heart like a perfectly executed con.
The Amazon Prime show that premiered this past January follows con man Marius Josipovic (Giovanni Ribisi) who is about to be released from a three year stint in jail. Realizing that he still owes $100,000 to bad guy Vince (Bryan Cranston), Marius steals the identity of his cellmate Pete to hide in plain sight.
It’s been over 20 years since Pete has seen the family (which works well for someone pretending to be Pete) but they aren’t quite the fairytale Marius was expecting. Grandma and Grandpa (Margo Martindale and Peter Gerety) run a bail and bond business, which is on its last leg. Vince is holding Marius’ brother captive until the $100,000 is paid in full and fingers and toes are on the line. Meanwhile, constant paranoia of being found out as an imposter is around every corner for Marius… er… ‘Pete.’
What is great about this show is how it easily interweaves the dynamics of the life of a con and the life of a mostly regular family. Like a great conversation, the show never falters or gets too complicated. From the first minute of the opening episode, to the last in the finale there is action, violence, mystery, and very relatable family dynamics.
Why should this be your binge show for this weekend? There are 10 one hour episodes, which is a very respectable amount for a weekend binge. Bryan Cranston is the creator and co-star! And along with the cons there are some very cool magic tricks and as mentioned before, Sneaky Pete doesn’t get too complicated. The ensemble is more or less introduced in the beginning with few add-ons as it goes along, so it’s easy to follow.
Need more convincing? It is simply a well-made show that is set to have a second season, which of course is potential for a future binge weekend!