What Succession Teaches Us About Power

Succession's ending explained why almost every character in the show has relentlessly pursued the position of CEO through four whole seasons. Shiv, Roman and Kendall as well as the entirety of senior management are terrified of being betrayed. Their only salvation, it seems, is to become the most powerful person at Waystar. In this video essay, I explore how the constant pursuit of power is merely a proxy for this unending anxiety that has been passed from generation to generation.
//Chapters//
00:00 Introduction
00:38 Part 1: It's Lonely at the Top
02:26 Part 2: A Family Corrupted by Power
05:04 Part 3: A Failure of Trust
07:50 Part 4: Inheriting Fear
11:11 Part 5: What Does it Mean to Win?
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[@praxton]

You certainly had a more optimistic outlook for Kendall than I did. And, I don't see Tom as Logan's successor. I think he won the game everyone at Waystar was playing, but Logan's successor was Lukas. And not just because he bought the company.

[@dielaughing73]

Yeah if anyone, Roman has the moment of realisation at the end, probably because he always thought of himself as 'bullshit' anyway. The damage done to his relationship with Kendall may be hard to undo, though

[@dogsandyoga1743]

​@@dielaughing73 I think the Ken and Rom relationship willl be okay (as okay as anything CAN be in the Roy family) . Rom and Shiv will definitely be better now. Ken and Shiv on the other hand...that's going to be a while. Decades...

[@steve_santiago]

Agreed. Shiv will start to make amends by giving her son the middle name Kendall.

[@Devil-Made]

This video seems like a very shallow reading of the show. There are much better videos out there that really explain the nuances of these relationships in believable ways; Just An Observation being a great channel to start with.

[@micharein2213]

Yes exactly! Tom isn't the winner, he's just in the same position he was before, lacky to a more powerful boss because he's a spineless yes man. He's got a promotion but nothing more.

[@Yung_Tubz]

As amazing as it was, what a shame we won’t be able to see a new Succession episode. Phenomenal series.

[@chuautesuma]

The fact that Kendall ends with (the bodyguard) working for him at the end, I thought it was the best legacy his father could have left for him, or Kendall taken for himself. essentially the only friend available at the top.

[@Boblw56]

Jackie Kennedy once said that if you mess up raising your children, nothing else matters. By that standard, Logan was a massive failure as a human being.

[@rouxbe3595]

Beautiful and insightful analysis. I only disagree with your optimism for Kendall at the end. Nothing in the series gave me any shred of hope that he could learn from his mistakes and repair his relationship with his family, either Rava & his children, or his siblings, or even his mother. He had no example of healthy family relationships growing up to guide him. Even his attempts to begin new relationships with other women were awkwardly abortive. A date at the RECNY ball: she was already in a relationship, and had to explain to him that the date was sexual harassment, as she was his employee. A one nighter with an actress in Willa’s play, who he flies to Dundee, only to have her thrown out of the party and sent back to NY without ever even saying goodbye to her. A brief drunken and drug-addled fling with Naomi, another addict, the first night of which he literally 💩s the bed, it probably ends as it begins, at least metaphorically.

[@Mrchair-bk5ns]

Good point but the showrunners didn't use the cut of Kendall jumping into the water with Colin holding him back that Jeremy Strong thought of. Jesse Armstrong did say that all the characters will live on doing their thing. Also, your points are true and likely to happen but I hold out on Kendall's ability to self-reflect which he was doing since season 1. He didn't a healthy relationship but there are others irl who have faced traumatic backgrounds and got to live healthy lives. I hold out on that possibility. I want to point something else that I noticed about the finale. SPOILERS TO GODFATHER PART II. Please watch it then you can come back and read. Kendall's final scene mirrors that of Al Pacino's Michael Corleone at the end of The Godfather Part II. It is just the death of a person's soul. Kendall wears a sweater and has lines on faces. It is also at sunset. Jeremy Strong morphs to Al Pacino for a bit. It is a very powerful final scene. If this parallel that I have been making is on point coupled with your analysis, Kendall will live but he is gradually losing his soul. He is on a steep decline as a person but I think he'll be back somehow. I just came up with this theory as I am writing. The parallel with The Godfather Part II was evident from the first time I watched the finale.

[@thomaswschaller]

I have to agree with you in general. Except I suppose now that his father - and his dream - have died, he may begin to have some kind of genuine clarity - and a reset. The character - despite his flaws and self-pity - was always a survivor. After every defeat, he always got back up to try again

[@cbushin]

Kendall looked ready to join the waiter he accidentally killed. He lost what he had to live for. He might have also been dealing with the long term effects of his substance abuse.

[@thomaswschaller]

What a thoughtful and touching video. They are fictional characters of course, but parts of all of them seem so real to us - and in ways - relatable. Hard to say about Kendall. I don't think suicide is his end game. He is more resilient than that. But he is so abusive - to his siblings, to his wife and children, to himself. But being shut out now, maybe he'll come to accept what Roman seems to have accepted - that there is a life beyond his father. Maybe in time, he'll start to map it out

[@alexman378]

I can definitely understand the Roy’s want to keep the company, despite blatantly seeing how miserable it is. When you’ve spent your whole life being told “you’ll do this” (especially in Ken’s case), you stop even considering that there might be other paths. Why they want it? Because, that’s the only answer in the end.

[@VanessaDiazNYC]

This was very profound. Great analysis!

[@supersuperankit]

Oldest son. Please don’t forget my boy Con he’s the eldest son. #Conheads

[@86Yaro360]

That's unsaid

[@redhippopotamus9144]

He was interested in politics from a very young age

[@AshleighMadeMe]

What a great analysis, almost poetic at the end. Made me relive the episodoes and remember the enjoyment I got from the series.

[@cam3r0nrock13]

what a hopeful way to look at kendall lmaooo he 1000% ended his shit 2 minutes after the show ended

[@pikathelady6662]

Wow the most realistic hard truth that no one wants to believe. Thank you for explaining why non of the children deserve to be in a CEO position.

[@KaritKtana]

Kendall at the end is just a sad boy. I don't think he'll ever get over this day. Pretty sure he'll go back into a hard drug habit afterwards. But I love your observation on fear being inherited. How fragile these people are

[@cbushin]

I remember that he looked ready to join the waiter he accidentally killed.

[@alexisguihard3125]

Amazing video, thanks

[@jimmy_octane]

0:07 this moment was awkward for me. I'm so happy that there's finally a video that explains why.

[@felixbache5369]

If there's one thing this show has taught me it is this: Connor Roy was interested in politics at a very young age

[@kuokublaikhan]

I also learned that when a man dies it is sad.

[@memicoot]

Please stop. It’s not that funny and the repetition of this line is disrespectful to this powerful, moving show

[@felixbache5369]

@@memicoot lmao how is it disrespectful?

[@memicoot]

@@felixbache5369 because it’s stupid and childish. This isn’t Family Guy. This show is thoughtful, sophisticated, and complex. Repeating trite one-off meme quotes isn’t how someone who actually understands what this show is talks about it.

[@felixbache5369]

@@memicoot I want to say 'You must be fun at parties' but I feel like a need a stronger expression

[@sophiasage1379]

Better analysis than most out there except for Ken.

[@rafaelgarcia5797]

Tom is the lord who watches over the kingdom of Logan, which was conquered by Lucas. Kendall is the prince who wanted to fight back against Lucas, Roman is the drunk sibling who realized he’d rather spend his days on a whore house drinking rather than on business meetings And Shiv is the whore queen who holds power only though matrimony. The old guard was slaughtered by Toms new regime and Kendall now Roams the world with only death And his fathers shadow haunting him and following him wherever he goes.

[@user-yj5zf1ww9z]

Thanks!

[@nanakmccann]

I don’t really agree with the assessment of Tom. Tom showed himself to be loyal and reliable in the end. He could have tossed Greg aside but he didn’t and likely had to stick his neck out to keep him. He looks to be giving Shiv another chance after four seasons of her testing him terribly.

[@domyates9546]

I think he’s keeping them around to punish them

[@thomaswschaller]

It could also be that he just truly enjoys abusing Greg and feeling superior. And I have to think he's relishing the power he now feels he has over Shiv

[@nanakmccann]

@@thomaswschaller he definitely enjoys abusing Greg. I think he also understands why Greg ratted to Kendall, he was trying to follow Toms earlier advice. Tom’s been consistently loyal to Greg through most of the show. Tom and Greg are both useful people, which is why Madsen kept them.

[@josefk7437]

I think Logan did not want his kids to inherit his business because he knew them too well. He knew how messed up they were and why they should not be put in charge of his company. He knew they were like him.

[@TheEtherny]

Idk, I think Logan calling Collin his best friend is less about Logan being lonely and more what he values in people, everyone around him wants power or money from him, hell, in this scene he was talking about people as if they were numbers, but Collin is not like them, he's so loyal to him he's still looking out for his kid even after he's dead, that's the kind of thing Logan values in people, loyalty

[@DouwedeJong]

All of us are utterly alone at the end of our lives. Lets hope we get old enough to find out.

[@Roundrobin808]

I don’t disagree. Life is still beautiful. Cheers

[@funkkern8512]

i don’t think that that guy is a 1 dimensional yes man. I see him more as a symbol or harbinger of death. in the final scene of the series, kendall (arguably the main character) looks out at the ocean and the scene is shared with only this one man who stands silently in the background. he is far too important to be written off. he is symbolic of something much greater than some random pal but i feel like someone else might be able to explain it better. I’d love to hear if anyone feels the same way.

[@funkkern8512]

to add on, this is the only guy that gives kendal some real grief after he kills the guy at the wedding. he really does only pop up when there is death nearby. maybe kendal goes out like that after the final scene

[@gamersnevercryever]

I was hoping that the siblings would have done all that for the best price from Luke

[@NeverStopNeverWhat]

What’s the name of the song at 02:26?

[@thomaswschaller]

just more of the tremendous scoring by Nicholas Britell

[@NeverStopNeverWhat]

Do you know the name ?

[@avidodd26]

BOAR ON THE FLOOR

[@orterves]

Kendall lost and was destroyed. He had nothing left. Same for everybody else

[@jordanlovinger5961]

Nah I disagree Greg does not look scared

[@ogpechie]

#Conheads

[@CollinThomasEverett]

84. Logan was 84.

[@jamespeters2859]

For the times we’re living in, and what may come to pass in Ukraine next year with tactical nukes. 2022’s All Quite on the… symbolises the current collective mindset of humanity.

[@dookula]

should've stopped at the end of season 1 or 2...characters didn't grow beyond those early seasons

[@MKN_2024]

Kind of sweet & naive how you see the show's characters. They are all psychpathic narcissists who do not know what love is

[@SadityAstaire]

Same thoughts

[@JoJoJoker]

Note: this show is fiction. It’s written by artists not business tycoons. They created a fantastic entertainment show (for a company like Royco) but their creation is an extension of their cynical worldviews. At the end of the day, Logan provided multi-generational material security for his family and paid for the livelihoods for thousands of normal people. Logan sacrificed a life of comfortable entertainment to provide for others. There are trade offs for everything.

[@splooie02]

I love people like you because it's easy to just dismiss you out of hand.

[@JoJoJoker]

@@splooie02 nuanced response vs. meaningless rebuttal from a simpleton.

[@ravedubin3983]

@@JoJoJoker Lol and Ramsey Bolton is the the kindest man in Westeros.

[@Mopark25]

People replying to you typing from their iPhones. A lot of their conveniences come from people like Logan and the thousands of people between us and him.

[@korubi_eCSTatic]

@@Mopark25 which Ayn Rand book is ur fav lmao