Logan Roy, Once Again, Reminds Us He Is Above Whatever You Think He Should Do

I trust that Jesse Armstrong has made the right decision to end the show, and when given the rare opportunity to end your show on your own terms, it’s always wise to quit while it’s still strong. But on the other hand, few shows have been able to sustain such a high level of quality, week after week. It’s hard to imagine the possibility of this show waning in quality. It seems like it could easily keep being this good for more seasons. Few shows make me want to dissect every moment and invite such feverish discussion. The fact that I can watch an episode several times and still miss a great joke or key detail? Unparalleled.

This week’s episode was once again that perfect “Succession” combination of wildly funny moments culminating in an absolutely brutal and devastating showdown. That karaoke confrontation, I think, will go down as one of the best scenes of the show (along with many, many others). This show is all bangers all the time.

But again, I get wanting to avoid even the possibility of a slight decline in quality, and it’s a ballsy move to quit while you’re ahead. In the meantime, I’m trying to savor every minute of this show while it’s still on. Looking forward to next week, where surely, like every “Succession” wedding, Connor and Willa’s nuptials will be a disaster. In the meantime, I will be sipping my martini passive aggressos. See you next week, slime puppies!

Me lying to myself every winter. Then when Logan said, “This city ... the rats are as fat as skunks?” Yeah, we live in Gotham.

“The good thing about having a family that doesn’t love you is you learn to live without it."

I am so concerned for Connor, man. It’s not even funny. To know that his family will definitely be beefing at his wedding? To know his fiancé doesn’t want to go through with this? To know that he was stupid enough to suggest turning his wedding into a PR stunt for his campaign? Something is not right with him, or any of the Roy kids, to be honest.

So ice cold, even for this show! Ruth, that’s such a good segue into the big confrontation at the karaoke bar (side note: it was comical, but also so strange to see the siblings doing “normal” things, like ordering wings at a dive bar and doing karaoke in K-Town).

The siblings listing out Logan’s various abuses, only to find Logan, as expected, does not actually know what he’s apologizing for or how to even say the right words — hoo boy.

I’m always fascinated by this show’s explorations of the cycles of abuse in this family. Whenever it all comes to a head, like here, I do almost feel bad for these people, especially the siblings. Almost. Even though they are each individually terrible, you see how so much of their behavior is a survival mechanism as a result of being raised by a monster like Logan. Like, when Kendall demands Logan apologize for physically abusing Roman as a kid (which is alluded to several times throughout the show), Roman just shrugs it off: “Everyone hit me, I was annoying.” It explains a lot why Roman’s go-to behavior is making unfiltered, wildly inappropriate jokes to deflect and avoid conflict.

As it was happening, I was saying to my screen: “NO, ROMAN!” But of course it was Roman who would cave first. We know he’s the weakest of the siblings — he isn’t strong enough to stomach a fight with his dad, and we see that constantly throughout the series. He’s also the most like Logan: unfiltered and not even bothering to pretend to be better, unlike Ken and Shiv, who put up a facade of seeming morally above Logan. Logan knows all of this, so he can constantly target Roman as his best shot at trying to break up the sibling alliance.

Speaking of the text message, Kendall saying Roman’s “take care” text was “a bit warm” now lives rent-free in my head. Even Jeremy Strong’s line delivery of it was so perfectly robotic. These people are so hard-wired to not show any bit of affection, so when they attempt it, it just sounds so unnatural.

... is what I shout during every episode of this spectacular show.

That was the Logan Roy version of “If 2 plus 2 is 4 and 5 plus 5 is 10, then what the fuck is this?” The way he just blasted the reporters because of the newsroom’s profit to expenses ratio was so unhinged. Because whose fault is that?! Mr. ATN producer is just trying to send an email and get on with his day! Then, Logan getting on the boxes to address the newsroom was hysterical. What an evil, unhappy little man.

Ruth, I also cackled at his whole “vision” for news because working in media means constantly encountering CEOs with no thoughts, just vibes. Also, poor Jess (Juliana Canfield), having to serve as his one-person focus group (in addition to feeding his kids’ giant rabbit and everything else). She has been through hell.

“Maybe a focus on Africa? Everyday, just, what is happening in Africa…”

I’m sorry, but this made me YELP. The way Kendall articulated his pitch for a “global-global to hyperlocal,” “hardcore international” news outlet is actually very indicative, in my opinion, of how newsrooms approach their coverage of the African continent. No thoughts, just vibes from Western media. What is going on in all of Africa, babes? You tell me!

Before we get into the meat of this episode, I just have to say: I feel bad for that poor ATN producer sending an email while Logan (Brian Cox) threateningly looms over his shoulder and reams him out. Also, thoughts and prayers to all of them for now being forced to see the big man at work way more often, now that he’s spinning off the rest of Waystar and just keeping ATN.