“You’re not a killer, you have to be a killer” Succession review! I will most definetly be talking spoilers so of you havent see just uh, go down to my rankings or something, but like please. Also I’m probably not gonna reread and correct all my mistakes on this review or anything before I post, so im sorry if I have written some shit that just dosent make sense, I’m kinda just spitting thoughts out and trying to tie them together tbh. edit: I’ve been writing this for 4 days so sorry for contradictions or other shit, I’m just saying stuff man, but yea please enjoy the review: So where do I even begin man. I have purposly been writing short and simple season and episode reviews so I can kinda merge it all into one big review, but now that im actually here I’m not sure if that’s the route I will actually go, we’ll see as I write I suppose. Succession is a speicial show in the regard, that this was the first show I saw conclude live with the rest of the world. The hype back in may man, it was good times fr. Succession is a very interessting show. I don’t think that it does anything that is particulary unique for a tv-show, it just does everything so. Insanely. Well. One of my favorite aspects that I don’t hear a lot of people talk about is how vague the backstories of the characters really are. Logan is without a doubt the best example of this, the is so many hints throughout the show to how his childhood was but it still feels very mystical in some sense. Like in 1x7 where Logan says something like “my uncle would not have allowed me to say stuff like that” and later the samr ep we see the scars on his back. Same with his relationship with Ewan, his brother. To be fair, a lot of this vagueness does get explained in 4x9 at Ewan’s speech, but not all of it. It’s not only Logan tho, who has this kind of vagueness to their backstory, Logan’s 4 children also has it. In random episodes you will hear about Roman getting locked in a cage or some shit, and you’re just left to wonder about how dysfunctional this family has always been. Now, before we go any further I wanna talk about ANOTHER of my favorite aspects: The Soundtrack. It’s iconiv, it’s so good man and I imagine it won a shit ton of emmy’s just like the other catagories of the show did. The intro is also iconic and I’m sure you could write a whole ass essay on it, if you analysed it enough and was a lil smarter than me. I think it’s fairly safe to say that Kendall IS the main character of succession. The whole story, at it’s core, is about Kendall. And Kendall man what a character he is. I connected a with Kendall, especially on rewatch. Later, when I discuss individual seasons and episodes, I will definetly be mentioning why I connected with him so much. But yea man what a guy, it’s very tragic cus upon rewatch you really do realise how he never really had a chance of winning. His way of handling conflict and his self-destructness would never have worked if he were to be CEO he, and his siblings for that sake, simply aren’t good enough for it. That’s a really painful revelation and it’s hard to admit to yourself, but it is true, they’re “not serious people”. Another key aspect of Kendall’s character is probably also my favorite aspect of the entire show: Kendall and Logan’s dynamic. Logan is really fucking shitty father, he is, no way to spin it. But like Kendall kinda is too, actually. He’s not like a terrible father but he’s not really a good one either. One of my favorite quotes of the show is from 4x8 where Kendall says “maybe the poision drips through” and I do think there might be some truth to that. Then again, Kendall isn’t abusive like Logan tho, he’s *just* absent so I don’t really think they can be compared. Many of my absolute favorite scenes are with Logan and Kendall and like it’s such an interesting relationship it really is. Recency bias is very common in all kinds of media but I think it’s most notable in TV. You make such a connection to thecharacters and the world over the 10’s of hours so there will always be a good amount of recency bias. With that I will hereby decalre succession the best show to be createf within the last 10 years, even suppasing the masterpieces better call saul and dark. Succession is also WITHOUT A DOUBT the most consistently great show ever made, with s4 being the most consistent season of tv ever. And now that we’re talking about seasons…… Season 1 of succession is often called the weakest season and I used to agree with that. Season 1 of succession also happens to be the seasons that has gone so much up in quality upon rewatch imo. I LOVED this season upon rewatch it felt so fresh coming off of binging the mentalist all day. The pilot was great at setting these characters up right from first episode you already know what type of people they are. The “craig/greg” joke is also one of the funnier ones of the show imo. Episodes 2-4 are often called the weakest and I do actually agree with that to a point. It just kinda felt very early for them to make so slow episodes and it’s easily the slowest eps of the show. They aren’t bad by any means tho, not at all. Episodes 5 was great, but episode 6 is where shit really goes down. The first really notable episode of the show 1x6 is fucking amazing. The entire episode just builds up to this moment just for it all to be for nothing. The final sequence with the song playing was CHILLING. 1x7 is another personal favorite from the season, the change of scenery was very refreshing and the concept was very fun too. As mentioned a while ago in this review we also get some Logan bsckstory implied. 1x8 is the worst of the show to me. 1x9 was great man the Kendall storyline in that ep my god it was good. Of course the real payoff to that storyline only comes in the next episode, the season finale, probably my favorite finale to any season 1 ever (yes even true detective) “nobody is ever missing” . Masterfully raw, absolutly heartbreaking, so fucking tragic. I said it in my episode review, I think, but that one fucking scene with Kendall dancing with his children after the incident, fucking hell man, fucking hell. I cannot even describe the levels of emotions i feel when watching that scene. Shane’s s7 arc from the shield is like the only time I have felt the same level of sadness. Its so sad man, it really is so sad. Jeremy Strong you fucking goat. The last 10 minutes of nobody is ever missing, and season 1 as a whole, is some of the most remarkable TV I have ever seen. My one big issue with the season is Shiv. Shiv is such an amazing character in the later seasons u forget how much she really sucks in s1. The conflict with her and Tom becomes more complex in the later seasons but in s1 I just hated Shiv tbh. Season 2 of succession is my 2nd favorite of the show. A terrific season from start to finish. Every ep is memorable. I really loved how the season started with Kendall returning. The first 2 episodes are really good, witt Shiv quitting her role in the political world cus of Logan’s false promises and manipulation and Kendall really just kinda obeying Logan constantly. Ep 3 is one of the scariest eps of the show, not like in the literal sense but it’s very uncomfortable, especially the boar on the floor sequence. I was scrolling through different kinds of soical media and I realised that quite a few people actually held the belief that “safe roon”, episode 4, is the best episode of the show(or their favorite). Actually I can kinda get behind this to some extent. Safe room is kinda everything really great about succession, just mashed into one episode. One of the best aspect of succession is how good it is at both being dramatic and funny at the same time. Season 2 does this especially well imo, and if i had to pick one episode from S2 that does this better than any other, it would be “safe room” . Tom and Greg are hilarious but the ep also has some of Kendall best moments of the season. The cinematography in the rooftop scenes are also amazing and iconic. Term haven is also grear but not as good as 2x4 imo. So in 2x7 Kendall returns to England and some amazing scenes come out of this. The scene with Kendall wanting to talk to with his mother but her kinda abandoning him is just so heartbreaking man. DC is a good competitor for funniest ep of the show tbh, the “can’t make Tomelettes without breaking some Gregs” is just iconic, but 2x10 is where shit really goes down. The final scene of that episode is probably my favorite of the entire show. The episode is very slow paced but there is this sense of dread throughout the whole episode. When I first watched the ep I thought that Logan always planned for Kendall to be the one to make the sacrifice, cus there are some hints that could support that theory. I dont really think that anymore but I do think it’s a fun thought. There is a lot of ambuguity when it comes to Logan’s thoughts on Kendall, the document from 4x4 is my fav example of that and I think it’s impossible to be sure if Logan ever really loved Kendall. I do think he does in some sense, but I do think that Logan is genuially fucked up and he’s incapable of actually showing true love. Season 3 of succession is, upon rewatch, the weakest. On first watch it’s exciting to see Kendall stand up against his father, you already kinda have the feeling that he’ll get fucked like he always does, but you have some hope. Upon rewatch when u know whats gonna happen for sure, it’s just not allat engaging. The last 3 episodes are masterpieces but, yea man, I don’t have allat much to say about this season tbh. The next season tho, Season fucking four…. Season 4 of succession is definetly an all timer. The most consistent season of tv ever, every episode except ep 1 edges on a 5/5 or is 5/5. Every episode is memorable, every plotline is memorable, every scene is memorable, evert character is memorable. Just all around absolute greatness, and I was shocked by how fucking great every episode was, like this is actually unseen in tv lol. Every episode (once again, witt the exception of ep 1) has atleast 1 scene that could qualify as a t10 scene of the show. For the first time of the show the children are finally teaming up against logan and it’s enjoyable as hell. A good amount of time has passed since s3, from 3x9-4x1 is very likely the biggest time-jump of the show(I’m not completly sure tho) and you can feel some time has passed, epecially with Tom and Shiv’s dynamic, which is at its best in S4. Episode 2 is even better than S2, the final confrontation witt Logan and the kids is amazing man “you are NOT serious people”. Logan ain’t completly wrong, they are indeed not serious people, the rest of the season will show that. Logan was objectivly a bad father, but at the same time, his children are in the top 0,001% of people. I the siblibgs always wanted to be like their father, therefore saying they aren’t “serious people” really sucks for them. This scene is extra powerful considering the events of next episode “connors wedding”. What an episode, with a 9.9 on imdb making it the highest rated of the show. Do I agree with it being the best? No. But It is an amazing episode for sure. Top tier acting and it honsetly feel Unreal on first watch. It’s my 4th favorite episode of the show, but u can see allat in the rankings. Episode 4 is also just amazing, and upon rewatch very eye-opening about how consistent this season was going to be. It’s engaging as hell man, the small little plotline about the document is one of my favorite plotlines of the show, and it’s crazy how big an impact it manages to have while being such a little part of the show. Episodes 5 and 6 are also both high 4.5 and 5, both are incredible engaging and this where the real conflict of the rest of the season really starts. The rivalry between the siblings. There is constant backstabbing in these episodes and the rest of the season. Episode 6 also has an amazing ending with kendall going swiming, my goat Moltlsanti’s fav scene (where did bro go????) . Tailgate party is just wonderful too, the rooftop scene with Tom and Shiv is one of the best and won 2 emmys. Episode 8 is also great, this little mini arc for Kendall starts(or that might actually be in episode 7) where his child is at risk if one of the presidental candidates win. Kendall probably does love his children but like… does he really. I think he does, but just like Logan, he’s just kinda incapeable of being a good father cus he never really had one, “maybe the posion drips through”…. He chooses the business over his child, more out of spite for Shiv than actually for the business, and I think that’s kinda fucked up. The funny thing about this is how hard this comes back to bite him in the ass. Had it not been for the supporting Mencken who knows man, maybe Shiv had stood with him when it was time to sell. Connor also EMBARRASSES himself this episode proofing that indeed is not a serious guy. Overall this is one of my favs of the show, it’s so instense from start to finish and it was veey interesting to see how one of the biggest news companys work on one of the most important days in america. The next episode is even better tho, “church and state” this episode also grew a lot on me upon rewatch. We get some Logan and Ewan backstory which was great, and to hear the closest people to Logan describe him really tells us a lot how he was as a person. So, Roman was supposed to deliver the speech but he broke down and Kendall stepped up and delivered, arguebly, the best monologue of the show. I rewatched the clip on youtube and the comments we so interesting. Like this one: “This was the final test Roman broke down Shiv tried but nobody cared Kendall had a standing ovation” (This comment was most likely made before the finale aired) So what this means is that people considered this the moment that solidified Kendall as THE sucessor, and I think that’s a really interesting perspective. I also saw people call him “Logan 2.0” and honestly I disagree. Kendall made one speech, but that dosen’t mean hes Logan 2.0. Now it’s time for the finale tho, where all of Kendall’s flaws just shine….. With Open Eyes, the series finale, my 4th favorite final episode of tv. I’ll just jump right into the scenes where the kids meet up at their moms cus that when the episode really gets amazing. Theres something so beautiful about them meeting up and just like fucking talking it out y’know. In the middle of all the stress its just so chill. It almost feels like they’re just kids again(which is something that happens again later in the ep) and having fun, genuially being nice to eachother. It feels good man. At first viewing I actually thought for a sec they would agree in the end and “the real succession was the friend we made along the way”. Then I realised there still was 45 minutes left…. The next scenes had Connors were also just amazing, it feels like the silence just before the bombing starts, the calm before the storm, this kinda somber moment with Connor showing the recording of Logan’s dinner and Carl’s beautiful singing. It almost makes Logan seem human. Then Shiv realises that Tom was chosen by Mattson and that she was betrayed by her husband again. As I said, Shiv and Tom are at their best this season:) . And then shit goes down. The board meeting man, wow. 6-6 and Shiv is supposed to say against but then… This is the moment that for one final, big time solidifie that Kendall would be a bad leader. He crashes the fuck out and make anything up except “I’m the eldest boy”. As I said muuuuch earlierer in this review, it’s really hard to accept that Kendall would be a bad CEO, we have followed him for so long, so to see him completly melt down at the most important point of maybe his entire fucking life is just tough man. Once again, it’s like they’re just little children yelling at eachother. They are not serious people. So Kendall loses, and I love Roman’s quote afterwards “this is nothing, we are bullshit” . Why did Shiv vote against Kendall? IDK. Maybr it was jealousy or contempt, maybe she realised that Kendall genuially wouldn’t be good at it, and he woumd eventually self destruct, maybe she wanted to make up with Tom, maybe its a bit of all. So anyways, Tom becomes the new ceo and continues with Greg as his right hand man. Roman is last seen sitting with a drink smilling to himself, maybe hes glad its over, maybe hes laughing to himself about Kendalls behaviour. Shiv and Tom are left in the car, holding eachothers hands, looking very unhappy. They wil prolly end up in a loveless marriage, which is just a sad conclusion to these characters. Kendall walks out to the river but then decides to go back and sit down, the music, the cinematography and Strong’s acting makes this the single best moment of the show. And then it’s over. Ranking time and closing thoughts: The characters of succession are hard to rank. The main cast os pretty small but less prevalent characters are very very good. A good example of this is Ewan, small amount of screentime yet amazing. So my top 10characters would go: 1. Kendall 2. Logan 3. Tom 4. Shiv 5. Roman 6. Connor 7. Greg 8. Gerri 9. Carl and Frank 10. Ewan Season ranked: 1. Season 4 2. Season 2 3. Season 1 4. Season 3 Top 15 Episodes ranked: 1. With open Eyes 4x10 2. This is not for tears 2x10 3. Nobody is ever missing 1x10 4. Connor’s wedding 4x3 5. All the bells say 3x9 6. Church and state 4x9 7. America decides 4x8 8. Which side are you on 1x6 9. Too much birthday 3x7 10. Safe Room 2x4 11. Chiantishire 3x8 12. DC 2x9 13. Tailgate party 4x7 14. Living+ 4x6 15. Tern haven 2x5 So yea Succession amazing show man, top 7 ever. So uh, there was a lot of things I did lowk wanna include in this review but man I cannot be bothered lol. Once again: sorry for spelling errors, contradictions or otherwise. what a great great great great great great great great show man. This took a good while to write but yea I appreciate you all. Don’t let the poision drip through everyone, take care and thanks for reading!