Context:

Television often depicts the rich through aspiration, judgment, and reassurance, with shows like 'Your Friends & Neighbors' focusing on the latter by portraying affluent characters who are unhappy despite their wealth. This show, starring Jon Hamm, explores the lives of Connecticut's hyper-affluent, who remain financially insecure and socially unfulfilled, challenging the notion that wealth equates to happiness. The series counters the anxiety of meritocratic strivers by illustrating that wealth does not guarantee security or satisfaction, as the rich continue to grapple with issues like college admissions and financial instability. Despite the pandering nature of this reassurance, it raises questions about the true nature of contemporary wealth and whether the portrayal of the rich as miserable is entirely accurate. Ultimately, while the show offers a narrative of early chastisement for the wealthy, it also suggests that wealth itself does not inherently prevent individuals from enjoying their lives or avoiding misery.

Dive Deeper:

• Television portrays the rich in three spirits: aspiration, judgment, and reassurance, with 'Your Friends & Neighbors' focusing on reassurance by depicting affluent characters who are unhappy and insecure despite their wealth.

• The show, starring Jon Hamm as a New York City financier, eradicates aspirational elements by showcasing wealthy individuals who are financially insecure and socially unfulfilled, creating a stark contrast to traditional depictions of the rich.

• Characters inhabit a world of hyper-affluence yet remain anxious about their financial security and social standing, illustrating the illusion of security provided by wealth and the constant pressure to maintain appearances.

• The show challenges the meritocratic status anxiety by suggesting that even generational wealth does not alleviate the stress and unhappiness that come with maintaining a high social status.

• Cultural and aesthetic shifts since the 1960s have stripped away elements of fun and distinction once associated with the upper class, making modern rich lifestyles less enviable and visually appealing than in the past.

• The narrative suggests that the rich may face similar personal issues as the middle class, such as divorce and custody battles, but with higher stakes due to their wealth, leading to a sense of misery and dissatisfaction.

• While the depiction of the wealthy as miserable offers reassurance to the non-wealthy, it raises questions about the universality of this experience, as many rich individuals still manage to enjoy their wealth despite lacking certain past advantages.