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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My DH kept saying "I don't think he's really dead" and I was like "no they definitely killed him" and we had this conversation for about 40 minutes until they wheeled him out on the gurney. It was kind of funny given that Roman also kept saying he didn't believe he was dead.

Oh, sorry -- spoilers (just watch the freaking episode, why are you on a Succession thread on Sunday night right after the show airs if you don't want spoilers???)

This episode really highlighted the show's particular strengths where they are always catching the reactions and facial expressions of secondary and tertiary characters as a way of framing the story. I loved all the shots of Frank, Carl, and Gerri in various scenes as they reacted to the kids reacting to their dad dying.

Also really liked the way Kendall really stepped up and into his role as eldest brother (I know Connor is technically eldest but I mean of the trio) once they finally got the news Logan was dead -- being the one to tell Shiv and also stepping up to tell Connor, being the one to convince the other two that they needed to be thoughtful about their actions because of the scrutiny they'd get later, and finally leading the others to agree that they needed to draft the official statement and also be the face of the messaging.

You could sort of see Kendall maturing into the role over the course of the episode, and I actually found that pretty realistic. Very normal in moments like that for people to refer to childhood sibling dynamics, and Roman acting/feeling helpless and unable to process any of it (also feeling guilty/blaming himself), Shiv being the most openly grieving their dad as the one who probably hated him the least and had the most warm relationship with him, and Kendall stepping into a kind of big brother/paternal role and being ready to think long term more quickly, while also offering emotional support to younger siblings. It just rang very true for me.

Also LOVED when Shiv snapped at/made fun of Tom on the speaker phone with everyone, and then apologized, and then Tom immediately said it was okay, it was a tough day. And Shiv's surprise and then kind of tenderness toward him when he said that. Just really amazing moment from Sarah Snook and a very subtle but great way to show how Logan's death is/will impact their marriage and possibly change the course of their divorce. As someone else said upthread, Tom really does love Shiv and she has a genuine soft spot for him and I could easily see her leaning on him in this time and him rising to the occasion because all he ever wants is for her to need him instead of the other way around.[/quote]

I don’t know.  I’m the youngest of 3 and I was the strong one that stepped up and handled everything.  My older siblings are 3 and 4 years older and didn’t want to speak, etc.  I’m the one that wrote the obituary and gave the eulogy and hosted the after reception.  [/quote]

The point is that these specific characters were reverting to childhood roles and relationships. Roman has always been the baby in the family with the least emotional maturity (I mean, they all have issues with this, but Roman has very stunted emotional development and massive attachment issues) and he really retreated into that. Each time something had to be done, he would look lost and then kind of plead with one of his siblings to do it. He didn't want to be the one to tell Shiv or Connor, didn't want to make decisions, didn't want to accept Logan's death even after it was very clear to everyone else. He spent much of the time literally sitting on the floor like a toddler. He can act with a lot of bravado and cynicism, but this crisis revealed how vulnerable and immature he is.

Whereas Kendall, who has acted like a petulant child for much of the show, seemed to suddenly come into himself a bit, realizing that he is the heir apparent and winding up the most calm and forward thinking of the kids. And I don't even really mean in terms of handling his dad's death or planning the funeral (he suggested the just "do Reagan's with a few tweaks"), but I mean in terms of the company and their future there, and the family as a business entity.

But Shiv also understood her role, being the public face of the family at the press conference. But you also see her turning back to Tom, and it will be interesting to see how that evolves. Tom knows he's screwed if the divorce goes through -- without Logan he has nothing. And Shiv could use a shoulder to cry on. But I could also see her rejecting him specifically because he needs her so much, and becoming skeptical of his feelings towards her. I'd personally love to see Shiv drop Tom and go it alone, maybe undercutting Kendall by aligning with one of the older players (Frank or Gerri) in order to sway the board towards her. Mostly because I think it would be fun to watch Sarah Snook playing ascendant and Jeremy Strong playing thwarted. I don't actually care who winds up running Waystar (or that anyone does, would also be fine with the Swede swooping in and stealing it while the stock price is low).[/quote]

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