HBO's Succession - Season 2 and Beyond

I love Greg's combination of cluelessness and basic survival instincts. The position of leverage he's in this season is all because he thought to make a copy of those documents in season 1. Like he's rarely sure what to do moment to moment, but he has an overall sense that he needs to look out for himself.

I feel like he’s often really sure what he should do (apart from maybe on the fundamental Logan/Ken q) but given his near-total lack of power and awkwardness has a hell of a time getting it. But he isn’t bad at it, in retrospect.

Like when he fobbed off the lawyer they sent around - he is quite good at flapping and shaking and yet still getting what he actually wants.

I'm not convinced that Greg has accepted Logan's offer anyway, his ability to hedge and be non-committal is a real asset. He might yet report back to his grandfather and stay with-yet-apart-from Kendall.

I don't think Logan knows the full depth of what Greg is privy to, he just knows he's important enough for Kendall to keep him around, which means he is at least an asset on some level and he can't let Kendall keep him.

maybe the show is called succession because at the end they all go to jail in quick…you know

I think it's called Succession because in the last episode some nimrod develops a cryptocoin called Succession, swiftly pyramid-schemes it into $6b of assets and hostile-takeovers the whole company

It’s implied Greg’s grandfather used to have something to do with the family business but is now completely divorced from the entire affair, correct? It feels like there’s still some ephemeral clout due to his lineage

"maybe the show is called succession because at the end they all go to jail in quick…you know"

this would be a great ending, no-one wins, last episodes are hard hitting individual stories of everyone realising the party is over and facing consequences. That said, it's unlikely, sadly. "Accountability....in this economy!!"

I think Ewan still has a decent share in the company? he turned up at that big meeting where Kendall was trying to overthrow Logan the first time (when Kendall couldn't get to the office in time)

Ewan pretends he's above it all but he's into it.

otm … he has a vested interest in seeing Logan get completely ratfucked

xp yeah, that was my impression? it’s been telegraphed in mixed ways, but I think he owns a portion but presumes he’s above it all by not ever showing up

James Cromwell playing the part like a delicious ingredient that’s best used sparingly and only on occasion

i kind of agree that we don't really "know" if Greg signed on w/Logan. unless we see first hand from Greg that it happened. Goes to show the level of trust I have in these characters

ewan voted to keep logan in charge during the last meeting. for all the airs ewan puts on, he doesn’t like to rock the boat

Yeah, I was going to say that Ewan's character is just another type of privilege being explored in this show and agree he isn't upsetting the apple cart, the critical, aloof position he seems to occupy gives him a false morality over Waystar activities when really he is just another pig at the trough

Speaking of Greg and Logan, the scene with the two of them and the rum and Coke was one of my favorites of the season so far.

I think the acting has always been the draw here as the characters are often unpleasant, but weirdly fun.

I don't think there's anything weird about the fun-ness of the characters. It's meant to be a funny programme.

xpost: I guess I didn't phrase it well enough but I meant that I find it weird that I'm enjoying / having fun with such unpleasant characters, it is a dramedy/satire more than an outright comedy to me, I think there is a genuine serious precision in the way it's trying to explore the personality types that do well in these corperate 'money over everything' environments and how the psychology is so fucked across many different people/personalities

How clothes reflect each of the characters is something that has gotten me through the weaker episodes in the first two seasons.

On that note, I liked what Adrien Brody had to say about his costuming:

What input did you have in the way Josh dressed?

Those were all based on the costume department and the creators being very collaborative with me. They had some initial musings about him being into foraging, and I loved that he was a much more present and youthful guy, in the sense that he’s very connected with the environment. He’s happy to wear a beanie, but it’s not just a fashion statement. He’s prepared for inclement weather in a way that they’re not prepared for and wouldn’t be prepared for, even if they knew they were going to go on a hike. He’s in his element, and I wanted that to be immediately tangible.

When Josh invites Kendall and Logan out on their walk, did he intentionally plan for Logan to get so exhausted?

I don’t think the extent of a medical incident was an intentional thing, but I do think creating challenges and exhausting them physically is a tactical move. Josh is far more prepared for the day’s activity than they are. That’s intentional: wearing multiple layers, having hiking boots, bringing two guys in suits expecting to sit down for a cup of coffee. He is ratcheting up the pressure. As for Logan’s condition, he’s looking to see how Kendall reacts to that and whether he’s caring for his father or not. He knows where things are headed and wants to know if there’s unity there or not. Logan not taking the smart decision for his own well-being, out of pride, provides insight into the potential self-destructive nature and blind spots by his ego or his need to project a sense of strength, even if he’s not feeling it. I think Josh is privy to all of that.

oh god, elderly guy with a uti is real and could be an entire genre judging from things I’ve personally witnessed

just complete brain vacation, magical when antibiotics kick in and everything snaps back to normal. hopefully Logan doesn’t get sepsis

piss mad lmao

I like the way this episode really leaned into how fucking boring it must be to be a very rich person who has to attend shareholder meetings like that.

UTI trigger warning, yikes.
i learned via my father inlaw how much damage they can do, it’s crazy. like everything from causing those exact kind of episodes (and worse if they have dementia already) and can even cause strokes & heart attacks

anyway, as always here i am saying omg this episode, but, omg this episode . I actually yelled at the tv for Kendall to get off the stage

pretty funny how absolutely no one believes kendalls bullshit

Do Shiv and Kendall seem to be running parallel arcs this season - one from within the company, and one outside it? Neither one is getting any closer to what they want, because Logan and his wake (human or otherwise) keep sweeping them away. I know the show's title means the major theme is movement in a power structure, but their respective stories this season seem really closely aligned, more so than loyalist Roman or disruptoConnor.

How much did Gregg just lose? It was in the hundreds of millions, right?

The actors on this show just continue to get better and better. Not a flat performance from top to bottom.

$250m

Greg's delivery on "would it be in any way possible to sue someone.... affectionately?" was all-time

grandpa has rescinded greg inheritance like three times already

doesnt seem like it was ever really in the bag

Greg's crush on kendall's pr/social media/whatever expert woman makes me sad, I hope they end up together.

I got around to watching the movie Zola last week, and Braun pretty much plays a variation of Greg in that one. Not a whole lot of screen time, though.

it's hard for me to imagine that dude acting in a different manner, in a different mode, but he really nails it. love how chaotic this was, how it was almost like a bottle episode w/characters getting to take occasional breaks in other areas.

in some ways greg's grandpa is just as much of a fuckstick as logan

He definitely is - at least Logan knows he's a venal bastard.

I actually sat there mumbling “Greenpeace? GREENPEACE?!”

no way that asshole is not donating all his money

Tom and Greg are comic gold!
I’m in the middle of S2…the bit about the ATN “we’re listening” speech had me in stitches

we hear... for you
is all time
there was an Apprentice episode where one fuckstick came up with a diet catfood with the tagline "see they're light" which has the same energy.

also good old romulus did pretty good with The Raisin!

the bar was admittingly low for him there though

This show nails a good balance between drama and comedy

yea it’ll be interesting if logan digs at roman @ all for the prez convo in comparison to his clearly berating shiv for her actions while he was piss mad (shiv “well what would you have done?” logan “not that”)

shiv's impressive the last few episodes. kendall is such a dumb dipshit.

yet another episode ending with kendall *crushed* --that shot of him in the terrible office, man oh man, and realizing his dad isn't coming

when ewan tells greg he’s donating his fortune and greg says “even my part?” and ewan says “yours was the first part”

*chef’s kiss*

that’ll teach greg for messing with roger pugh, ewan’s close personal friend!

i'm kinda glad i'm not binging this show i love savoring it the whole week but i will prolly go back and binge the whole season over a few days once it's done

like i miss so much b/c it's so dense. i forgot about Tom's "but he isn't even wearing a tie" until I read a recap.

also the doctor checking out the bagel rabbit!!!!!!

if he can do people, he can do rabbits

that rabbit is doomed

when jess in the background pinching the bridge of her nose like “what is my life”

connor re the president was brilliant too