Recently I’ve been consuming content that’s related to dissing the upper class. As such, my left-leaning centrist self is brimming with indignation for the ultra-rich. This is the only thing I can do as a considerably marginalized (woman, POC) yet partially privileged human being. The two series that struck me recently are The White Lotus and Succession. Here are my belated thoughts and reviews about the two shows.
The White Lotus
The White Lotus is an enjoyable anthology that examines the power structures running in society. Each season is set in a gorgeous location, with characters enacted by equally gorgeous actors.
Season one tackles topics such as colonialism and how it still pervades our everyday lives including how we enjoy our holidays. It delves into how marginalized groups like women, POCs, and indigenous groups are continually used as arm candies, sidekicks, and tools of the ultra-rich to virtue signal and feel good about themselves. Meanwhile, season two tackles the power dynamics within sex and relationships, the illusion of having it all in relationships when in fact there are cracks and wounds, and how the marginalized groups make do with their situations and take advantage of the rich by cashing in on their weaknesses.
Although there were no specific Eat the Rich moments for me, the anthology ponders on how the power structures are maintained and how “woke-ism” is being used by the rich to set themselves apart when in fact, they are the same as the people of their kind, people who want to preserve the status quo.
What’s great about this show is that there are many more power structures to be examined, as this world and society are just so unfair and imbalanced. Also, there are a lot of great vacation spots to film this show, because well most of the countries in the world have been colonized, so they can connect the plots seamlessly to the histories of their chosen locations. The third season is said to be set in Thailand. This is quite close to him so I expect themes of colonialism, white savior complex, Stockholm syndrome, Asians as do-gooders / naive sub-humans, etc. I am definitely looking forward to gorge on more seasons of White Lotus.
PS: I know you all love Jennifer Coolidge’s character here but to be honest, I find her the most insufferable of all n the show. The most balanced character I found thus far is Nicole (Season One, Sydney Sweeney’s mother).
Succession
The few shows I’ve watched from HBO were all outstanding and I have yet to be disappointed in them. Succession was no different. It’s a masterfully created series that touches on the modern-day battle for power within the context of a family-run media business. It resonates closely with the real-life dynamics of ultra-rich families and how they run their empires. The series also gives us normies a glimpse of the lengths that members of these scions will go to maintain power and acquire more. It reflects how deeply immoral these one-percenters are with no regard for the common good because they are sheltered, and have no need to go down from their ivory towers. It shows how these people are untouchable because their money, power, and influence allow them to do anything and everything with zero consequences. It shows how their personal and business decisions affect nations.
The most important chalk talk in this series is not to be bad parents, otherwise, you will end up with these little shits of children (lol). The Roy siblings are fictional examples of how we were parented, our experiences in childhood, and most especially our trauma shapes us to become the adults that we are, and how it’s hard to change. It may sound shallow but our words, actions, and decisions roots in our childhood experiences, whether we realize it or not. Further, It’s fascinating how I detest everyone in the show; I root for no one, and yet I still watch it. I don’t hate the show but it’s more of I hate the characters so I’m going to watch to see how they fall apart.
The “losers” (Roy siblings) are not exactly losers. They will still have more money than we normies ever will. I resonated with Kendall in the beginning. You know, that guy who was always trying to prove himself but failed at most of his attempts. In the end, I resonated more with Shiv in terms of being sidelined, and her attachment style. On the other hand, I’m satisfied that the “winners” were the “middlemen”. It gives me some satisfaction that some of us earthlings can outdo these entitled bitches, and some of us don’t need to be born into money to play the game. Of course, the winners are not winners here. They are still part of the food chain where the people higher than them will eat them alive and replace them.
It’s hard to pull off a good ending while the iron is hot but Succession managed to do it decently. It’s not perfect, but it was not devastatingly disappointing (looking at you, GOT, and HIMYM). HBO has outdone itself again. Bravo!
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