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Nathen Amin's avatar

Oooof, drawing comparisons between the Plantagenets and Succession is just excellent. I might very well be able to use this article to get my Succession-obsessed partner into Richard II!

Helen Castor's avatar

Have to confess, N, that I've only just caught up with it - binge-watched in Jan-Feb - but LORD isn't it good... Let me know how you get on on the R2 front!

Nathen Amin's avatar

Yes, it took a while for me to get hooked catching up and then suddenly I was all in. It's excellent!

Helen Castor's avatar

Took a while for us too - exactly that. Sceptical at first, and then realised we were talking about it and looking forward to our next fix...

Nathen Amin's avatar

Yes, I was that way with Game of Thrones as well, very reluctant to get into it and then, suddenly about season 4 I was hooked. Glad I managed to get into them to watch the finales live!

E.J. Barnes's avatar

I love Succession and Richard II, but hadn't twigged that they illustrate the flaws/advantages of primogeniture. (Though in a way the Roys are all so appalling it wouldnt matter what system was in place, or which child of whichever sex ended up in power.) I did myself write a post all about primogeniture, Bridgerton and Jane Austen! Its a system of inheritance that's shaped history and literature I guess, in fundamental ways.

Helen Castor's avatar

I think it has… (and agree about the Roys!)

Jeanne M Mraz's avatar

I have not watched Succession and to be honest, I probably won’t. To your point, though, the U.S. still hasn’t managed to elect a woman president and, sadly, I fear it never will. 😢

Helen Castor's avatar

I hope we should never say never, but I completely understand where you’re coming from…

Helen Castor's avatar

(I have to confess I've only just caught up with Succession - it is extraordinarily good, I think, but again could entirely understand why you might not want to...)

Britta Wulf's avatar

It's funny that you mentioned the pretzel on the picture which is actually the first depiction of it ( in Germany we say Brezel). The Bavarians are very fond of them (they say Brezn) and they cannot live without them. However, Matilda's wedding took place in Mainz which is far away from Bavaria. Oops. 🤣

Helen Castor's avatar

Oh this is fascinating! Thank you. (Am very fond of pretzels myself)

Rachel Gascoigne's avatar

Oh I’m glad you loved The Bridge production too. I thought it was excellent. I completely agree with your succession homage/ pastiche comment on the score. It was somewhat overdone. But the Succession-esque setting really worked and brought new life - I like your primogeniture angle on it.

Annette Rubery's avatar

Love Succession. I seem to remember a subtle running joke about “Tumbledown Dick” (Cromwell’s ineffectual son).

Helen Castor's avatar

Oh yes! I'd forgotten that - there's so much going on ALL the time...

Ann Kennedy Smith's avatar

Powerful stuff, in every sense. I did not see that ending of Succession coming, but you show why it was, in a historical sense, so inevitable.

Helen Castor's avatar

Hindsight! I didn't see it coming either...