Roman Roy: Succession's Most Sensitive Character

[@acecake2052]

I’ve never hated, sympathised and loved a character as much as I do Roman Roy.

[@accioloki1151]

roman is so freaking layered it’s insane

[@znvsm]

glad you mentioned some of romans worse moments. upon watching the series, he was also my favorite character and that made me feel kind of guilty. then i come online and see everyone make him out to be this innocent puppy and I'm like- well im glad other people like him too but seriously, are we not gonna talk about the fascism and the sexual harassment shit?

[@puff4278]

Erm... can we talk about the freaking fascism??

[@HELLO_KORO]

I think people forget that Roman is a sex pest because everyone sees him as Wallace from scott pilgrim

[@ccpaoo]

the thing I loved most about the show was the complex relationship between the siblings and I couldn´t agree more; the show wouldn´t be the same without Roman, great video!

[@Petra-ms3ku]

As the oldest sibling of an extremely dysfunctional abusive family, I desperately want to protect Roman.

[@steve.santiago]

Great vid. Kieran’s perfect casting/parallels of his real life and character remind me of Kevin Dillon as Johnny Drama in Entourage and Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man in that same exact way.

[@pascalcasimier7748]

Great analysis! Succession absolutely took over my life last year and I can't stop thinking about it. Subbed!

[@princedavid88]

Theres also something to say about Romans ability to bring characters like Lawrence, Mencken, Lucas to the table. One aspect of his character is definitely the sage that presents himself as a fool.

[@mbcoll8154]

None of the main cast seemed to have any friends, like old college buds like an actually friend.

[@EmmaFlorez]

Stewie is Kendall's "brother," but they only see each other when they need something

[@urlittlewindmill]

Great video. Roman is easily my favourite too.

[@tbam73]

The most sensitive predator ever

[@EthanButler]

Very, very true.

[@virginnocence]

Wait, predator? What am I missing? He's not a good dude, but I didn't see any predation

[@amandaking9527]

I think all predators are! The level of cognitive dissonance required to do terrible things requires that terrible things have been done to you and you’ve internalized them

[@CustomBPS]

My favorite character too.

[@sest6621]

Great video, can’t wait to show this to my friends when they finish the show

[@lunamei4420]

yeah i think you nailed him!! like yes he's a horrific person and his choices are his own but the way he got to be how he is is complex and interesting and sympathetic in a way and it's just so fascinating to watch

[@paladin9137]

Putting the main theme in the background was a mistake because I could not focus on what you were saying, the song is too good. Memes aside, Roman absolutely owns the screen. Such a powerful performance. Good vid

[@parkpon.]

this is such a fucking solid character autopsy, reeeally well written, thanks for making it man!

[@jakefilmfreak8200]

Great video essay really enjoyed

[@sweetbeedee]

This is an incredible video, I heavily enjoyed it.

[@laotasurfs1110]

Roman's my absolute favorite, which is saying something. If the show were less relatable -- like if they were werewolves or royalty in the distant past -- and their victims were harder to identify with, and it would be easier to explain why we feel what we feel for the characters. For example, when Dracula kills someone, yes, it's murder, but you can still like him because nobody you know has ever been killed by a vampire. It clearly isn't real at all. If the show weren't so realistic and current, it would be easier to pretend Roman's just a lovable monster (I believe the entertainment industry calls that a "villain we love to hate") But Roman's practically designed to make the show's target audience clock the monstrosity of his behavior and despise him for it, as if it were real and happening to *us* . We're deliberately forced to identify with the consequences of his actions, like when he unironically calls someone a "cuck" or offers to "mansplain" and calls what they do "hate speech," to make it clear that *this* is the dude we hate when we're Hating That Dude. But it's also made clear to us that Roman doesn't want The Bad he's doing, he just wants daddy to love him and believes this is the only way. The tragedy of the character isn't the abuse of his past, but the potential he still has to be happy and grow and the way it's always crushed by the toxic environment he was born into. He really does come across far more like a child than an adult. Someone who could be healthy, happy, and even good if the person holding his leash wasn't a monster. And so we... kinda... can't help but... *emotionally* forgive him, even though we must literally condemn him. It's frustratingly but brilliant.

[@EthanButler]

That's such a good summation of his character. I love how the show almost curses us with the sad realization of how broken these people are while actively causing us to hate them. It's such a stark contradiction, yet it works. Thanks for putting his character into words in a way I never could.

[@NS1.]

I can't believe I can love a show with such narcissistic/despicable characters so much. Most of them are truly horrible people. So unlikeable, yet it's such a fantastic show.🤔

[@milkymarco7]

This video is so underrated!

[@deldel5204]

Great video

[@janehollander3843]

I standby that Succession is the best show ever made.

[@машиналюбви-я4ю]

great video thanks

[@sunshinetuna]

I always felt like Roman was the comic relief.

[@airin783]

I agree I relate the most with Roman too

[@thebipolarcousin]

hes just like the joker

[@HEAVYDIAPER]

I've got Season 4 of The Wire on the phone for you......he's pissed.

[@SuperBluesify]

I always felt like Roman. Family treated me the same way. I have a lot of the same traits. Sucks because I don't know what to do with it. Therapy doesn't help and often makes it worse.

[@EthanButler]

@@SuperBluesify my suggestion: find a different therapist

[@SuperBluesify]

@@EthanButler I have, repeatedly. More toxcitiy. Found a few good ones but they were the exception. And we went really as far as we could.

[@kellyrob4296]

Inability to cope. I relate, also.

[@Kolya-chu]

My close friend of fifteen years said I was the Roman Roy of my family 😳. I don’t agree.

[@TylerG-wm9qn]

Amazing job. New subscriber from me.

[@wrestlinginfodude2644]

Hey man plz make video on succession actual best character and face of the show Kendall roy,i think not only he is show best character by mile ,he is also this generation greatest television character with saul Goodman abd and one of the greatest of all time and he also most tragic and complex character with Christopher molasanti

[@moonchiId.]

"the best character" is wild lol

[@EthanButler]

Lmao yeah. I don't mean morally at all. He's a piece of shit.

[@wrestlinginfodude2644]

​@@EthanButlerI think the best character is by far best character of this show and even was this generation greatest television character with saul Goodman

[@danieleaversa4406]

I wish i could erase this show from my memory, best TV Show Ive ever watched