FX's show The Riches premiered a little over a month ago to overwhelming critical acclaim. As a lover of good television, I was curious to see what all the "buzz" was about.

To give a little background (because it is necessary) the show revolves around the Malloy family. They were traveling con artists who, after an unexpected fatal car accident, decided to adopt the identity of the family they killed in the accident -- the Riches, a wealthy family that lived in suburban Baton Rouge, La.

The show is unlike anything I have seen on regular cable, and much more similar to an HBO or Showtime drama like Weeds or Six Feet Under. The main characters, played by a stellar Eddie Izzard (who hangs up his drag-queen comedy outfit for the roll) and Minnie Driver, shine as relatable characters with flaws and depth. This is what sets this show apart from other shows you see on regular cable. Instead of being a straightforward comedy or intense drama that paints unrealistic characters that stick to a specific archetype for a laugh, The Riches sucks you in and the audience easily feels empathy for the characters.

It also plays with more socially relevant issues such as class, consumerism and American culture today through its plot conflicts and characters making for an extremely intriguing and smart show.

The show has two main plot lines, switching between the main story of Malloy family and a darker subplot with what appears to be their extended family and the trouble they are in. The ultimate selling point for the show however is its ability to make the audience feel sympathy and relate to the main characters who are essentially scum bag con artists who lied their way into middle America. So the audience (who I'm sure is mostly made up of middle America) is getting an outsider opinion on a lifestyle they know very well.