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In atypical episode of Succession, food is everywhere, side-order to the plotting and scheming which forms the backbone of the show. Pastries line conference tables in Waystar Royco meeting rooms, canap platters float across the screen at parties, breakfast buffets sit on crisp white restaurant linen. Considering the amount of food on display, however, its rare that we ever see the wealthiest characters Kendall, Shiv and Roman, those born into genuine one per cent wealth actually doing anything so exposingly human as actually eating.

As such, the way different Succession characters relate to food in aliteral sense also reveals something about their place in the shows metaphorical food-chain.

Primarily, foods appearance on Succession signposts the general atmosphere of acasual approach to excess. The countless six-star hotel platters might as well be potpourri for all anyone on-screen actually eats them witness Connors funeral management committee power-breakfast meeting in season four episode seven (Tailgate Party), where a three-day griefathon is ducked, and so are the croissants. Food in Succession usually isnt there to be eaten. Instead, it implies that eating and indeed gluttony is always possible: where there is food, there is abundance and, crucially, money.

In the context of the Roy siblings relationship to it, having food around about demonstrating wealth, because its actual basic function sustenance is so entirely taken for granted. When youre abillionaire, theres no reason to consider hunger. Food, then, becomes decorative. During the episode Tailgate Party, in which Shiv and Tom throw amixer the night before the election, aparticularly fine point was put on this, with passing shots of fussy snacks tiny sliders pierced with US flag cocktail-sticks being prepared.

It follows, then, that when some characters on Succession do actually eat, its sometimes considered to be vulgar, symbolic of the class divide between the shows real one percenters the Roy family and the rest. Think of Hugos mountainous continental breakfast at the GoJo retreat in Norway, or the siblings snarky comments about Willas mother as she loads up her plate among Logans mourners at Marcias apartment.

Even Shiv, Roman and Kendall, however, get ataste of their own medicine any time they come up against the shows oldest money of all: their mothers. When Lady Caroline serves them freshly-shot pigeon in the second series seventh episode, its not anourishing meal delivered up by amother to her children with love. Rather, its asevere reminder of her position as countryside landed gentry (whose tastes are generally more earthy than lavish), the grandeur of which far outweighs her childrens, mere new-money billionaires that they are. As Roman recoils from the dish, his mother side-eyes what she views as his tacky New York preferences, cuttingly scoffing when she asks if hed rather eat truffle fries.

Link:
Succession is full of food, but no one is eating it - The Face