In today’s digital age, reputation is everything. Appearing well-connected and well-known is crucial to building new relationships, and it’s hard to get anywhere without the right person’s recommendation or endorsement. There are plenty of people who are famous for no real reason at all, yet once they’ve achieved a certain level of repute, they’re in an echelon that may well be able to sustain itself.

But when it’s all built on a lie, it’s bound to come crashing down eventually.

Inventing Anna chronicles the astonishing creation and downfall of its magnetic protagonist, the mysterious Anna Delvey.

Each episode of Netflix’s new limited series opens with a title card that reads “This whole story is completely true,” and follows that up quickly with “Except for the parts that are completely made up.” It’s a fitting introduction for this story, which begins with Anna (Julia Garner) arrested after being charged with defrauding top-tier hotels and other institutions in New York City. Not all that much is known about the German heiress, but it’s evident that much of what she has told people does not match reality. Enter Vivian Kent (Anna Chlumsky), a pregnant reporter intrigued by the whole affair who is determined to get to the truth, even if her editor, Anna’s lawyer, and Anna herself don’t have much interest in her pursuing it.

Fortunately for viewers, Vivian is set on finding out who Anna really is. The series switches between flashbacks to Anna’s ascension, climbing the socialite ranks thanks to a wealthy boyfriend and other contacts who come to serve her rise, and Vivian confronting many of those same people in the present day as they express their regrets about how they let themselves be taken advantage of by a someone who was a complete fraud. What makes Vivian’s job more difficult is that those who have been embarrassed and robbed of their possessions and credibility are not eager to share their woes with authorities because of the damage they know it will do to their own reputations.

Inventing Anna is a Shondaland production, marking creator Shonda Rhimes’ second high-profile collaboration with Netflix, following the extremely popular Bridgerton, which returns next month for its highly-anticipated second season. The woman behind such hits as Grey’s Anatomy and How to Get Away with Murder knows how to deliver great drama with a strong helping of humor, and this project is no exception. The rich material that comes from the real Anna is only the starting point, and the quality of the writing is sharp, enhanced by a truly superb ensemble.

Garner is a talented actress best known for her two-time Emmy-winning portrayal of Ruth Langmore on another Netflix series, Ozark. Her accent work translates perfectly to this show, as her heavy German affect makes her delivery riotously fun (one such moment early on involves her clarifying that Vivian is pregnant, not just “very very fat”). Chlumsky, a dependable veteran of Veep, is just the right fit for her role, and among her best costars are three older actors who play her fellow reporters: Anna Deavere Smith, Terry Kinney, and Jeff Perry. Other noteworthy members of a very well-assembled cast include Succession’s Arian Moayed as Anna’s exasperated lawyer and Orange is the New Black’s Laverne Cox as celebrity life coach Kacy Duke, and Alexis Floyd also makes a strong impression as Neff, a hotel clerk who befriends Anna.

This is a story very much worthy of a nine-episode series, with plenty of time to peel back the layers of the personality Anna created. Its pacing drops just enough information in each episode to keep viewers interested while simultaneously showcasing contradictions that make Anna that much harder to deconstruct. Vivian serves as a stand-in for the audience, entranced by Anna but also convinced that she is still putting on a façade, even for the people who are supposed to be on her side. It’s a wildly fun ride, one packed with enough content to remain relevant and engaging throughout its run.

Grade: A- 

Check out more of Abe Friedtanzer’s articles.

All nine episodes of Inventing Anna premiere on Netflix on Friday, February 11^th.