The rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) technology like Chat GPT has been one of the biggest stories of 2023. And although some writers might fear for their livelihoods, here at the DISH Dig, we welcome our new robot overlords (shout out to Kent Brockman).
Rather than cower in fear at the generative abilities of AI, we are committed to making it work for us. So with the premiere of the fourth and final season of HBO’s hit dramedy Succession on Sunday, March 26, we asked Chat GPT to, “summarize the first three seasons of Succession for someone who hasn’t seen the show.” Here’s what it told us:
Succession is a drama series that follows the lives of the Roy family, who are the owners of a global media and hospitality conglomerate called Waystar Royco. The first three seasons of the show revolve around the struggles for power and control within the family and the company.
In the first season, the patriarch of the family, Logan Roy, announces his intention to step down from his role as CEO of Waystar Royco, sparking a power struggle among his four children: Kendall, Roman, Shiv, and Connor. Each of them tries to gain favor with their father and become the heir apparent to the company, leading to a series of betrayals and alliances.
In the second season, the family faces increased pressure from outside forces, including a congressional hearing investigating their business practices and a hostile takeover attempt from a rival media company. The Roy siblings continue to jockey for power and influence, while Logan attempts to maintain his grip on the company and his family.
In the third season, the Roy family faces a new threat as a rival media mogul, Sandy Furness, attempts to merge his company with Waystar Royco. The family also grapples with personal and professional crises, including a scandal involving a cruise line owned by the company and Shiv’s political ambitions.
Throughout the series, Succession explores themes of family dynamics, corporate greed, and the corrupting influence of power. The show has been praised for its sharp writing, nuanced characters, and darkly comedic tone.
From what we gather, this is not bad! Granted, we’ve never actually seen the show. But according to those who have, this is indeed an accurate summation of the show’s characters, plot, and themes. Still, whether it’s AI or human, we wouldn’t be much of an editor if we simply published the first draft verbatim. So after complimenting and assuring Chat GPT that it was a good writer (another important job of an editor), we asked for another version. Here’s 2.0:
Succession is a television series that follows the lives of the wealthy and dysfunctional Roy family, who own and operate a global media empire.
In the first season, patriarch Logan Roy, the CEO of Waystar Royco, falls ill, and his children begin jockeying for position to succeed him. Logan’s four children, Kendall, Roman, Shiv, and Connor, each have their own ambitions and agendas, and tensions rise as they compete for their father’s approval and the ultimate prize of taking over the company.
The second season sees the Roy family facing new challenges as they attempt to solidify their power and protect their business interests. Kendall struggles with addiction and betrayal, while Shiv deals with her own ambition and loyalty to her father. The family is also faced with a series of scandals and legal challenges that threaten to derail their plans.
In the third season, the Roy family is reeling from the fallout of a failed takeover bid and a series of damaging revelations about their company. As they attempt to rebuild their reputation and regain control, they must confront the consequences of their actions and confront their own flaws and vulnerabilities. The season also introduces new characters who further complicate the family dynamics and challenge the Roy’s hold on their empire.
Again, we are in no way familiar with this show, but it seems like maybe the first version was a little better? Regardless, we now feel informed enough about the show’s general plot to dive into season 4 without too much confusion. However, given Succession’s similarities to a number of powerful real-life families, we asked Chat GPT to, “compare the main characters in Succession to famous celebrities in real life.” Here’s what it told us:
Succession is a popular HBO series about the dysfunctional Roy family, who are wealthy media moguls fighting for control of their family business. The characters in the show are complex and unique, but here are some comparisons to famous celebrities in real life:
- Logan Roy (Brian Cox) – Rupert Murdoch: Logan is the patriarch of the Roy family and the founder of Waystar Royco, a global media conglomerate. He is ruthless and manipulative, always looking to expand his empire and maintain control. Rupert Murdoch, the media mogul behind News Corp, is often seen as Logan’s real-life counterpart.
- Kendall Roy (Jeremy Strong) – James Murdoch: Kendall is Logan’s troubled and ambitious son, who is trying to prove himself worthy of taking over the family business. He struggles with addiction and the pressure of living up to his father’s expectations. James Murdoch, the younger son of Rupert Murdoch, has also faced similar struggles as he seeks to carve out his own path in the media industry.
- Shiv Roy (Sarah Snook) – Ivanka Trump: Shiv is Logan’s only daughter, and she is smart, ambitious, and willing to do whatever it takes to climb the corporate ladder. She has a strained relationship with her father and is constantly vying for his approval. Many have compared Shiv to Ivanka Trump, who also comes from a wealthy family and has been involved in her father’s businesses.
- Roman Roy (Kieran Culkin) – Elon Musk: Roman is Logan’s youngest son, and he is often seen as the black sheep of the family. He is crude and immature, but he also has a sharp mind for business. Roman’s reckless behavior and unconventional ideas have led some to compare him to Elon Musk, the controversial billionaire and CEO of SpaceX and Tesla.
- Tom Wamsgans (Matthew Macfadyen) – Jared Kushner: Tom is Shiv’s husband and a high-level executive at Waystar Royco. He is often the butt of jokes and is seen as a bit of a buffoon, but he is also ambitious and willing to do whatever it takes to advance his career. Some have compared Tom to Jared Kushner, who also came from a wealthy family and has been involved in his father-in-law’s business and political ventures.
Ok, a show about a fictionalized family that includes both Ivanka and Jared, plus Elon Musk!? We’re officially watching. Thanks Chat GPT.
New episodes of the fourth and final season of Succession air Sunday nights at 9pm ET on HBO and HBO Max. Use this link to add HBO to your DISH subscription today.
