Succession’s final season is lastly getting attention-grabbing by taking some dangers

The primary two episodes of Succession’s last season made it appear issues is likely to be the identical, as if the HBO collection actually might need been comfy going out by leaving Logan Roy and his kids to languish in the identical Shakespearean holding sample that’s outlined their story for your complete 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 need to transfer too distant from its core energy dynamics for worry of getting to really push itself into new territory.

However “Connor’s Marriage ceremony,” the collection’ newest episode, has ushered in considered one of Succession’s most vital and sudden shifts — the primary the actually makes this season really feel prefer it might stick the touchdown.

Main spoilers for the third episode of Succession’s fourth season.

Issues about Logan Roy’s well being loomed giant over Succession from its first episode because it launched us to all the varied energy gamers vying for a shot at management over Waystar Royco. All through the primary season, you would really feel the concept Logan — a curmudgeonly octogenarian who didn’t precisely reside the healthiest way of life — may simply up and die and create an influence vacuum. However that risk 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 kids irrespective of how they conspired towards him felt like a quintessential a part of Succession’s identification, 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 severe 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 area.

Of all of the potential methods Logan Roy might have bitten the bullet, there are few that might have felt as poetic as him having a coronary heart assault 1000’s of ft within the air whereas touring to finalize the GoJo acquisition deal that might 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 via on it spoke to his willingness to actually screw his kids out of the glory, energy, and validation they every so desperately needed. 

Succession being the type of present that it’s, it all the time felt as if there might 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 demise adjustments every thing in ways in which even he couldn’t absolutely 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 demise spreads, what actually makes the episode shine is the best way it illustrates how these closest to Logan have been additionally these below essentially the most emotional and psychological strain 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 kids as a matter of necessity to outlive rising up with their father. However on this episode, we lastly, genuinely, obtained the sense that, in several methods, every of the children 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 attention-grabbing as a result of it’s now grieving in addition to a need to push again towards 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 turn out to be totally different folks after witnessing their former boss’ demise.

In the identical means that Logan’s demise 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 means into it now, however within the episode, you possibly can already see how Logan’s demise has empowered or given some folks a way of freedom that might push Succession into attention-grabbing new territory.

The concept of the Roy siblings teaming up just for their father to high school 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 type of factor that might make for a memorable last season. With Logan gone now, although, you possibly can clearly see how the Roys and the Waystar board must deal with each other, and may lastly ship the factor Succession viewers have all the time craved: an ending.