Succession: Satirizing and Sympathizing with the One Percent

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I think Succession is easily HBO’s best show of the last ten years, and it just keeps getting better with time. What I love about it is how it hilariously skewers the super-rich, but also manages to be genuinely moving. It’s like a smarter, funnier version of Arrested Development, but with a surprising emotional punch.

This show feels like a more realistic take on Arrested Development. Instead of over-the-top, funny characters, the family members are fully developed people you genuinely connect with. Before Succession, I didn’t think a show like this could exist – especially one that still manages to be hilarious – but it absolutely delivers.

Over the four seasons of Succession, the show shifted from making us laugh at the Roy family’s outrageous behavior to making us genuinely care about them. Initially, Kendall Roy comes across as spoiled and arrogant, benefiting from his family’s wealth and struggling with his relationship with his father. However, as the series progresses and we see the pain and addiction behind his facade, it becomes difficult not to feel sympathy for him.

Succession Both Satirizes & Sympathizes With The One Percent

With the gap between rich and poor growing wider, and increasing evidence of corruption among the wealthy elite, the TV show Succession feels more relevant than ever. Considering the disturbing revelations in the Epstein files, the scandal involving the Roy family’s cruise ship now seems relatively minor.

Despite sharply satirizing the ultra-wealthy, Succession also portrays its characters as genuinely human, with real emotions. Though they’re completely disconnected from everyday life – relying on chauffeurs and never shopping for groceries themselves – the show highlights their relatable human qualities.

Much of the show’s appeal lies in how likable the actors are. Succession boasts an incredibly talented cast, and each performer brings a natural charm that prevents viewers from truly disliking their character, no matter how flawed. For example, Logan Roy is a harsh and controlling figure, but Brian Cox delivers him with a dry wit that’s often funny. Similarly, Tom Wambsgans is calculating and self-serving, but Matthew Macfadyen plays him with such charisma and a hint of vulnerability that he’s surprisingly endearing.

Ultimately, Succession manages to have it both ways. It portrays the wealthy elite as ridiculous and deserving of mockery, while also revealing the unhappiness and struggles that exist even within their privileged world.

How Succession Makes You Empathize With Terrible People

I’ve been thinking about Succession, and what’s so brilliant about it, much like shows like Mad Men and The Sopranos, is how it makes you actually feel for people who are, frankly, awful. If I met the Roy family in real life, I’d probably avoid them! And honestly, the real-life billionaires they remind me of aren’t exactly popular. But the show lets us see behind the scenes, and you start to understand them as people, with vulnerabilities and insecurities. It’s weirdly compelling to see that side of them.

From the start of Succession, it’s obvious that despite their wealth, all the characters are deeply flawed. Kendall battles addiction, Roman avoids emotional connection, and Logan carries the weight of a traumatic childhood. The show portrays a world where genuine connection is impossible – every relationship is either based on what someone can gain or is actively harmful.

Despite their wealth, the Roy children are all simply craving their father Logan’s approval, a validation that seems permanently out of reach. Tom’s heartfelt speech to Shiv – about how lost he’d be without her – perfectly captures what makes the characters in Succession relatable, even with all their obvious faults. Ultimately, the show demonstrates that money can’t buy true happiness for these people.

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2026-03-24 03:18