Succession (Spoilers for all aired episodes)

[just]

Anyone watching the current season?

It's one of my favorite shows ever - the writing, the acting, the bizarre comedy of it all. Season 3 was amazing, and I actually decided to watch week to week for Season 4 instead of saving on the subscription and binging - partly to avoid spoilers, and partly because I was so excited. 

Watched episode 3 last night and I have thoughts.

[sequins]

The latest episode was amazing! The writing, the acting, the unspoken subtleties *chef's kiss*



SPOILERS









The siblings' reactions were heart-wrenching.

[just]

sequins ,

SPOILER: Click to show

So so yes. As someone who has lost both parents, one in a hospital room surrounded by their family who were suggested to talk to them and the other when far away and getting the news over the phone, - the whole thing was so recognizable.

The acting on all of them - including Tom, was so good. But Roman - broke.my.heart.

[sporklemotion]

It was so good.
I want to know what will happen to Kerry now. I am hoping that Gerri ends up sticking around. Beyond that, I have no idea what is going to happen.

[tamarindy]

Give Kieran all the Emmys in the building that night. Sweet Lord what a performance.

Seriously, that was the best television I’ve watched since Breaking Bad. Chuckles the Clown? I think not.

[gummybear]

This is one of my favorite shows ever too. I’ve even had the theme song as my ring tone for years 😛 We usually wait until the season is over and then get HBO for a month and binge, but we’re following real-time now and it’s sooooo much better. We were completely unspoiled for this week and were so very shocked!

The sibling are all so well acted. I’m appreciating more Connor this season. The show has this uncanny ability to make me love even the most unsavory characters. Even Willa pulled at my heartstrings this week. What do we think will become of Gerri? Who else knew Roman had relayed Logan’s message? I know Logan had said he wanted her out in front of many of the inner circle but none of them knew she’d been told right? Will Roman play dumb to save her?

[just]

Apr 11, 2023 19:36:58 GMT -5 tamarindy said:

Give Kieran all the Emmys in the building that night. Sweet Lord what a performance.

His whole needing physical connection but not knowing how to give or ask for it? The way he reached as for Connor when he finds out. His “nope” and almost throwing the phone when he’s talking to Logan. He’s always been my favorite but duck he was so good in this episode.

Ditto to hoping Gerri sticks around, I can’t wait to see what Kerri does and Tom and Greg are in super precarious positions.

[just]

gummybear
Yes to seeing the humanity in all the characters. Willa and Connor - I legit said “ahhh” at the end when I saw they got married.

Yes on the surface he’s a egotistical, talentless, meglomaniac but looney cake and the other siblings not even thinking of him makes all of that understandable in some respects.

And willa, she’s like the most honest character on the show. She’s was an escort who is reluctantly marrying him for money. But she also cares - when she stands up for him and that fucking jacket at Kendall’s birthday party, and the talk on the ship.

[CurlyQ284]

I feel like I would loathe Connor in real life but in the show I just want to give him a hug, that poor guy

And he was the only one left out from saying goodbye to his dad on the phone. He's always left out. Everyone else was amazing. I saw a clip of them talking about filming and they shot it as one continuous scene that lasted 27 minutes with tons of cameras around because they have to change the film every 10 minutes. They staggered the film reloads so they could continuously film from different angles. So crazy!

[Roc A Bee]

I by far thought Shiv was the best. I cried the hardest during her goodbye.

The after show clip talks about how they filmed it one time as a continuous scene. And to think about the talent it takes to do that! Dang. I’m a fan.

[dochas]

I got HBO to watch right away because I heard something big happened and didn't want it spoiled. It just - didn't come as a big surprise. Wrecking their deal and then cutting them out of his would have been bigger than a rageaholic who started the series in a coma dying, I just don't think it's a shock. I'm not sure what the show is going to be like without that character. The kids have been such dopes this season, who will that all bounce off of now?

I think Shiv is one of the most despicable characters ever. Wanting them to keep circling with her dying/ dead father while they figured out the "optics" and made sure their names were in all announcements is the most Shiv thing ever.

The writing and acting are amazing. These kids were clearly actually tortured by these parents, it's so sad but comes through so clearly.

[prettypitties]

Apr 12, 2023 7:28:42 GMT -5 dochas said:

I got HBO to watch right away because I heard something big happened and didn't want it spoiled. It just - didn't come as a big surprise. Wrecking their deal and then cutting them out of his would have been bigger than a rageaholic who started the series in a coma dying, I just don't think it's a shock. I'm not sure what the show is going to be like without that character. The kids have been such dopes this season, who will that all bounce off of now?

I think Shiv is one of the most despicable characters ever. Wanting them to keep circling with her dying/ dead father while they figured out the "optics" and made sure their names were in all announcements is the most Shiv thing ever.

The writing and acting are amazing. These kids were clearly actually tortured by these parents, it's so sad but comes through so clearly.

I think it was generally assumed that Logan would die this season. What was shocking to me is that it happened about 15 minutes into the THIRD episode. I was expecting maybe episode 8 or so.

[gummybear]

Yes I agree I expected his death. Just not so soon like prettypitties said. I also did not expect it to happen off camera. That was an interesting plot element.

[dochas]

Apr 12, 2023 7:42:07 GMT -5 gummybear said:

Yes I agree I expected his death. Just not so soon like prettypitties said. I also did not expect it to happen off camera. That was an interesting plot element.

We were thinking that it wasn't really happening and that he was doing it to keep them from wrecking the deal. Until we saw his face I thought it was a stunt so I guess off camera was to keep everyone guessing. 

I do think Conner and Willa were almost likable. Or tolerable? lol I was happy when they got married and I liked that she was honest. He is really a buffoon, but they are always so terrible to him and I couldn't believe they didn't even look for him to bring him to the phone. 

[noodleoo]

I accidentally got spoiled, but I still found it an amazing hour of riveting TV. It was so well acted and so well done, incredibly realistic (almost too much for those of us who have lost family far away and had to find out by phone.  It was hard for me to watch). It surprises me that I love this show because all the characters are horrible, and yet they are so complex that I find myself attached to them and sympathetic for them even though they keep doing horrible things and making horrible decisions! I mean Roman is just an awful, messed up person but man it was hard to watch his denial and desperation trying to believe his dad wasn't gone. All 3 of the kids, their reactions were so true to their characters, so raw and full of emotion. Even H, who usually falls asleep and says this show has "too much talking" was captivated by it. I thought the same last week with the karaoke meetup. The subject matter was pretty boring, but man I was hanging off of every line of dialogue.

The 3 kids forgetting about Connor at first, and his gut reaction of "dad didn't even like me" were so perfect! (even though I was yelling at the screen "go tell Connor!!!").  

I'm am curious how this will play out over the remaining episodes. I appreciated the kids finally coming together, I hope it doesn't revert back to backstabbing each other. I am curious how it will play out between the kids and the corporate folks (is Jerry still fired or will she make a comeback?). Tom was amazing this episode... again he can be awful but he was so good on the plane. This show is great, but it has felt frustrating that nothing big ever *really* happens (so many deals/schemes fall apart before they complete). I think that is why Logan's death was surprising, he's been close before but always comes back. I really hope the finale has a satisfying conclusion.

[kiminky]

Apr 12, 2023 9:18:58 GMT -5 mofongo said:

noodleoo - I agree! The episode was amazing, truly. However, I was tiring of the constant backstabbing, alliance changing, scheming, etc. I was kind of losing interest, aside from the great acting and enjoying the characters.

Similar to this point, I feel like I am missing something with this show. Yes, the acting is good, the characters are complex, good writing and A LOT of dialogue, but I feel like nothing ever goes anywhere? It is trying to make deals and backstab different fanily members, people at the business in slightly different ways all while the kids try to get their share.

[mcppalmbeach]

I cried during the part when the kids say good-bye. It reminded me of something my mom has said. When I was little she volunteered with severely abused children and she eventually had to take a leave because she said no matter how horribly the kids had been treated all they wanted to reunite with their parents. Definitely reminds me of Roys being love sponges or whatever it was Conner said.

I kept yelling what about Conner also! He’s horrible but I hope he gets his moment in the end.

The only slightly redeeming character for me is Gerri haha.I think for some reason the least redeeming/one I hate the most is Greg.

[basilosaurus]

Apr 12, 2023 8:24:06 GMT -5 dochas said:

Apr 12, 2023 7:42:07 GMT -5 gummybear said:

Yes I agree I expected his death. Just not so soon like prettypitties said. I also did not expect it to happen off camera. That was an interesting plot element.

We were thinking that it wasn't really happening and that he was doing it to keep them from wrecking the deal. Until we saw his face I thought it was a stunt so I guess off camera was to keep everyone guessing. 

I was very unsure whether it was for real or if Logan was pulling a massive asshole move to fuck with the kids. Both seemed equally plausible.

[scm1011]

I'll be the lone dissenter here and say I thought Siobhan and Kendall's reactions were a bit over the top for their characters. While I think its clear they always craved their dad's approval neither seemed to love him or even particularly like him. I expected them to pivot more quickly to how this can benefit for them instead of feeling sincere grief. Roman's grief rang true to me (and agree, give Kieran all the awards).

[dochas]

Apr 12, 2023 12:04:21 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

I'll be the lone dissenter here and say I thought Siobhan and Kendall's reactions were a bit over the top for their characters. While I think its clear they always craved their dad's approval neither seemed to love him or even particularly like him. I expected them to pivot more quickly to how this can benefit for them instead of feeling sincere grief. Roman's grief rang true to me (and agree, give Kieran all the awards).

I'll probably watch again to see their reactions because I was really just waiting to find out how the father was going to screw them and not thinking they were actually saying their goodbyes. I was not left with the feeling it was over the top though. Didn't Kendall say "I don't forgive you"? That seemed pretty honest. Shiv is so full of shit in every way I wouldn't believe any emotion from her. 

We watched episode 2 and 3 last night so they're like 1 episode to me. I was surprised when Logan went into the karaoke bar without trying one more time to convince them to come to him. I know he just wanted something, but I was surprised he'd get out of the car even for that. I really liked the line "I love you, but you're not serious people." It was the only time he's used the word love without being in the midst of serious manipulation. Poor Roman. I think he was great in these episodes. And he had just caved again right before he died so he was back in Daddy mode. 

[shinyhappy]

I really loved how the last episode wasn’t about Logan’s death per se, rather the kids’ reactions to it. Like we barely saw Logan at all but felt alllll the emotion around it. Such an incredible episode.

[gummybear]

Bumping because last night….
I was physically uncomfortable and I honestly think, in a 100% serious way, the past two elections have profoundly affected my mental and emotional well-being so much that I found that this episode as traumatizing as watching stories around pregnancy loss (which is very triggering for me and I generally can’t watch them).

Roman is disgusting and the Mencken character is so frightening.
I am distressed.

[simpsongal]

gummybear , I hear ya and I think it was even worse b/c I didn't feel as connected to the election storyline. It seems like there was more chatter about it in earlier seasons, other than Connor's foolishness (which was also hard to watch!) - so my points of reference was life experience .

The Greg parts were all delightful....when the opportunity presents I'm going to jokingly tell DH he's Gregging for me tonight, and I better not see a piece of bodega sushi.

[gummybear]

simpsongal yes! Greg is hysterical. I lived that bodega sushi was a plot point. And the La Crouix! It’s not even that lemony!

I can’t wait to see how this ends. Ken is obv threatened by Roman. Might he turn on him and orchestrate a purchase of GoJo like he mentioned last episode? I mean Mattsen seems like he’d be ok with taking the money and getting out of dodge. And Kendal could push Roman out. Shiv would get vengeance on Tom and Greg. And K pretty much told her he sees himself as “the one”….

Didn’t Shiv tell Mattsen they needed to get ahead of things and release the bad India numbers after the bogus election call happened?

[rosiebear]

My practice is in Wisconsin election law so last night’s nightmare scenario was right in my wheelhouse. They had so many details exactly right - central count, late night counting of Milwaukee (80+% Dem votes) absentee ballots, etc. a terrifying and thrilling episode.

[shauni27]

Apr 11, 2023 17:34:01 GMT -5 just said:

sequins ,

SPOILER: Click to show

So so yes. As someone who has lost both parents, one in a hospital room surrounded by their family who were suggested to talk to them and the other when far away and getting the news over the phone, - the whole thing was so recognizable.

The acting on all of them - including Tom, was so good. But Roman - broke.my.heart.

Apr 12, 2023 8:33:09 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

I accidentally got spoiled, but I still found it an amazing hour of riveting TV. It was so well acted and so well done, incredibly realistic (almost too much for those of us who have lost family far away and had to find out by phone.  It was hard for me to watch). It surprises me that I love this show because all the characters are horrible, and yet they are so complex that I find myself attached to them and sympathetic for them even though they keep doing horrible things and making horrible decisions! I mean Roman is just an awful, messed up person but man it was hard to watch his denial and desperation trying to believe his dad wasn't gone. All 3 of the kids, their reactions were so true to their characters, so raw and full of emotion. Even H, who usually falls asleep and says this show has "too much talking" was captivated by it. I thought the same last week with the karaoke meetup. The subject matter was pretty boring, but man I was hanging off of every line of dialogue.

I have not watched the most recent two episodes--I am trying to spread them out because I love this show so much. But man, episode 3 was so triggering. My mom called me first in hysterics about my dad getting CPR after collapsing and then more calmly with "I am not sure, we don't know yet" kind of answers just like Tom did while it was happening. It felt almost identical to my experience and I could feel the stress and shock and grief for the kids, especially Roman.  It was so hard to watch, but also just INCREDIBLY well done and I might watch it again.

I think as much as I hate Roman as a person, he is one of my favorite characters because Kieran just does an AMAZING job. I love Tom and Greg too, they are just such buffoons but they own it and know it. In season 1 and 2 watching Kendell use after cleaning himself up was so heartbreaking. It was really hard to watch.

This tv show is just SO well done. The acting, the score, the writing, the lighting...all of it.

[simpsongal]

May 15, 2023 9:26:56 GMT -5 rosiebear said:

My practice is in Wisconsin election law so last night’s nightmare scenario was right in my wheelhouse. They had so many details exactly right - central count, late night counting of Milwaukee (80+% Dem votes) absentee ballots, etc. a terrifying and thrilling episode.

Can you shed light on the importance of the call though?  B/c I know it will be litigated, it's not like it's the network's actual decision. I guess it's all about the horse trading and getting the president-elect in their pocket for a potential administration or the next 3 months.  But it seems short sighted b/c they're selling their soul as a legitimate news organization.  Roman seemed poised for that change anyway when Logan eyed him for the head of news, Kendall doesn't.

Am I reading all this right?  

[rosiebear]

simpsongal, as I see it, making the call for Mencken gives him the appearance of having won while the litigation plays out and allows him to claim that the election is being stolen from him, the rightful winner.

If the court cases go against him, he and his supporters will always claim that he actually did win, that the election was stolen, and that Jimenez is an illegitimate president. Sounds familiar.

Mencken said early in the episode that if they lose, he’s counting on the network to spin it into a win. Either way, he preserves power and influence, not to mention the politics of grievance and “righteous” anger.

The call was not entirely ridiculous, either, although it would’ve been hedged by a “if Wisconsin holds” statement. A “do over” election is not something Wisconsin statutes address, so a very novel and bold court decision would be needed in a scenario like this.

ETA: I should clarify that this exact scenario is not QUITE possible in Wisconsin, because absentee ballot envelopes are accounted for as they are returned, so there would be a record of nearly everyone who returned a ballot, even if the ballots are burned up before they are counted. There would still be litigation as to whether, and how, those people could get their votes counted.

[TR]

I definitely felt Shiv's desperation in trying to avoid the call. That terrible feeling of "This is it", I remember it all too well.

I'm glad she finally told Tom and I suppose the conversation was realistic given all that way going on around them, but man, that was anticlimactic!

[just]

I had such an emotional hangover after this week's episode. It was like a horrible throwback to 2016 and the possibilities for 2024. Like I had that hold-your-breath/tense your shoulders type panic that was the 4 year of trump. It was horrible.

It made me hard to appreciate the awesome interactions that happened in this episode - Shiv FINALLY telling Tom, the three siblings in that board room, Kendall realizing that Shiv lied, and then the three of them realizing what they did and their individual reaction.

Phew.

My husband kept saying that he can't wait for them to lose it all. And at this point with Menken and Matson, it may happen.

Also Greg is the master at fucking leaning in.