Sad Sack Wasp Trap

Episode 4: Well written, but still too muddy and foggy, like turning in circles, acting is believable though a little artificial, the characters besides the family are very prudent and careful and it impacts on the realistic dynamic of the show.

Very good score, emotional moments, but after 4 episodes, it's like watching different variants of one episode.

Greetings from Lithuania.

4th episode of Succession was just as solid as first 3. I liked the final speech at the end, which was surprising and kinda touching in a way. Acting, writing were solid as usual but it's the story that kind of going in circles so far. It's not that I don't like it, its just that it does not very involving so far.

But I feel that things are heating up and I like the overall idea of this aging patriarch of the empire trying to save it and his kind are used for its expansion. Sounds familiar? Yes, Yellowstone is doing the same but I like Succession for different reasons.

Roman is a top shelf douche

Kendall is not cut out to manage a little league baseball team let alone a huge company.

Connor is a old loser

Logan is a jerk and talks down to everyone

Tom is a nut job that deserves a punch in the mouth

But I can't stop watching the train wreck

If anyone out there is this rich do not act like these douches.

For the first 3 episodes, the show was more of an exposition. We learned the conflict(Succession) and most of the characters have been introduced but their interactions weren't given in detail. We only knew what was going on in just the "core" Roy family and even their relationships weren't further explored. This episode, although being slow, establishes very interesting character interactions which made me want to instantly watch episode 5(I didn't get this urge from the previous 3 episodes). The lies, doing things from the back and most importantly the past. The start time of the show is an interesting choice because all characters are their characters from the start. They don't need a development, other than Greg, but we don't really know them as of now and this episode shows the potential depth in these character relationships. I also loved that they left some things very unclear, meaning that I don't know what is happening in some of them. The episode had some pacing issues and was very slow sometimes, but other than that I loved this episode and it is my favorite episode of the season so far.

"Sad Sack Wasp Trap" takes a step back from the corporate drama to focus on the personal dynamics within the Roy family. The episode is set at a lavish hunting retreat hosted by Logan to court investors and reassure them of the company's stability. This setting provides a stark contrast to the sterile boardrooms of previous episodes, but the tension between the characters is as palpable as ever. The episode's central focus is on the fractured relationships within the Roy family, particularly between Logan and Kendall. The hunting metaphor is used effectively throughout the episode, as Logan continues to toy with his children, asserting his dominance in increasingly cruel ways.

One of the most memorable scenes in the episode is Logan's insistence that Kendall participate in a demeaning game, further eroding his son's confidence. Jeremy Strong's portrayal of Kendall's humiliation is both painful and compelling, as the character struggles to maintain his dignity in front of his father and the other investors. Brian Cox's performance as Logan is equally powerful, as he effortlessly switches between charm and cruelty, manipulating those around him with ease. The ensemble cast also shines in this episode, with strong performances from Sarah Snook as Shiv and Matthew Macfadyen as Tom, whose interactions highlight the power imbalances within their own relationship.

The direction in this episode is sharp, making excellent use of the expansive, luxurious setting to highlight the Roys' detachment from reality. The cinematography captures the cold beauty of the retreat, with wide shots that emphasize the isolation of the characters despite their wealth. The pacing is tighter than in previous episodes, with a strong focus on character development and interpersonal conflict. However, the episode's heavy reliance on metaphor can feel a bit heavy-handed at times, particularly in its use of the hunting imagery. Despite this, the episode succeeds in deepening the audience's understanding of the Roy family's toxic dynamics, setting the stage for future betrayals and power struggles.