IV La Dolce Vita – As the fourth episode of Ripley begins, Tom Ripley (Andrew Scott) gets off the train before boarding a bus. When he makes it back to the house, he begins packing his stuff. Marge Sherwood (Dakota Fanning) comes back so Tom quickly removes Dickie’s ring. Tom claims Dickie is in Rome and he’s taking him some things. He says Dickie wrote her a letter to say he’s staying until winter is over. They’re not going to Cortina anymore either. Dickie made a point to say Marge should go. When Marge asks what they did, Tom says they didn’t do anything. He says he’s going to help Dickie get settled. Then, Tom thinks he’ll go to Paris by himself.

Tom claims Dickie said some things about her and said he wants to be alone for a while. He asks if she wants to go for a drink and talk about it more. Marge says no and leaves. Tom watches her through her window that night. Tom visits Carlo (Renato Solpietro) to tell him he has something for him. Tom asks if he knows anyone who might want to buy a boat. He explains his friend wants to sell it and he’ll pay Carlo a commission. Tom offers a 20% split between them. He gets ready to leave with Carlo demands 20% for him. Carlo calls him back and says they’ll work something out. Tom goes to the motel to ask whether they’d be interested in buying some things. He takes the manager to Dickie’s place so he can find out what he wants to buy. Tom tells Ermelinda that Dickie was going to write to thank her.

In the meantime, he has something for her. Tom gives her money and explains Dickie isn’t coming back so her services are no longer needed. Tom sells the Picasso painting before buying six tickets to Rome. While he’s on the train, he practices Dickie’s signature. In Rome, Tom checks into the Excelsior for two weeks. Tom uses Dickie’s identity and his pen to sign Dickie’s name on the paperwork. Later, the receptionist tells Tom that Marge called and left a message for him. Tom says it means his mother’s health has taken a turn for the worse. Marge said nothing about coming to Rome. Tom decides to check out immediately. He checks into a cheaper motel later. Tom takes the watch to a jeweler who knows it’s been in salt water. Tom denies that it was stolen.

He gets a portrait taken so he can change the photo on Dickie’s passport. Tom goes to the bank. The clerk eventually comes back with money and asks for Tom’s signature. Tom takes the money and leaves. He writes a letter to Marge claiming she was wrong about Tom. Tom tells her that he doesn’t think they should see each other so soon. He mentions the perfume and says he has almost given up when Tom found it. Marge writes back and questions why he went to Rome. She also describes Tom as vague. Marge asks why he’s ignoring his father’s warning about Tom. She suggests she should come up to Rome to find him. Tom tells the motel clerk he recently broke up with his fiancé but she doesn’t want to accept it. He’s worried she’ll come looking for him.

The man recommends traveling further. Tom gets the receptionist to agree to tell Marge he isn’t there if she comes by. Next, Tom calls Carlo who admits there is a little issue. The boat keeper has found a buyer at their price, but he wants a commission as well. Tom knows Carlo found a way to get his 20%. He tells him to send a bank check to American Express in Rome. Tom wants it in his name since his friend is supposedly traveling. Tom gets it and opens a bank account in his name with $45,000. Tom goes to an art gallery where he hears a man talking about Caravaggio. The story may give Tom an idea. He writes a letter to Dickie’s parents pretending to be him. He claims Tom, who is an orphan, has helped him.

 

Ripley Review

After Dickie’s murder, Tom returns and lies to Marge. Then, he flees to Rome where he pretends to be Dickie. This episode was just as good as the others, but the pacing is starting to become harder to ignore. Truthfully, this never needed to be eight episodes.

It’s far too long and it’s unnecessary because the story moves at a snail’s pace. The story probably could’ve been covered in four or five episodes and it wouldn’t have felt like such a drag. The performances are a little dry at times. It’s hard to say whether that’s intentional considering who they’re dealing with, but there isn’t much life to the story or characters.

Regardless, Ripley is an enjoyable watch just for the artsy scenes. It’s just a shame that Ripley isn’t more than that. The episode scores a 5.5 out of 10. Recaps of Ripley can be found on Reel Mockery here. Find out how to support our independent site at this link. Learn more about advertising with us here. Discuss this show with friends at the Reel Mockery Forum.