17 Comments

I like that Roman is the actual business savvy sibling, but too broken a human to steer Ken and Shiv away from what will be a disaster of a deal.

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"(Courtesy of Tom, who blew up his father-in-law’s birthday gift to himself because he couldn’t keep

from rubbing his soon-to-be-ex-wife’s nose in the drink he got with Naomi Pierce.)"

Maybe I'm giving someone on Succession the benefit of the doubt, which seems like a mistake, but I did not take Tom's call as "rubbing it in." It seemed like he didn't want the news that he was "seeing" Naomi Pierce to get to Shiv in another fashion, so he fell on that sword so to speak. Coupled with what he's like in the final scene with them together, I took his actions this episode as someone who still wants to make things work with Shiv and thus he calls to try to soften the blow as it were. Of course it backfires when it leads the Roy kids to stealing the Pierce deal.

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I don't think either Erik's or your reading is fully accurate though, because I don't actually think Tom *is* seeing Naomi in any meaningful capacity. I'm not even sure whatever drink they may have shared was all that instrumental to Logan's bid for Pierce.

The plainest read - which I think is also probably only partially correct - is that Tom thinks he can mend some fences with Shiv by leveling the playing field on Pierce. Given that he spends the episode worrying about the separation turning into a divorce, while she seems dead sure it's a divorce in the waiting, I think the text supports that interpretation. The question is whether or not there's more subtext to their situation that we don't know yet.

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Yeah agreed he's not dating her. That's what I mean by putting "seeing" in quotes, though I see that wasn't really clear.

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Re Tom's call to Shiv, on Vulture Jen Chaney interprets this as a deliberate signal to her that Logan is chasing a Pierce acquisition, an attempt to make up for his betrayal of her by betraying Logan ... and that is part of how they pick up on it. Makes sense from a character standpoint, Tom is desperately playing all sides, feels bad about what he did, and acting in a squirrely devious manner.

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This might not add to the discussion, but at the start of every season I enjoy rewatching this video: https://youtu.be/e-6K2CjJ6dk

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I totally knew what this was before clicking on it, and I approve whole-heartedly. Thank you.

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This show truly is a warm bath. I really have come to cherish those moments where the camera scans people's reactions. Shout out to the 'boar guy' maniacally celebrating Logan's b-day.

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This might be the only show on TV where one hour episodes are not long enough; I could watch these for days.

So happy it’s back, sad that it’s leaving but glad it’s doing it on its own terms.

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I agree the Shiv/Tom scene was a standout. However, it’s hard for me to take Shiv’s emotions seriously. Did she ever really care for Tom? She was always so cold toward him. That he just had to put up with whatever shenanigans and mean spirited cutdowns she felt like meting out. Now Tom is a weenie! But as flawed and distasteful as he can be, I feel like he married a damaged person who is unable to love. And this whole “well, let’s move on” from her was only because she promised Nan she was divorcing him, in order to seal the Pierce deal. I just don’t know what her sadness is about. Maybe just the habit of being married. Both actors did a great job, of course.

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Regarding how and whether Shiv loves Tom, I think this is a decent summary - https://youtu.be/tmMPYnmNtUw.

She feels sad and betrayed because, well, she was betrayed and that sucks for her. That she completely deserved it is beside the point and not a reflection any of the Roys except possibly Kendall is capable of making.

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'It can’t portend anything good that their stepbrother, dictionary definition of “also-ran” Connor'

Connor isn't their step brother, he's their half brother, they all share the same father!

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I generally have not been a fan of Greg but I really enjoyed him in this episode. It's interesting that he was the only one who felt comfortable properly roasting Logan, but I suppose the fact that he's family means he has that bit more insulation compared to the others, even those who've worked with Logan for decades. I think Tom is going to try capitalise on Greg's insider status more and more seeing as he's effectively lost that himself now

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I know there's a long standing theory/hope among many that Greg somehow replaces Logan, i.e., "wins" the succession. I've always found that a bit unrealistic, and especially with now just nine episodes to go, less likely than if there were a fifth season. Still, this episode does make it seem like Logan tolerates Greg a bit more than other people. Perhaps that would be a big Fuck Off to his actual kids to give everything they ever wanted to their cousin. Then again, he hates Ewan so not sure he'd want his brother's grandson to really thrive.

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A complete moron like Greg “succeeding” Logan would fit with the shows view of the Uber rich, but I think no one succeeds him and the empire crumbles.

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Yeah that feels like the most likely endgame IMHO, both Logan and the Roy kids destroying Waystar RoyCo rather than let the other party get control of it.

I could maybe see Tom ultimately coming out on top (and keeping Greg around as his favorite punching bag), but yeah I agree that Greg is way too gullible and artless to actually succeed in becoming Logan's successor.

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Great recap. Just want to note it’s Karl with a K. And, it seems you spelled Connor’s name two different ways here.

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