Episode 1 of Inventing Anna kicks off with a gripping introduction to the enigmatic con artist we'll be shadowing throughout the season—Anna Delvey. Buckle up, as this is sure to be a thrilling journey.
The narrative commences with Anna's arrest, a seismic event that sends shockwaves through the social elite. A plethora of characters begin to squirm and maneuver, grappling with the implications of this bombshell revelation.
Amidst this chaos, a reporter named Vivian Kent emerges, eager to capitalize on the situation. She attempts to convince her superiors to redirect her assigned story, yearning for something more sensational. Her ambitions, however, are thwarted by a dismissive "me too" remark from her editor, Paul. Undeterred, Vivian defies her editor's wishes and rushes to the courthouse, determined to witness Anna's fate at Riker's Island.
Vivian's fervor for a story, coupled with Anna's lawyer's stonewalling, leaves her running late for a crucial appointment with her partner, Jack. Vivian, heavily pregnant, dismisses her pregnancy as a mere inconvenience, leaving Jack stranded at the doctor's office for a scan she failed to attend.
Nonchalantly brushing aside her oversight, Vivian pens a personal letter to Anna, pleading for a meeting. She senses a larger narrative at play and desires Anna's perspective. To her surprise, Anna responds and agrees to meet.
At Rikers, Vivian encounters Anna, who professes her sincerity and aspirations for building a legitimate business. Delvey, she insists, is not a pseudonym; it's her mother's maiden name. Vivian, intrigued, delves deeper, only to realize that Anna is skillfully manipulating her, claiming innocence and innocence of any wrongdoing.
Meanwhile, Anna's attorney, Todd, arrived before the prosecutor, Catherine, imploring her to abandon this course of action. However, Todd's portrayal of Anna as a misunderstood, sweet woman fell flat. Catherine instead proposed a plea deal, citing her pile of 11,000 documents and the potential ugliness that awaited. Back at his office, Todd mulled over the deal and sought counsel from his partner, Mags.
At the Manhattan, Anna, with Paul observing, assembled her small team to find someone willing to speak on her behalf. But she faced constant resistance and frustration. Her efforts were abruptly interrupted by Paul, particularly when Fatima arrived with a message from the DA's office. This placed Vivian in a precarious position, having blatantly disobeyed her editor's instructions.
In a tense meeting with her boss, Landon, Vivian steadfastly refused to pursue the "MeToo" story, complaining that Paul never gave her decent assignments. Landon's interest was piqued when he learned Vivian had managed to speak to Anna in Rikers. He granted her two weeks to secure an exclusive interview and well-sourced documentation. Failure would result in Paul reassigning her.
Vivian threw herself into the task, delving into social media and interviewing hotel staff, who recalled Anna's lavish tipping habits. Anna remained steadfast, redirecting Vivian's inquiries to her media visits and the perks they entailed. During another visit to Rikers, Anna retorted with a question about Vivian's attire, remarking on how she appeared impoverished. Anna encouraged Vivian to splurge on designer labels, while evading her inquiries. She then broached the subject of the plea deal, hinting at a potential change in strategy.
Vivian walked away feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders, especially as she feared Anna might accept the deal. Amid her pregnancy and career ambitions, Vivian doubled her efforts to uncover usable information. She stumbled upon a woman named Neff, who had worked at the hotel during the incident. Initially refusing an interview, Neff saw through Vivian's facade and manipulation, eventually sensing her genuine desire to do right by both Anna and her career.
With Neff's help, Vivian crafted a VIP treatment plan for Anna in Rikers. She successfully convinced Anna to forgo the plea deal and go to trial, fighting back. Anna Delvey desired fame, and Vivian's story could deliver it. The news of the impending trial reverberated among the social elite, who pondered the implications of Anna's refusal to settle.
