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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
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Sarah Manavis

No, Succession’s antiheroes don’t have a good side: that’s what makes it so compelling

Succession
Series 4 of Succession
‘Even with the ugliness that defines each of the Roys, there is a pervasive belief among viewers that there still must be someone for them to root for.’ Photograph: Home Box Office/HBO

In debates over who is the least competent sibling, arguments for which actor’s performance is best and theories around how it’s all going to end, one question dogs social media discussion about Succession: which character are you rooting for? The HBO drama surrounding the Murdoch-esque family the Roys, fighting among themselves over who will become CEO of their media empire, has become a weekly lightning rod for debate in its final season (which ends on Monday). It’s normal to wake up on a Monday to a viral Twitter thread, Reddit or TikTok post putting forward a case for the morality of one of Succession’s main characters.

The problem with these competing theories should be obvious to anyone who’s watched the show: every character on Succession is an irredeemably bad person.

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