The Year of the Kens: A Look Back at 2023

Ken's Impact on Barbie: A Cinematic Triumph

2023 was a year to remember for pop culture events, but characters named Ken had a colossal year. Obviously, the most notable Ken came in the form of Ryan Gosling's character in Barbie, 2023's highest-grossing movie.

Ryan Gosling as Ken in Barbie

Based on Barbie's famous male counterpart, Ken was an integral aspect of Greta Gerwig's movie, serving as the leader of the Ken characters and encouraging them to take over Barbie Land after learning about the patriarchy. As a result, the Kens, specifically Gosling's Ken, went through their own journey of self-discovery.

Kendall Roy quotes Succession

While Margot Robbie's Barbie was at the center of the 2023 movie, Ken had just as much influence on the world of pop culture. In addition to Ken's hilarious quotes in Barbie, the musical performances involving Gosling and the Kens were some of the movie's highlights. Of course, the rendition of 'I'm Just Ken' grabbed the most attention, and rightfully so, considering it will likely be nominated for Best Original Song at the next Oscars. Even Ken-related merchandise took over the months surrounding Barbie's release, including the 'I am Kenough' tie-dye hoodie Gosling wore in the movie. Still, he wasn't the only Ken to dominate pop culture in 2023.

The Ken Phenomenon on TV: Succession's Influential Ken

Whereas Gosling's Ken dominated the movie side of 2023, another Ken took over the TV side. The year saw the end of HBO's Succession, with the final season following the fall of Kendall Roy, who was often referred to as Ken in the series.

Played by Jeremy Strong since the show launched in 2018, Kendall and his unorthodox business practices never received the full trust from his father and siblings. Through his inflated self-worth, Kendall still somehow managed to find ways to the top, as power was his primary motivator.

By the end of Succession's series finale, Ken was far from a winner. After his father, Logan Roy, died, Rather than a full Kendall Roy takeover, he was blindsided and left in the dust without a clear future. Like other critical moments in Succession, tumultuous events often led to iconic quotes, and the finale didn't disappoint with Kendall's 'I'm the eldest boy' proclamation. Succession's final episode also left avid Ken fans with one last meme-worthy moment featuring Strong's character sitting alone on a bench, contemplating what's next. In a show full of memorable character moments, Succession season 4 made sure Kendall was a topic of discussion from start to finish.

The Ken Phenomenon Continues: What's Next for 2024?

Even though Barbie released in the summer of 2023 and Succession came to an end before mid-year, there's no reason to believe the Ken popularity will disappear in 2024. Barbie's streaming release has resulted in renewed interest in the movie, especially some of Gosling's best moments. Awards season will also put the movie, Gosling, and his character's big song back in the spotlight.

The same can be said for Succession, since the show will get a lot of attention, with major award nominations being given to the majority of the cast members, including Strong, and the show itself. Considering Succession is also appearing on 'best TV shows of 2023' lists, many who missed out on watching the original run may check it out and find out what all the fuss has been about. 2024 could mean a new group of Succession fans is born, and possibly, the Kendall Roy fandom will grow.