Netflix's 'Dynasty: The Murdochs' Review: A Real-Life Succession Saga
Netflix's new documentary, 'Dynasty: The Murdochs,' delves into the high-stakes world of media mogul Rupert Murdoch and his family's internal power struggles. This four-part series, released recently, draws inevitable comparisons to the acclaimed HBO drama Succession, but it ultimately presents a sobering look at wealth, influence, and familial conflict.
Blurring Lines with Fiction
The documentary opens with a clever nod to Succession, as noted by New York Times writer Jim Rutenberg, who quips that understanding the Murdochs requires knowledge of the fictional Roy family. It quickly matches Murdoch's eldest children—Prudence, Lachlan, James, and Elisabeth—to their Succession counterparts, using suspenseful music and dramatic motifs. However, this is no award-winning drama; instead, it offers an exhaustive, often exhausting, account of the Murdoch dynasty, where the siblings' maneuvers frequently pale in comparison to their father's towering presence.
A Chronicle of Power and Politics
In the absence of direct family input, the documentary relies on astute analysis from veteran journalists, extensive archives, and a brief appearance by Hugh Grant, who labels Rupert Murdoch a threat to liberal democracies. Viewers witness Murdoch's rise from a media upstart to a global behemoth and political kingmaker. Key moments include his populist revamps of the News of the World and New York Post, his endorsement of Ronald Reagan—which led to deregulation enabling the launch of Fox—and his strategic pivot during Donald Trump's ascent.
The series delves into scandals like phone hacking at News of the World and sexual harassment at Fox News, with insider accounts adding depth. For instance, former reporter Paul McMullan recalls editor Rebekah Brooks dismissing articles with blunt criticism. Lighter anecdotes reveal Rupert cheating at family Monopoly, observing commuters' reading habits early in his career, and neglecting his children to the point where James thought his father was going deaf. A shocking, unverified claim about Rupert's second wife allegedly killing someone in a car accident is also mentioned, highlighting the family's controversial history.
The Succession Battle Unveiled
At the heart of the documentary is Project Family Harmony, a secret plan by Rupert and Lachlan to alter a family trust, stripping the siblings of equal voting rights post-Rupert's death and cementing Lachlan's control. This move, aimed at preserving conservative political interests and countering James's liberal leanings, underscores the global implications of this personal feud. A subsequent lawsuit exposes Rupert's ruthlessness, as he feeds his lawyer questions to grill James, including inquiries about his independence and neglect of family duties.
Yet, the endless recounting of the siblings' career advancements—such as Lachlan running newspapers at 22—becomes a depressing catalog of nepotism. An animated board game, with squares like 'Go work for dad' or 'Lose a turn due to investigation,' fails to engage, instead reinforcing the lack of agency among the children. Whenever a sibling attempts to break free, Rupert intervenes by offering a job or buying their company, pulling them back into the fold.
A Tough Sell on Real-Life Drama
Ultimately, the documentary's 'real-life Succession' angle struggles to captivate. It's challenging to empathize with billionaires vying for more billions, especially when the outcome feels predetermined. As the series concludes, it leaves viewers questioning how often Rupert Murdoch fails to get his way, making this a stark reminder of power's enduring grip. 'Dynasty: The Murdochs' is now streaming on Netflix, offering a glimpse into a world where family and fortune collide.
