This article examines Succession, HBO’s acclaimed drama, as a lens for understanding trauma, identity, and family dynamics shaped by wealth and patriarchy. Using narrative inquiry and thematic analysis, we explore how the Roy siblings navigate love, power, and survival in ways that echo trauma theory, attachment research, and gender studies. Four themes emerge: intergenerational trauma, identity and coping, gender and power, and the emotional cost of privilege. The Roy family’s conditional love, avoidance, and fragile alliances highlight how unresolved pain shapes identity and relationships. We also consider how Succession can serve as a therapeutic tool for reflection and meaning-making.
Rajaei, A., & Ansari, S. (2025). Money can’t buy healing: Exploring succession’s portrayal of trauma, identity, and family systems. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/01926187.2025.2551614
