Riviera

When Georgina Ryland, a cultured art dealer, marries a billionaire and relocates to a life of yachts and villas, she expects luxury and security. That illusion shatters after her husband dies in a violent yacht explosion, revealing a world of hidden debts, criminal alliances and lethal betrayals. Georgina is pushed out of her comfortable routines, forced to sort through legal and personal entanglements while deciding who to trust. The series follows her attempts to protect herself and those around her, with every new revelation raising the stakes and questioning how far wealth can shield you from danger.

Premiering in 2017, Riviera was created by Neil Jordan and stars Julia Stiles as Georgina, with Rupert Graves, Clare-Hope Ashitey, Synnove Macody Lund and Gabriel Corrado among the principal cast. The show was marketed as a glossy drama set against the Riviera lifestyle, emphasizing high production values and a star-led ensemble.

Riviera didn't become an awards magnet; it received limited attention from major industry bodies and did not secure high-profile wins. Critics and viewers often focused more on its spectacle and performances than on awards recognition, and the series remained better known for style and casting than trophy cases.

The show made a mark for its visual polish and appetite for melodrama, mixing fashion, art world intrigue and crime into a very stylized package. It became easy to reference as an example of "luxury noir" on TV, and viewers often cited its opulent settings and wardrobe as part of the appeal, even when storylines leaned toward soap opera territory.

Critical response was mixed, reflected in an average user score around 6.1 out of 10 from online voters. Reviewers praised Julia Stiles' central performance and the show's atmosphere, while noting uneven plotting and heavy reliance on twists. Major themes include the corrosive effects of extreme wealth, secrets within families, shifting loyalties, and the costs of maintaining a carefully curated public life.