Your Next Comfort Binge Is This Fun, Free-To-Watch CW Show That We All Forgot About
Hidden behind smash hits like Riverdale and One Tree Hill, are a treasure trove of near-forgotten series on The CW that only survived the network for one or two seasons. One such gem is Privileged, the 2008 teen drama that follows the lifestyles of the elite like Gossip Girl, but carries the studious, heartfelt spirit of Gilmore Girls. When a struggling journalist gets the opportunity to tutor two privileged young teens in sunny California, she makes the best out of the situation — only to be constantly bullied by her students. However, no matter how wealthy these privileged teens may be, no amount of designer dresses can replace the bond of someone who truly believes in you. Thankfully, this short-lived CW series is now free to watch on Tubi.
What Is ‘Privileged’ About?
Privileged follows 23-year-old Yale graduate Megan Smith (JoAnna Garcia), who wishes she had written historical biographies instead of working in tabloids. Unfortunately, her road to prestigious journalism is cut short when her apartment burns down and her boss fires her the next day, leaving her both homeless and jobless. Luckily, Megan’s very generous boss offers her another opportunity. However, she must pack her bags and return to her glamorous hometown Palm Springs. Once Megan lands, she becomes acquainted with uber-rich cosmetics mogul Laurel Limoges (Anne Archer), and Megan receives the job of a lifetime.
With her stellar academic background, Laurel hires Megan as the live-in tutor for Laurel’s teen granddaughters, Rose (Lucy Hale) and Sage (Ashley Newbrough). In exchange for her services, Megan is paid $1,500 a week, given a luxurious room in Laurel’s mansion, and even her own convertible. As for the cherry on top, if Megan can get Rose and Sage into Duke through their own hard work, Laurel will personally pay off Megan’s student loans. But as Megan quickly learns, Rose and Sage aren’t too excited about having another tutor in the house — and they will do anything to force her out.
‘Privileged’ Doesn’t Villainize the “Rich Girl” Trope
On the surface, the fraternal twins Rose and Sage are the typical spoiled teenage brats with no manners that you’d expect from a premise like this. It’s like the two are allergic to textbooks, and any conversation about The Great Gatsby is redirected into some hot gossip about ex-boyfriends. Instead of sticking to Megan’s meticulous reading schedule, the two shut her down and head out for yacht parties. Rose might be annoyed at Megan’s presence in their house, but Sage has her own personal vendetta against her. At one point, Sage frames Megan for going on dates instead of teaching, and almost gets fired by Laurel, had Megan not stood up for herself and confronted Sage.
However, they’re not as daft or evil as they make themselves to be. Rose and Sage are incredibly loyal to each other, and for understandable reasons. Following the unfortunate passing of their parents, Rose and Sage only have each other to depend on. Although Laurel finances them with a life of luxury, it’s just not the same as parental companionship. So, when some stranger like Megan tries to assert herself in their sister dynamic, they’re threatened by this someone who thinks they know more about their lives, even though Megan herself has not experienced the grief and loneliness that the two have endured. As for their academics, Rose might be struggling with her work, almost having to repeat her freshman year. But she’s determined to honor her late mother by going to Duke. And although Sage is manipulative at worst, she accomplishes As and Bs effortlessly, and doesn’t mind spending her time teaching Rose when she needs it.
Megan Smith Also Learns About Sisterhood in ‘Privileged’
Megan might be the twins’ tutor, but this Ivy League student still has a lot to learn about herself. When it comes to people — especially her family — she has some unresolved issues to confront. The irony with Megan is that, despite having to set an example for the two sisters, she herself has cut off ties with her own sister, who happens to be in town as well. Lily Smith (Kristina Apgar) is the more fun-loving, live-in-the-moment, “let’s get wasted” hairdresser sister of Megan. (Apparently, the two haven’t been on speaking terms since their fallout, for reasons that put both sisters at fault.)
We’re going to need an answer to that cliffhanger, Lauren.
Megan goes above and beyond to put the sisters on the right track — especially when they are susceptible to the pressures of fitting in with their elite friends or getting into messy relationships where they are only seen for their bodies or wealth. It might not be Megan’s job to parent them, but knowing their history, she wants them to realize that they can achieve what their hearts desire as long as their heads are in it. Even though this CW show lasted for only one season, it remains a fun binge filled with so much potential.
- Release Date
-
2008 – 2009-00-00
-
JoAnna Garcia Swisher
Megan Smith
-
-
Ashley Newbrough
Sage Baker
-
Allan Louis
Marco Giordello
