Succession: A Psychologist Breaks Down The Narcissism in Each Character 

I watched the show with my ex. His comment: "It would be so cool to be part of this family. I think I would be really good at this!" I was mortified.

You didn't mention the “Mother of the kids” though you see her rarely who truly was void of any maternal instincts a cold, frigid emotionally empty woman who is all about self-preservation!

"Everyone underestimates Tom and that's a mistake." That aged like fine wine.

Can this ve a series? Analysing narcissism in fiction? I really love it

My ex was a total Tom Wambsgans. Completely confusing how much he’d perfected the “everyman” and bumbling nerdy guy trope. It was hard not to trust him but something in my gut always questioned how real it was. And I found out the hard way it wasn’t.

This is the most accurate analysis of the Roys ever. Shiv is Logan’s daughter for sure. All of them together are like a 3 headed monster that create Logan. Kendall has the business acumen, Roman has the charisma and negotiation skills, and Shiv has the tenacity and ruthlessness of her father.

Loved this! I have often dissected these characters myself! I would be interested in your take on Logan's previous wife Lady Caroline (Kendall, Roman, and Shiv's mother) If you recall, Kendall tried to open up to her about the terrible accident in England and her response was something like "Can we talk in the morning? Mummy is tired" and then she totally deserted him! Funny story... when I was in New York last summer we came back to our hotel around 1 a.m and they were shooting Succession across the street. We watched them film a scene with all 4 siblings and then I was able to talk to them briefly. I especially love Shiv's character and Sarah Snook was so gracious and sweet, as well as the others. It was a real honor to get to tell them how much I love their work.

Finally someone who agrees with me about Shiv! It always bothered me extremely that she acted so altruistic when in fact she was the most horrible. She would throw anyone under the bus. See how she sacrificed Kendall and Tom. At least Roman and Kendall showed moments of genuine care and concern for their siblings. Shiv is dangerous because she can trick you into thinking she cares about you and then slice you up. I think she's a little psychopathic

Mad Men was clearly about a sex addicted narcissist. And I agree, Succession lands the many forms of narcissistic expression.

Succession is fascinating and exhausting at the same time. I feel like I'm watching my family' dynamics playing out. I cannot binge the show because of how much it matches my family's behavior. I really hope we can see some measure of humanity win over in one of the characters. Maybe one of them will somehow see the light and just walk away.

They're all pretty fucked up, but Kendall will always be my dearest. I feel like he's a forever child trapped in an adult's body and every time he tries to take more responsibility than he's usually used to, he collapses. He clings to validation constantly, and it just seems to me that he's a child who had never experienced true love and care. That scene in which he says to Logan that he's a better person than him broke my heart. I'll miss this show.

I watched Succession it was only in the last series that it dawned on me ,Logan Roy was a caricature of my narcissistic father .I heard Brian Cox discussing Logan ,who is unable to express love to his children ,perhaps through never having received it himself. You can see there is something sad about him.There is something quite locked within him .He obviously wanted to prove something in relationship to his family .I think it always comes down to family.Imagine being a human being whose genuine love is expressed with so much cruelty .I cant believe a TV series gave me an insight into my fathers behaviour.

Awesome breakdown. My nervous system can't handle watching shows like this, but break downs like this are so critical to seeing the Narcissism around us. Thank you!

Caroline! Stewy! Part 2 of this brilliant "media analysis of a cultural phenomenon so many of us are dealing with" series, please 🙏 😀 👏

Dr. Ramani, you're my fave! But I am seeing one character missing here, who is a source of endless entertainment for me! He also illustrates the narcissistic family dynamic so well. *I'm talking about Greg's "gramps"!* That's also a character that might give people some pause, but I'm pegging him as thoroughly narcissistic and very much part of the 'Roy' brand of dysfunction. *He displays patterns of both vulnerable and communal narcissism,* being bitterly jealous of his brother's success, and devaluing everything that's associated with Logan in order to console his fragile ego (rather than because of his strong moral compass, as gramps himself believes it). Gramps poses as a perennial victim of the world's unfairness, and enjoys taking the 'holier than thou' attitude toward his brother's family-yet he also enjoys the financial benefits of their success, without once expressing a desire to decouple himself from this 'dirty' enterprise. His ultimatum to Greg is also an example of his narcissism. While it's couched in the language of care (for Greg's soul, presumably), it is nothing more than an attempt to control and punish his grandchild who is choosing his more successful brother over him-an insult to his injury. All this is, of course, a very logical consequence of the Roy family's inter-generational patterns. Because gramps dealt with devaluing his whole life (and is now firmly positioned as the 'failure' in his family system dominated by his brother), he had to come up with defense mechanisms. Performing his moral superiority toward the people who treat him as inferior seems to be his jam!

I love Succession because it lets me laugh about the same behavior I was raised with. I’m grateful to be able to laugh about it, after many years of therapy, and the show makes it so clear how ridiculous these people are. Still, I’d rather have the narcissists in my life behind the TV screen rather than in everyday interactions.

I feel that Connor has had some of the most interesting development this year. Willa turned out to be her own person, and he also seemed to realize that his father was forever out of reach.

I like the doctor’s videos before I even watch them. She deserves it.

You had me at "Entitlement and rich boy ass hole energy". ❤ I'll be binge-watching this series this weekend!

This is going straight into my FAVORITES! I was hooked from the first episode, remember the wristwatch/check baseball game trainwreck of cruelty?

So right, the way Shiv views Tom, the way Tom treats Greg, Kendall's broken relationship with his beautiful ex wife, Roman so screwed up, Connor deluded, asking his Dad for a spare hundred million, Logan's ex wife Caroline, the mother of the 3 clearly so over it all for peace (her back story, no doubt very interesting)…I still find myself having most empathy for Kendall

I'm screaming THE BEST example of complete narcissism in a family dynamic!!!! So much so that, I would say after maybe the 2nd episode or so, I was oooh I wonder if Dr.Ramani watches this show🤭🤭and I think about you every episode since😂thank you for always keeping it truthful. Kendall would have never been a good husband or father to anyone. He's too traumatized. Wow Shiv's review😮! Spot on! Her cult is her siblings and husband.

I love how it feels like I’m listening to an educated friend talk to me personally ❤

😀😀😃Ahhhh!! My daughter called me all excited almost screaming and said, Dr. Ramani just did a video breaking down our succession ppl!!! I rushed home. Got some drinks, snacks & sat down to watch this!!!🙌🏼🥳💜thank you for always doing such an amazing job Dr Ramani!! We all love you in my household.

OMG YES!!!! I just started watching Succession recently, and it is a perfect example of narcissism. Definitely do more of these types of episodes, processing characters from media.

thank you for making this long awaited video about the characters in Succession.

Those kids have CPTSD above everything else. It may be creating BPD and NPD traits, but the serious trauma is at the bottom of it. Logan is beyond hope. Kendall isn’t.

i can’t believe you didn’t do the Roy kids’ mum !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! truly the most blatant example of a neglectful narcissist parent i’ve ever seen on tv

Dr. Ramani, this was great but you have to include Logan’s ex wife and mother to the kids. The poor kids didn’t stand a chance as both parents were malignant narcissists.

roman roy has single-handedly brought my “i could fix him” mindset back 💀

Amazing analysis, Dr. Ramini…following years of therapy and watching your expert character dissecting is a most rewarding experience. Learning is my favorite sport.

So many variations and recipes for narcissism including 'watching a narcissist blossom'. That's one flower I care not be acquainted with!

Looking great Dr. Ramani ❤🤍

IM SO SO SO SO SO HAPPY YOU MADE THSI FINALLY. THIS IS AN EXCEPTIONAL SHOW ON NARC FAMILIES AND PEOPLE!!!

Thank you! This was such a perfect analysis. I love this show. It is brilliant. Plus, the piano soundtrack is gut wrenching! Bravo, Dr. Ramani!

just finished the family therapy episode in season 1 and I immediately went to your channel. I recognized the narcissism so much because I’ve had some of the same experiences with my family and it’s such a weird thing to watch. I feel relief because I can relate to what the children are going through but it’s also triggering. Such an interesting show.

17:07 thank you for including this error. I have never seen Dr. Ramani present with anything but perfection. This makes my connection to her content even stronger.

I’ve been waiting for you to make this video!! It was so fun to rewatch Succession after learning so much from your channel-the writing really became a lot more astonishing to me. Thanks for sharing your knowledge in your channel and for making this video!

Dr. Ramani, thank you so much for doing a series of this show. I have never felt more connected to a show as someone who grew up with three other siblings, two very close in age to me and one half sibling who was just abandoned by my father. My father has chosen not to speak to me for over one year for being a truth teller. Since then, I have gotten married, began a new job, and bought a house just a mile away from where my parents live. He has ignored my calls and texts. It has been hard living not far from my mom and dad while being estranged and trying to see my enabler mom sneak her way around visiting me (which I hate). My siblings and I feel the closest to one another and at times have our moments where we are torn apart by our father. Overall, we have connected through our difficult upbringing. My brother (golden child) has a wedding coming up in June where I will be forced to face my estranged narcissistic dad and I am feeling the build up as this show progresses and the time nears. It seems that weddings are always ruined by the N-father. I am happy that you are sharing your thoughts with us!

This was phenomenal, what an analysis, what an insight, absolutely loved it. I love Succesion, the show is nothing but pure masterpiece. From all three siblings, it is always Shiv who reminds me of my ex narcissistic manipulator. There is soo much resemblance. I saw it in the beginning but as show was developing more and more, watching the way Shiv is, was like watching the personality of my ex. As Dr. Ramani said about her; the part that is ,dangerous' is that she covers her narcissism so skilfully with her self presentation that it may be less obvious and harder to detect, but she's total snake. I had a lot of suspicions of my ex, but watching Shiv's character was one of many confirmations to understand better what kind of relationship I was being in for years. Thank you Doctor Ramani for educating us and opening our eyes. As for Succession, it would be amazing if we can hear more analyses from you (maybe concrete episodes, etc.). :))💛

Been longing for this video!! 🙌🏻 Everything you said is spot on 🎯

dr. Ramani. i'm thankful for all your information. And I would enjoy hearing your thougths about the difficulty of sharing the real feelings after a narcissistic relation.

BEEN WAITING FOR THIS!!

Dr Ramani, thank you so much for this video. I just watched the first episode and I am hooked! THIS SHOW IS AMAZING!! Thank you!! 🙏♥️

Thank you for this! For me, "Succession" is certainly the best-because-relatable series since "Madmen"; my career provided impeccable, first-hand experience in "workshops" across cultures and continents. Fight narcissism on the job if you are nuts or curious, but flight is still the recommended way to deal with toxic narcissists in personal relationships. Learning the gradient of the manipulations spectrum is helpful; and practicing targeted verbal parrying is essential. With the current levels of entitlement across frontiers, those skills should be taught in schools!

brilliant analysis - and hilarious all in one go. love your work - empowering, smart and hits the nail on the head every time. More of this kind of analysis - just fantastic - thanks

I have the biggest soft spot for Kendall. He’s wounded and you see the most humanity in his essence. And cousin Greg I think makes being socially awkward adorable. Jeremy Stone the actor who plays Kendall has a deep & sensitive soul.

This was so good! Amazing analysis Dr. Ramani

I had been waiting eagerly for you to talk about this show. Love it !

Dr. Ramani, I really enjoy the material you create for your channel - much of which has been really useful in helping me reorient myself and find my feet in recovery. For that I thank you and hope that you will continue doing the remarkable work you do. I only just discovered that you have been videos about "Succession" and watching them is quite a special kind of treat! When I first started watching the show, I found the casual malevolence of all the members of the Roy family and those around them so very abrasive I could barely get through an episode without feeling a little scorched - this was a show I had to really pace myself watching because it was doing too good a job of triggering my phobia for nihilism. Because of this deeply visceral reaction, and because the Family name "Roy" means "King", I was curious about whether the other family names had a similar figurative weight - and boy do they ever! Listening to this video in your Succession reminded me of those early days and your praise of the writers at 0:50-1:20 moves me to share a figurative gem that I dug up during one of those earlier season when I was recovering between episodes before going back for more. I think that knowing and appreciating this detail about the writer's figurative onomastic intentionality was a balm to all the scorching I made myself endure just to watch one episode after another. The gem I am referring to is how rife with irony and mordancy the etymology of each member of the Roy (King) family. My favorite is "Little Hollow King", Logan Roy himself! characternames.com/character-names-from-succession/ I was going to list the names until I found this piece on the interwebs that does more than just list the names and they etymological translations. Enjoy! and Thank you.

❤ this take on Succession. i also ❤ how the writers set up the show's vibe with piano music that is both catchy and cutting, truly another element of the genius of the entire show

This is gold. Keep making this content about TV shows i love it!

🙂👍 Excellent analysis of the characters in this series. I now understand why I avoided watching Succession, I felt my stomach churning. I know that as I continue my acting classes, I will have to develop a character and this video will help me very much. Thank you, Dr. Ramani Durvasula.

omg this is great!!! Please do this for more shows! And examples or clips would be even greater!!!!!!

Love this show! This is a great analysis.

Amazing. It’s cathartic to watch Succession and satisfying to hear your analysis!

What a beautiful, precise explanation of these finely crafted characters!

Oooh, I always love your videos on film, music, culture etc. Excellent, excellent. Got some great recommendations from you 😊

I can’t wait to watch the final season, and then enjoy this vid!! What a treat!

No please do not stop. Why are you stoping? You have been my rock. Your chanel has helped me understand the abuse and helped me begin my healing. Thank you. You have bern amazing. Please do not diapear off RU-vid for long. Xx

I'm just getting into season 2 because of this videos recommendation of the show. It's giving me a lot to reflect on. Including how Dr ramani here shows an amount of uncertainty that is only a smidge less then my own about what qualifies as a narcissist. It's such a tricky landscape to tackle, unless you are willing to be as cutthroat towards narcissists as they are towards others. If the definitions can be as flexible as this, then I can own my own vulnerable narcissism as there are many poor decisions that I've made because it felt like the world was swallowing me whole and I knew for a fact that it couldn't have been mostly my fault. Of course looking back there are lots of decisions I would make differently and I could have saved myself but as hindsight is 20/20, there's still no way I could have known. I can give just as much slack to the people who hurt me as long as there's any room for them to have some sense of shame that would leave them with similar regrets. At the same time regardless of whose fault anything ever is, I'm the only one who can affect the world to protect myself that I can rely on. I'm not going to guilt myself for not having gone farther, but I am going to step up and take as much control of my life as these assholes on the show take control of everyone's life around them.

I love that I fell into this video, now I’m stuck to this channel !

Coming out from a toxic relationship with a Narc, I appreciate the show like Succession and Dr Ramni a lot

YEEESSS THE EPISODE IVE BEEN WAITING FOR

Dr. Ramani is alway so entertaining to listen to, makes me want to actually watch this show!

LOVE this breakdown for one of my favorite shows! Thank you!

i love this!! do more shows, please.. since I've been watching your vids, i see narcissism EVERYWHERE now..

Dr. Ramani ~ you look so great and happy again. Thank you for all you do for us.

I heard a new term called “double bind.” It’s a helpful term/concept IMO when understanding narcissism.

I’d LOVE to know the Succession cast and crew’s reactions to this.

I love succession and I love you Dr Ramani so this is a special treat!

I watched the first few seasons of Succession, but came to realize that I didn’t like any of the characters. I may have to go back and watch through this new perspective.

that greeting/welcome is everything!

Subscribed! Fascinating stuff, Doc!

Yeah, I had heard of this show, but I never thought it was related to narcissism. I will watch it, and consider it. Dr. Ramani rose my curiosity in seeing this series.

Oh please please please keep doing this on all your favorite shows. This is an excellent way to get introduced to new shows; a show with something real to learn from.

Wow! here I am all psyched up abt tomorrow and here you are🎉❤ to add to the party. awesome insights as with every video!! kp gg girl!

Brilliant show, brilliant writing, acting and characterization of the Murdoch family. I do wonder if a show of this calibre and popularity had really run it's course, or if the Murdoch's had influence over it's demise..

Yes I needed this analysis. 🎉

Wow...my wish literally came true! Dr. Ramani analyzing Succession!

Wow my fav psychologist reviewing one of my favorite series!!!

Damn, I loved this video, the breakdown of each character was really interesting to see, I learned a lot I hope to see more, you just earned a subscriber :D

We hope all is well 😅 Oh my beautiful DOCTOR 😅

I didn't have a clue that vulnerable narcissism existed. Quite a description from a great show. Thanks for sharing.

I got out of a narcissistic relationship last year myself. To keep from falling back into that trap again, I educated myself about narcissism. Watching this show definitely helped me learn a lot about narcissism (as did watching other clips on RU-vid and reading about it).

Dr. Ramani, you are a gift and inspiration to us all!🥰

Love this show. I didn't really put together that part of why I like it is my desire to understand narcissism. Thanks for that and your very interesting analysis.

Love the show! Love your analysis! This is the Truth!❤Thank You

loved thisss!!! love how ur also into succession!!!

This is such a great idea. Terrific insight into a terrific drama series. I'd love if you could analyze other critically acclaimed series, or even reality series like the "social experiments" such as Love is Blind, The Ultimatum, The Bachelor, etc. Thank you Dr Ramani.

I just started watching this and kept thinking this is an amazing study in narcissism…. Soooo glad you are doing this!! (I remember when it started and thought wow this looks good! BUT It took me a long time to start watching this because of my life experiences… I’m ready😂!) SUPER JAZZED YOU ARE DOING THIS!! xoxoxo

Amazinh inward look into each and everyone of them 🙌🏿 The show is sooo good im happy i actually watched it. This video especially is awesome too and easy to listen ❤

Thank you Dr Ramani, best show on Television by far. This was very interesting.

Love your analysis! Love this show!

Hahah i love that you did this! The psychology of this show is fascinating.

Thank you for alerting me to another good show to watch. I have been watching "Billions"; never would have heard about it nor watched it unless I heard about it here! I am going to try out this "Succession", it sounds very interesting. I love your taste in shows!

Your analysis was well presented, thanks. It was fun and entertaining. Good lively deconstruct

Love your analysis Dr Ramani

When you start looking at any of these programs more closely, you see that the writers are quite skilled at communicating personality disorders through their characters. You have to know what you are looking for, however.

I’ve been following her career for years she’s amazing n so brilliant!