"A Machiavellian Masterpiece": Succession S1 Review

Through the marriage of top dog of epic television drama, HBO (The Sopranos, Game of Thrones) and the writing talent behind British comedy classics Peep Show and The Thick of It, it is no wonder that Succession is so addictive. From the very first chords of the cascading opening score, one cannot help but be sucked in.

What makes the show tick is the fine balance between tragedy and comedy. A quick google search can tell you what the main features are of a Shakespearean tragedy and comedy, and Succession draws from both in abundance. Without boring you back into your GCSE English class, just imagine Macbeth or Hamlet marching about in a Gucci bomber jacket, battling a coke addiction and then you can picture your tragic protagonist, Kendall Roy. It is fascinating following Kendall and each character’s ‘game’ as they try and navigate their position in the family hierarchy after the patriarch, Roy Kendall announces he is stepping down as CEO of the Waystar Royco empire. The pacing is excellent, and the tension builds throughout each episode keeping you locked in until the bitter end.

It’s not easy to humanise the characters in this show because they are all quite despicable human beings. The sharp, witty dialogue is infectious and hilarious, but it is the moments of drama that remind you of the scheming and deceitful nature of the family members. The best scenes are when there is a family gathering that accommodates the verbal jousting and Machiavellian schemes to erupt in full force. An interesting camera trick that accentuates these moments throughout the show is a quick zoom-in on a character's face to emphasise an awkward moment, creating a documentary like atmosphere. A particular favourite episode is when the male characters attend an underground nightclub which essentially exists to accommodate the hedonistic desires of high society. As you can imagine, all kinds of debauchery unfold.

Ultimately, what makes Succession so interesting is that reminds us that even the stupidly rich members of our society have to suffer the primal fear and loneliness that all humans go through. As Bob Dylan once sang: ‘Even the president of the United States sometimes must have to stand naked’- a lyric which echoes the opening scene when frail Roy Kendall finds himself pissing on the floor in the dead of night. Come on, we've all been there, right?