Succession Is Going To End Just Like Game Of Thrones?
Succession star Jeremy Strong compares the show's ending to that of Game of Thrones, calling it a symbolic "Dracarys moment."
Jeremy Strong, who plays Kendall Roy in Succession, used a Game of Thrones reference to explain his character’s mindset heading into the series finale. In an interview with the show’s official HBO podcast , the actor said, “It’s kind of like a Dracarys moment for Kendall. Starting from the end of episode six, I think he can see the endgame.”
In Game of Thrones, “Dracarys” is the command given by Daenerys Targaryen to her dragon, Drogon, to burn down King’s Landing, resulting in many casualties. Dany becomes queen of the ashes and is later killed by Jon. While Succession’s penultimate episode, “Church and State,” doesn’t include literal casualties, Logan’s funeral represents a similar coronation moment for Kendall.
During the interview, Strong talked about the ninth episode, including Kendall feeling responsible for the election and making a Faustian bargain. “He’s compromised himself, and he knows it. I think he’s in turmoil,” the Succession star added. The character also has to deal with the fallout from the previous episode, where Rava called Kendall on his behavior and took the kids out of the city.
He also commented on Kendall’s assistant, Jess, defecting. “She’s such a fantastic character, and Juliana Canfield is a brilliant actor, and I love that they gave her this great scene,” Strong explained. The Succession actor added that Jess is essentially the only person Kendall has a solid relationship with. So to have a rift in their friendship is a major blow to the character.
The news of Succession ending with its fourth season was revealed by series creator Jesse Armstrong, who admitted that the decision wasn’t easy. “I went into the writing room for season four sort of saying, ‘I think this is what we’re doing, but let’s also keep it open,’” he explained. But the decision to end the series was solidified when filming began.
Succession debuted on HBO in 2018. The story follows the Roy family – the owners of a global media and entertainment company called Waystar RoyCo. When the family patriarch’s health starts to fail, his children prepare for life without their father while competing for prominence within the firm.
Along with Jeremy Strong as Kendall, the series stars Kieran Culkin as Roman, Sarah Snook as Siobhan, and Alan Ruck as Connor. Matthew Macfadyen, Nicholas Braun, Hiam Abbass, Peter Friedman, Natalie Gold, Dagmara Domińczyk, Arian Moayed, J. Smith-Cameron, Justine Lupe, David Rasche, Fisher Stevens, and Rob Yang also appear in Succession.
Additional cast members include Alexander Skarsgard, Cherry Jones, Hope Davis, Justin Kirk, and Stephen Root. Armstrong serves as showrunner and executive producer. The fourth season of Succession premiered on March 26, with the finale set to air on May 28.
Since its premiere, Succession has been praised for its writing, acting, and subject matter. The series has also received several accolades for its efforts, including a British Academy Television Award for Best International Program, a Golden Globe for Best Television Series, and the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series in 2020 and 2022.
Brian Cox and Jeremy Strong won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Television Series Drama, while Sarah Snook took home a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress.
