*Disclaimer: This contains major spoilers for “Succession”. If you haven’t watched it...don’t read
this!*
In light of the recent “Succession Sweep” at the Emmys, I’ve had visions of Jeremy
Strong dancing through my head, and more specifically have found myself reflecting back on his
portrayal of the pitifully helpless, LCD Soundsystem listening, addiction addled, and disgustingly
privileged, Kendall Roy.
Born Under Punches
Kendall, in all his narcissism, is (not so) deep down a boy desperate for the love of his
father. At the ripe age of 7, his father, Logan Roy, founder of media conglomerate Waystar
RoyCo, billionaire, and grade A megalomaniac, promised him the coveted company. In this
predestination, Kendall is trapped and he is forever at the beck and call of his father.
This burning desire to be CEO – sparked in him at a very young age – is not due to a
hunger for power (he has that already), but rather because he knows it’s what his dad wants, it’s
what he thinks will give him the high he’s constantly chasing: the love and approval of his father.
However, as a result of his one-track mind, Kendall finds himself feeling “like a cog built to fit
only one machine” (s04e10). If he isn’t serving his father, he is obsolete. Therefore, he is always
trying to be who he thinks he should be, who he thinks his dad wants him to be. His life is spent
constantly searching for the next drop of validation from his father, lashing out when he doesn’t
get it, fighting with everything in his power to keep that sun shining on him just a little longer
when he does. Because, as Shiv (Kendall’s sister) says at Logan’s funeral, it’s “warm in the
light” (s04e09).
The show opens with Kendall frantically trying to close a deal with the media startup,
Vaulter, because he thinks this will show his father he is fit to be CEO. He is constantly fighting
to prove himself and he fails. Lawrence Yee (CEO of Vaulter) resents the Roy family and
refuses to sell his company, but Kendall persists, he grovels and he throws an obscene amount
of money at him in the hopes that this acquisition will be the thing that makes his dad finally see
him, finally recognize his worth. Of course, it doesn’t- and Vaulter is now a thorn in Waystar’s
side. He is constantly struggling, expending himself, only to be rejected time and time again.
Then, in season 2, things take a dramatic 180, as Kendall is sent to terminate Vaulter by Logan-
the company he coddled and cultivated for him. Kendall walks into the company, a shell of
himself- his father’s puppet, does what needs to be done, and when asked by Lawrence ‘why’,
Kendall blankly says, “Because my dad told me to” (s02e02).
Much later on, in season 4, after the death of their father- the three siblings (Kendall,
Shiv, and Roman [sorry, Connor]) duke it out for the crown, and eventually, for the very first time,
stand on a united front behind Kendall. But, when Kendall senses Roman’s hesitance to make
him CEO he busts his stitches under the guise of love. He pulls his brother into a bruising hug,
tenderly pressing Roman’s head into the crook of his neck before grinding the freshly “healed”
stitches on his brow into his shoulder- effectively undoing Roman’s progress and reminding him
of “his place” (back in the dog cage!). Becoming CEO is Kendall’s last ditch effort at being what
his dad wants him to be. And now that his father’s gone, this is the only thing he can cling to, the
only thing he knows his dad would’ve been proud of. Yet, in reality, even that wouldn’t have
been enough, it’s a pipe dream. Kendall is constantly searching, constantly reaching out, doing
the next best thing, praying that this will be the thing that finally earns him that coveted, elusive
approval from his dad and this endless cycle, this constant rejection, is so draining.
Everything he does is in the name of pleasing his father- until it’s not. Kendall realized
that he will never be able to win the love of his dad, so instead he must kill him, impress him, or
become him. When Kendall rapidly flips from supplication and subordination to a complete
rejection of everything about his father, he continues to search for validation and acceptance
from other people. When he tries to “kill” his father and reinvent himself- separate from Waystar,
he yells “fuck the patriarchy” (s02e02) to a crowd of paparazzi because even when he’s
opposing his dad, he still must do what he thinks the people want from him. All he wants is
validation, morals are defunct and he has no reason to be his own person- he’ll take the
validation wherever he can get it. He even appoints Cousin Greg to be his twitter manager and
tell him whenever he’s trending, tell him when there’s a “good tweet” about him, because all he
wants is to be seen, to be valued- even if that takes something performative.
However, after the death of his father, he has the potential to be free- he no longer
needs to beg, no longer needs to ask the question ‘am I good enough?’, but he’s also incredibly
lost. Who can give him the confirmation he needs, how can he fulfill his soul, find contentment,
without the validation of his father- the thing that he has been striving for for so long, the thing
that he thinks will cure-all, will bring him salvation- his Moby Dick. But, if he’s able to escape
this, he can bring himself his own sense of validation and allow himself to grow into his own
person, to self actualize and realize his potential.
The Little Prince
This twisted sense of familial love stems from a misguided solitary childhood. He needs
to be nurtured, he needs something to feed the deep want within him and this childlike craving is
so often manipulated. Like when his father uses him, he knows that all Kendall wants is to be
told that he’s doing a good job, get that approval from his dad, so Logan pulls his sniveling mess
of a son into his arms and tells him “you’re my #1 boy” (s01e10). In doing this he’s able to take
advantage of Kendall’s naivety, his childish dream that his father does care for him, does
support him, in order to get him to do whatever he wants. But deep down, Kendall knows he
can’t find this comfort from others, this lifelong neglect has led to a deep insecurity which
creates a constant battle in himself. So, he looks to coke, and other addictions, to fill the chasms
within him, to free himself from the depravity. All he is is a scared child, trying to do well for
those around him, wanting his achievements to be displayed proudly on the refrigerator.
Because of this, even his sister, Shiv Roy, is far more of a man than he will ever be. He is, after
all, only the “eldest boy” (s04e10).
Kendall is constantly searching for some sense of fulfillment, and as I sit here, writing
this, I realize I see myself in Kendall. I mean, who doesn’t cry on their birthday? Who doesn’t
crave the praise of their father? Wouldn’t commit vehicular manslaughter for that? Looking past
his wealth, past his estranged relationship with the real world, at his core, he is constantly on a
path of self destruction, and his ability to simultaneously have everything, yet still feel as though
he is missing something is deeply real. All his idiosyncrasies, his deep discontent regardless of
his privilege, his stunted relationships with his family, his childish yearning for approval, his
similarities to a moody teenage girl make him a character that resonates with the viewer so
wholly. There’s a little Kendall Roy inside of all of us, and in a similar vein, all of the characters
carry something poignantly relatable and that is the true power of Succession.
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