Doomed?

A note about the TV show 'Succession'

This post does not contain spoilers, but it can be better absorbed by those who have watched all seasons of Succession (and Ted Lasso)

“You’re not serious people.”

– Logan Roy (Succession)

The Context - Succession and Ted Lasso

During the first half of 2023 I was busy watching two TV series. Succession and Ted Lasso. Though I was not so drawn into their philosophical milieu, I was compelled by the storylines of both. Since both shows ended together, I was kinda compelled to see both sides of the argument on “human nature”.

The end result of both kinda seemed predictable. For a wise mind, my next two lines will not come across as spoilers.

In the case of Succession, someone would inherit the media empire and the only question is who? Well, the underdogs would eventually win in Ted Lasso, because that is how all underdog stories end.

But the two shows took a diametrically opposite view of the human nature. The first one, Succession, strongly believed that human nature is cast in stone and it is impossible to change the fate or path that has already been laid.

Ted Lasso on the other hand embraced the idea that humans can change. The stone is not cast and one can still carve a masterpiece. But it would require a kind-hearted guru to change the course of an individuals hard-wired patterns.

In this post, I am not going into the details of Ted Lasso, because it’s not the main subject. But the fact that I saw both shows together made a huge difference in the way I perceive Succession and its characters.

Characters - Shiv, Roman and Kendall

In simple terms, Succession is a show about three children of a media baron trying to be “chosen” as the next heir of the “empire”. The father is a corrupt and controlling figure who cuts deals with politicians and the overall system. However, within his household he has an iron grip over his children.

Kendall, Roman and Shiv are three siblings born from Logan Roy’s second wife while he has a much meekier son from his first marriage. In technical terms, the son from the first marriage is the eldest. But he is completely out of the race.

Here’s what everyone needs to know.

• Kendall — presumed heir at the beginning of the show. Self destructive and lacks courage. Tries to overshadow the dad.

• Shiv or Sioban Roy — lacks confidence or a strong sense of self. She is trying to negotiate her place in the family and gain power.

• Roman Roy — immature, funny, manipulative and perverted. Seems like a court jester but has inherited a sense of realpolitik from his father.

Like every compelling piece of art, the show captures how the wounds of these characters, directly or indirectly inflicted by the father cripple their personalities and thereby fuckup any possibility of these kids winning the father’s approval or making good choices in life.

As the show progresses, one sees how badly they do in their personal lives and professional manoeuvres, almost resembling a Shakespearean tragedy (though I am not an expert on this topic).

Overarching Dad Figure and Heirs

Though we talk about power in the social and political sense, we often fail to recognise how it works in households. Especially in wealthy households. The father figure always suspects that he is about to be fucked over by his kids and pushed to the corner.

In some households, a favourite child is chosen and power is gradually and systematically handed over, often with some resentment by other kids. In such cases, the ablest kid also lays claim to the throne through sheer merit and skill, which is happily or angrily accepted by the rest of the children.

In other healthier environments, the successor takes the throne to further the common good and treats all the losers with a protective rather than dominating hand. This could also evoke hatred or devotion among the losing members of the family.

But the course of this process is often decided by the father’s insecurities, his childhood traumas and the means with which he has decided to deal with his demons. None of this is truly news for anyone with some awareness of Mahabharata, Ramayana, the story of Ambani brothers or the succession plans of Indian political parties.

But I must say, that Succession manages to depict a rather less known variant — what if none of the kids are suitable to take the throne in the estimation of the father figure?

This presents a unique problem because even the father figure fails to setup his kids for the future and doesn’t understand the need for protecting long term interests of the family.

His insecurities or rough edges destroy the very people who are supposed to carry his legacy. The father’s attempts to prepare or encourage a kid to toughen up might produce the opposite result (or even a tragedy).

Are We Doomed?

However, the TV show Succession is not a commentary about bad parenting. Or maybe that’s the subtext. I remember that the writers of Succession believing in the idea that humans are doomed after a juncture and there is not point in trying to save them. You can’t recast a personality that has already been shaped by fate.

Late stage capitalism has no space for thinking about the collective, even inside a family. This opens up ruptures so deep that nobody ever feels safe or loved in real terms.

The pain, loneliness and dejection that emanate from this feeling of being “on your own” with no allegiance to morality or family can truly fuck up the sense of identity of a persona. The logical conclusion for someone who has reached this point is absolute incoherence, chaos and eventual self-destruction.

I have often thought about which philosophical milieu to apply for myself, my family members and my partners. Where do I place my faith. I dunno about others. I can’t make a choice for others no matter how hard I try.

At least I can try hard to go the anti-Succession way. Even I feel a huge challenge in my attempts to shun nihilism, absurdism and absolute lack of faith in anything that the world has to offer. But I have chosen to “Believe” as the writers of Ted Lasso would recommend.

There is nothing more one can do.