The primary two episodes of Succession’s remaining season made it appear issues may be the identical, as if the HBO collection actually may need been snug going out by leaving Logan Roy and his youngsters to languish in the identical Shakespearean holding sample that’s outlined their story for your entire collection. Even with Kendall, Shiv, and Roman all ostensibly being on the identical web page and dealing collectively for the primary time, it nonetheless felt like Succession didn’t wish to transfer too far-off from its core energy dynamics for worry of getting to truly push itself into new territory.
However “Connor’s Marriage ceremony,” the collection’ newest episode, has ushered in one among Succession’s most important and sudden shifts — the primary the really makes this season really feel prefer it might stick the touchdown.
Main spoilers for the third episode of Succession’s fourth season.
Considerations about Logan Roy’s well being loomed massive over Succession from its first episode because it launched us to all the assorted energy gamers vying for a shot at management over Waystar Royco. All through the primary season, you could possibly really feel the concept Logan — a curmudgeonly octogenarian who didn’t precisely dwell the healthiest way of life — may simply up and die and create an influence vacuum. However that chance appeared to fall to the wayside because the collection continued, and illustrated how the Roy siblings’ grownup dysfunctions all stemmed from being trapped in a long time of household drama that it appeared very very like they’d by no means escape from.
Logan all the time beating his youngsters regardless of how they conspired in opposition to him felt like a quintessential a part of Succession’s id, and like an influence dynamic the collection by no means deliberate to let go. However in a really stunning flip of occasions, “Connor’s Marriage ceremony” — written by critical creator Jesse Armstrong, and directed by Mark Mylod — upended all of that by unceremoniously killing Logan Roy off, and flinging everybody previously in his orbit into deep house.
Of all of the potential methods Logan Roy might have bitten the bullet, there are few that may have felt as poetic as him having a coronary heart assault hundreds of toes within the air whereas touring to finalize the GoJo acquisition deal that may have successfully made Kendall, Roman, and Shiv persona non grata at Waystar. Extra than simply one other shrewd deal, the GoJo deal and Logan’s need to comply with by means of on it spoke to his willingness to actually screw his youngsters out of the glory, energy, and validation they every so desperately wished.
Succession being the form of present that it’s, it all the time felt as if there may need been some kind of secret plan baked into Logan’s curiosity in GoJo. However “Connor’s Marriage ceremony” makes it crystal clear that, plan or not, Logan’s loss of life modifications every little thing in ways in which even he couldn’t totally account for or attempt to someway play to his benefit from past the grave.
Although a lot of “Connor’s Marriage ceremony” focuses on the chaos that begins to bubble up as phrase of Logan’s loss of life spreads, what actually makes the episode shine is the best way it illustrates how these closest to Logan had been additionally these beneath probably the most emotional and psychological stress to carry out for him. Watching Succession, it’s all the time been uncommon to ever get the sense that any of the Roys are particularly in contact with their feelings: Logan by selection, and his youngsters as a matter of necessity to outlive rising up with their father. However on this episode, we lastly, genuinely, bought the sense that, in several methods, every of the youngsters is unmoored by the suddenness of Logan’s passing — not essentially simply because they’re unhappy, however as a result of the antagonistic presence they’ve all outlined themselves in relation to is simply gone.
The occasions of “Connor’s Marriage ceremony,” makes the Roy siblings’ tenuous alliance with each other that rather more fascinating as a result of it’s now grieving in addition to a need to push again in opposition to his plans for Waystar that unites them. However one thing very comparable can also be true of Logan’s surviving advisors Karolina, Frank, Carl, and Tom, who all grow to be totally different folks after witnessing their former boss’ loss of life.
In the identical manner that Logan’s loss of life throws the siblings for a loop and a few emotional spiraling, it galvanizes Logan’s advisors who all perceive that Waystar’s story — and their very own — will proceed with out him. “Connor’s Marriage ceremony” is cautious to not dive all that manner into it now, however within the episode, you may already see how Logan’s loss of life has empowered or given some folks a way of freedom that would push Succession into fascinating new territory.
The concept of the Roy siblings teaming up just for their father to highschool them as soon as once more wasn’t all that compelling a prospect on its face, and it didn’t precisely really feel just like the form of factor that may make for a memorable remaining season. With Logan gone now, although, you may clearly see how the Roys and the Waystar board must take care of each other, and may lastly ship the factor Succession viewers have all the time craved: an ending.
