2023-05-17 13:46:05
Democracy dies in the newsroom
It’s possibly the best TV series in recent years. We discuss the latest episode every Wednesday – with all the intrigues and nasty sayings.
Election night in «Succession»: Roman Roy shows his true colors in episode 8.
Photo: PD
Key race alert! The latest episode “America decides” brought back memories of the last two US presidential elections, when the world was spellbound by the coverage of American news channels. At that time, moderators such as CNN man John King illustrated the election thriller between Trump and Biden infographically on the “magic walls”: Red states, blue states, swing states. Depending on the political orientation, the latest “Succession” episode probably triggered a kind of post-traumatic stress syndrome in some viewers. Like Donald Trump before, Jeryd Mencken, a right-wing populist, became President of the United States.
Or not?
Because a fire broke out in a voting center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and countless ballots burned, it was not clear whether the last state to be counted and decided had voted Democratic or Republican. Wisconsin traditionally votes Democratic, but before the fire the Republicans were ahead. So the big question in the newsroom of right-wing broadcaster ATN, which is owned by the Roys, was: should Mencken be proclaimed president (and thus influence the election)? Or wait and see what the fire investigation reveals? While the other broadcasters suspected that Mencken extremists could have burned the Milwaukee voting center, ATN put forward theories such as “power failure”.
Refined: Not only does America’s future and the country’s democratic self-image depend on the outcome of the election, but also Logan Roy’s life’s work. While Democratic nominee Jimenez would approve the sale of Waystar-Royco, Mencken signaled he would not let the giant company relocate to Sweden. So it was a serious, long election night — which ATN boss Tom Wambsgans prepared for by snorting coke behind a whiteboard (and coercing the unwilling but submissive Greg to do it).
Shiv plays the democrat – but ultimately also her own ego game.
Photo: PD
In addition to the many political allusions and references to America that actually existed, the focus was of course once again on the Roy offspring. The episode once again shed a merciless light on Kendall, Roman and Shiv before heading into the final two episodes of the series.
With the decision whether to hastily make Mencken king or not, they had to show their colors. Kendall was hesitant because he’s not a Mencken fan. Not least because he, the permanently absent father, suddenly discovered a heart for his adopted daughter – who is Afro-American and was therefore approached by Mencken supporters. But ultimately, Kendall wants what he’s always wanted: a shot at the throne he’s dreamed of all his life.
Shiv, on the other hand, is appalled by the illegal influence and invokes democracy. But her commitment to Jimenez is not very credible. Rather, it seems like she’s primarily against Mencken because she has a secret deal with Mattson of Sweden to sell off Waystar. Ultimately, she too is driven by selfishness. All the more she got into a fight against her brother Roman, who has a direct line to Mencken and wants to see him as president.
Relief through comedy: The “disgusting brothers” were the bosses in the newsroom on election night.
Photo: PD
“If my team wins, they will shoot your team,” Roman scoffed. He later said to his brother in the episode: “Nothing matters, Ken. Dad’s dead and the country’s just a big pussy waiting to be fucked.” Roman’s cynicism is now coupled with nihilism. fascism even?
In any case, he doesn’t give a damn about democracy, the main thing is that he belongs to the 0.1 percent of the super-rich elite. Because we are here with “Succession”, it is of course also perfectly deduced on a psychological level: Roman, who mourns his father the most, has found a new, overpowering father figure in Mencken.
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Climax: Kendall when he realized Shiv had lied to him – and therefore switched to Team Mencken. Just another lie to the Roys, a Nazi sympathizer for the country’s president.
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Open question: Will Mencken remain President? The series probably doesn’t solve the question anymore. So here is an alternative question: Is it already clear who will inherit the throne? After his election triumph, Roman is in high spirits, as he now has contact with the President. But there are still two episodes to come – a very long time in the shark tank of “Succession”.
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Best insult: Uff, there were some again. Tom’s coinage of “gregging,” used in a particularly sadistic way to convey to Greg that he was his lackey for election night?
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Biggest Ridiculousness: Greg, who accidentally puts wasabi in the eyes of the ATN chief analyst at the hottest moment in recent US history – and tries to relieve the sting with lemon water, of all things. «It’s not that lemony, it’s not that lemony …» Fantastic and daring slapstick in one of the most nerve-wracking episodes of the series. And proof of the mastery of «Succession» creator Jesse Armstrong, who personally wrote the episode (and the next two).
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Most Luxurious Status Symbol: none. The episode was amazingly held throughout the ATN HQ. Democracy does not die in the dark here, as the slogan of the Washington Post puts it (which is aimed at opaque government deals). But, horrid irony, in a brightly lit newsroom. Or as Roman himself put it after ATN had proclaimed Mencken president: “We just had a good TV evening.”
At least he’s absolutely right about that.
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