What I’m Watching: Succession

Succession: Season 4, Episode 4 “Honeymoon States” (B+)

The aftermath of Logan’s death may not have been quite as emotionally devastating, but tensions were absolutely very high and there were some harsh words uttered by many members of the Roy family and their closest associates. Karl not holding back with Tom about what he really thought of him was particularly vicious, and Greg is doing a miserable job of trying to stay relevant when no one wants him around. That Logan wrote that he wanted Kendall to take over and then either crossed it out or underlined it is maddening, and seeing the three youngest Roy siblings weigh in on the situation is mesmerizing. Connor’s concern that Ron was improperly politically defining his father felt far from critical, and offering up $63 million to buy the place from Marcia felt intensely out of touch with the way everyone else, even his siblings, are operating. His swing states “honeymoon” is also a humorous concept, even if Willa is adjusting to the way living with his extraordinary wealth and delusion will change her day-to-day. Marcia was quite cruel to Kerry when she showed up at the apartment, and when Roman is defending someone, it feels as if a line has been crossed. Stewy showed his transparent loyalty to Kendall, who also directed Hugo to derail his dead father’s reputation despite the objection of his siblings. Matsson still wanting them to come to the retreat feels like an overreach, but these kids will do anything to stay in power, even while those who haven’t “pre-grieved” are still mourning.

What I’m Watching: Succession

Succession: Season 4, Episode 3 “Connor’s Wedding” (B+)

I firmly believe that this is the most important show to watch as soon as possible if it airs since the likelihood of having something spoiled by a vague or not so vague post is incredibly high. This episode was a transformative one with a startling twist that was presented in a way none of its characters saw coming. To have Logan die and never once see his face is a bold decision, one that will surely pay off because of the performances and moments that event elicited. The not knowing whether he was actually gone was particularly striking since that uncertainty brought up a swell of emotions for everyone. His children were all far away and experiencing a range of feelings, and Roman getting stuck on whether he said he loved him was among the most potent of those. Kendall switched into action mode, trying to talk directly to the pilot even though there was nothing to do, while Shiv was upset that she hadn’t been there right away. Connor’s first response was about as harsh as his father always was to him, but he seems to have found himself in a good place with Willa while his siblings are still stuck trying to figure out what to do. Karolina and the team shifted right into action on the plane while Kerry was a mess, and there’s little question that she’ll soon be dismissed. That moment with Tom embracing Shiv for a second before she remembered their status now was one of the episode’s most haunting. Before all this craziness, we also got the humor of Greg insisting that he wasn’t just a word but a guy and a guest appearance from Jamie Chung as the wedding planner that sadly didn’t allow her to do much since the wedding was not the focus of this unforgettable episode.

What I’m Watching: Succession

Succession: Season 4, Episode 2 “Rehearsal” (A-)

It’s taken me some time to get here, but I can acknowledge that this show has some of the best writing and acting on television. This episode was a superb example, putting the adult children together as they were supposed to be celebrating their eldest brother on the eve of his wedding but once again made everything all about themselves. Stewy and Sandi also got in their heads about whether the deal was worth taking or if they thought that Logan should be getting something better, and all Connor wanted to do was karaoke, albeit with a bit of family drama mixed in when he invited his dad there to talk to his siblings. That entire interaction was surreal, with Logan expressing that he doesn’t do apologies and then Roman pushing him to verbalize what he was sorry for while Shiv and Kendall approached the situation with more trepidation. His relationship with Kerry is also odd because she often communicates what she believes he’s feeling to his children, and now she’s trying to make a play for TV stardom that he’s quietly not endorsing to avoid any accusations of nepotism. Hugo nearly got caught laughing at her audition tape and Tom made Greg be the fall guy who actually had to talk to her, which resulted in her threatening to “take him apart like a human string cheese” if the focus group he made up wasn’t real. Greg and Tom trying to describe Logan’s behavior at ATN made for the best lines of the episode, with him “terrifyingly moseying,” like “if Santa Claus was a hitman” and “like Jaws if everyone worked for Jaws” as the highlights. Tom doing what Logan recommended and meeting every divorce attorney to make sure Shiv couldn’t felt quite cutthroat, but it is a protective measure that he just did first she definitely would have given the opportunity.

What I’m Watching: Succession (Season Premiere)

Succession: Season 4, Episode 1 “The Munsters” (B+)

This is my second time watching this show along with the general public, which I think will make it more satisfying since it seems to be one the last remaining “watercooler” or appointment television series out there, something HBO continues to dominate in delivering. It’s also bittersweet to know that this is the show’s final season, but that’s also a sign that it wants to go out on top while there’s still great storytelling left to feature. It’s very entertaining to see the newly unified trio of Shiv, Roman, and Kendall, and to note how often Shiv and Kendall stand in opposition to Roman, speaking in a much friendlier manner to each other than is typical for their family. They didn’t reserve such kindness for Kerry, who just had to take Roman’s demeaning taunts as she essentially begged them to wish Logan a happy birthday. Making a bold play for Nan Pierce knowing how much she hated longer was a trepidatious but ultimately successful venture, one that made Logan very angry and is going to send him on more of a warpath than he’s already been on since this show started. Greg’s apparently recorded sex was a humorous and cringe-worthy subplot, and I enjoyed how Frank, Gerri, and Karl all tried to defer having to break the news about who the other bidder was to Logan. Connor lamenting the possibility of dropping below one percent and having to spend an additional $100 million dollars to keep himself there was also hilarious and painful to watch. The most poignant part of the episode was its final scene with Shiv and Tom, showing just how far apart they’ve always been and how this really is the end of them as a couple.

What I’m Watching: Billions

Billions: Season 6, Episode 11 “Succession” (B+)

Well, we now have confirmation on that bigger plan that Prince and Scooter alluded to a few episodes back. Running for president of the United States is certainly a big deal, and maybe in the era of Trump, having been involved in bribing people to get the Olympics to come to New York City won’t be as problematic as it should be, and his net worth is just going to be an example of how much good he can do with his money if he actually uses it that way. But it does bring into question whether Prince was ever actually working the Olympics or if he just wanted this endgame all along, similar to how Chuck might be willing to sacrifice a few pawns and minor hopes on the way to his big dream. Having everyone realize what was going on at once was an effective way to conclude the penultimate episode of the season, one that will surely lead to many more questions and scrambling in the finale. Watching Taylor and Philip fight to one-up each other as his successor is also intriguing, and them partnering up probably makes more sense. Wendy announcing her book by leaving a copy on everyone’s desk was a bold move that didn’t go so well, especially with people like Tuk who thought they were one character only to learn they were someone else entirely. That doesn’t seem to be happening anymore, but I have a feeling that Wendy is going to have some strong opinions about Mike not being open with her about his true intentions.

What I’m Watching: Succession (Season Finale)

Succession: Season 3, Episode 9 “All the Bells Say” (B+)

I managed to go more than a week after this episode aired without having anything spoiled, despite it being all over Twitter and the Internet. While I do think it was a good episode and I can appreciate this show’s quality, I don’t quite comprehend the way in which so many are saying that this is the greatest hour of television they’ve watched all year or in a long time. It was strange to have it open with Logan reading a book to his grandson since he doesn’t feel like the kind of person who is capable of human connection like that, and we also got to see the adult Roys playing Monopoly, where Willa called Shiv out on cheating. It was good – and a little terrifying – to see Connor freak out and yell at everyone that he was the eldest son, not Kendall, but that hasn’t worked out so well for him, especially since he was completely left out of the attempted mutiny at the end of the episode. At least he’s going to marry Willa, since she expressed that it was worth giving it a shot even if she hardly seems committed to the idea. The way in which the other three siblings worked together after they comforted Kendall following his manslaughter confession was a remarkable improvement over Kendall’s lone effort to take down Logan in season one, and it was intense to watch them all spring into action making phone calls at the same time. They didn’t see the ultimate betrayal coming from the parent they thought was more human and kindhearted, and now they’re really going to be left with nothing. Season four should definitely be interesting, and I look forward to watching along with audiences after this one is enthusiastically celebrated by all awards bodies.

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Kieran Culkin as Roman and Matthew Macfadyen as Tom

What I’m Watching: Succession

Succession: Season 3, Episode 8 “Chiantishire” (B+)

The dynamics of this family continue to be equally toxic and complicated, and this episode featured some intense parental moments. Halfway through the episode, I thought the most intense exchange was between Caroline and Shiv, when Caroline confronted her about being a bad daughter and told her that some people shouldn’t be mothers, which of course prompted Shiv to head straight to Tom to have a baby out of spite. But then Logan came to have dinner with Kendall, who was direct and honest with him about not wanting to turn into him because he’s a good guy, a concept Logan scoffed at and chewed him out for daring to suggest. And then there was the most uncomfortable and unexpected, when Roman made the mistake of texting his dad a picture meant for Gerri that he then had to explain to his father, who may now have lost faith in the one child he thought would be most loyal and controllable. Shiv confronting Gerri about the sexual harassment she never reported wasn’t kind, and Gerri handled herself as well as she could under the circumstances. Roman’s negotiated deal with Matsson isn’t likely to hold up well now. Willa not saying yes to Connor’s proposal was awkward, but he also did it in a public way, and she’s not necessarily going to be into spending her life with someone twice her age who is very delusional about how people see him. Shiv telling Tom she didn’t love him during their role play was far too real, and he’s finally catching on to the fact that he’s way more invested in their relationship than she is. At least Greg’s romance with Comfry is looking like it could actually work. Ending with Kendall floating in the pool with the beer next to him was ominous, and I’m sure the finale will be very memorable.

What I’m Watching: Succession

Succession: Season 3, Episode 7 “Too Much Birthday” (B+)

This family really is crazy, and it’s hard to find a good one among any of them. Kendall might seem like the purest because he wants to hold his father accountable, but the lavishness of his birthday party was absolutely absurd. The hall of fake news stories about his siblings was particularly cruel, and though Shiv seemed least bothered by it, none of it was nice at all. Connor’s refusal to take off his coat was an entertaining subplot, and Willa came to his defense in a way that made him very happy. Roman tried so hard to get into the session he had been explicitly restricted from, and, as usual, he was merely doing his father’s bidding, which sent Kendall reeling. He was even more rattled by his inability to locate his children’s present, and he took out his discomfort on Naomi for daring to get him an unengraved watch. Shiv reacted very harshly to Roman and Logan cutting her out again, which is no surprise, and this family really knows how to alienate any potential allies. Tom and Greg walking around congratulating each other for not going to jail feels like a bad idea, and naturally Tom got mad at Greg for being too happy. Greg got an unexpectedly positive reception to his flirtation, though Kendall might be furious at him for it. I appreciated the casting of Alexander Skarsgård as Lukas Matsson, whose line delivery was absolutely superb and who was completely immune to Kendall’s intense energy.

What I’m Watching: Succession

Succession: Season 3, Episode 6 “What It Takes” (B+)

In the middle of everything that’s going on, this episode felt like a fever dream, one that literally found the Roy family gathering together to discuss and pick the next president of the United States. To think that this is how it happens in real life is pretty frightening, and that’s part of the idea here, best expressed through Shiv’s inability to have her important perspective taken seriously. Alleging that her opinion should count twice as much as Roman’s wasn’t her best argument even if it’s probably true, and the ability of everyone else to simply ignore her very valid concerns about the fascist tendencies of their ultimate choice was extremely disturbing. Being forced to stand in a photograph expressing support for him was the last straw, but, like so many in real life, she wasn’t able to make any other choice in that moment. There was a solid cast of contenders playing the possible candidates, including Reed Birney, who I just interviewed recently, as another hapless vice-president, Stephen Root as Ron Petkus, and Yul Vasquez as Rick Salgado. I’m intrigued by the casting of Justin Kirk, a typically comic figure from “Weeds” who has made mildly dramatic efforts recently in “APB” and “Perry Mason,” as Jeryd Mencken, the candidate who refers to Hitler by his initial and thinks that it’s sometimes okay to invoke him as a role model. The notion that Tom’s obsession with going to jail is properly founded is unsettling, though his research continues to be light-hearted and absurd, and I have a feeling that he’s ultimately going to switch sides and take Kendall up on his offer for a way out of this.

What I’m Watching: Succession

Succession: Season 3, Episode 5 “Retired Janitors of Idaho” (B+)

It’s absolutely baffling to see the pure improvisation that those in leadership employed in this episode when they went out in front of the shareholders without any idea what they were going to say. Frank in particular got left out there for what seemed like forever, and he finally roped Gerri into taking over for him, though she didn’t last long before she pushed play on the video. The fact that Kendall was able to just wander out onto the stage and take over after Karl was delivering what amounted to a victory speech was also crazy, and it’s hard to understand what joint success he’s shooting for at this point without being directly excommunicated. Logan being incapacitated and not with it was a huge game-changer, one that left everyone scrambling, and seeing Shiv’s reaction to him mistaking her for Marcia was particularly jarring. Tom knew something was up when Logan thanked him and called him son, and guessing what he would have done in that moment didn’t turn out to be too helpful since he surely wouldn’t have been in a remotely negotiating mood. Shiv did manage to carve out a workable solution with Sandi, but Logan continues to reward her efforts with a complete lack of appreciation. Roman taking the brunt of the president’s fury when he couldn’t get Logan on the phone was entertaining, and he actually stepped up and did pretty well given the circumstances. I like that Greg is now considering suing Greenpeace after his grandfather vindictively disinherited him, a move that Tom encouraged because of its sheer ruthlessness, which isn’t exactly how I would describe anything Greg does.

What I’m Watching: Succession

Succession: Season 3, Episode 4 “Lion in the Meadow” (B+)

It’s incredibly awkward to see Kendall and Logan forced to be in the same room as one another, and the forced hug they engaged in while Adrien Brody’s Josh was looking on was about as convincing as their repeated assurances that they could cooperatively work together. Kendall made a power play in response to Logan making him wait on the tarmac for him to arrive, but then Josh seemed to be much more on his dad’s side, eager for Kendall to retract everything and say he was wrong. Logan started with the cruelty when it was just him and Kendall walking, and Kendall tried to get him to admit that he needed to take a break rather than help him when he finally asked for it, demonstrating to Josh that Logan was indeed an old man who couldn’t necessarily keep up with his pace of life – or business. Roman’s phone call to his brother at the end of the episode started off with his normal petty insults but then involved into something far more ferocious, indicative of the Roy viciousness that all of Logan’s children have inherited. Connor demonstrated that when Shiv balked at his plan and he made it clear that he didn’t want to deal with her. Though Logan was not kind to Shiv with his “nothing is a line” wisdom, she too showed her ability to be unfeeling and effective when she laid out that the conversation she was having had already ended. Tom was spiraling with his prison research, but he still had to time to freak Greg out by telling him that he would castrate him and marry him in a second. Greg having Logan serve him a rum and coke and then asking what he can get was the latest instance of him having absolutely no clue how serious the situation he currently finds himself in really is.

What I’m Watching: Succession

Succession: Season 3, Episode 3 “The Disruption” (B+)

It’s easy to forget after so much time off from this show just how much Kendall retreats into himself when he’s not doing well, which is of course why he needed to make peace with his father in the first place after his initial attempted coup. He reacted uncomfortably to the reading of the tweets in the limo, then decided to go in to the office to complain about the air conditioning having been hacked, and then lost his nerve when Shiv’s letter came out. Cancelling his comedy show appearance gave the host a platform to simply read that letter verbatim to mock her missing guest, which was particularly harsh. Shiv did a decent job of speaking on behalf of the company as its new president until the unfortunate derailment of the event with the loud music blasting “rape me” which was impossible to drown out. Greg mistaking Kendall “hooking him up” with a watch for him buying it for him was a regrettable error, and apparently the thing doesn’t even work. I did enjoy Tom offering Greg a mint and telling him that it was a cyanide pill Logan had asked them to take. Tom volunteering to go to jail for the company was an interesting play, but Logan seemed to appreciate it. The FBI showing up at the doors was an intense moment, and Logan’s secondary decision to cooperate was an even bigger surprise. That’s a real game-changer, and things are only going to get crazier as battle lines are drawn within the Roy family and empire.

What I’m Watching: Succession

Succession: Season 3, Episode 2 “Mass in Time of War” (B+)

I didn’t expect that everyone was going to come together so quickly, and I also thought that Kendall was going to reach out only to Shiv. Kendall was smart to try to go to his siblings right off of the bat because of his very logical paranoia about how his father might try to shut things down. Roman was absolutely direct about how he was a spy for his father, whereas Shiv seemed to be legitimately feeling out what position was best for him and Connor just wanted to be part of it. Roman saying that he just “spoke to the market” was an entertaining except from their passionate and mostly unkind conversation, which also included Kendall telling Connor that he was irrelevant and not wanted, which somehow wasn’t as harsh as the words that he had for his sister when she pulled out. She may now have what she’s always wanted since, per her father’s own words, she’s “the one who matters.” I like that Tom pushed bank on Shiv questioning whether he loved her when he just replied thank you, and we got to see some of his angry side when he called Greg to threaten him. Greg is absolutely hapless, repeating lines like “I am not a part of this necessarily” and clarifying whether the lawyer sent by Waystar chooses him or if he’s the one who makes the choice. Somehow, Ewan is much kinder to Greg than Logan is to his offspring, even though Greg makes it very hard considering just how idiotic most of what he says is. I’m not sure what the more intimidating delivery was – the Trojan horse or the donuts.

What I’m Watching: Succession (Season Premiere)

Succession: Season 3, Episode 1 “Secession” (B+)

This is my first time watching this show as it’s airing, though I’m still a couple weeks behind, hoping to catch up shortly so that nothing will be spoiled. Previously, I didn’t care much about the details since I wasn’t all in on the show, and while I still don’t think it’s as incredible as most say, I can appreciate its writing and ensemble performance. It’s great to see Kendall on top and more confident, emerging from a state of near-catatonia in the bathtub for a major car ride with plenty of moving parts. I hope this isn’t the last we’ll see of Karolina since I was very impressed by actress Dagmara Dominczyk in the film “The Lost Daughter,” which comes to Netflix later this year, and would love to watch her more now that I know who she was. I’m pleased at least that Annabelle Dexter-Jones, who I was saddened to see wasn’t on last year’s Emmy ballot, is back as Naomi, and it’s quite interesting that Kendall felt comfortable having her come to Rava’s. At least he stopped himself from prying into her personal life because that would be the definition of hypocrisy, something this family knows all too well. Greg continues to be totally useless, not comprehending what social temperature means and concluding that “the internet is big.” Logan is angrier than he’s ever been, promising to grind Kendall’s bones to make his bread and demanding that everyone not eat and suffice only on saliva (Karl stayed behind because he really needed a sandwich). It was interesting that, after all the talk and the pleasantries, Logan disqualified Roman following his phone call, and Gerri seems to be the new choice. I did love Logan’s terrifying mocking of Tom when he was suggesting the merits of candidates other than Shiv or him. I’m excited to see Sanaa Lathan on board as Lisa Arthur, whose job won’t be easy but will be very watchable.

Emmy Catch-Up: Succession (Season Finale)

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: Season 2, Episode 10 “This Is Not for Tears” (B+)

Well, this ending was quite a surprise. Logan’s shareholder told him that it was going to have to be his head, and though he suggested it to his family before dismissing the possibility entirely as unrealistic, he never thought it was actually going to be him who fell. Meeting on the most absurdly luxurious boat that I’ve ever seen with a helicopter bad and giant attachable water slide was the very representation of a disconnect with reality and consequences that defines the behavior of this family. Things started off separate with Tom defending his “deadcatting” while suggesting that “Benign Fungus” should be the title of Greg’s memoir, and Willa throwing Connor’s tablet into the water when she read a bad review of the play. Roman was bold to tell Logan that he thought that the appealing offer he had received wasn’t actually real, and Jamie didn’t hide his fury at being subverted. Hearing them sit around the table and debate who should be thrown to the wolves was unsettling but typical for these characters, and nothing anyone said was excusable. After Shiv tried to make a threesome happen on the boat, it was refreshing to see Tom finally stand up for himself, confronting her for agreeing that he should be served up and for suggesting an open marriage on their wedding night. The biggest news had to do with Kendall, who for the entire season has been faithfully serving his father and who seemed so disappointed when Logan made it clear that Naomi, who he said was good for him, wasn’t welcome. The look on his face when Logan told him that it was going to be him conveyed so much misery, and it seemed like he really was going to take the fall. It’s been easy to forget how he tried to bring down his father in season one because of the debt he’s felt after Logan cleaned up his mess from the season one finale. Announcing that Logan was a malignant presence was extremely brave and the ultimate declaration of war, and it seems like he didn’t tell anyone (except maybe Greg) what he was doing. That sets up a formidable conflict for season three, which I think I’ll plan to watch when it debuts. Like “Ozark,” I’m still not entirely sold on this show but I do see some of the appeal, and can particularly respect the performances. This episode earned both writing and directing Emmy nominations, which I can appreciate.

Season grade: B
Season MVPs: Kieran Culkan as Roman, Sarah Snook as Shiv, Matthew Macfadyen as Tom, and Holly Hunter as Rhea

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.

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: Season 2, Episode 8 “Dundee” (B+)

There’s almost something worse about Logan seeming confused and surprised than him being truly angry. Kendall rightly took a shot at Rhea by telling her to invoke his sister in her toast, which didn’t make him happy at all, and Shiv seemed unexpectedly diplomatic when she told Logan that he should make his own choice about who to pass the reins on to in this announcement he felt like he needed to make. The person who was most blindsided by it and upset was Marcia, who’s been mostly absent this season, though I’ve been witnessing incredible work from actress Hiam Abbass in the second season of “Ramy.” It might be best that Rhea isn’t a member of the family, but the way in which she diverged from Nan’s wishes should be a warning sign that she forges her own path that doesn’t necessarily align with the person who’s supposed to actually be in charge of the company. I did appreciate the brief guest spot from James Cromwell as Ewan, who told Greg that Logan was worse than Hitler and promised to disinherit him if he didn’t immediately agree to quit. The crisis-mode meeting that happened on the spot at the party really represented an attempt at damage control that felt far too late, and there’s not going to be much recovery for this group that now has to work with someone who was never part of their inner circle. None of the Roy children are getting what they want now, and Rhea has managed to rub each of them the wrong way, which should make doing her new job moderately difficult, to say the least.

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: Season 2, Episode 7 “Return” (B+)

Even though I watched the last two episodes of season one, I hadn’t remembered that we had met Logan’s ex-wife and the mother of his three most frequently featured children, Caroline. I’ve seen a lot of Harriet Walter in a very different role this season on “Killing Eve,” and she also starred as another Caroline in “Belgravia.” Her relationship with her children is by no means warm, and leveraging a $150 million home to get Logan to allow her children to spend Christmas with her felt much more like the type of power play he would make than an actual investment in wanting to be with her family. Kendall confiding in her may have been a mistake, but he’s spiraling, and his newfound relationship with Naomi isn’t helping him in the way he needs. It was interesting to see him try to talk to his father about a potential affair with Rhea, though it’s clear now, mostly to Shiv who found herself screwed over by Rhea’s suggestion of a position with the Pierce family, that Rhea is positioning herself not to be Logan’s mistress but his successor. Gerri and Roman teaming up won’t end up getting far, especially considering his dismissal of the opposition research questions she asked him, and he doesn’t really stick through anything, including an opportunity to acknowledge that his father hit him. As if Greg’s aims weren’t clear enough, his use of a tape recorder and retention of a few of the files cement that he’s looking to bring Tom down, a move that won’t go over well with his family at all.

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: Season 2, Episode 6 “Argestes” (B+)

Well, that fell apart in a pretty magnificent way. I’m not surprised since it did seem like Logan won a bit too quickly, and we’ve seen that Nan, while his equal in terms of power and influence, is not on board with his worldview. She may have thought it was ridiculous to have to wear a lanyard, but the roast of the Roys and all their problems didn’t land well with her at all. Rhea was working very hard to make this deal happen, and that appears to have gotten her fired, which could make her a powerful ally for Logan, and possibly his way of ensuring that Shiv doesn’t take the job that only he could give her. She was much more honest and forthright than Kendall, who just kept making jokes on stage, and Roman, who said entirely the wrong thing. After so many petulant comments, he finally got some consequences for his action in the form of that shocking smack from his father. I like Tom more and more as I see him, especially knowing how little Logan thinks of him, and he was absolutely right to point out the flaw of the new slogan that sounded just like the old one that was all too on-the-nose about how they very much were listening. I recognized Fisher Stevens from his appearance as Roger on “Friends” and his Oscar win for producing the documentary “The Cove,” and it was nice to know that he was a new character for everyone since there are still some pieces of the story that I’m missing from having skipped half of the first season.

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: Season 2, Episode 5 “Tern Haven” (B+)

It’s incredible to see the lengths Logan will go to so that he can prevent anyone else from winning. There were so many awkward moments when these two families came together, and plenty of opportunities for the Roys not to make things worse that they didn’t take. Shiv making fun of Mark’s degrees was relatively tame, and Logan wasn’t kind when he made specific requests about what he needed from each of them, like Roman laughing at a normal volume so that he didn’t sound like a hyena. I had heard a lot about Cherry Jones as a top Emmy contender, and I’m glad to see that she’s playing a powerful woman lacking the same self-righteousness that her characters in “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “Transparent” possessed. She’s honest and knows what she wants, and she wasn’t trying to strong-arm Logan into announcing Shiv but rather finding a way to ensure that he couldn’t go back on his promises that he could be trusted since he surely would have. Shiv did make a major play, however thoughtlessly, by announcing her candidacy at the table, and Logan is so furious that he’s probably not going to make it happen now. Given that Naomi was the one who convinced Nan to go ahead, Kendall actually deserves most of the credit. I’m not sure why Annabelle Dexter-Jones, who plays Naomi, isn’t on HBO’s list of Emmy submissions, but she really impressed in this hour. After trying to get Tabitha to pretend she was dead didn’t go over too well, Roman’s nighttime trip to Gerri’s bathroom was possibly ill-advised, especially because he gleefully told everyone about it because he knew no one would believe him. It’s sad to see Tom, who seems nicer now that he’s not throwing water bottles at the newly-serious Gregory, so easily sacrificed by Logan, a pawn he’s happy to move around as he needs to serve him.