‘Class envy” may have limited use as political analysis, but it’s a solid basis for a TV drama. In 2017, Big Little Lies spilled the scandalous secrets of wealthy women in multimillion-dollar beachside properties, and inspired a slew of imitators – most of them also starring Nicole Kidman. Few, though, have distilled the sub-genre’s appeal as crudely as Surface (Apple TV+). What do we want? Gorgeous, rich people being miserable. When do we want it? Now. (Or at least, the first three episodes on demand, with the rest debuting weekly.)
In Surface the main gorgeous rich person is Sophie (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), the indifferent owner of a grand San Francisco home (one of those Lower Haight Victorians, for architecture fans), a walk-in wardrobe brimming with designer clothing and a diary packed with nothing but social engagements. Some months ago, Sophie lost her memory after – apparently – jumping off the side of a ferry in an attempted suicide. And herein likes the series’ central mystery, as Sophie helpfully signposts during a therapy session: “If my life was so perfect, why did I try to end it?”
