Succession: 10 Roman Roy Quotes That Prove He's Actually A Good Guy
HBO’s Succession is one of those series that excels in creating characters who are truly terrible to one another. The Roy family is, as the title of the series suggests, always at odds with one another as they all jostle for position and attempt to either overthrow or succeed the patriarch, Logan Roy.
Of his children, Roman is the one that seems the most like him, and he can at times be very ruthless and cutting. At the same time, there are also several quotes that suggest that, deep down, he’s actually a good guy.
There's no doubt that Gerri is one of the smartest characters in the series, with a clear-eyed approach to the Roy family and the company that makes her invaluable. She also has a strange relationship with Roman, and while he holds most people in contempt, he actually seems to respect her, as this quote demonstrates.
If nothing else, it shows that Roman understands that there truly are some people that know what they’re doing and that he respects that fact about them.
Connor is something of the black sheep of the family, and he always struggles to gain the acceptance and respect of his father and siblings. This includes Roman, who enjoys needling Connor, as he does in this quote.
At the same time, it’s also possible to read this quote as Roman’s well-meaning (if acerbic) attempt to get his brother to see that he might not be as prepared to seek the presidency as he delusionally thinks that he is.
There’s no question that Logan’s company is deeply corrupt and, what’s more, that he knows this about it (and about himself). Roman, while he wants to curry favor with his father, isn’t quite as amoral as he would like others to believe he is.
Among other things, this quote indicates that he’s under no illusions about just what kind of company they are and what they do. As such, it shows that he might not be quite as bad as he sometimes appears to be.
Clearly, Roman has many great one-liners and shady burns, but this has to be one of his best. He’s one of those people that often puts on a big show for others, but deep down he knows just what he is.
This quote suggests that he recognizes that he may not always be the most intelligent person, but he has a cleverness and a subtlety to his thought process that makes him a very dangerous player in the family politics game. He may not always be ethical, but at least he knows himself.
There are many fraught family moments that occur throughout the series, including an incident in which Logan forces his family into therapy. Here, Roman makes a sarcastic comment about his own (in)ability to resolve the various emotional and mental health issues that he has going on.
It’s obviously a very funny remark, but it also shows that Roman is a good enough person to recognize his own shortcomings and personal issues (unlike some other members of his family).
There are few genuinely emotional moments in this series, but when they do arrive, they always make an impact. This is one of Roman’s most powerful quotes because it suggests that, underneath it all, he does really yearn to be part of a family that isn’t constantly squabbling and trying to destroy one another.
What’s more, it also suggests that he is also a better person than he lets along and that most of his obnoxious behaviors are a defense mechanism.
Logan is one of the least likable people in the series, even if he is one of Brian Cox’s best roles. Despite the fact that he can be quite unpleasant to all of the members of his family, Roman in particular has a profound desire to protect him and to shore up their relationship.
Thus, this quote shows that he is loyal to his father in the face of Kendall’s betrayal and that, whatever else he might be, he is also a good guy for doing so.
There are many great guest stars on this series, including Harriet Walter as Logan’s ex-wife and the mother of three of his children. Roman is one of the first to learn that she has decided to remarry, and this quote occurs when he informs Shiv of the matter.
Obviously, it’s delivered with Roman’s customary sarcasm, but it also demonstrates that he wants his sister to learn about it from him rather than from someone else.
As season 3 reaches its conclusion, Roman, Kendall, and Shiv start to form an extraordinary alliance, and Kendall in particular starts to unravel under the pressure. In this quote, Roman suggests that, once they’ve figured out just what to do with his elder brother, they can focus on him, instead.
It’s a rare moment for Roman, as it shows just the faintest amount of tenderness, as well as his own awareness of his personal shortcomings.
There are many extraordinary relationships in this series, but the one between Roman and Logan is one of the most intriguing. Logan clearly knows that Roman is absolutely loyal to him–right up until the end of the third season, anyway–and it’s quotes like this one that demonstrate just how far Roman is willing to go to support his father.
Despite the fact that Logan has showcased just how cruel he can be, Roman just can’t quite bring himself to betray him and condemns Kendall for doing so.