Entertainment

Succession Finale Review: A bitter crown betrayal rounds off 4-season battle for Logan Roy's throne

Ayaan PaulMay 29, 2023 | 18:06 IST

In the grand game of thrones that is the television landscape, as HBO’s Succession finally reaches its eagerly anticipated finale, we find ourselves at the precipice of resolution, ready to witness the final blows in the Roy family's high-stakes blood feud.

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Few shows have wielded their power as deftly as Succession. Like a Machiavellian puppeteer, Jesse Armstrong’s masterclass in writing expertly manipulated our emotions, leaving us simultaneously craving more and recoiling in delicious horror. Succession's swan song titled “With Open Eyes” is a symphony of biting wit, brutal betrayals, and a fleeting moment of respite that has us pausing for a moment of contemplation.

The series finale of Succession delivered a visceral and emotionally charged culmination of the Roy family's power struggle. Set against the backdrop of an idyllic seaside location in Barbados, the siblings engage in a vicious battle for the CEO position at their mother's house, as Shiv unknowingly falls into a trap laid by the Swedish invader.

Kendall, a relentless force throughout the season, utilizes his persuasive skills to convince his siblings that he is the only logical choice for CEO. However, despite it all going nigh perfect for the prodigal son, the callousness with which he reopens wounds both literally and figuratively prove fatal as it all comes crumbling down before him when it mattered the most. 

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In Barbados, Armstrong presented a parting gift to the fans with a rare moment of vulnerability among the siblings - a glimpse of a future where they could work together as a somewhat loving team, with Kendall assuming the seat he believed was his destiny. It was an unfamiliar sight to witness them almost happy, both together and apart, laughing and joking with genuine smiles on their faces. Ideally, this is where we should have shut off our screens and called it a night.

The episode presents the Roy family in their truest form, with patriarch Logan Roy consuming his children completely. Despite their relentless efforts, none of the siblings managed to claim the crown in the end. Instead, they continued to bring each other down until the bitter end, with Roman’s haunting premonitions of the cursed crown proving true.

The pivotal moment comes when the board votes on the sale of Waystar to GoJo. Shiv, living up to her namesake, betrays her brother by voting in favor of the sale, effectively shiving the "eldest boy" in the moment of truth and handing the throne to the unlikely “empty-suit” from ATN in his stead.

While some astute fans may have predicted Tom's victory based on a fan theory from a viral TikTok video, where his last name was connected to a famous baseball player who achieved an unassisted triple play in the 1920 World Series, the revelation still packed a walloping punch. Tom's triumph mirrored the way he took out the Roy siblings, three at once, just like the baseball player he was linked to.

Shiv's treacherous boardroom vote denied Kendall the CEO position that he believed was rightfully his, exposing the trio to a downward spiral, both in the corporate world and on a psychological level. As the company is sold and Kendall's dream of occupying his father's chair evaporates, Roman, seems to break character for a moment to allow for Armstrongs raw, unfiltered commentary - "We are bullshit. It's all f**king nothing" - capturing the existential emptiness that engulfs the Roy family as they witness their empire crumble before their eyes.

Jeremy Strong's captivating portrayal of Kendall's descent into ruthless ambition shaped his entire life around a singular goal. His desperate admission, "I am like a cog built to fit only one machine," epitomized his deep-rooted reliance on the role of CEO and his lack of identity outside of it. Without the CEO role, he felt as though he might die, as if the water that had threatened him his entire life would finally consume him.

In the culmination of events, the two most promising siblings destined for the throne unwittingly embody the very qualities they vowed to dismantle. Kendall, the youthful and anxious one, becomes consumed by an insatiable hunger for power, abandoning any remnants of his humanity in his desperate pursuit to prove his ruthlessness. On the other hand, Shiv, aware that the throne is slipping away from her grasp, undergoes a conscious transformation into the kind of trophy wife she resented her mother for being, driven by her desire for power.

It appears that the Roys' youngest and most emotionally distressed is also the most remarkably fortunate as the series draws to a close, as Kieran Culkin's exceptional portrayal of Roman captivates viewers with his perpetual oscillation between audacious arrogance and vulnerable volatility. His performance indisputably takes the spotlight as the standout highlight of this season. 

In a remarkable display of biting poetic irony, the last remaining scion of the illustrious Roy lineage in the empire, comes in the form of Tom's inseparable sidekick, Greg, as the turncoat cousin seems content with his future of subordination. 

Succession delivers the tragic conclusion that fans expected, with the Roy family imploding in spectacular fashion and serves as an impeccably crafted ultimate testament to a collection of profoundly troubled individuals who succumb to their innate tendencies in the presence of even the slightest hint of authority. 

The episode showcased the show's trademark tension and complexity, leaving viewers with a sense of both satisfaction and longing for more. The finale's nuanced exploration of identity, power, and the cyclical nature of abuse leaves a lasting impact, highlighting the show's ability to engage viewers on both an intellectual and emotional level.

The final episode demonstrates the show's unparalleled storytelling prowess and its ability to delve deep into the complexities of power dynamics and familial dysfunction. By concluding Succession with its fourth season, showrunner Jesse Armstrong demonstrated a keen understanding of when to bid adieu, leaving the series at the zenith of its brilliance. 

The razor-sharp dialogue that peppered the series became a treasure trove of quotable gems, endearing viewers to the morally bankrupt yet captivating characters that inhabited its world. By crafting a narrative that is equal parts gripping, thought-provoking, and morally complex, Succession has set a high bar for storytelling in the television landscape.

The saddest part of this whole ordeal is the cruel reality that we shall forever remain deprived of the symphonic marvels of Nicholas Britell, whose exquisite motifs serve as the vital lifeblood that infuses Succession's narrative brilliance with a profound tapestry of emotional resonance. (the album is finally out on all platforms though)

In its final season, Succession achieves what it set out to do with remarkable finesse. It cements its status as a modern television classic, leaving an indelible mark on the medium. As viewers bid farewell to the Roy family and their tumultuous world, Succession's legacy as a groundbreaking series will undoubtedly endure, captivate and provoke audiences for years to come. Long live HBO.

 

 

Last updated: May 29, 2023 | 18:06
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