Succession wraps up on a perfect note
From the first episode or even the first scene it was clear how much of a dysfunctional family Roy's are. The relationship between the siblings is twisted, the father doesn’t allow his children to gain their authority on the business he created because he doesn’t trust them and basically they all low-key despise each other for the upbringing they got from their parents. Since episode one, the siblings were rivals to one another, while father gaining the upper hand so it was a wait of three seasons to see the Roy siblings getting together and standing up to their bully father. But only to lose shamefully, once again.
During this season the overall arc for Logan was supposed to deal the damages created by Kendall and for Kendall it was to gain control or momentum for the scene he created in front of press while others tries to get their piece of pie. But as the season progressed Kendall's rebellious aura became fragile, day by day a bit of his energy went away and faced with mental breakdown. On the other hand, Logan somehow gained what he wanted by one way or another. Until last episode, he really couldn't be much hurt by the revelation made by Kendall which led to DOJ subpoena to FBI raiding Wayster headquarter. And when the season ended, Logan really showed how much of a big whale he is to be kill in a single arrow.
In the penultimate episode of this season both Kendall and Shiv had a shocking moments with their parents. Roman had a different shocking moments although it was not a traumatizing one. But in this episode, Roman also got to learn the bitter truth that Logan doesn’t care a simple bit about their children when it comes to Logan's will. Logan just simply threw the love in his face when Roman offered to convince him for not accepting the buyout.
This finale is a perfect episode despite the not so fulfilling season 2. But the way it pulled the twist off, looking back in the season and the whole series it just makes sense. Tom had been betrayed, neglected, offended many times by Shiv before. But he was still in love with her even for a bit. But when Tom asked and Shiv couldn’t give a clear answer to his potential position in the new game, Tom made the ultimate decision to go beyond his position and betray Shiv. It gives a callback to a previous season's episode where Logan made the comment that Shiv only married Tom cause he won't cheat her because of status difference. What an irony! Also, the whole story about Nero and Sporus which was told by Tom made the perfect sense in the finale. Tom betrayed Shiv just like Nero betrayed his wife and married Sporus just like Tom proposed to Greg to become his Sporus. If this isn't Shakespearian, I don't know what is.
There are two standout scene in this episode. One is obviously the climax scene where siblings made a stand and got butchered by their parents ultimately. And the other one is where Kendall breaks down once again, confessing what he did in front of his brother and sister. But seeing the state or the phase he is going through both of them consoled Kendall and gave him an another hint that they still care for him after all this shenanigans. In that moment the dop catched the most fantastic frame of the season as both of them holding Kendall who is sitting in the floor sobbing. The cinematography has been tremendous throughout the season but this particular shot will be surely remembered.
And about the acting job, the cast is phenomenal. Actually I would be saying less of them. Kendall's breakdown infront of his brother and sister, Rome's shocked face with total dissapointment when his father doesn’t give in, or the expression Shiv gave when she realized the punch in the gut upon seeing Logan patting the back of Tom was absolutely bone chilling. Jeremy Strong, Kiernan Kulkin, Sarah Snook all acted amazingly. But mocking Shiv and killing the whole uprising thing with his furious act Brian Cox once again showed what a powerhouse actor he is. And Matthew Mackfyden as Tom was memorable as always as he delivers the funniest comment on his interactions with Gregory.
Now, Logan is once again in the driving seat although I'm not sure how that is accurate if the control is given to GoJo but still all three (he has FOUR btw) of his children are beaten at this point and it will be interesting to see how they together as an opponent plays out in the next season while his son-in-law becomes his close companion. But I really can't wait to see Greg the egg eventually betraying tom (and Logan) to become the ultimate successor of Wayster-Royco(Gojo?). Since then I will just relive myself on this phenomenal episode and the perfect finale.