'Succession' on HBO: Decoding the inimitable Roys' language of 'ahhh, ummm, I don’t know’
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: HBO’s headliner, ‘Succession’, offers a glimpse into the world of corporate America but what it also offers is a lesson on using the art of language to your advantage, a skill that many lack in the real world. However, the usage of language through the dialogues in the show borders on vulgar, crass and demeaning with profanity dripping from them. Logan Roy screaming “f**k off” is now a testament to his personality on the show. However, the beauty of it all is that these witty and foul-mouthed dialogues spoken by the people at the top of the food chain, dressed in their custom-made suits and roaming in chauffeur-driven cars, do not come across as cheap. Would this be the case with a show that doesn’t portray the upper echelons of society?
'Succession' has created who can fire crass statements in situations where an everyday person would not be able to articulate a syllable. This ability to speak without repercussions is a mark of real power, which the characters on show have. However, the real power is in the small pauses, the silences when the characters stop their chain of thought after being bombarded by some revelation or witnessing their plans fall apart. They settle for an “umm” to think of a response. It is usuallu after the humble “umm,” that a profanity-laden insult pops out. This is a ploy that has been used way too often by the three unsure Roy siblings - Kendall, Roman and Siobhan.
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Roman and Siobhan are masters ‘ummm’ and ‘I don’t know'
Roman is the most suave yet foul-mouthed character among the Roys. His ability to turn the most serious situation witty is unparalleled. The best part is that the person opposite him also mirrors Roman’s wit at times which makes for an unforgettable scene. However, when in doubt, Roman's fumbles and uses a “ummm..yeah...that’s what” before losing himself completely. His coarse demeanor shows cracks when he becomes nervous and then goes, “I don’t know...what do I have?...f*****g love.” He’s hopeless and mumbles when his back is against the wall. The wit goes for a toss. When he's winning, he is the epitome of brash self-confidence. “Guess who didn't kill anyone but maybe lost a couple of thumbs? This guy," he exclaims at these times.
Siobhan is equally irritating to watch when she’s dropped from any team. She’s fighting to keep the “Siobhan” name alive and not the “Roy” which follows it. When Siobhan is taken for a ride and her defenses fail, she resorts to “ummmm..ok..yeah..ok.” It’s a line that has been overtly used by the writers of the show for the youngest Roy sibling. Siobhan seems fierce but unfortunately, her fate lies in the hands of others, which includes her brothers and Lukas Matsson.
'Ahhhh...Kendall!'
Good writing rattles you and makes you think. You pause, take a step back and relive the words that you just read or heard. Kendall has a decent arsenal of words but when he’s not flirting with the corporate jibber-jabber, he’s equally humiliating and can really put a person in their place with his remarks. However, given his history with addiction, Kendall speaks calculatingly, and in this calculation, comes out "ahhhhh!” That’s his full stop. He shakes his head, starts thinking again and completes his thought.
If one could make a compilation of the number of times Kendall says "ahhh" in ‘Succession,’ it would make for a very good showreel. There is no doubt that the writing is immaculately crass yet hard-hitting but the Roys are a reflection of the media elite. The constantly used 'ahhh, umm and I don’t know’ are a sign of their anxiety and lack of preparation. It’s not their identity but given the risk of running Waystar Royco, they are the safe words or the words behind which they can hide until they find a way to hit back at opponents. Big credit to the writers for making us love the Roys, the eternal villains in the lives of many.
