HBO’s most recent tentpole series after the critical successes of Game of Thrones and Chernobyl is Succession, a show centering around a family of moguls who plot and scheme with (and against) each other to take control of the financial empire of the Waystar Royco corporation. The show’s biggest influence for its tone and presentation are the past political dramas of Adam McKay, who directed the pilot. Succession uses the handheld cameras, tight closeups, and the witty, profanity-filled dialogue that is seen in McKay’s Vice (2018) and The Big Short (2015).
The Shakespearean-esque drama amongst the family is propelled by dialogue-driven confrontations that are elevated by great performances from its main cast. Some standouts include Kieran Culkin as the slimy, smug Roman (who plays one of the potential heirs to the Roy empire), and Nicholas Braun as the lackadaisical cousin Greg, who provides a crucial average Joe’s perspective amongst the family, whose egos and immeasurable influence can make them seem larger than life at times. The character who most exudes that kind of towering energy is the family patriarch Logan Roy (played by Brian Cox), whose threatening presence dominates all of his scenes. His thunderous voice drives an imposing aura that fits his role as the closest thing the show has to an antagonist.
While Succession is mostly about the same group of characters cycling similar subject matters in their discussions, the show remains engaging through the play of power dynamics between the cast. In many ways, the show feels like a chess match, where each family member has their own power-vying moves and schemes based on what secrets they know about each other. There are many instances throughout the show where one character holds leverage over another in one scene, only to have the roles unexpectedly reversed the next time they interact. The volatile nature of each character’s authority over others leads to satisfying and surprising character moments that keep the show feeling fresh despite retreading minor conflicts.
The show tastefully weaves political commentary with the family drama by understanding the nature of the characters and their world. Succession’s gritty reality is one that has progressed past the typical manifestations of greed often depicted in media and real life. The main characters are no longer trying to become rich; they exist to assert power over one another. The show’s most effective political commentary is primarily expressed through the characters’ interaction with the world outside of the cutthroat Machiavellian dynamics of the Waystar Royco corporation. In particular, Season 2 does a great job of illustrating the damaging repercussions that the characters’ schemes inflict on the rest of society. The show periodically reminds us of the characters’ immorality by their displays of irreverence towards average people. For the characters, nobody matters in the world besides those who can help them in their pursuit of corporate domination, or those who stand in their way of doing so. While this can make the Roy family unlikeable, it also makes the turmoil the characters experience bittersweet, as while they may be the protagonists, they undoubtedly deserve every bad thing that happens to them.
So far, Succession has shown a lot of promise with the tone and characters in Season 1, and Season 2 furthered that potential by providing more depth and expanding the themes. Season 2 stepped up in giving each cast member an interesting character arc, and in the presentation of its plot progression, with multiple set piece episodes (episodes that pay off storylines previously set up in the series) that kept the story exciting and dramatic. The show’s improved storytelling culminates in the season finale, which is for the most part a bottle episode (an episode which takes place in a single location) set on a yacht. It uses a nerve-wracking premise and the strength of its character dynamics to deliver an explosive conclusion that will leave you hooked and eager to see what comes next. It sets a standard of consequences that will boost the tension for the rest of the show, as the writers proved that they are not afraid to significantly change the status quo of characters, and to evolve the show. With the way Season 2 left off, I’m very excited for what’s in store for the rest of the show, and cannot wait for Season 3 to premiere later this year!
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