Want to live the life of a billionaire? Binge these popular, boujee TV shows
Why do we like watching rich people on our screens so much? Many reasons. Let’s begin with escapism. One of the most obvious reasons we like to watch something that’s completely unrelated to our life is to escape. In TV shows, we often find refuge from the drudgery of our lives, so it makes total sense that we’d take a liking to watching how the rich live theirs.
Why else? For inspiration, perhaps. Many people pursue an aspirational lifestyle a la Schmidt from New Girl. For them, shows like these give a peek into the life they are aiming at. In many such shows, affluence is paraded relentlessly. The multi-million dollar houses, the huge lawns, the fancy cars – very often, they feature subtle commentary on the ugly display of wealth.
Watching narcissistic celebrities & characters display extravagant wealth almost has a voyeuristic undertone to it. Whatever your reason, if you’re looking for a show from this genre, pick one from the list below.
Keeping up with the Kardashians
The most obvious entry on this list is the piece of reality television that’s been giving us an unhinged peak into the professional & personal lives of the Kardashian-Jenner family since 2007. Things have often gotten heated, controversial, and cringey. The show has also gifted some of the most amazing meme formats.
In a recent episode, Kris Jenner has shared some devastating news for the fans: “There’s no easy way to say this except just to say it. Because we love you guys all so much and it’s almost like ripping off a bandaid, but we just wanted to tell you in person that we won’t be going forward with filming the show anymore.” Now that they have announced their exit, you may need a new obsession. Keep reading.
Selling Sunset
Here’s the premise: Selling Sunset revolves around the Oppenheim Group, a high-end real estate brokerage firm in Los Angeles. A group of elite real estate agents are put on the blast — both their professional as well as personal lives dramatised — all while they’re handling multi-billion dollar deals. Remember the Justin Hartley-Chrishell Stause divorce?
Downton Abbey
What could be a better place to ogle at opulence than a British historical drama television series set in the early 20th century? Downton Abbey follows the lives of the Crawley family and their servants.
Downton Abbey isn’t perfect: the show’s historical inaccuracies have ruffled some feathers even in the royal household. In fact, it’d begun as a costume drama. But the show entertains with that British wry humor & dry sarcasm.
Gossip Girl
The intensity of social dramas in NYC schools has never been better portrayed on television than through the lives of Blair Waldorf, Serena van der Woodsen, Nate Archibald, and Chuck Bass, told by Gossip Girl (voiced by Kristen Bell).
If their raunchy teen parties & skirmishes weren’t enough, we had the working class to contrast them with. Siblings Dan & Jenny Humphrey brought with them history in the form of the intertwined lives of their dad & Serena’s mother. That wasn’t the only twist the show revealed, but the ultimate reveal was the identity of Gossip Girl.
Big Little Lies
If you’re looking for something in a different genre, but still tangentially a rich people drama, Big Little Lies is the perfect pick for you. Based on the eponymous book by Liane Moriarty, the suspense & sheer mystery of the show suffices to keep one hooked.
Starring Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, and Shailene Woodley, Big Little Lies comes with loaded with a lot: domestic violence, trauma, murder. If you stick around for the second season, you’ll also find Meryl Streep with fake teeth and a highly suspicious demeanor.
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What’s your favorite show about wealth & fame to binge-watch when you want to escape from it all? Let us know in the comments below!
