Succession is still the most sharply written show on television, but something has been lost in the long wait between the second season and the third. It may have something to do with the pandemic, but season three puts the series mostly in a holding pattern, although each episode is still as entertaining and tense as ever.
After Kendall (Jeremy Strong) came out against his father, Logan (Brian Cox) during a press conference, the family tries to determine its next course of action. Kendall starts to slowly self-destruct, while Roman (Kieran Culkin) and Shiv (Sarah Snook) dance around each other as they try to win their father’s approval. Tom (Matthew Macfayden) is mortified about the prospect of going to prison, while Greg (Nicholas Braun) shifts allegiances as he tries to come up with the best possible course of action.
Succession’s greatest strength is the brilliant dialogue, especially from the likes of Tom, Roman, and Logan.
It’s also great seeing the characters play off each other and deal with the episodic threats as they come up. Some episodes almost approach a flashpoint where the status quo might be seriously upended, such as the one where the Roys desperately try to deal with investors who are attempting a hostile takeover on the eve of a shareholders’ meeting, while Logan Roy becomes more and more delirious due to a urinary tract infection. It’s only in the season finale, however, that things come to a head and leave the Roy children in an uncertain state.
The performances are outstanding as usual, featuring some guest appearances from the likes of Adrien Brody and Alexander Skarsgård. The dynamic of the four Roy children continues to develop, with everyone other than Connor taking potshots at each other, and even Connor getting exasperated when Shiv refers to Kendall as the eldest son. Tom and Greg catch their ticket to the top. In Tom’s case, this seems almost therapeutic as he finally comes out from under Shiv’s shadow, who teased Tom earlier in the season that she didn’t love him and that only made Tom want her more.
However, one can’t help but wonder that this season could have been more.
Kendall, for instance, is derailed in spectacular fashion, leading to a mid-life crisis-fuelled 40th birthday party and, later, a suicide attempt. The series course-corrects when it didn’t have to. Maybe the writers realized that they wanted to prolong some conflicts to stretch out the season count. Hopefully, the next season will progress the overall narrative in a meaningful way instead of circling around the same spot again.
Still, even a weak season of Succession is leagues ahead of its contemporaries.
There’s much to enjoy in the third season, and the cliffhanger will definitely leave you wanting more. The delayed elation Tom expresses after learning he’s probably not going to jail, for instance, is a thing to behold. As is Roman accidentally sending a dick pic to his father and withering visibly once he realizes what happened. If you haven’t seen the show before, do hop in! If you like Shakespearean politics taking place in scenic backdrops and fueled by sharp dialogue, then you’re in for a ride.