What It Takes

Season 3 of Succession has been a weird one for me. As it was airing it somewhat felt like a mixed bag. I wasn't really sure what was off, but in the end I feel it was satisfying as a whole. I've been rewatching the season in my free time and I've gotten a lot more clarity on my opinions. There is a pacing issue with the season, episode 4 being the main cause. But this isn't about that episode, it is about this one.

The first time I watched this I felt it was kind of boring and uneventful. I gave it a 7 the first time around, but now seeing it again I kinda loved it. I don't know, I was just really into it. It was essential what I love about succession, people in rooms talking and then more people in bigger rooms talking. Maybe I wasn't in the right mood the first time I saw this episode, but I've really come around on it. I don't like the title though, the title is pretty basic and dumb.

Just insanely compelling television, as always. The dialogue is fantastic, and I love the moments with Shiv, Tom, and Greg in particular. Can't wait to see where this leads!

Realizing how hard this hits after the 2024 Biden dropout fugazi. Regardless of party politics, this show just brilliantly shows a whole mess in the media-politics complicated dynamics. It again shows the ugliness of airing news for drama rather than any substantive values. I still think Shiv is absolutely on the right side of the endorsement. Roman still thinks this is a childhood game, and I think we can all see through it that Logan has other thoughts in mind.

Also, I thought the drama and character development stays brilliant. Criticisms on this page don't realize that this is a serious drama and not a popcorn drama. There's the beauty in Greg's and Tom's development, as well as Shiv's departure from Logan. Dialogue writing is still very witty and enjoyable. Also, love how the show still maintains a lot of poetic justice. Characters who have done bad things are paying the price. We feel satisfied to see the consequences, but we can't help with incredible sympathy for these characters as well.

The Roy family falls into king making. This was one of my favorite episodes ever-possibly because it falls into confirmation bias for me personally: the rich and powerful choose our leaders, not the people.

This was a beautiful episode fraught with conflict, showing the crushed veneer that is idealists (Shiv), the coke fueled king making rambles (Roman and the new Stooge), the entitlement of the affluent (Connor), the clawing desperation for autonomy of a Lion's cub (Kendall), the fragility of maimed men (Tom), reeking opportunism (Greg), and the brooding resiliency of Titans (Logan).

This series is here to show you that no political stance, no idealistic approach and certainly no single man is a bulwark...besides the owners of our information; Logan is our American God and we made him and enabled him. Armstrong isn't going to make you like it or forget it. He's embarrassed of you, all of those around him and himself for letting these Priests in the nursery.

If you don't understand that you are a mockery as well as the rest of our plight, then you are part of the problem.

This was brilliant writing that made a filler episode a marvel while still managing and pushing the plot forward. I never give 10's (and it's not like my opinion even matters), but this is first 10 in TV since DARK's series closer and Succession's Season 2 finale.

10/10 Stars.

If you're complaining that the characters are acting repetitively, you're missing the point. Nothing really changes.

If you're complaining that the people who are so powerful and successful are mostly bafoons, you're missing the point. That's exactly the commentary the creators are making through this satire.

If you're complaining because this seems farcical and unrealistic, you'd be deeply depressed to know how close to accurate the satire is.

We needed to be reminded that while the characters are entertaining, they would literally sell your freedoms to increase the bottom line of their media empire. We needed to be reminded that we aren't supposed to empathize with the characters representing the ppl who have destroyed democracy for the sake of profit. You aren't supposed to like anyone here. You are supposed to marvel at the acting and get chills as you are reminded that the elite sit in hotel suites sipping champagne while your children's future burns.