This is one of the reasons for
Succession's
success
.
It is inspired by the very real life of the powerful of this world.
In season 3, episode 2, to escape the clutches of the FBI, Patriarch Logan Roy jets to Sarajevo from where he cannot be extradited.
"I refuse to hide in a crate," he
says, appearing in front of the paparazzi on the tarmac.
Carlos Ghosn will appreciate the allusion to his incredible flight from Japan.
Read also
These television series that are becoming classics
According to showrunner, Jesse Armstrong, the Roys at the head of a major New York-based media group were born of his imagination.
“There are plenty of succession stories to draw inspiration from,”
he told
Variety
in 2018 of his fictional family.
By analyzing the three seasons, we still note a strong resemblance to the Murdochs, Australian-American billionaires at the head of NewsCorp (Fox News, 20th Century Fox,
New York Post
,
The Sun
…).
Before
Succession
, Jesse Armstrong had just written a series called
Murdoch
.
Parallel dynasties
The characters have a lot in common. Like Logan Roy, Patriarch Rupert Murdoch remained in command of his empire long past retirement age. Their children faced mysterious mothers-in-law. Marcia, of Lebanese origin, is Logan Roy's third wife while Rupert Murdoch married Chinese Wendi in 1999 before divorcing her in 2013. Like Kendall and Roman Roy, James and Lachlan Murdoch have led branches of the group. The abrupt resignation of Lachlan Murdoch from his positions of responsibility is a reminder of the abrupt departure of Kendall Roy when he learns that he will not succeed his father. Their older sister, the discreet Prudence Murdoch, looks a lot like Connor, the eldest of the Roys: these two have no interest in power wars.
See also
Disagreements and settling of scores within the Murdoch family
These two dynasties have parallel lives.
In Episode 7 of Season 1, Logan Roy reunites his clan on a ranch in New Mexico for a weekend of family therapy.
Rupert Murdoch did the exact same thing on a ranch in Australia.
Simply, his therapist did not end up like Roy's, in the pool with all his teeth broken.
To a lesser extent, the Sulzbergers at the head of the
New York Times
, the Hearsts, the Maxwells and even the Trumps also inspired
Succession
.
When Logan Roy loses his head, connects problems of urinary incontinence with a stroke, we immediately think of the end of the reign of Sumner Redstone (CBS, Paramount, Viacom).
In 2016 at the age of 92, he was placed under guardianship by his heirs.
But Roy Logan is not there yet.