South Africa, Aug. 18 -- Soap opera

So much so, in fact, that I got angry because I thought I was seeing yet another "aspirational" ad punting the sort of lifestyle only available to the mega-rich, or the tender-connected.

I looked at the trappings of success, which were reflected in excess - as you see often on social media. The expensive booze, the massive mansions, the cars. It oozed the message that the man at its centre had succeeded and that he had the right to celebrate that success.

Quickly, though, the seamier side of money - and its mismanagement - began to rear its head. Already, though, I was sucked into the soap opera evolving on the screen.

Booze, clubbing, hints of affairs, then a gambling problem - followed by the grad...