'Succession' Season 4 Is Definitely Going To Stress Us Out

What a scene-setter of a final season premiere. As always, I probably missed a bunch of little moments and references. Everything in this show is just so brilliantly detailed.

I think the siblings have won the battle, but not the war. We shall see. They will probably get played again, because as Tom says to Kendall in Season 3: “I've seen you get fucked a lot, but I’ve never seen Logan get fucked once.”

Based on that teaser following this episode, looks like Tom and Shiv will be beefing for much of this season. I am very intrigued.

One of my many fascinations with this show is how everything is a transaction, so a couple of lines that stood out to me that further that sort of thesis statement.

• Cousin Greg describing his date as “another tick on the chart.”
• Logan saying that people are simply “economic units” and how we’re all just part of a market.
• And in that big Tom/Shiv showdown, Tom suggesting they get into “a full account of the pain in our marriage,” and Shiv’s response: “I don’t want to rake up a whole lot of bullshit for no profit, Tom.” What a line!

I was half-listening to the post-episode commentary as I was typing this, and creator Jesse Armstrong notes that uncharacteristically reflective scene between Logan and Colin, and says that one way to think about this show is that it’s “a show about mortality.”

“And that interests me seeing somebody who’s maybe committed quite a lot of capital to not thinking about where all human lives go. And you can keep that at bay for a long time, but no one can keep it at bay forever,” he says.

As I’ve said before, I really think Logan might actually die because it would be a fitting end. It’s hard to imagine a more explosive or consequential or definitive ending. I will keep pushing this theory — with the caveat, of course, that I could be very wrong!

I cannot wait to talk nonstop about this show for the next 10 weeks. There are few shows during the last couple of years that have felt this dominant in the cultural conversation (lol, I sound like Kendall), and I’m so looking forward to all the things we’ll have to say about this final season.

One thing I love and hate about this show is that they just kind of throw you right back into the drama. (Thank God for HBO and that pretty thorough recap before the premiere started.)

I had totally forgotten about Nan Pierce, so I might need to revisit a couple episodes in Season 2.

The sibs starting up The Hundred is hilarious to me. "Substack meets Masterclass meets The New Yorker meets The Economist?" Hell, no. Would not read. Would not subscribe.

I still live for every scene with Greg and Tom, and Tom is always going to find a way to torture Greg, and it will forever and always be funny.

Speaking of Tom, that scene with him and Shiv at the end was brutal. "I could see if I could make love to you," Tom says to Shiv. WHAT? Don't ever speak to me again. That's the only thing Shiv should have said to him.

I'm no closer to knowing who is actually gonna win this thing. But Logan, sitting in his chair, watching ATN late at night, and critiquing the host, is definitely some kind of hell. The man is stressed -- or something -- and let's see if the big man makes it through the season.

What a great premiere: everyone came out swinging and I'm ready to see what happens next week.

Well, this episode was an emotional rollercoaster. It seems like the kids have bested their father — for now — and successfully climbed to the top of the Pierce bidding war. Once again, I’m wondering how long their alliance will last before things inevitably fall apart.

Moreover, it was so fascinating to get an inside look at Shiv’s personal life and the erosion of her relationship with Tom; I wonder how the sale will exacerbate their divorce. In the sneak peek of the next episode, we saw someone (the competitor, I think) asking who gets their house in the divorce, and the tension was palpable. I’m excited to tune in and find out!

“Are you fucking losing it, Cyd?” Logan is definitely losing it, that’s for sure.

Ruth, I just snort-laughed at Tom saying that. Like, what? This is what you want? Right now? After THIS?! Poor Tom.

LMAO, this relationship better be a wrap.

It’s happening!

The big Tom/Shiv confrontation we’ve been waiting for!

Oop, Shiv is BIG MAD.

...is, of course, masturbating. Of course. *eyeroll*

“Congrats on saying the biggest number, you fucking morons.”

Logan asking Frank and Karl to roast him is so hilarious. “Who wants to smell Greg’s finger?? Guess the scent!” LMAOOOOO. Logan, you a wild boy!

But I think Nan secretly likes it a bit. Look at that slight smile and glint in her eye.

A casual $8 billion. The bidding war for Pierce continues.

Greg really took the bait. LMAO. And great point about the ostensible divorce, Marina!

No one can win this, just like Boar on the Floor. It’s all for Logan’s entertainment. Nothing they say will be the right answer.

I wonder if Shiv is saying she’s getting a divorce just to assuage Nan. Everything on this show is a transaction and a power move, remember.

So, Tom is now the head of ATN; he and Shiv are getting divorced. And here’s to hoping they stay split. Most toxic relationship, whew.

I was wondering why Nan (Cherry Jones) would show up this season, and now we know. “Horse potatoes!” is one of my favorite lines of hers in Season 2.

“Call your fucking wife, Tom!”

Man, I have missed this show.

Lol at them fighting over who is going to tell Logan the bad news.

Roman: “We know him pretty well actually. I mean, we’ve never licked his big omelet nibbles…”

I guffawed.

Also, a few here with Tom and Cousin Greg: “She’s a firecracker, man. She’s crunchy peanut butter.” “He’s gonna fucking gut you like a rainbow trout.”

These two. *chef’s kiss*

Her look when Connor says he’s worried about turning into “a laughingstock,” and you can hear her in her head thinking: “Uh, like you aren’t already?!”

Why does Connor talk like a villain from the 1920s or something? Asking your fiancé to turn your wedding into a PR stunt is WILD.

“That was my sister saying we would hear you better if you took my dad’s c*ck out of your mouth?” These writers are crazy, lmao.

“What are people? They’re economic units.”

Perhaps the thesis statement of this show. Everything, including family is a transaction!

Also, I think this weirdly introspective (for Logan) scene with Colin supports my theory that Logan might be dying, since he’s pondering what happens after we die. “I’ve got my fucking suspicions.”

But did you catch how she said, “I have to look out for myself.”

Interesting...

Tom: “She’s wolfing all the canapes like a famished warthog.”

Nan thinks the siblings are “fake fruit for display purposes only.”

Logan is so sick of everyone, my Lord.

Of course, Tom had to get his insults in to Greg at Logan's birthday party. This time via Greg’s date with the big-ass bag. Then, Greg’s date asked Logan for a selfie, and I am screaming!

“It’s fucking 1933, and I want to have a say." Uh, quite the year to cite, Shiv. Wonder what happened then? Oh.

Roman says they’ve been gathering funding for three months, so we can assume this is taking place a few months after the events of the Season 3 finale.

“The rocky old road of life, and the 'wife' part of that can be a difficult part of it, as you know. Not to comment. Just to say. Just to say, it would be great to get your take…”

Oh, Tom. He’s struggling through this conversation. This is also a nice callback to “I love the word ‘wife’!” in his cringey Season 1 wedding toast.

Tom is not wearing his wedding ring. But Shiv still is! Intrigue!

Kerry informs Cousin Greg (and all of us) that Marcia is “shopping in Milan…forever.”

I guess that divorce went through. Good for Marcia!

Kerry: “We're not a fucking Shake Shack, Greg. This isn’t a pre-fuck party, it’s a birthday party.”
Kendall calls The Hundred “high-calorie info-snacks,” and then wonders if it should be “info-parcels or info-snacks?”

Reminds of Roman calling Vaulter (RIP) "tasty morsels for groovy hubs" in Season 1.

I kind of squealed when I saw Tom pop up, not gon’ lie. Also, what does Shiv have going on? She’s being sneaky and it’s driving me nuts. I also hate her in this brown suit.

I love how they change this ever so slightly each season: different bits of footage, like a little glimpse at Waystar Studios and LA to match this season’s new location of LA, and a different unhinged ATN chyron, of course.

I’ve never seen anyone so displeased with their own birthday party as much as Logan. Greg bringing homegirl unannounced? I YELPED!

Ruth, I do not give it more than a few episodes, lol.

Kendall seems so chipper with his siblings. I wonder how long this little venture of theirs will last.

This theme song. I’ll miss it so much.