Original and fascinating insight into our preoccupation with the Roys. Also worrying example of the way the right leaning Times can manipulate our thinking (even though I read it).
A US President once remarked (can’t recall the precise quote) “money is very important when you don’t have it. Once you have it - not so much”. Which is only true to a point obv - if you have a bit of money and any sense you do appreciate it (bc lucky to have it!). But people who think “if only I was Uber rich I’d be automatically happy”.. nope.
I do hope The Times gets sold to a British owner soon. Murdoch’s influence taints it with US style Republican conservatism. Someone like Max Hastings or a Rory Stewart type Conservative would make it a great paper again.
Great piece. It is worth saying - orthogonally - that the writing in Succession is absolutely the best of the best. The Mencken "acceptance" speech was blood-curdling and yet you couldn't put your finger on quite what it was that was so scary, like a piece where the initial letter of each paragraph spells out FASCISM. And then there are the one-liners: Mattson to the Roy children trying to negotiate with him post-Logan: "I don't care what you think. You're just a tribute act." And Mencken to Kendall, who is trying to get a favour in return for perhaps helping him get perhaps elected: "Oh, I thought you were the sound system, now you want to choose the track?" (And the reaction to that of Kendall, played by Jeremy Strong.) Even the titles: absolutely, perfectly, concise in describing who these people are, what lives they led, what lives they now lead, what sort of man Logan Roy is/was (the little gesture with the hands to end argument says it all).
We always think there won't be a better thing (The Sopranos, The Wire, The Thick Of It) but in time they do come along. What's next?
The 'woof-woof' line was memorable, but not the only piece of fine writing in the penultimate episode. The eulogies given by Logan's brother and son, for my money, are some of the best, most poetic writing I've seen on television. The series, among its many qualities, offers the best metaphor yet of the combination of brilliance and barbarity which is America. The show sends it solid, and so do you. Rock on!
Was about to stop subscribing to THE TIMES when I found this website so now get to read you and am sticking with the paper, much the poorer without you.
One of your best articles which places one of television's finest series into its correct context. The nearest most of us come to the Super-Rich is when we see their Ferraris and Lamborghinis parked in West End car parks.
Thank you for this. It feels to me that the Succession writers apply the same principle Margaret Atwood apparently had when she wrote The Handmaid's Tale - there's nothing in there that hasn't happened in real life, somewhere, at some time. (Or in one media company or another....)
The fact that none of the Roys are happy is cold comfort... The music is great, though.
Original and fascinating insight into our preoccupation with the Roys. Also worrying example of the way the right leaning Times can manipulate our thinking (even though I read it).
Interesting to note that Peter Brookes the Times cartoonist has so far managed to sail under the right wing radar.
A US President once remarked (can’t recall the precise quote) “money is very important when you don’t have it. Once you have it - not so much”. Which is only true to a point obv - if you have a bit of money and any sense you do appreciate it (bc lucky to have it!). But people who think “if only I was Uber rich I’d be automatically happy”.. nope.
I do hope The Times gets sold to a British owner soon. Murdoch’s influence taints it with US style Republican conservatism. Someone like Max Hastings or a Rory Stewart type Conservative would make it a great paper again.
Great piece. It is worth saying - orthogonally - that the writing in Succession is absolutely the best of the best. The Mencken "acceptance" speech was blood-curdling and yet you couldn't put your finger on quite what it was that was so scary, like a piece where the initial letter of each paragraph spells out FASCISM. And then there are the one-liners: Mattson to the Roy children trying to negotiate with him post-Logan: "I don't care what you think. You're just a tribute act." And Mencken to Kendall, who is trying to get a favour in return for perhaps helping him get perhaps elected: "Oh, I thought you were the sound system, now you want to choose the track?" (And the reaction to that of Kendall, played by Jeremy Strong.) Even the titles: absolutely, perfectly, concise in describing who these people are, what lives they led, what lives they now lead, what sort of man Logan Roy is/was (the little gesture with the hands to end argument says it all).
We always think there won't be a better thing (The Sopranos, The Wire, The Thick Of It) but in time they do come along. What's next?
The 'woof-woof' line was memorable, but not the only piece of fine writing in the penultimate episode. The eulogies given by Logan's brother and son, for my money, are some of the best, most poetic writing I've seen on television. The series, among its many qualities, offers the best metaphor yet of the combination of brilliance and barbarity which is America. The show sends it solid, and so do you. Rock on!
Was about to stop subscribing to THE TIMES when I found this website so now get to read you and am sticking with the paper, much the poorer without you.
One of your best articles which places one of television's finest series into its correct context. The nearest most of us come to the Super-Rich is when we see their Ferraris and Lamborghinis parked in West End car parks.
This was a great read. Too bad I still dont have HBO to watch Succession.
Woof...
Thank you for this. It feels to me that the Succession writers apply the same principle Margaret Atwood apparently had when she wrote The Handmaid's Tale - there's nothing in there that hasn't happened in real life, somewhere, at some time. (Or in one media company or another....)