Jessie Redmond/Prime Several TV shows have come out over the past few months, showing several rich families in a rather nefarious light The latest offering,We Were Liars,comes from Prime Video and was released on June 18 While it's great viewing, I can't help but wonder if these show creators are trying to convince us that having a lot of money is a bad thing The internet has long debated whether or not it's better to cry in a Rolls-Royce or laugh on a bicycle and because I have done the latter, I am ready to experience the former. There are certain life experiences that you have to experience for yourself and I am convinced that being filthy rich is one of those for me. However, since the top of the year it seems like there has been a valiant effort from show creators to try and convince us that having a lot of money isn't all that it's cracked up to be. And while they say that money doesn't solve all your problems, I feel in my heart I need to come to that conclusion for myself. It first started withThe Perfect Couple,which debuted on Netflix back in September 2024. The show followed the Winburys as they prepared to host their son's wedding on their lavish Nantucket property. Things began to go awry when a dead body washed up on the shore, kicking off a hunt to find the killer. Secrets were exposed, pregnant women became suspects, infidelities were revealed and the murderer istrulythe last person I expected it to be. Seacia Pavao/Netflix And while the show was all about this mysterious family's tight hold on a small town, I couldn't help but notice just how impeccable the aesthetics were. It gave wealthy, polished, unapologetic luxury and I was here for it. I just felt like, you know, murder aside, a day spent lounging by the pool, eating fresh fruit and taking in the summery ocean breeze wouldn't be too shabby. Then, of course, cameWhite Lotusin February, and with it came the chaotic Ratliffs, whose daughter was so burdened by her privileged life she wanted to move to Thailand and live in a Buddhist monastery, just to feel something. We proceeded to go on this eight-episode journey with Piper Ratliff (played by Sarah Catherine Hook) only to find out that life is not for her. It turns out she enjoys organic food, luxury suites and all the finer things in life. It's a moment that most viewers found to be so humorous because a mere few hours of the "uncomfortable life" her mom dreaded was enough to get Piper right back in line with her family's values (and bank account). Fabio Lovino/HBO And I support it. In my eyes, Piper was a good person going through an existential crisis and thought spirituality would give her the answer. And though her heart was in the right place, it would be tough for anyone to leave the luxurious White Lotus compound and not have second thoughts almost immediately. Next cameSirens, another Netflix offering that followed Simone (played by Milly Alcock), as she enmeshes herself in her rich boss's life. Raised by a neglectful alcoholic father in Buffalo, N.Y. Simone takes a job as the assistant Michaela Kell, a wealthy philanthropist who is at the top of the hierachy in her wealthy coastal enclave. Seeing the life of opulence and luxury Michaela leads, Simone leaves her past behind and never returns, much to her sister's chagrin. (Warning: spoilers in the next two paragraphs!) It feels like the lessonSirenswas trying to teach us was that no matter how far you go and how much you try to earn material things, your past is your past, and it needs to be dealt with. I agree with that. I don't, however, agree with the notion that having a little extra cash wouldn't help with that problem. And while Simone's new world comes its own set of challenges, she at least got the life she wanted. (Certainly, I don't condone going after married men — even if the man in question looks like Kevin Bacon and is super, super rich — but I don't blame Simone for wanting to pretend her dark past never happened.) Will she be happy having knocked Michaela off her pedestal and ascending it herself? At least she'll be well-dressed while finding out the answer to that question. Netflix Now we've come toWe Were Liars,which was just released on Prime Video on June 18.We Were Liarsfollows Cadence Sinclair as she recovers from an unnamed tragedy and tries to piece together the events that led her to lose her memory. We we see her seemingly put-together family fall apart episode after episode — her mother who is unable to cope with grief, among other things; her grandfather a stoic businessman who runs the family with an iron fist; and then her aunts who are walking disasters themselves, not to mention her cousins who, liike her, are trying to navigate the chaotic circumstances they all have to grow up under. What's particularly gratifying about this show for me is the fact that it proves my exact point: Life problems are life problems no matter who you are. They're just a wee bit easier to get through while knowing you'll get a good night's sleep on your palatial family property and plenty of money for retail therapy. Jessie Redmond/Prime Of course, the point of these shows is to highlight the trap that is being born to these wealthy families. In those circles, your name means everything and appearances tend to matter more than emotional well-being and, sure, that's never good. WhatI'msaying, though, is that I already have a strong foundation for solid emotional intelligence. I understand the value of working hard and earning your keep, so for me, the goal is to cry over my problems while summering on a sprawling beachfront property in Nantucket. And no spooky, suspenseful and emotionally draining TV show starring Nicole Kidman is going to dissuade me from my dream. Read the original article onPeople
