Emmy Catch-Up: Succession

Every year, I watch the six submitted episodes of every series I don’t regularly watch that’s up for one of the Emmy series prizes. This year, I’m getting a jump start to check out the entire season of some of most high-profile shows I didn’t watch when they originally aired.

Succession 2, Episode 9 “DC” (B+)

It’s really incredible to see just how focused every member of the Roy family and Waystar Royco board and leadership team is on shifting blame and responsibility away from them rather than acknowledging that there are legitimate things that might need to be examined or changed. Logan has previously demonstrated his intolerance for being told by anyone else what he can or cannot do, and despite his initial fit of rage, he did well on the stand, throwing the baton to Kendall to flip it on Gil and make it seem like he was just trying to settle a personal vendetta. Tom, on the other hand, did not do a great job of addressing Mo’s nickname and the fact that he did know Greg, who completely panicked after he realized that he turned down a quarter of a billion dollars for a prison sentence (though he would likely have gotten both if he had untethered himself from his unforgiving great-uncle). For someone who’s usually far too dramatic and out of touch with what’s going on around him, Roman read the situation perfectly when their business negotiations were interrupted by a political coup and turned into a hostage situation. I suspect he’ll be okay, but there’s reason for him and for Karl, who very calmly had a panic attack, to be afraid. Shiv masterfully intimidated the whistleblower into taking a deal, but that and the extensive cooperation of certain senators couldn’t prevent Logan from suffering his most problematic blow: Rhea deciding that she isn’t going to take the CEO job after all. We’ll see how that plays out in what I’m sure will be a memorable season finale.

What I’m Watching: Veep (Season Finale)

Veep: Season 2, Episode 10 “D.C.” (A-)

This has been a fun season, but what an utterly fabulous and wholly fantastic closer this was. Selina’s prospects as a serious presidential candidate have never been great, and therefore it’s entirely fitting that her plans about whether and when to run would be made public in such an inconsistent and unimpressive fashion. The speed at which Dan got and accepted four jobs was rather startling, and the same goes for Sue, who negotiated formidably with Kent. Amy’s wavering interest in her relationship with the ever-present Ed was entertaining, and I continue to believe in her as one of the show’s best all-around characters. Gary’s cheese-filled future with Dana seems miserable, and I do hope he’s able to salvage that. More crucially, however, this episode did what this show does best, which is make POTUS into a majestic figure whose very presence is cause for awe and celebration. Cleverly not showing him by having him enter Selina’s office without her seeing was terrific, and her triumphant exodus was great. “Sue, did the President call?” has been uttered so little this season, and to have her dismiss him as insignificant was truly satisfying. This was an exciting and enthralling episode, rare for a comedy like this, and it makes the prospect of a third season, for which the show was renewed at the beginning of May, so wonderful. This show really does have one of the best ensembles around, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus is a great centerpiece for an excellently-written and biting comedy.

Season grade: A-
Season MVP: Kevin Dunn as Ben