In the final episode of Inventing Anna, Anna Delvey finally faces the music for her crimes. And make no mistake about it. She is guilty. But the frustrating thing is, the people around her – including the people who know she’s guilty – still want to be in her corner. But, then again, convincing people to do and believe things against their better judgment is kinda Anna’s brand.
Taking The Trial By Storm
I’ve said it before: Anna knows people. Well enough to play them, at least. If anyone should be able to read a jury, it’s her. She also knows how to make a sensation. For Anna, the outcome is less important than the mark she leaves behind her. She’s less interested in trial strategy (with the sole exception that she wants to be taken seriously, when it’s all done) than looking good for the papers.
And, to an extent, she’s not wrong. If the world learned anything from the OJ Simpson trial, it’s that the media will pick apart the appearance of every woman involved in the case far more than they are inclined to analyze the men’s appearances. I remember watching the trial live and hearing the commentators and comedians remark on Marcia Clark’s style. And whether you think she was a competent prosecutor or not, her style shouldn’t have been the point.
It shouldn’t have been the point for Anna’s case too, but she at least knew how to work it to her advantage. With Neff’s help. Neff helps make Anna’s courtroom attire an Instagram sensation, and Anna works the crowd to garner the adulation and attention she so desires.
Her focus on appearance – along with the ego that makes her insist Todd not paint her as an incompetent businesswoman or a flake – makes her a nightmare of a client. But, trust me. If you work in criminal law at all, you get used to having nightmare clients. I felt for Todd at every aneurism she nearly drove him to. Almost.
It’s a battle of wills between two strong-willed personalities. Todd will do whatever it takes to help his client (which is his job, after all). Including tearing apart Rachel on the stand in an impressive – if unkind – cross-examination that diminishes all the good will and sympathy she’d inspired in the jury. As for Anna, she would rather go to jail than not be respected for the work she’s done.
And perhaps that is one real thing about Anna. She is willing to put in the work. It is a non-traditional job, of course, but she’s not lazy. Maybe she was telling Neff the truth when she said she loves making money, loves doing the work. Even more, perhaps, than she enjoys spending it.
Lessons Learned
She also destroys everyone she touches in one way or another. Due to their closeness with Anna, Vivian and Todd have issues in their marriage and even turn against each other for a time. Kacy and Rachel have a falling out. Even Todd’s son isn’t left unscathed, when Anna teaches him how to con his dad out of money using guilt and love.
That she inspires such loyalty – even affection – in those around her is the biggest mystery of Anna Delvey. Because, as with Alan Reed, Todd and Vivian should know better. They know what she did and what she’s capable of, better than anyone. Yet, after the verdict is read and Anna is sentenced, Vivian speaks of Anna as a woman whose life was stolen from her. Not a woman who was the architect of her own downfall. And like everyone else in Anna’s life, Vivian is left wondering if Anna ever cared about her at all or if she was just another con.
Anna’s motivations, her desire to be taken seriously and be seen as a player, may be sympathetic. Many of her victims may be considerably less so. But that doesn’t change the fact that she was willing to hurt people to get what she wanted. She, in fact, did hurt people. And if she could do it all again, she wouldn’t change a thing.
As she’s free once more, she just may get her chance.
Inventing Anna is streaming now on Netflix.
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