Spoiler alert: tons of spoilers for the TV show succession
I started and stopped watching succession about three times before I got into it. The reason was simple: all of the characters were unlikeable.
Then I got into it. And the reason why succession is good is because you can see competition for leadership by children who do not deserve it. And that’s relatable.
The following sequence occurs in the final episode
- Kendall thinks he is going to be the CEO
- Siobhan thinks she is going to become CEO
- Kendall thinks he is going to be the CEO
- Tom is the CEO
And through these ups and down, we see a total lack of discipline and principle. Siobhan turns to Matsson’s side to spite Kendall. She (presumably) gets back together with Tom when he becomes CEO also for political reasons. Kendall also demonstrates this. He says, “You like pancakes and waffles, and you kiss guys on molly.” while he thinks he is CEO. People act differently with power, especially extreme power. They pretend to be different - they can get away with more. Watching people with no internal center of gravity be pulled back and forth by ~power ~’s gravitational field is fantastic.
In succession, everyone wants to be CEO, but the reasons aren’t pure - they want it because it’s a prize, and only one person can get it. The underlying causes are many - mimetic, social, and political. But none are natural. And that’s why it’s interesting.