For the first installment in a series exploring works that make up the creative DNA of Succession, critic and author Adam Nayman joins Brendan to discuss The Game, the 1997 conspiracy thriller directed by David Fincher starring Michael Douglas, Sean Penn, and Deborah Kara Unger. The discussion kicks off with an analysis of the title sequence, which inspired Succession's own opening credits, and branches off from there to explore other interesting connections between film and series. Towards the end, Adam and Brendan also discuss Succession executive producer Adam McKay's recent film Don't Look Up. This episode was recorded before the Oscar nominations, so listeners will once again be privy to some laughably outdated awards speculation.

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Community's spoof of The Game's ending, from "Conspiracy Theories and Interior Design": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de4KwN6CjZ8

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Critic Gina Telaroli on The Game, for Criterion: https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/7135-the-meaning-of-money-in-the-game

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Adam Nayman (Twitter: @brofromanother) writes about film for The Ringer and Cinema Scope magazine. His latest book is David Fincher: Mind Games. https://www.abramsbooks.com/product/david-fincher-mind-games_9781419753411/