Chris Connor reviews the fourth episode of Succession’s fourth and final season…
Succession’s previous episode upended how many would have seen the show ending, with the sudden death of Brian Cox’s Logan Roy so early in the season. Episode 4 revolves around plans for the interim and longer-term future with schemes being formed by both the Roy siblings and Logan’s inner circle of Gerri, Frank, Karl and Tom.
The episode’s biggest asset is how restrained it is, moving almost in real-time as all sides ponder what Logan’s death means for them. It is now a study of a grieving family as well as a scathing look at the inner workings of the corporate machine, with both working together harmoniously. This episode also cleverly situates the action in one location from the home of Marcia, Logan’s most recent wife giving Hiam Abbass an overdue appearance in this final season, with Marcia making her presence felt.
What might feel tedious or boring on paper with frequent discussions around the future of the business and the upcoming board meeting, here feels exhilarating and must-see television; even when nothing is seemingly happening, you can’t take your eyes off it and it is a credit to the direction and writing that this episode is so captivating giving a genuine sense of uncertainty as all sides are seemingly looking for a master hand to stake their claim to the CEO position.
What makes matters interesting is a piece of paper from Logan that indicates a preference for his successor, the way this small detail is poured over and discussed ad nauseum again could be tiresome but it seems this slightest piece of intel is like gold dust in the conquest for control of Waystar Royco for whatever future it has with the Roys.
Once again the performances are what make Succession sing and here the trio of Kieran Culkin, Sarah Snook and Jeremy Strong dive deep into their characters to give off little hints on how their father’s death is affecting them and how they might align themselves moving forward. One of the strengths of this final season is giving Logan’s team a more prominent position and David Rasche, J. Smith-Cameron and Peter Friedman as Karl, Gerri and Frank respectively are up to the challenge, formulating their own plans for Waystar’s future in tandem with Tom.
Even with the stakes shifting and the tone somewhat, the writing remains as sharp as ever and this episode carries on the momentum from the stellar previous episode, if not as earth-shatteringly radical this episode again shows that the show is not moving in the direction audiences might expect, delivering more than a few surprises.
‘The Honeymoon States’ is another standout episode in the Succession’s final season, as we move towards its midpoint, audiences are no clearer on how it will end but can rest assured it will be quite the ride with all the elements that have made the show a standout over the past five years on display. The board meeting, which looms heavily over this episode like a spectral presence, will surely up the ante once again and make for another riveting hour of television.
Chris Connor
