The Killer Instinct and Lessons from Succession

 In the series Succession, Logan Roy (the sharp, cold-blooded patriarch) is on a mission to find someone who can take over his media empire, Waystar Royco.

And who else would that be if not one of his own children, right?

At first, the throne seems destined for Kendal Roy, the eldest son. But things take a turn when Logan decides Kendall just isn’t cut out for it. His reason? Kendall doesn’t have the killer instinct.

Now, that’s not “killing” in the literal sense, of course. If you ask Gen Alpha, killer instinct or hunter energy is more like an aura that silently says:

“Try me and you’ll regret it.”

You don’t need to shout or throw your weight around. People can feel it, in your eyes, your aura, your presence.

Logan, after decades fighting through the jungle of business and betrayal, absolutely has it. That instinct’s what’s kept him (and his company) alive amid endless predators. The man’s practically built out of survival.

His kids, though? Not quite. You just don’t see that same fire in them. None of them radiate that unshakable confidence their father has and none of them truly get what he means by killer instinct.

At one point, Kendall wonders why no one ever dared to attack the company under his father’s rule, yet within a single day of his leadership, people are already testing him.

And honestly? The more I watched, the more I found myself siding with Logan. I started losing sympathy for Kendall. He’s constantly chasing his father’s approval, afraid of being disliked or seen as weak, when what Logan really wants is for him to man up, to take risks, to protect what’s his without waiting for permission.

Even as a viewer, you can’t help but notice: Kendall keeps fumbling. And from Logan’s point of view, that’s fatal. 😂

The truth is, people feel safer around those who carry that quiet, invisible strength, that sense that no matter what happens, they can handle it.

You might never need to use that killer instinct to attack. But it’ll keep you standing when life hits hard.

These days, we’d probably just call it resilience.