We’re in the thick of the winter months, and sometimes nothing feels better than cozying up on the couch with a beverage and a TV show to binge watch. If you’re going to get horizontal and enjoy some passive entertainment anyway, why not choose something that can be of value? Here are 5 TV shows that talk about estate planning and are absolutely binge-worthy.
SUCCESSION. HBO’s "Succession" is an estate planning must watch. It’s right there in the title, people! The series tells a dramatic story about the dysfunctional Roy family, owners of the media conglomerate Waystar RoyCo. Logan Roy is the patriarch of the family and the Waystar company, while his adult children Kendall, Siobhan, and Roman battle to become their father’s successor. To make matters worse, Logan is getting some twisted enjoyment out of pitting his children against one another. Logan is aging and deals with health issues throughout the show, leaving viewers to beg the question of why he hasn’t made a decision and drawn a line in the sand.
Why hasn’t Logan publicly named a successor? Is there something in his Trust, Will, or business succession plan that he’s scheming but hasn’t divulged? Has he orchestrated these political struggles to see which child will eventually come out on top as the worthy successor of the multi-billion dollar empire?
DOWNTON ABBEY. If you think an English period piece would be boring, think again. "Downton Abbey" received acclaim from critics around the world and won many awards, including three Golden Globes and a Primetime Emmy Award. (The series received 27 nominations, the most of any international series in TV history.)
"Downton Abbey" tells a story of the fictional Crawley family and the hereditary Earls of Grantham. Earl Robert and Countess Cora of Grantham have three daughters and no sons. However, English law in the early 20th century required that the title and estate of Downton Abbey be passed to a male heir. The first season follows the Granthams as they search for their next living male heir, who happens to be a distant cousin named Matthew Crawley. The story unravels as the family and their servants adjust to this new heir who refuses to embrace the aristocratic lifestyle.
INSECURE (Season 2). "Insecure" is a comedy series created by and starring Issa Rae. Issa and Molly are two best friends living in LA and the series follows their unique story arcs as they deal with their own flaws, insecurities, and challenges. This is all the while trying to embrace adulthood in their 30s, navigating awkward situations, and keeping true to one’s own identity. This show is not only hilarious but it also touches on an important variety of social and racial issues.
One of the subplots of Season 2 relates to Molly and her aging parents. As a lawyer, she finds it pressing that her parents establish an estate plan. She feels even more pressed when her mother suffers a stroke and she finds out that it wasn’t her first. Over the course of the season, Molly has open and honest conversations with her parents about estate planning. She struggles when her parents seem hesitant and uncomfortable when the topic is brought up, and initially, they try to procrastinate and sweep it under the carpet. She eventually enlists the help of close friend Kelli to serve as a neutral third party who can help rally around her parents to help them get their estate plan in order.
"Insecure" portrays one of the most realistic and relatable depictions of what it’s like to be is worried about our aging parents, realizing that our parents won’t live forever. At times, we need to “parent up,” when our parents are not ready to face this reality themselves. The series does an excellent job of depicting this narrative. Ultimately, Molly succeeds by encouraging open and honest conversations and enlisting the help of an expert.
MODERN FAMILY. Who doesn't love "Modern Family"? This show is hilarious, and yet it manages to tackle some sensitive topics included blended families, adoption, and same-sex couple family planning. The series takes a funny but sincere take on modern approaches to managing family relationships, and with that comes the important topic of estate planning.
Want to skip to the good part? “Ringmaster Keifth” in Season 8 centers around Jay, Gloria, and their son, Joe. Jay and Gloria agree that they need to create an estate plan to appoint a guardian for Joe, should anything unexpected happen to them. Hilariously, Gloria laments that putting such a plan in place will make her die faster. All jokes aside, picking a guardian proves to be a difficult task for the couple. The episode follows the couple as they weigh the pros and cons of each of their adult children in raising their youngest son. Luckily, they are able to arrive at a decision based on the advice of a family member.
Although hilarious, this episode tackles the worst fear of many parents: who will take care of their children should they pass away unexpectedly? Selecting a guardian is a difficult but non-negotiable step in your estate plan if you are a parent.
A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS. Last but not least, watch "A Series of Unfortunate Events" if you have a preference for fantasy. This Netflix adaptation of the children’s classic stars Neil Patrick Harris, but not in the way you’d imagine. He portrays the diabolical Count Olaf, who is named the guardian of the Baudelaire orphans: Violet, Klaus, and Sunny. The orphans are investigating their parents’ mysterious deaths, yet they are continuously interrupted by Count Olaf’s vicious attempts to get his hands on their inheritance. Luckily, the children foil Olaf’s plans at every turn, outsmarting him each step of the way. Although the story takes place in a fantasy world, and with imaginary laws, the takeaway is very real: an ineffective estate plan could create a world of trouble.
There’s no need to feel guilty if you find yourself binge watching any of these shows. Constructive rest is great, and it’s even better if you get any valuable takeaways from it. Our hope is that consuming this entertainment might inspire you to create or update an estate plan of your own. There is much to learn from these larger-than-life stories, with the main idea being that having a set, customized, effective estate plan can save your loved ones from a world of trouble. If you have estate planning questions, give us a call at 253.858.5434 to set up an appointment today! We proudly represent clients throughout Washington and are available to meet in person, by phone, or via video conference.