Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Succession Returns For Finale Season: Sit Down, Have a Drink or Two, It’s Intense as Ever

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“Succession,” as you may know, is back for a fourth and final season. Why is this the end? It could be a money thing with HBO and the actors, I don’t know. But watching the first episode of Season 4, all you can think is how can we all put ourselves through this again? How can Jesse Armstrong, who writes it?

So where are we now? The Roy kids are pitted against Logan, their father, in a bidding war. Cherry Jones, who plays Logan’s rival, Nan Pierce, is at the center of it. The Roy Kids, when we see them at first, are starting their own business, which would be swell. But then, of course, they see something Logan wants.

Everyone is vicious, even when they are tender. Shiv and Tom are always on the verge of something decisive. Cousin Greg, is well, an idiot. Kendall and Roman are rogue soldiers. They can go either way. Kendall remains vague and cerebral. Roman is a spewing machine.

The writing remains deeply textured to the point where you have to listen to it twice to pick up the nuances. I’m so relieved when there’s a moment in English, slowed down, where one person asks another what’s going on? Because there are always a couple of minutes when the dense dodging of emotions and expressiveness makes you want to reach for an Advil or a stiff Scotch, no rocks.

Things happen in this episode. We don’t walk out clean. New battle lines are drawn. Some futures may change. We may have seen a red herring swimming through a birthday party. I’ll say this: Cherry Jones is to be adored and appreciated. Between this and her turn in “Poker Face,” she has to get something from the Television Academy, not just flowers.

Watch on Sunday, we’ll come back and talk a little more on Tuesday, and get ready for Episode 2. Me? I’ve got to lie down. Now.

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.
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