Succession (Spoilers for all aired episodes)

[noodleoo]

How many more episodes are there? Episode 3 was by far the best so far. Everything else has seemed almost pointless. I can't figure out what they are leading towards for the final few episodes. I hope it is worth it and it doesn't just whimper out.

Agreed that the last episode was hard to watch. I kept reminding myself it is fiction, but then wondering how close to the truth it really is? I can't with Roman, I can't wrap my head around someone being so selfish that they don't care about the broader implications as long as they get what they want. I hate him, but I've been sympathetic to him (especially after his reaction to Logan's death), but then I hate him even more. He is such a messed up, broken person.

I'm kind of annoyed at the way Shiv told Tom about the baby. I feel like there were better times to do it. Telling him *then*, at the worst possible moment for him because it was basically his superbowl, just seems mean. But maybe that was the point? I don't blame him for not believing her. I do believe that he loved her and I think she's incapable of knowing what real love is.

The Greg scenes were great. H and I picked Greg to win from the very first season and I'm still hoping that might happen in some crazy way LOL. At this point, I can't see any of the 3 siblings actually winning. Poor Kendall, he was trying to be open with Shiv but then when he found out she lied... I feel like he wants it too much and he can't figure out who he wants to be: a real good guy or Logan.

[TR]

noodleoo - yeah, this was the first time I felt ZERO sympathy for Roman. Usually I can see the broken, unloved child behind the actions he's taking. This was just pure evil.

[TR]

I also continue to feel for Tom. Yes, he's been an asshole, but Shiv really treated him like shit. Asking for an open marriage on their wedding night?! Holy shit.

[bronxgirl]

So next week is the funeral, but I wonder what will happen on the series finale. It will be 90 minutes. It should be good. (I hope)

In the meantime, just watch out for wasabi and lemon LaCroix. It can be dangerous. Safety first, freinds.

[rosiebear]

I only feel sorry for Tom when I think of his marriage (although really, he and Shiv are both the scorpion even though they think of themselves as the frog. She’s worse, though).

But he is SUCH a shitheel when it comes to other people. He feels small so he seeks to humiliate others every chance he gets. Human furniture? He torments Greg just for fun and because he can.

Although will never not laugh when Tom goads/leads Greg into saying something outrageous and then pretends to be disgusted by it.

[cville]

I purposefully spoiled myself because, as was referenced above, I legitimately did not think I could emotionally handle the election tension of this episode after the experience of 2016 and 2020.

This was terrifying. I am nervous it was someone's inspiration for actual things to do in 2024.

I watched because the story arc of these flawed, terrible, broken people is fascinating. And the snappy dialog is amazing. But I wish I didn't. Sort of. Because I want to curl up in a ball and cry.

[rosiebear]

cville, same. Even my H said the episode was traumatizing and people in my office agreed that we hope this does not inspire anyone to act out. We are already bracing for 2024.

[sporklemotion]

noodleoo, there are two episodes left.

[just]

The funeral??? Chefs kiss.

It was so amazing. From Caroline bringing Carrie and the other mistress up, to Marcia holding Carrie’s hand. To Ewans speech, and Roman’s amazing break. Kendall rising up and becoming Logan through that speech and the rest of the episode, and Shiv.

All so fucking good. And realistic. The movements from coping to breaking that you go through in funerals like this. Their faces broke my heart even though I hate them.


I also loved Toms break at the memorial. I wonder if Roman will make it through the season alive. His realization that he will never be Logan, and Kendall is moving forward and taking the spot, his grief. Him looking for a fight/pain at the end.

[noodleoo]

Watched last night and wow, just wow. This one was up there with episode 3. I was riveted the entire funeral scene. I knew the show was almost 1.5 hrs but it flew by, I was actually surprised when it ended. I agree that it was so realistic, the pain was raw and real. Man, Roman. He's so despicable, I've hated his character almost the entire series. But when his pain is on display, it is so real, you can't help but feel sorry and cry along with him. When he went up to the mic and his voice was so soft and shaking, he looked like a sad little boy. His siblings holding him, they scheme against each other but they still love each other. It breaks my heart to watch but it is so masterfully done, I can't help but get sucked in.

Who will end up taking over?  I'm not sure I care that much. It's the emotional moments that get me. When Shiv and Tom had their moment and she realized how tired he was and offered a place to rest, you could see that even after everything they've done to each other, they still care. When Menken made a joke about Roman's breakdown at the funeral and Kendall immediately defended him. Everything Caroline, she's a piece of work!

I hope the siblings don't end up hurting each other to win (though they probably will). The moments I love the most are when they are bonded together.

[pumpkincat]

noodleoo, just
summed up my feelings perfectly on the funeral. Amazing acting. Extremely realistic.

The ex-wives/girlfriend club in the pew together was one of my favorite parts as well.

[janegold]

I thought the last episode was incredible too.

As for what will happen next episode, I know everyone's been joking all this season about Greg ending up on top, but after this last episode, it feels like more of a possibility. Matsson played along with the idea of a U.S. CEO but was cagey about committing to Shiv. Greg's been getting closer to Matsson and might Matsson feel like a dumb puppet is better than a smart puppet?  It feels like such a joke, though, that it's hard to imagine the show writers ending the show on that note...

ETA: Oh, and Greg's insistence on meeting Mencken?  Maybe just his typical opportunism, but maybe something more?

[Roc A Bee]

Last episode was very well done. I love watching the interviews after the episode to see how it was filmed.

I think all the kids will end up screwed over.

[okla]

If Greg ends up CEO, I will walk into the sea.

I can’t stand to see him on screen since I learned of the actor’s predatory actions to young women.

[simpsongal]

janegold, I thought Greg was insistent meeting him b/c he was carrying out Tom's orders - to make sure Menkin knew it was Tom that made the election call. I just can't fathom a world where Greg ends up on top...I do sort of suspect none of the kids end up in charge and they're left to find their new way/purpose in life. There's a horrified piece of me wondering if Shiv feels forced to end her pregnancy to secure the CEO slot.

I loved the honesty in Shiv's speech re Logan and women. And as you all said, all the raw moments and breaks. You rarely see real grief portrayed on tv, you just don't. That exchange where Tom is talking to Shiv and and she thinks it's some inside info stuff but she realizes he's talking about being there re Logan's death and then they're both falling apart. It's all heartbreaking (thankful I'm 2.5 years past my dad's death b/c I don't think I could take it otherwise).

[ECB]

May 23, 2023 14:03:32 GMT -5 Roc A Bee said:

Last episode was very well done. I love watching the interviews after the episode to see how it was filmed.

I think all the kids will end up screwed over.

This is what I want too.  But the way they really showed kendall falling into his fathers shoes... I wonder if it might also end with him taking over and now it's just a new era of "Logan".

I hope not!!  Because while I like this show- it's a lot of the same... deals, deals, deals, backstabbing, deals falling through, more backstabbing, new deal, oh wait... that one will fall apart too...

Yawn.  I want this show to end with a BANG!!  Not just a petering out of the same ole' same ole'. 

[noodleoo]

May 23, 2023 13:42:11 GMT -5 janegold said:

I thought the last episode was incredible too.

As for what will happen next episode, I know everyone's been joking all this season about Greg ending up on top, but after this last episode, it feels like more of a possibility. Matsson played along with the idea of a U.S. CEO but was cagey about committing to Shiv. Greg's been getting closer to Matsson and might Matsson feel like a dumb puppet is better than a smart puppet?  It feels like such a joke, though, that it's hard to imagine the show writers ending the show on that note...

ETA: Oh, and Greg's insistence on meeting Mencken?  Maybe just his typical opportunism, but maybe something more?

H and I predicted this after watching the first episode and I’m still betting on this theory. It feels like it’s the kind of thing HBO would do (like fucking Bran on GOT, worst ending ever). But I also think it fits since he started at the bottom working at a theme park and has been slowly but surely working his way up. I’d hate it, but I still predict it. I can’t see any of the kids winning and no one else gives the sort of gotcha twist that writers love to throw in. If anything, I think it’s a little too predictable.

I was rooting for Kendall, but in a positive way like if he grew into a better person after all the crap he’s been through. Since he’s instead becoming exactly like Logan, I could see that happening but it would be really depressing (but also realistic). 

okla , I don’t follow entertainment news, but that sucks. 

simpsongal , yeah, I’ve had some feelings about how they’re handling Shiv’s pregnancy. It was depressing to see how she had to minimize her pregnancy and say she’d take a 36 hr maternity leave and be right back at it to Mattsson so she’s not passed over for CEO. It’s fucking infuriating actually, because again, it’s realistic. I wish they’d spent a little more time exploring her feelings about it, especially given the scene with her mom at the wedding where Caroline basically admitted she didn’t want children (or something, I forget the details but it was obvious her mom really hurt her). I think the fact that they haven’t really acknowledged it and how Shiv feels about it also bugs me. 

[janegold]

The ending felt right to me. Kind of ended with everyone’s worst - and truest? - versions of themselves.

I interpreted the last Kendall scene to be a throwback to the opening credits showing Logan from behind, first surrounded by family and then by a boardroom. And Kendall - by nothing.

[lemoncupcake]

The kitchen scene with the kids was so endearing, but I knew that it wouldn’t “stick” - it’s just not true to who these characters are.

No one gets a happy ending because these are ultimately terrible, unhappy people.

[lemoncupcake]

May 28, 2023 22:18:32 GMT -5 mofongo said:

May 28, 2023 22:05:31 GMT -5 lemoncupcake said:

The kitchen scene with the kids was so endearing, but I knew that it wouldn’t “stick” - it’s just not true to who these characters are.

No one gets a happy ending because these are ultimately terrible, unhappy people.

Yes, I felt the same with that scene. This show wasn’t going to end warm and fuzzy.

And in that conference room they threw out the lowest blows they could think of. They’re all messed up

[noodleoo]

I knew it wouldn’t end happy but man that hurt to see them *almost* get it again!!! Kendall is like Charlie Brown with the football. I can’t imagine the kids forgiving each other after that. It is sad, I really enjoyed them being happy together.

I don’t understand Shiv though. She seemed all in on the plan. And mad at Tom for getting her CEO position. Why did she change her mind at the last minute? I wish they’d explained that more.

I was really surprised at Romans comment at the end to Kendall. I always wondered about his kids, actually thought it was cool that his daughter was obviously adopted and they never made a thing about it. They were his kids, no questions asked. He may be a shitty father, but he loved them in his messed up way. Roman’s flippant bullshit was awful and I don’t blame Kendall for attacking him. It’s fascinating that the writers set that up so long ago and saved it for the final moment.

[rosiebear]

My H and I are arguing about it, lol. I think Shiv was 💯 right - Kendall isn’t up for the job. He thinks he is, when he’s manic and pumped up, he feels entitled to it, but he screws everything up, every time. Their dad never believed in any of them enough to really teach them the ropes and none of them are Logan or even their own version of Logan. Ken think he is, but he just isn’t and never will be.

Plus, the brothers fucked her over IMMEDIATELY and would continue to do so over and over forever. Why would she jump into that pattern, especially now that they have her “betrayal,” (conveniently glossing over their own) to hold over her. Fuck that.


ETA: It also fits her (all of their) scorpion nature. If she can’t win, she’s going to make damn sure they don’t win, either, even if she goes down with them. Of course, in this case, “losing” means closing on a deal that makes them all even more ridiculously wealthy, so there’s that.

[gummybear]

noodleoo I think Shiv did what she did bc she chose proximity to power. First off, she never really believed in a Kendall (justifiably). And he does make her sick. If you can, rewatch the scene with Stewy at the end. See how Kendall switches personalities and how she reacts with body language. I think that was when she changed her mind.

I think that she chose the monster she knows. Tom is Tom. He’s steady. He’s also, like she said, will suck the biggest dick in the room so he’s less of a wild card who could go rogue. By being by his side she is comfortable. She KNOWS how to play the role of second fiddle. And for all his Tom foolery (ba dunk dunk) he DID tell her it was him before the vote. The last scene with them was magnificent. Cold. She’s become her mother. She very deliberately chose what she despises most after realizing she despised losing to Kendal more. If Kendall loses worse, she wins.

[gummybear]

There is so much I loved about this finale. Two things that stoops out about the end:
Karl and Frank joking about golden parachutes and the nonchalance about what comes next juxtaposed by the siblings tearing each other apart and ruining each others lives in what is essentially a fishbowl. Perfectly sums up the show.

Tom keeping Greg and tagging him like property. Asserting his continued power over him (the only person he truly controlled all along, who will continue to be his “pain sponge”) while recognizing the balls it took to betray him.

[lemoncupcake]

And where was Conner? Is he not on the board?

[basilosaurus]

What struck me at the very end, the music went in a slightly different direction than normal, an uplifting. It was subtle, but it was there. Nice touch.

[basilosaurus]

May 29, 2023 8:57:45 GMT -5 lemoncupcake said:

And where was Conner? Is he not on the board?

He's not. Didn't he sell out in maybe season one? That's how he had his desert estate and escort/golddigger. I loved Willa facing possibly having connor around longer.

[simpsongal]

May 29, 2023 6:59:05 GMT -5 gummybear said:

There is so much I loved about this finale. Two things that stoops out about the end:
Karl and Frank joking about golden parachutes and the nonchalance about what comes next juxtaposed by the siblings tearing each other apart and ruining each others lives in what is essentially a fishbowl. Perfectly sums up the show.

Tom keeping Greg and tagging him like property. Asserting his continued power over him (the only person he truly controlled all along, who will continue to be his “pain sponge”) while recognizing the balls it took to betray him.

did Greg specifically betray Tom though? Bc I didn’t think he knew Tom was tagged as CEO. I guess feeding info to the brothers was bad, but he was sort of playing all sides.

The scene with the kids watching Logan video was really sweet.

[noodleoo]

May 29, 2023 9:03:23 GMT -5 mofongo said:

May 29, 2023 6:40:02 GMT -5 gummybear said:

noodleoo I think Shiv did what she did bc she chose proximity to power. First off, she never really believed in a Kendall (justifiably). And he does make her sick. If you can, rewatch the scene with Stewy at the end. See how Kendall switches personalities and how she reacts with body language. I think that was when she changed her mind.

I think that she chose the monster she knows. Tom is Tom. He’s steady. He’s also, like she said, will suck the biggest dick in the room so he’s less of a wild card who could go rogue. By being by his side she is comfortable. She KNOWS how to play the role of second fiddle. And for all his Tom foolery (ba dunk dunk) he DID tell her it was him before the vote. The last scene with them was magnificent. Cold. She’s become her mother. She very deliberately chose what she despises most after realizing she despised losing to Kendal more. If Kendall loses worse, she wins.

i was kind of surprised she was ok with Mattson after the way he fucked her over. kind of like her brothers!

eta: played her like a pregnant cello as roman said 🤣.

i really enjoyed the episode!

Same! I had a hard time seeing her giving in to Mattsson after what he did to her. But I guess out of everyone, Tom is the only one she can really trust, although he screwed her in Italy too! Yeah I’m really having a tough time seeing her doing what she did. Her brothers suck too, but she would have had ATN to run herself with them. I can’t see her being second after Tom, part of their whole relationship that she loved was being above him and controlling him. The role reversal seems against her character. Unless we’re supposed to believe that her being pregnant changes her ambitions.

[basilosaurus]

May 29, 2023 10:50:13 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

May 29, 2023 9:03:23 GMT -5 mofongo said:

i was kind of surprised she was ok with Mattson after the way he fucked her over. kind of like her brothers!

eta: played her like a pregnant cello as roman said 🤣.

i really enjoyed the episode!

Same! I had a hard time seeing her giving in to Mattsson after what he did to her. But I guess out of everyone, Tom is the only one she can really trust, although he screwed her in Italy too! Yeah I’m really having a tough time seeing her doing what she did. Her brothers suck too, but she would have had ATN to run herself with them. I can’t see her being second after Tom, part of their whole relationship that she loved was being above him and controlling him. The role reversal seems against her character. Unless we’re supposed to believe that her being pregnant changes her ambitions.

I think she sees Tom the same way Mattson sees him; as a pain sponge she can control. She has every reason to distrust her brothers dangling ATN. Power adjacent is better than powerless.

Pregnant cello was gold!