Narcissists may pretend they’re too sophisticated for TV, but come on – don’t be fooled.
In fact, they love certain shows. Not for the storylines, but for the power plays, praise, and characters who mirror their own grandiose toxicity.
These shows are liked by many, but obsessed over only by people who are in some way obsessed with image.
Here are 8 popular TV shows narcissists secretly adore, and the revealing reasons why.
And once you see the pattern? You’ll never watch them the same way again.
#1 Keeping Up with the Kardashians
Okay. I want you all to know that I am fully aware of who the Kardashians are. I get it. I see the dynamics. I see the money. I see the cosmetic surgery. I see the unhinged relationships between the family and their various spouses/ex spouses.
We all see it everywhere. It’s the global circus that we did not buy tickets for, yet somehow were still assigned seats to the show.
The secret love of this show can only be by those who are narcissists. Who else is tuning in to watch these people shake and scoff their salads?
What could possibly be drawing the audiences in, other than those who want to emulate them or be inspired by them in some way?
And if that’s the case, I won’t be afraid to admit that there may be some ego issues with those people.
#2 The Apprentice
Don’t you wish you could fire a narcissist from your life?
Point the finger, give the stern look, tell them to clear off and watch them walk out the door with their tail between their legs – what an amazing vision that is, even just in our minds!
Narcissists love to see the power Lord Sugar has over the contestants every year.
They almost mock the format of people being punished for tiny mistakes, or having a bad idea that cost them their place in the show.
If anything, I would say it’s the narcissists who love the idea of firing people, too.
After all, how many people get the kind of power Lord Sugar has? How many people have his status, money and experience in the business world?
This is the level of status all narcissists wish they could achieve, and so for an hour per week, they sit, watch, pretend and fawn over a man who has it all.
#3 Succession
If narcissists had a TV guide, Succession would be highlighted, underlined, and circled in gold.
Honestly, it is the ultimate ego boost, with a mix of power, status, and passive-aggressive jabs between characters.
It is cold and endless, and serves a narcissist’s appetite for TV well. For anyone who thrives on superiority complexes and perfectly timed side eyes, this show is where it’s at!
I think from the second Logan Roy grunts his way into a boardroom, narcissists everywhere are hooked.
The Roy family doesn’t talk either, do they? They monologue, insult, and weaponize affection.
It’s pretty much like group therapy, if therapy were to involve trust funds and daddy issues.
Each character vyes for the spotlight, and I guess that’s where narcissists come in.
They love a good spotlight. Especially if it comes with a media empire and at least three enemies at Thanksgiving dinner.
What really draws narcissists to this show, I think, is the validation. These characters don’t just reflect narcissistic traits, they are them.
Toxic ambition
Gaslighting
Emotional manipulation
It’s basically a masterclass.
#4 You
Yes, I’m going to go there.
If you haven’t seen You, then I urge you to clock in and see what the show is all about.
Joe is a psychopath on a level you’ve never seen before, with huge narcissistic tendencies. He becomes obsessed with certain kinds of people, resulting in real life or death situations (spoiler – it’s mostly death).
Joe has no conscience, and bounces from city to city to constantly reinvent himself and keep a distance from the heinous crimes he commits.
He’s jealous, controlling, yet he wants to constantly keep this image that he is a good person on the surface. To few, he is that good person, but that isn’t who he fundamentally is.
You is a show that provokes your conscience and questions your ability to see the danger behind people who you ought to be hating.
Many will contest that they actually like Joe’s character, stating that they feel sorry for him and see his charm as a genuine part of his personality.
But underneath it lies a dangerous narcissist capable of doing the worst things to people.
Make no mistake – it’s the perfect show for narcissists. If you can’t learn from the best and most covert storyline, then what can you learn from?!
#5 Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad is a narcissist’s absolute dream show to watch. It’s a masterclass in a blend of things like ego, power, and transformation.
The show’s main character, Walter goes on this incredible journey from meek teacher to the most feared person in the community – which let’s be real – is a narcissistic fantasy!
He’s brilliant, and so underestimated in the show, and you see him grow to be either worshipped or feared by all.
Narcissists will see themselves in Walt’s refusal to stay small. That ego is growing with each episode that passes by as the show glamorizes control and dominance.
It’s as if narcissists everywhere get to be themselves for an hour a week just watching it.
Every decision, no matter how destructive, is just genius because it’s so dark.
There is a belief that the world owes you more, and that’s what a narcissist thinks about life.
#6 Mad Men
Narcissists are likely to be drawn to Mad Men because of how it glamorizes power, with each character airing an aura of charm with it.
Everybody is obsessed with image, and these are qualities narcissists admire and often try to copy.
Don Draper’s charisma, and his success are traits that appeal to narcissistic people. Think of superiority and control. Makes sense, doesn’t it?
The show focuses on this kind of surface level perfection, while characters manipulate each other in every single episode.
Its portrayal of emotionally distant relationships ambition driven by ego alone reflects their views, which I think pretty much describes a narcissist perfectly.
#7 The Real Housewives
Is it not every narcissist’s dream to be a rich person living in the valleys of a locked, gated community somewhere fancy?
While many watch it for fun, there’s definitely a more entitled person likely to tune into these kinds of reality shows.
Where the obsession with money, fame and status are encircled by those chasing it as well as eternal youth – it ticks a lot of boxes.
I’m not surprised there are audiences with personality disorders who love these shows all over the world, and wishing they could be a part of it, too.
#8 The Sopranos
Ah, The Sopranos. It couldn’t not be on the list, could it?
This show timelessly centers on power, dominance, and control. Narcissistic? Check, check and check!
Tony Soprano is the main character, who constantly commands fear as much as he commands respect.
Like all narcissists, he leads a double life. One minute he’s a family man, the next he’s that mob boss, and he controls the narrative of each very well…
…Sound familiar?!
The whole show is based around image, power and dominance, which are frightfully similar to all narcissists.
