In four seasons, the American series revolves around psychological violence in the family and in the workplace. And is a constructive portrayal of narcissistic perversions and other toxic relationships.
In a contextually rich environment, succession follows psychological developments that can go beyond the concept of class and apply to several forms of interpersonal relationships, private or at work. On closer inspection, it’s possible to use this series as a toolkit for deciphering toxic workplace behaviors and narcissistic perversions between people, and therefore between the characters here. From fiction to real life, follow the guide.
Logan Roy. Dominating Toxicity:
Logan Roy Brian Cox Warner Bros.
Logan Roy’s character is the patriarch of the family, the father of the clan who dreams of replacing him, and the all-powerful boss of a super-powerful media empire; in dallas or Blake Carrington Dynasty, the modern version of which can be. By watching his development, we better understand the ways of the toxic personality; Logan Roy is a dominant who wants the spotlight on himself all the time, who avoids other people’s solutions for himself and his own. surrounded by characters. in his service. His status as boss and media owner authorizes him to adopt this central position. Does that exempt him from having to listen to others for all that? It often happens that he pretends to listen in order to better disqualify the other person, whoever he is. Which invariably leads to a sense of dread in those around him, a very visible stress throughout the series, and a resentment towards him. And when sometimes his children dominate, he never stops humiliating them with his words, which he takes care to keep central.
Roy’s Children or the Toxicity of Paranoia
Kendall Roy (Jeremy Strong), Shiv Roy (Sarah Snook) and Roman Roy (Kieran Culkin) succession Warner Bros.
Oedipus complex. Involvement of force? To put an end to the judgment of the ancients? Roy’s children have been at war for four seasons to take their father’s place. But also to win his love and respect. But also knowing which one is the best. But also to exist independently of each other. But also form a brotherhood finally united. Caught in these conflicting directives, similar to the “double bind” (“double constraint,” editor’s note) the theory of anthropologist and psychologist Gregory Bateson, which forces an individual to be torn between desires that cannot be regulated at the same time, their behavior begins to fall under the behavior of narcissistic perverts; light upon them.
Everything in their attitude shows signs of aggravated narcissism: need for attention, humiliation of others, manipulation of the environment, self-esteem, repeated lies. Their behavior is irremediably marked by intractable paranoia and instability dictated by the economic upheavals of their father’s business. They need to constantly adapt, and their main strength to do this is exaggerated narcissism.
Perverse promises of change
Kendall Roy Jeremy Strong Warner Bros.
Much has been said about Shakespeare succession a family drama, the series echoes the playwright’s great plays, depicting political and intimate passions. Nevertheless, succession It is also a quasi-clinical study of human behavior amid extravagant promises of a better life. The characters are driven by what they believe is an opportunity to change. The story they tell each other is basically the story the pervert inflicts on his victim, who believes it until it is impossible for him to leave the relationship. Children see promise in their father. taking his place, but also the better world to come after him. For children, turmoil is constant. They are guided by their utopia, but reality constantly catches them and breaks them forever. As Lacan said, “The real is when we encounter each other.” And the Roy family is constantly bumping into each other.
Hand mechanics
Logan Roy (Brian Cox) and his son Kendall (Jeremy Strong) David M. Russell / David M. Russell
What is at stake in the series is a powerful desire: power. How to take it? How to store it? How to give it? Who will take it? So many questions that, once asked, reveal the patterns by which the series’ characters develop, and which, parallel to real life, allow the audience to use them to discover the behavior around them.
First of all, succession offers a rather pessimistic philosophy of the world. to the questions it poses, the problem of power, inheritance and transmission, it implicitly says that there is no answer. The characters are caught in a constant conflict and their drama is lived in the illusion that they will find an answer. In contrast, succession teaches his audience that sometimes you need to know how to move beyond the questions and not look for the answers in the first place.
Source: Le Figaro
