Conversations with SUCCESSION

A Q&A with Jeremy Strong, Nicholas Braun, Sarah Snook and Alan Ruck. Moderated by Jenelle Riley, Variety.
Beginning where season one dramatically left off, season two of this series follows the members of the Roy family as they struggle to retain control of their empire, and while the future looks increasingly uncertain, it is the past that threatens to ultimately destroy them. The season two cast includes: Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong, Hiam Abbass, Sarah Snook, Kieran Culkin, Alan Ruck, Nicholas Braun, Matthew Macfadyen, Peter Friedman, Rob Yang, J. Smith Cameron, Dagmara Dominczyk and Arian Moayed. Season two credits: created by Jesse Armstrong; executive produced by Jesse Armstrong, Adam McKay, Frank Rich, Kevin Messick, Will Ferrell, Jane Tranter, Mark Mylod and Tony Roche. Jesse Armstrong serves as showrunner.

[@AmazingVideos-wu3xo]

Interviewer: Why did you chose Kendel’s role? Jeremy : I saw dad’s plan and dad’s plan was better.

[@patrick4662]

Because my dad told me to.

[@whedonobsessed]

Is anyone else becoming unhealthily obsessed with Jeremy Strong?

[@matiasbarth5121]

YES

[@jayess8714]

Yes yes and yes

[@hamishlance]

Yes, absolutely

[@navneetsidhu8]

Oh my god! Me. Me. Me. HELP!!!!

[@dulcemeryespina9704]

yessss... and I dont know freking why??

[@luciapezo851]

Nicholas Braun really has that cousin Greg energy. Love him!

[@kaylanbaby5987]

He IS Greg!

[@rales90]

OMG you're so popular!

[@buggerlugz6753]

I do wonder how much Mr Mculkin is his character too.......in everything I see him do, his mannerisms seem too similar.

[@patrickfitzsimmons2130]

31:54 watch Jeremy's face when Nick Braun says "murder" You can tell how seriously he takes it. Dude embodies this role

[@naveer745]

Noticed that aswell

[@kalopsia7115]

god he is literally my favourite actor alive right now

[@apseudonym]

I felt that too, I didn't even need to see his face

[@mistressf]

late but i saw it too, he was also laughing a few seconds before and then his entire face transfixed

[@thatsavagechimp5617]

Do you think that was him reacting to an event that he acted through in the past? Or concern that Greg was at-risk of spoiling the show?

[@ayandotexe]

Love it when Sarah rubs Jeremy's back supportively at 28:00, after Alan says that he hopes Jeremy is okay. Such sibling-like behavior.

[@apseudonym]

they have good sibling chemistry

[@TheBrainFlow]

I think it’s so funny that Alan and Nicholas question why they’re in the series but their scenes are always so wonderful and expose SO MUCH of that world. No character is unimportant in this series. They’re all fascinating characters.

[@Ozzzzzzzz]

Jeremy strong is very .. he is a deep thinker! Low key obsessed with him

[@sunnydaze2359]

Graduated from Yale university. No dummy is he. ! 😁

[@SCharlesDennicon]

Kendall Roy is a masterpiece, and Armstrong was right to give Jeremy Strong that part.

[@clairehughs-z2n]

at 29.47 when Sarah is saying she felt like she wasn't the right actor to be doing this scene you can see Jeremy mouth to her "you are". :'))) soooo sweet and supportive! i love him and this cast in general!

[@astridab]

Jeremy is so Kendall 😭

[@lilychris811]

The minute Greg threw up through his eye holes I was in for the whole ride.

[@jonathanhogg9554]

Kieran and Sarah always give amazing insights into their characters but i dont think anyone understand their characters as much as Jeremy and Alan. Jeremy seems to get Kendall most than anyone

[@pahvi3]

oh my god why is Jeremy Strong so adorable

[@nancya7289]

Jeremy Strong's insights light me up with the force of his seemingly absolute vulnerability: it's about individuation; each character is trying to struggle out from under a shadow. The actual succession is a McGuffin.

[@Maddigan17]

Casting for this show along with writing are outstanding

[@astrodad656]

Immersed. Dreading the wait for S3.

[@CasiodorusRex]

I hope the writers don't screw it up.

[@obed5oa]

@@CasiodorusRex they'll have to do a lot to screw it up st this point.

[@patrick4662]

im watching 2 now just trying to stretch it out

[@simple11q]

"Boar on the floor" was one of the most iconic scenes !! They need to push these actors even further, not less.

[@Lafemmefutile]

smyger Right, I kept thinking where is HR? But then I realized all these people except for Greg are making millions in that company so they are going to grovel for these sausages. Real life.

[@miranouaihed3860]

I swear that was the scene that put all these actors on top for me. It was a turning point. Fucking brilliant!

[@Pww642]

terrific interviewer! witty and wonderful

[@darlington9738]

29:49 jeremy: you were. ♥️

[@pahvi3]

😭❤️

[@BatmanHQYT]

I'm glad Sarah brought up that cafe bathroom phone call scene, it was sublimely directed. So much going on, felt like I was watching an actual day in a person's life coming apart.

[@Upsallauniversity123]

Mathew macfadyen is awesome I like the way he changes his emotions very quickly its amazing 👏

[@simonsbuddy]

GREAT interviewer...good questions...good interaction...sense of humor. A delight. Cast great too...but we knew that.

[@elymuff]

I'm just so happy that these great actors have come into contact with the comedy writing genius of the man like Jesse Armstrong. Love this show. Congrats on the Emmy.

[@JustMe-ic1zg]

Succesion ain't a comedy wtf 😂🤣

[@winthorpetrois]

@@JustMe-ic1zg It often is, yes. You can't restrict it to one label, which is part of its brilliance.

[@prundonmcavoy7155]

@@JustMe-ic1zg There are comedic elements, and it's easy to prove. All you have to do is imagine any number of dialogue scenes transposed into a comedy movie. You'll realize it's easy to do. There's a deeply comedic streak running through the show, and it's made possible by the comedy power on the writing team.

[@reasonablyserious]

@@JustMe-ic1zg good comedy writing is necessary in every genre

[@NewYorkNadia]

American "tv" (HBO, Netflix, etc) is FAR exceeding American film and shows like "Succession" are the reason why. Flawless writing, stellar performances, top-shelf production. Amazing. Cannot WAIT for Season 3!!!

[@Lafemmefutile]

Nadia Asencio Watch Billions on Showtime - also excellent!

[@robotlordsoftokyo9702]

Netflix?

[@nondescriptbeing5944]

Netflix is so hit or miss, and probably mostly misses lol

[@Bailey2006a]

The best written show on television...

[@patrick4662]

deadwood*

[@3434arc1]

Jeremy Strong was half right when he said "The strength of the show is the writing". Equal to the great writing is the flawless casting. Virtually every character is compelling in their own way! Not since The Soprano's Pine Barrens episode have I laughed as hard as I did during the Safe Room episode in season 2.

[@pahvi3]

Exactly! Everyone is so perfectly cast and on their best a-game as well

[@deuteragonist1078]

i love this interviewer! and all of the actors did a fantastic job answering those questions. jeremy's point at the end about the show not really being about who gets the CEO position is SUCH a great reading of the text.

[@oa199]

Exactly! I feel perplexed each time a journalist or interviewer asks the question about "who gets the CEO position?" . It sounds as if they didn't understand the essential themes of this TV series.

[@dragonsouleater1119]

i didn't really even realize there was a lot of improv til the other day, i was rewatching season 1 and Greg talks about his paycheck and the lights flicker, and he remarks on it. his scenes with tom are so incredible. so funny.

[@NanztheFan]

I always have to have a dictionary tab open when I watch Jeremy but I like it 😂

[@spoook222]

its heartening to see them willing to be exposed and displayed as awkward and frumpy normals, hardly at ease in their own skins, natural people. i want to be their friend! such quality actors.

[@arielleharris624]

I late to Succession but man this show from the script to the score to the portrayals of the characters blow me away. Amazing television. This is also such a great interview.

[@vividhkothari1]

Fun lady who's interviewing. Usually, when the interviewer talks or laughs too much, they make it awkward and annoying. But her reactions are genuine and is asking fun questions.

[@444.nyokabi]

Agreed!

[@tristantriton8115]

I can't imagine how depressing it must of been at first to play roles of power then to get offset and come back to reality. Those helicopter rides, security etc were all real until the set was off. An amazing series.

[@rayllompart]

That is nothing, Tristan...imagine playing "Hamlet" and walking around with that huuuge bag around UNLESS you have the strength to compartmentalize.....They are not immersed in wealth at the set.....the sets are generally a cheap imitation of the real thing......

[@Lafemmefutile]

That was one thing I kept looking at during the show. These people’s lifestyle was intense as if they were heads of states. All these black SUV, jets, helicopters, mega yachts, helicopters ON the yacht, etc... It’s a complete other universe and it doesn’t seem fun. The only time if can seem fun is when an outsider gets to enjoy those perks.

[@streaky81]

I could totally see Greg becoming the CEO, no idea why that's hilarious. He's the outsider without the tarnish who is also part of the family, and he's rising through the company remarkably quickly and ingratiating himself.

[@Lafemmefutile]

Martin Nicholls They are going the game of thrones road. Greg is also the only one with ethics left and not morally compromised (yet).

[@obed5oa]

@@Lafemmefutile I like Greg the egg but I dont think he's smart enough to be CEO.

[@apseudonym]

@@obed5oa greg is smart, people just underestimate him. if he ever ran the company it would feel more like a coup d'etat

[@apseudonym]

@@Lafemmefutile they're not taking anything from game of thrones. the 'succession' in succession is a farce and the point is that it resolves nothing regardless of who takes the reigns. it's a family drama about the psychological toll of being born into exorbitant wealth and power underpinned by childhood trauma than about anything to do with business. it's about the curse of legacy

[@prundonmcavoy7155]

@@apseudonym "The curse of legacy" brilliant summation of the theme; it manages to be an umbrella for all the other true ways that people talk about the themes of the show.

[@Frederick0220]

Jeremy Strong is a brilliant dude. Yale grad.

[@hdmartyh]

So funny how Nicholas and Alan are like ' dunno what the fuck im doing here' echoing what everyone thought at the start but I honestly now can't see the show without those two and their story lines.

[@squiggle9981]

I love jeremy SO MUCH

[@qthoneydew]

Jenelle is such a great interviewer 🤍

[@Varga3344]

How is this show not nominated for best ensemble in SAG?

[@suramyasingh2465]

Love these guys. Alan Ruck is especially hilarious, they’re all charismatic

[@thisenvy]

Love this! Thanks for the opportunity to view it here on KZbin. Such an incredible show and perfect cast.

[@thesecondislander]

A bunch of phenomenal actors, their chemistry is spectacular!

[@KratosIsSick]

The Big Short v Succession, what a contrast in personas played by JS.

[@pairadeau]

Brilliant, brilliant show.

[@charlie5115]

Is Jeremy a method actor? I feel like he might be? Looks like he still has some residue of Kendall in this interview; like he’s slipping into Kendall’s body language, occasionally, throughout this? He’s looking down a lot, kinda hangs his head and at times he looks almost deflated and shrunken; like his whole body is ready to crumple up - that way you can get when you’re suffering from grief, shame and/or depression. Anyway, I realize getting into a character like that doesn’t come for free, I also hope he’s okay.

[@evilpuck6100]

He Absolutely is I feel. He has definitely taken this one on and in the deep end. The aftermath is separating yourself after heavy moments. He still has residues on him of kendall's dark moments this season.

[@BIGSAM-O-A]

@@evilpuck6100 I think Kendall is just an extension of who he is. But you are right his experience playing the role and dealing with such dark material leaves its mark. Same for alot of actors.

[@GroovinWithAPict]

I get the feeling that he brings a lot of himself to Kendall, not the other way around.

[@apseudonym]

I think he is classically trained. classically trained actors have a variety of different approaches, not always Method™ but method-like and intuitive I suppose. he talks about his process on the pop culture confidential podcast if you are interested. it's enlightening

[@myrin265]

i read an interview with kieran a while back saying that he is. he calls himself kendall even when they’re not shooting, he doesn’t like when people use tv terms like “scene”, and he embodies the emotions that kendall is experiencing throughout the show. kieran said that if kendall is having a crisis, they should avoid talking to jeremy because he puts himself in the same emotional place. apparently in the season 1 finale when kendall came back to the wedding venue absolutely drenched, jeremy made them actually dump freezing cold water on him. it would be kind of freaky to see him doing stuff like that, but also pretty fascinating.

[@ronhobbs463]

I imagine they wrote the part for Brian Cox, show might not have been greenlit without him. No one else could play this role.

[@jumpbox3]

ron hobbs Hopkins would also have been great. Another Lecter

[@Lafemmefutile]

Al Pacino could play that role in his sleep.

[@obed5oa]

Charles Dance would be just as good for this role but perfect choice is Brian.

[@Jennyfisch]

@@jumpbox3 I always felt their acting styles were similar, anyway. Apart from both having played Lector (which were very different interpretations anyway, but both brilliant). He's the only one I can picture playing that role apart from Cox.

[@tiphanyd73]

Hugh bonneville

[@jaychu3850]

Amazing how every actor really is their character on the show....

[@marlonmedina9291]

Perfect show, perfect interview, perfect cast and perfect interviewer 💯

[@maya1mae]

jeremy seems like an actor’s actor

[@michellewo2957]

Can't get enough of this show,just love it, and the actors are all great!

[@himurahaibara1459]

I'm so late to the party....i just watched the show. Personally don't really mind about who's gonna be the CEO. The drama in this family just fascinates me, how the dad's massive success affect the kids, how disfunctional their family is. I just hope they're not going to suck like game of thrones

[@tiki6038]

such a great cast! I can't choose a favorite

[@squiggle9981]

Jeremy i love u so much

[@drowningfastenough]

the color palette of this interview 10/10

[@namaslay6866]

Perhaps a muddier/darker green would’ve made it even better?

[@luthomabandla7973]

Good on Nicholaus Braun for staying in character.

[@heynowls3058]

Great show. Great actors. Fun too. Thanks

[@silakompromisu]

You guys have some of the best actor interviews online

[@faust011]

Binged thsi over the weekend. Brilliant

[@astridgalactic9336]

Do it again and you'll pick up all sorts of things you missed the first time around.

[@neoray10]

i think a 360 camera to record these interviews would be perfect, in post it can just be rolled behind to the people asking the questions. Great interview. Huge fan of the show :)

[@SCharlesDennicon]

The dialogues in this show are so fucking brilliant I'm very, VERY surprised to learn there's so munch improv. Wow. o__o

[@DrRestezi]

Alan Ruck was in Ferris Bueller before Sarah Snook was born.

[@Jason8823]

Absolutely fantastic interview, and the interviewer is amazing. Engaging, lets them speak.

[@Lizcameron14610]

Love love love. Thank you all!

[@marinalima3005]

dying over how strikingly handsome jeremy strong is here

[@melodicatyto]

The way Sarah went Shiv voice when Mic was like Greg could be CEO

[@KP-dd2ci]

Connor is so Cameron.

[@JustineSHarrison]

not in line to take over company part will grow over time #dying

[@alexfurnas1263]

Nothing but respect for MY president

[@Friduwulf]

He ate my fucking chicken! 🤣

[@justinhamilton8647]

28:00 aww that’s so cute

[@V45hTh3Stamp3d3]

Aw man, no Romulus.

[@srujankov]

Jeremy is still in the character man.

[@Brownie2102]

Who do you think was it that didn't want sausages thrown at them? Seemed a bit akward that bit did, Jeremy kept looking over to Nick

[@bs4e]

I love how sarah was sitting! Lol

[@Xmj202]

L to the O-G!

[@ahabmalik7710]

jeremy, sarah and alan( yes,66yo alan) are the hottest cast members to me

[@pahvi3]

I agree, they're all gorgeous!

[@sohatanwirkhan583]

The show's name is The Thick of It. In the Loop is a film with characters from the show's universe but as different political operators.

[@peterhudson5748]

I'm guessing Brian Cox didn't have to audition?

[@ronhobbs463]

I'm guessing they wrote the part for him and it wouldn't have been greenlit if it he hadn't accepted. No other actor could do this role.

[@ronhobbs463]

I imagine they wrote the part for him, show might not have been greenlit without him. No one else could play this role.

[@ronhobbs463]

I imagine they wrote the part for him, show might not have been greenlit without him. No one else could play this role.

[@ronhobbs463]

I imagine they wrote the part for him, show might not have been greenlit without him. No one else could play this role.

[@kalopsia7115]

ron hobbs we get it

[@justgivemethetruth]

I only care about one thing ... when is season 3?

[@Lafemmefutile]

justgivemethetruth Delayed by Corona. WW week in silence.

[@monkeydlooffy]

Fall this year.

[@veill21m]

Greater interviewer. My fav 🔥

[@yujisamadesu]

I love this series, cousin greg is my favourite character! hope season 3 comes soon.

[@jamesmarie]

Shiv!!!!!!

[@buckzee289]

This is amazing.

[@hansmir5443]

Love the show.

[@katjau_]

7:28 LMAO relatable

[@anqizhao5769]

Hi I really love this interview with SUCCESSION cast, can I repost it to other website?

[@anishabains27]

I love ❤❤ Sarah

[@orensro7434]

I love this show

[@henrikanchelia64]

hahahaha i would totally love Greg to be the CEO, that would be so insane.

[@nonofyourbusiness8623]

Does anyone know what’s the frame in the picture of the frame

[@nonofyourbusiness8623]

Anyone know the name of the frame of the guy with the knee on the back of other guy

[@StefKa02]

16:42, 22:08 and 38:25

[@Sandeep-gb7ni]

There's no tomellette without breaking some greggs

[@rjm789]

Poor Jeremy can (at times) be painful to listen to in interviews haha, as much as I like him!

[@MrMooemoney]

They so different in real life cant even lie👌

[@AmazingVideos-wu3xo]

I just hope Jeremy is not like Kendall in reallife. He seems sad in this interview.. looking down a lot; last examples he gave seems from his own life as an actor.

[@SCharlesDennicon]

38:00 What Jeremy says is no longer relevant now that season 2 finale happened. Kendall has become a killer.

[@Jeffzda]

It's relevant again

[@DanielleDrossos-tt3qq]

Nicholas Braun is my babygirl. you wouldn’t get it

[@endgamefond]

I think Kendall in real life is the most similar as him on the show

[@KK-qi7gp]

32:10

[@benbritten4967]

They are good actors! outside of series they look like homeless people!

[@Iaerces]

the guy playing kendall is actually like this irl.. terrifying