#1 Netflix show highlights an unhealthy culture obsessed with status and real estate

The Watcher has quickly become the #1 show streaming on Netflix, and it’s fascinating. Not only because the show is well produced, well directed, and has a star studded cast, but also touches on many long running themes in American society, including our obsession with real estate. The deeper social commentary touches on our toxic culture of weaving wealth and happiness together, as well as the systemic greed it can produce.

Without trying to spoil the show for anyone who hasn’t watched, I’ll quickly cover how these themes are portrayed in The Watcher. Maybe you will catch them when you watch the show as well ;)

More than a home, an obsession with success

• The Watcher’s entire plot revolves around a gorgeous Victorian house in an upper-middle class neighborhood outside of NYC.
• This house in particular, is the nicest, most coveted house in the town and the desire of many of the town’s residents.
• It’s an escape from the city life, a place to raise a family, and, most intriguingly, the source of pride for the people infatuated with it.
• So much so, people will do anything to possess it, to possess what it stands for, to own its beauty and social standing in the community.

Analysis:

• In The Watcher every character values this house as a symbol of success and part of their identity, and less for its actual utility.
• Too often, houses become symbols that breed cultural competition, stress, and ownership quickly turns to protection and fortifying what is yours. Your property lines, your boundaries, your choices, without considering neighbors and community.
• Maybe we should restructure how we think about home and what about a home actually makes us happy rather than its vanity and symbolism. Do we really need 6 bedroom homes? Do we need entertaining rooms rarely used? Does installing top of the line appliances and finishing really make you happier?

A broken financial system culture

• The focus of The Watcher revolves around the Braddock family. A family moving from NYC to the NJ suburbs to escape city life.
• They over leverage themselves in order to buy the Victorian house, throwing caution to the wind, because they fall in love with it.
• This is even after a bankruptcy.
• Taking a hedge that the husband will become a firm partner.
• Not knowing if the wife’s art show will sell a single piece.
• Taking a high-interest loan.
• They do zero due diligence on the property and let emotions drive their decision making.
• Despite obvious warnings from neighbors, a potential stalker, and a straining marriage, they continue to not let go and fight for something that is clearly not making anyone happy.
• The thought of taking a loss on the home and not giving up on their dream home/life are too much for them to bare psychologically.
• Their kids are perfectly happy staying at the dingy motel down the street while the house in under construction.

Analysis:

• American relationship with credit is fundamentally flawed.
• The idea that savings, retirement, and assets can be easily liquidated is actually more common than people think.
• As a society we continue to let emotions and hubris drive financial decisions over sound logic.
• We quickly forget history like the 2008 housing crisis, both on a consumer level and on an institutional level.

These aren’t all of the themes covered in The Watcher, but certainly add to the social commentary the show highlights in broader strokes. Give it a watch… pun intended.