I wrote this article in response to a prompt. The fake entertainment blog explained they have a section open to writers where they can discuss anything television. I had a lot of fun exercising my conversational writing style with this one.

Disclaimer: discusses mature themes (sexual references, child abuse), as is the nature of the show.

Nepotist ‘slime-puppy’ egomaniac garnished with sardonic humour and the childhood trauma that birthed it. That’s how I would describe Roman Roy (Kieran Culkin) in one sentence. Doesn’t leave a very pleasant impression, does it? Sits wrong on the palate.

And I mean, yeah. He’s literally vile. A skidmark of a man, if you will. Which is to be expected from a show about the corrupting influence of power, greed, and obscene wealth, the irreparable damage of familial dysfunction and childhood trauma, and an abusive patriarch with an iron fist. Each character is coloured varying shades of evil, from media tycoon Logan Roy (Brian Cox) right down to opportunistic moron Greg the Egg (Nicholas Braun). And watching a spoiled, narcissistic, out of touch man-child fight with his siblings over his father’s approval and empire sounds exhausting.

But here's the thing; he’s my favourite anyway.

I know, I know! I’m not supposed to like him. He’s an evil billionaire. He likes to bully children by waving million dollar checks in their faces before tearing them to shreds in front of them. He was relieved that no one died during his failed rocket launch, not because he cared for the lives of its passengers, but because he wouldn’t be subject to any corporate manslaughter cases. He goes around belittling and humiliating the people around and under him. In the words of Kendall Roy (Jeremy Strong), he’s a “walking lawsuit.”

And he’s right.

So why do I hate to love him?

Characters with dark pasts who deserve better than they got tend to have a special place in my heart, and Roman is arguably the most tragic and emotionally complex character on the show. It is suggested several times that he was seemingly the only child Logan hit. We the audience are viscerally confronted by this when Logan lands a forceful backhand across Roman’s face, which his son shrugs off, remarking that it’s “just a tooth.”

And though it is never explicitly confirmed, I am led to believe there is a sinister history weighing on Roman’s shoulders about the sorts of abuse he faced as a child, and not at the hands of his father. There are undertones and details about him that strongly suggest he is a survivor of child-sex abuse (CSA).

In Episode 8 of Season 2, he jokes about being sodomised by his camp counsellor at the age of twelve. This is a deeply concerning thing to say, but it becomes even more horrifying with the knowledge that Roman often frames the truth like a joke, such as when he announces that he masturbated in Gerri’s (J. Smith-Cameron) bathroom. This, like every other crude thing Roman says, is merely interpreted by everyone else as his usual antics.

The theory that he was sexually abused as a child is perhaps reinforced by his struggle with sexual intimacy. While this could be for a number of reasons, it is not unheard of for survivors of CSA to experience difficulty when it comes to sex. We know that Roman experiences great discomfort with physical intimacy, often limiting the kinds of sexual activity he engages in. He only seems to be able to enjoy himself with lots of boundaries, often physical, in place. Such as when he was able to achieve pleasure during his complicated relationship with Gerri, whether that was in the next room or over the phone.

A particularly tragic detail about him is his apparent tendency to punish himself, such as when he egged on protestors and was elbowed in the face as a result. Here, we see that Roman is a self-destructive combination of unchecked hubris and emotional instability so severe he would endanger himself just to feel something. He was positively humiliated by his breakdown at his father’s funeral, by it being recorded and played by people at the wake, and even more so by Kendall telling him he “fucked it” with Mencken (Justin Kirk). This was Roman’s final straw. And as any well-adjusted person would, Roman sought punishment. Possibly for not being able to be who his father wanted him to be, or for showing such vulnerability in front of so many people.

After all, “a child weaned on poison considers harm a comfort.” – Gillian Flynn

And knowing what we know about Logan Roy, the shedding of tears is no doubt something he would have considered a weakness and punished Roman for when he was a boy. The man sent him to military school after the onset of his enuresis (bed-wetting)! And while we don’t know what happened during his time there, I’m thinking it looked a little too close to what happened in ‘Igby Goes Down' (2002).

And thus, traumatised by years of emotional neglect, Roman could not even accept the kindness of the stranger helping him off the ground, nor could he recognise it.

The youngest son of Logan Roy is stuck at the age he was traumatised at, bearing wounds that run bone deep. He might suck, but I empathise with him. But also:

Which certainly doesn’t help me dislike him. While disturbing to those around him, his quick wit, unfiltered approach to life and golden one-liners make me like him all the more. I mean, his response to his sister Shiv’s (Sarah Snook) pregnancy announcement being “is it mine?”

That’s funny! Gross, unhinged, but funny. He’s hilariously immature in a way that is unique to the youngest sons of every family.

Not only is he funny on purpose (which is 100% a coping mechanism as much as it is a defence), he’s a goddamn idiot and it’s so easy laugh at him. Let’s not forget about the ‘Electric Circus.’ Or that time he sent a picture of his dick to his dad by mistake (I had to pause the episode for a good twenty seconds, not only because I was mortified but because I laughed myself into a coughing fit).

Nonetheless, Roman Roy, while a terrible person, is a heartbreaking character who didn’t deserve the way his childhood unfolded. He’s my number one boy (sorry Kendall), and everyone’s favourite failure.