'Succession' Delivers Dark Comedy in the Wake of Chaos
Following Logan Roy's sudden death, "Succession" dives into the ensuing chaos, power struggles, and surprisingly, humor, as the series finally embraces its title. The aftermath sees his children and colleagues scrambling to fill the leadership void, each vying for the top spot while worrying about the board's reaction.
As they grapple with their loss, they also reflect on Logan's domineering presence, acknowledging his harsh treatment. This episode also marks the return of Logan's wife, Marcia, in a dramatic fashion, while his younger girlfriend, Kerri, is unceremoniously dismissed, reminiscent of a scene from "Evita."
The episode highlights the show's sharp wit, with Shiv reading her father's obituary and joking, “Dad sounds amazing. I would like to have met dad,” while Kendall and Roman humorously decode euphemisms about Logan's character. Meanwhile, Waystar Royco's executives face the awkward task of dealing with a document that outlines Logan's wishes, joking about discarding it, yet clearly tempted to do so.
Tensions rise as Carl openly criticizes Tom, barely disguising his doubts about Tom's future as hypothetical. Amidst the corporate maneuvering, there are genuine moments of vulnerability, with Kendall expressing his mixed emotions to Frank, admitting, “He made me hate him, and he died. I feel like he didn’t like me. I disappointed him.”
The episode also highlights the fragility of both life and corporate legacies, as PR teams strategize to downplay Logan's recent influence to stabilize the company’s stock—a move Kendall discreetly endorses, recognizing it as something his father would have done.
The question of succession threatens the unity among Kendall, Shiv, and Roman, with Shiv feeling sidelined in the plan to temporarily fill the CEO role until the GoJo deal closes. Trust is scarce in Jesse Armstrong’s world, and Shiv’s remark, “I need to wet my beak,” underscores the precariousness of their alliance.
After the emotional highs of the previous episode, the series effectively shifts focus from mourning to the business at hand, echoing Kendall’s sentiment about handling the “bad dad” PR leaks: “what he would do.”