Chloe, who had been silent, suddenly laughed. It was a brittle, broken sound. “You think that’s bad?” She pulled up the sleeve of her embroidered jacket, revealing a faded scar on her forearm—a cigarette burn. “He gave me this when I was fourteen. Because I painted a mural on my bedroom wall. He said art was for ‘useless dreamers.’”

We consume for the same reason we look at car crashes and art: to feel less alone. When we see the Rose family in Schitt’s Creek lose everything and finally learn to love each other through squalor, or when we watch the Sopranos fail to communicate year after year, we see our own tables.

Complex family relationships have always been a hallmark of family drama storylines. However, in recent years, there has been a shift towards more nuanced and realistic portrayals of these relationships. Shows like "The Haunting of Hill House" and "Sharp Objects" have explored the complexities of family dynamics, highlighting the ways in which trauma and secrets can shape relationships.

“And to Elara,” the solicitor continued, adjusting his glasses, “I leave the contents of the cedar chest in the attic, along with this letter.”

Battles over money or the "family name" often pit siblings against each other, highlighting deep-seated favoritism or resentment. The Return of the Prodigal:

Before a writer can pen a screaming match over a will or a silent treatment that lasts decades, they must understand the three pillars upon which all family drama rests.

“That this was a normal family. That Dad was a good man who had bad moments. That Mother was a victim, not an accomplice.” Claire turned to Eleanor. “We are not selling a house. We are burying a lie.”