“Succession” has rightfully been called Shakespearean for its constant familial backstabbing, verbal brawls and witty bitching. Even when fearsome patriarch Logan Roy (Brian Cox) isn’t physically around, his presence nonetheless towers over every scene as he intimidates his family and/or employees into executing his will. It doesn’t always work in the way he wants; by the end of the second season, in fact, his prodigal son Kendall (Jeremy Strong) betrays him in such a public, complete way that the fallout will be nothing short of catastrophic, even as his other children Shiv (Sarah Snook), Roman (Kieran Culkin) and Connor (Alan Ruck) stand faithfully by Logan’s side. And yet, even as Kendall tries to forge his own path independent of his father, he will likely never shake his bone-deep desire to please the ever mercurial Logan — or better (and more elusively) yet, make him proud.
So, sure, ranking the members of a family against each other might seem harsh. Then again, that’s exactly what “Succession” is all about, so why not go ahead and make it official?
Here are the all-mighty Roys, ranked.
Honorable mention: Though he might love nothing more to be included on this list, as evidenced by his offering to change his last name to “Roy” upon marrying into the family, Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) unfortunately does not qualify. Better luck next time, Wambsgans.