The Gift of Deceit Review: Brazilian melodrama The Gift of Deceit brings an unending rollercoaster of twists, turns and soapy drama to Netflix for everyone who enjoys a telenovela-esque drama with a generous amount of criminal conspiracy sprinkled into it. The series follows the tumultuous relationship between a mother and a daughter, whose unhealthy relationship results in a dangerous game of lies and deceit in which a criminal family tries to make millions. However, when feelings get involved, things turn ugly.
The premise is engrossing; the execution is extremely on the nose, but for viewers who dive into the melodrama with the correct expectations, it’s a ton of fun.
The cast includes Marieta Severo, Alice Wegmann, Nanda Costta, José de Abreu, Felipe Camargo, Luciana Paes, Laila Garin, Rui Ricardo Diaz, Heloísa Jorge, and Allan Souza Lima. Gabriela Amaral Almeida and Daniela Carvalho direct the series (Dom de Iludir).
The Gift of Deceit Review
A Family Drama Built on Deception
Diane Maia and Mirna Nogueira’s 10-part Netflix series explores complicated relationships in two families where the lines between love and control start to blur. It’s claustrophobic and tense as the members of both Maira and Irina’s families vie for attention and power, with their own agendas to fulfil. The premise makes it clear that trust is the most important commodity as we see controlling art collector Lucia’s life unravelling.
Trying to right a past wrong and keep her daughter safe, Lucia takes the help of a spiritual healer who ends up being a dangerous scam artist willing to do whatever it takes to get what she wants. There are layers to this scam that become evident within the first two episodes, and the rest of the runtime is spent running after paintings, having sex or crying. In the midst of this is a conversation involving manipulation, resentment and guilt that opens up some interesting doors.
The series is set against the world of Rio de Janeiro’s wealthy elite wherein we see melodrama and thriller elements coming together. As a melodrama, it does a good job of keeping the overreaction alive, with things escalating at a startling pace. The series mostly doesn’t care about nuance or even making sense sometimes, but it’s entertaining nonetheless. The cast shares great chemistry and, combined with how fast the pacing is, the series is enjoyable to watch if this is a genre that you enjoy.
The premise does do a good job of showcasing the difference between protecting someone you love and controlling them, and how easy it is to blur those lines. It also highlights how fear and resentment can influence people’s choices, along with interesting discussion on family dynamics and loyalty. The story is more about disturbing family dynamics than about the scam, but it makes that apparent within the first few episodes. After that, it’s just a maddening ride through crazy escalations!
Marieta Severo, Alice Wegmann and Nanda Costta Lead the Cast
Marieta Severo, Alice Wegmann and Nanda Costta share great chemistry, one of the reasons why The Gift of Deceit is arresting to watch. Despite the obvious silliness in the story, the actors do a great job of selling characters who are incapable of making rational decisions at any point. Anything and everything is an excuse for escalation, and it’s enjoyable to watch that take place in front of your eyes.
Marieta Severo plays Lucia, and her complicated relationship with Alice Wegmann’s Maira will be relatable to many. Both actors do a great job with their characters’ nuances, even when the screenplay forgets to add them. Their chemistry and the way their toxic elements against and for each other are portrayed are quite believable. On the other hand, Nanda Costa’s Irina is an interesting character with demons of her own. Although her character could’ve been explored more, she does a great job with what she’s given.
The rest of the cast is great as well and leaves an impression.
Can The Gift of Deceit Deliver on Its Suspense?
The Gift of Deceit isn’t clearly trying to be a dangerously arresting thriller show. It clearly knows how insane it is sometimes and runs with it some more, bringing forth some crazy overreactions from both the script and the characters regularly. The fraudulent healer and the wealthy but insane mother clash in more ways than one, and the push and pull between the characters can be interesting but also overwhelming. However, the series doesn’t leave you in suspense at all. In fact, it’s somewhat clear where it’s going, and even when the twists arrive, viewers won’t feel any amount of surprise.
The primary problem is that the escalations sometimes are so over-the-top that they simply don’t seem believable. Things just get from bad to worse, and fans of the genre will be able to spot the tropes quickly enough. In the end, it’s an obvious melodrama whose audacity is the true thrilling element in my book!
Final Verdict
The Gift of Deceit is an obvious entertainer that viewers who enjoy melodrama will get a kick out of. Although it’s silly and nonsensical sometimes, I enjoyed it quite a bit because of its audacious twists and turns. That being said, there are moments when things just seem too far-fetched, and viewers will find it difficult to keep their disbelief in check.
Watch The Gift of Deceit on Netflix. Do you like melodramas? Let us know in the comments below!
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