Succession Season 4 Review: Buckle Up, It’s Going to Get Intense
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
The post Succession Season 4 Review: Buckle Up, It’s Going to Get Intense appeared first on Consequence.
The Pitch: After three seasons, the Roy reign of terror is due to come to a close, as one of TV’s most vicious families has all the knives out following the explosive Season 3 finale of Succession. Picking up a few months after a betrayal-filled Italian wedding, Waystar Royco is still on the verge of being sold by patriarch Logan (Brian Cox), while siblings Kendall (Jeremy Strong), Roman (Kieran Culkin), and Shiv (Sarah Snook) plot to create their own media empire.
On the sidelines, as per usual, are Shiv’s estranged husband Tom (Matthew Macfadyen), who has successfully maneuvered himself into a position as one of Logan’s favored advisors, while still finding the time to torment poor Cousin Greg (Nicholas Braun). And as the election grows closer, oldest sibling Connor (Alan Ruck) continues his campaign for President, holding on tightly to his position at one percent in the polls, though maybe his upcoming wedding to Willa (Justine Lupe) might aid his campaign….
The Beginning of the End: If you didn’t know, going into Season 4 of Succession, that it was the last season of the Emmy-winning juggernaut, you’d still come away from the first four episodes feeling pretty sure this story was wrapping to a close. Creator Jesse Armstrong and the writing staff are going big with their plot choices as the season builds to a crescendo; put it another way, the shit hits the fan hard as Season 4 progresses, with more fireworks clearly to come.
Accordingly, there’s not a lot that can be said about the narrative without drifting into spoiler territory, though Connor’s wedding does play a significant role in these early episodes, with his attempts to celebrate his impending nuptials going about as well as you might expect given this show’s attitudes towards romance and happy endings.
Emmy For Sarah Snook! For as low an opinion as its characters might have about the general public, Succession remains a shining example of a show that refuses to treat its audience as dumb. The dialogue remains as whip-smart as it is brutal, moving from insult to insult at a lightning pace — the writing staff apparently has an inexhaustible supply of ways for its characters to put each other down.
Meanwhile, the show also indulges in only the barest hints of context for some of its references, never backing up to explain things that might be a little bit esoteric. Take Kendall’s sales pitch for his siblings’ new endeavor: “Substack meets Master Class meets The Economist meets The New Yorker” — to at least this viewer’s ears, never have so many smart things sounded so dumb when mashed together, but the writers don’t hang a lantern on just how clueless Kendall might be here.
Succession (HBO)
With a barrier to entry this deliberately high, it’s impressive that Succession has become such a popular favorite, something down entirely to the wildly charismatic cast. While it’s always been a strong ensemble showcase, Sarah Snook so far stands out as Season 4’s most compelling character, as her attempts to keep a flickering flame of decency alive inside her soul often peter out.
But we’re only four episodes in, which leaves plenty of time for Jeremy Strong to assert his typically dominant role in the drama, after coming from a (comparatively) subdued place. Also, with the three siblings largely isolated from the rest of the Waystar world at the beginning, some of the show’s most beloved dynamics take some time to emerge, such as Gerri (J. Smith-Cameron) and Roman’s exceptionally complicated bond. But while factions have been established amongst these characters, anything can change in the moment.
The Verdict: If this review feels short, it’s because the most vital and exciting elements of the season are impossible to discuss without spoilers — as episodes premiere, be sure that the discussion will be plentiful, on this site as well as others. But what can be said now is this: The barbs sting as sharply as ever, while the drama escalates to the level one expects from not just a final season, but a final season of a show like this, one which has grown past its shaky early episodes to stand amongst the best series of the 21st century.
Succession is a show about not-great people doing not-great things to each other, in incredibly compelling ways. But the series is at its most fascinating when its characters find themselves experiencing having real human emotions, because the cognitive dissonance that flashes across their faces in those situations is like a portal into an alternate universe, one where these people were raised with some sort of parental kindness, and thus known how to recognize it in others.
That, above all the plot twists and other dealings, is what will likely be Succession‘s most lasting legacy — a portrait of how in the battle between capitalism and a certain kind of family, that family never stood a chance.
Where to Watch: Succession debuts Sunday, March 26th on HBO and HBO Max.
Trailer:
Succession Season 4 Review: Buckle Up, It’s Going to Get Intense
Liz Shannon Miller
Popular Posts
Amanda Bynes Placed on Psychiatric Hold After Being Found Roaming the Streets
Jimin of BTS Breaks Down His "Very Intense" New Single "Set Me Free Pt.2": Exclusive
Def Leppard Drummer Rick Allen Violently Attacked Outside Hotel in Florida
Stevie Nicks Kicks Off 2023 Solo Tour Like a Woman Possessed: Review
Jack White Posts Original Poem Responding to Tired, Dumb Debate Over Meg White's Drumming Ability
10 Albums Counting Crows' Adam Duritz Thinks Every Music Fan Should Own
