Although the "succession" is well known for its use of 1%, its true claim of fame is its ability to display relationships that are both absurdly toxic and fully reliable. Shiv and Tom were total chaos, but the disaster of their relationship would not hurt so much if there was no real loveub among them. The audience can understand why Shiv and Tom are bad together, but there is enough for the audience (or at least, Some of the audience) to take root for them anyway.

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It is therefore not too surprising to learn that the "succession" show -Shower Essi Amstrong also wrote an episode of British dystopian Anthology series "Black Mirror", "Returning to its First Season in 2011". The episode was "the whole history of you", a A critically valued story It serves as perhaps the best example of what a typical "black mirror" episode should look like. The "Black Mirror" episode should introduce cool science technology-in this case, memory implantation that allows people to record and revise everything they see and hear. Then, it should show us all the fun little ways this technology affects the world, and then it has to show us how it worsens.

Here, the disadvantage is that Liam (Toby Cabel) begins to obsessively repeat the moments of his life in an attempt to prove his wife is cheating on him. If it weren't for technology, he could let it all, but now he has the means to go down into this rabbit hole to the detriment of his marriage and mental health. Liam grows more paranoid and obsessive, just to hit us with that brutal "black mirror" twist: Liam's doubts are correct. Not only did his wife Fani cheat, but their baby is not his. And so ends one of the youngest, darkest, saddest episodes in "Black Mirror". It is the only episode I have not returned, because I find it too depressed and uncomfortable to come back.

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Succession fans have often looked at the "whole history of you" for any signs of "succession" lurking in the writer's mind. The most obvious element to be emphasized is the rather tinted takeover of the episode of infidelity; Ffion is cheating on Liam, for sure, but it has not been shown as villain, nor does Liam find happiness in exposure to her. Something similar would take place in "Succia", where Shiv would not only betray Tom, but would ask an open relationship on their wedding night. (Classic Shiv!)

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It is another messy, unpleasant situation and "succession" does not allow Tom to be a clear victim. Since his treatment of those beneath him (like the one employee he uses as a backrest) that he is likely to treat a shiver worse if the shoes were on the other leg. If Tom was the wealthy successor of the multi -billion CEO and Shiv was that of much lower funds, it is easy to see that Tom is taking it for granted.

Another fun similarity is the way the "whole history of you" shows the corruption of technology in the same way "succession" shows the corruption of money. For the former episode, one of the most disturbing sequences is the sex scene between Liam and Ffion, where instead of enjoying each other at the moment, they have sex as they see memories of previous sexual encounters. It is a haunting sequence; Memory technology was supposed to bring people closer, but we can see how much intimacy between them was killed.

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Meanwhile, in "Succia", Shiv and Tom quickly reach the point where they can barely talk to each other outside of iteus, corporate pleasing. They talk about their marriage such as a business arrangement, which is basically; It's not up to their great fight in season 4 that they can speak directly. That scene was brutal, but it was net positive for the two - their wealth gave them the luxury to go for almost four seasons without an honest conversation. Only then could they really start looking at things. (At least, That's my interpretation.)

The main similarity between "The whole history of you" and "succession" is the way both stories avoid taking the light route. For the episode "Black Mirror", the light route would be to turn out to be Liam's suspicions to be unfounded. If his suspicions were completely paranoid, it would have served as much clearer criticism of the memory technology shown here, but it would also be much less interesting.

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The episode holds in the mind of viewers for so long because the tragedy cannot be completely blamed for technology, and because the characters are so complicated and well written that they cannot be reduced to simple allegories. The typical expected satire on the show is there, but the rear seat is needed to the attractive drama. It is a great contrast to some of the more disappointing black mirror records over the years. For example, the "ordinary people" of the last season is A. Prolonged criticism of lucrative health careBut that's all it is. The characters exist to serve the message that makes the episode, but they are not complex characters on their own.

Also, "succession" could easily be a standard narrative "eat rich", but never settled for something so simple. There are no characters for the working class for us to take root (No, Greg doesn't count), and the main conflicts are almost entirely interpersonal. The topics against 1% are still there, but they take a seat to ensure that these characters are complex and attractive. We can't just put them in a box, no matter how much we try. It is easy to make the audience clinging to your rich main characters, but it is far more impressive to make your viewers hate them and roots for them at the same time.

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