And This Is Why It's Called, "Succession"
Or, why "Connor's Wedding" may be one of the greatest episodes in TV history
SPOILERS AHEAD!!!
HBO appears to have a fatuation with gut-wrenching third episodes this year. I wrote about the beautiful episode three of The Last Of Us, which focused on enduring love in the literal worst of times, and now, I am back again with my world shook by an unexpected emotional blow from another third episode.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Succession is in its final season, and I expect big things to happen. In this show about the over-the-top insanity of a mind-boggling rich and dysfunctional family, I have learned to accept shocking turns of events.
I also knew that in the final season of a show called Succession, at some point it would address that issue in the most direct way possible:
(Here is that final spoiler warning!
With the death of Logan Roy.
To recap: Logan ditches Connor's wedding to shore up a business deal in Sweden. He never makes it, as we learn the moment Tom calls with the news that Logan has collapsed in the airplane bathroom and has stopped breathing.
Like the Roy children, I think I am going through the five stages of grief, trying to process the abrupt end to a life so large and powerful, I am often unsure where Logan Roy ends and Brian Cox begins (his McDonald's commercials help).
I will miss Cox's booming presence on screen, and yet, in the best episode of this season so far, he has no lines and is only seen in glimpses. Through his embodiment of Logan Roy, Brian Cox doesn't just consume all the air in the room, HE IS THE AIR.
So this episode where everything still revolves around him, but in a way where he has no active role, allowed us to witness the brilliance of Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, and, my absolute favorite, Kieran Culkin, as Kendall, Shiv and Roman Roy explore the varied shock, denial, anger and sadness of grief in a masterclass of acting that was akin to watching virtuoso performing in a private concert just for me.
Listening to HBO's podcast on this episode, I learned about how Culkin suggested continuously filming the various scenes of the main three kids learning of their father's collapse on the plane. Knowing nothing about cinematography, I couldn't tell this was how they filmed much of the episode, but after hearing about it and thinking back, I know I felt it.
I felt like I was watching real people learn about the death of a loved one in real time, which unlike most depictions in television is unexpected, even inconvenient, and messy. I believed every reaction the Roy children felt. Every one suited their characters perfectly.
Kendall, as the pseudo eldest child, who always wants to prove himself as the leader of the three, yet is always stumbling on his own demons, tries his best to rationalize the situation and bury his emotions with facts and focusing on the future post Logan Roy.
Shiv, as the lone daughter who despises her father yet desperately wants to prove herself to him, is overwhelmed by sadness and anger. Anger, not just at what her father did to them on a professional and personal front, but anger at him for leaving so abruptly.
Roman, as the child who only ever wanted to be truly loved and cared for (hence his thing with Gerri), is in firm denial right up to the moment he goes to see his dad's body. His heart can't take the possibility that his father, the man he so desperately sought affection from was gone. And on top of it, will always wish his last words didn't involve calling his dad a cunt.
And then there's Connor, the afterthought child, whose wedding was deemed important enough to attend by everyone trying to curry favor with Logan Roy, yet wasn't deemed worthy enough to warrant an appearance from the man himself. It is Connor, through Alan Ruck's understated performance, who provides the most honest reaction to his father's demise. Connor uses this moment to accept he was and never will be good enough for his father, but he can be good enough for his wife, Willa, and provide her comfort and security in a way nobody could for him.
There is so much to unpack in this giant, sleepaway-camp-sized duffel bag of an episode. Though the main three siblings dominate the episode, there is a lot of interesting maneuvering happening within the inner and wannabe inner circle. I am thinking about who stands to gain the most from Logan's death, and who will be knocked to the ground.
I am most interested to see what happens with Gerri, who was on the chopping block before Logan died. But, with nothing set in motion and only a vague warning from Roman, who very well may go back on his dad's wishes, she may just survive the inevitable shakeup at Waystar Royco.
And what of Chuckles, I mean Kerry? Has she done enough to secure her future?
The weight of Logan Roy has been lifted, and we will now watch as everyone scurries about like ants under a rock, frantically trying to figure out where to go next.