'Succession' Showed Why It's Not So Fun Ruling the World
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Last week, after the big succession finally occurred, we arrived at the obvious question: what happens now? "The king is dead," Karl says in this week's episode of Succession. "Long live the king—kings—and queen. Long live the kings and queens." Yes, Karl, Logan Roy (Brian Cox) is dead and the Death Star is ours to command now. We just forgot, it seems, exactly how terrible the business we're now in charge of operating really is. Should we blow up the planet Alderaan first? Or should we build more death-black armor for our killer soldiers?
These are the kind of questions that Kendall (Jeremy Strong) and Roman (Kieran Culkin) are tasked with answering during their first real day on the job as co-CEO's—and shades of their father's tyranny begin to peek out from within both of them. We're talking the same, heartless qualities that they hated him for—and now, apparently, those dubious virtues are rightfully theirs to inherit as well.
The sixth episode of Succession's final season has a funny way of displaying these acts of cruelty. This entry is bookended by a presentation given by the now-deceased Logan, via a taped rehearsal. It's the presentation that Kendall has to give now that he's head honcho. (Well, co-head honcho.) They're rolling out a new real estate program for seniors—questionably titled Living+—that will act as a sort of Disney hotel that combines assisted-living facilities with your favorite, lovable entertainment IPs. Picture Mickey Mouse and Goofy standing over your death bed. It's not the easiest sell! Naturally, Kendall can barely handle the pressure. Remember when his birthday party looked like what would happen if the Astroworld rollercoaster and the Yeezy fashion show had a baby? Well, he wants to create a whole Oklahoma set for this presentation with a house and clouds. There's a new rule in place: "No one can say No."
Meanwhile, Roman deals with his problems by firing anyone who doesn't fall in line like a stormtrooper. Joy Palmer, one of their Hollywood entertainment executives, is worried that ATN's right-wing news leanings may not look great on their TV and film brands' image. Roman, flustered, fires her on the spot. This was, of course, supposed to be a friendly meeting to talk about their gameplan moving forward. Gerri later reprimands him for it—and he lets her go as well. "You're not your dad," she tells him. We need heel-clicking soldiers at attention here at WayStar Royco. We tell you where to aim and when to fire. As crazy as it sounds, it's the kind of Death Star their father commanded—and he created a billion-dollar empire.
Shiv (Sarah Snook), on the other hand, has been cut out. It's not the best that her character has been reduced to a quasi-femme fatale—playing all sides, including her soon-to-be ex-husband (Matthew Macfadyen) and the incoming Lukas Matsson (Alexander Skarsgård). As one of the only recurring female leads on Succession, she's mainly used her "womanly charms" this season—for lack of a better term—to stay close to the story. "Still keeping all your options open, honey," Tom warns her. "You should be careful with that." So should you, Succession writers. But I understand the intent. Shiv is building an emergency alliance for what happens if Roman and Kendall flame out—and now, she has Tom and Matsson on her good side.
Matsson's good side is hard to hold, though, as we learned last week that he's playing both the savior of the company and Mr. Evil Money. At the Investor Day Living+ presentation, Kendall's speech goes somewhat well, if not cringey, but he's not on Lukas's good side. Kendall and Roman told him to privately fuck off for ignoring the fact that their father just died, and he promised to bury them—financially speaking. After Kendall's big speech, Matsson tweets, "Doderick macht frei." It's a very odd combination of Royco's mascot Doderick the Dog and the Nazi phrase "arbeit macht frei"—which translates to "work sets you free." The phrase was infamously posted above the entrance to the Auschwitz death camps during the Holocaust.
Kendall is immediately bombarded for the comments—and he riffs about how he's "not going to fave it." Personally, he wouldn't have said that, of course, and he apologizes for any offense caused. "If, and when, we complete the deal... and he gets into the incredible opportunity this product represents... I think he'll be tweeting something very different." Matsson later deletes the post. As everyone celebrates Kendall, Roman leaves jealous. Kendall takes off what is probably a $300 t-shirt in disguise and goes swimming in the ocean. Another successful day for the Empire.
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