something I always thought was interesting about this scene was how the song they chose works to remind the audience of the point of the show. obviously, it parallels the vote, but to me, it also reinforced the fact that these are all just. awful awful billionaires trying to kill each other over power and for a hugely exploitative company. obviously, I felt awful for ken when the vote didn't pan out bc of Logan's bullying, but when I heard this song I couldn't help but think about the fact that it doesn't matter if Logan is in charge or Kendell is, they're ALL on the side of J.H. Blair. they ARE J.H. Blair. this song highlights the fact that this isn't a fight to save the company and restore workers' rights, it's a fight for the throne of who gets to exploit those workers' rights.
Yes. But by Logan Roy staying in charge, he’s inherently hurting those workers even more(by not setting them up w/ the most optimal decision making) Btw my family was one of the founding families of Harlan, so this hits close to home. Can’t believe I’d never heard the song before
As the singing starts, we are shown Logan Roy from the front, and the camera starts to move around in, so that when the chorus of "which side are you on" begins, we are seeing Logan from the side, and by the time the shot ends, we are seeing his back. We see three sides in that shot, but all of the same man, just like the show as a whole. (probably not intentional, as they use these spinning shots fairly often in Succession) And it starts playing as Logan, an individual private citizen, is bossing around the president, who is at least supposed to act as a representative of the entire citizenry of that country, meaning metaphorically by proxy, he is bossing around the whole US people. There can be no question which side he is on.
@@personata "Which Side are you On" is a rallying cry for unionists and workers. Written in 1931, it encapsulates the struggle that workers have had in the 1800s and early 1900s. But I say "Struggle" not to represent mere protests and cultural realignment. Unions workers literally had to fight with guns for their own rights, as Robber Barons and capitalists levied the police, government, law, and quite literal paramilitaries against them. The most representative example is the "Battle of Blair Mountain", where the sheriff used gas attacks on the miners. More than that legacy though, what makes the song haunting is how it reflects on us now. The unions are gone. No one cares about the unionist who literally spilled blood for the rights we take for granted. Honest work, other than being someone's boss, is considered shameful. And now, our economy and the value we bring to the world is directed by delusional psychopaths like Logan- no different from the barons that workers fought a century ago. And unions have been ground to pieces so badly that the only avenue to defeat him is neoliberal spoiled brats like Kendall, who have no clear vision and can't even comprehend that he'll just be usurped by another baron. Dare to ask yourself honestly, and remember there are no neutrals: Which side are you on?
@riparoo9675 You're right about everything except the part that "Unions are gone." We're still here and picket, strike all the time. But, just like backnin the day, mainstream media can't report on that as often, now can they.
One thing I noticed about this scene is the final shot where Kendall stands in the middle of the road: its practically empty, compared to being jam-packed with traffic just minutes earlier which ultimately stopped him from winning the vote. Its like the universe and Logan are on the same side, and they both lean back with a smug smile on their face saying "fuck you"
What I had noticed was the remaining of a terrorist attack behind him. A lone abandoned jeep and way too much smoke to be sewer steam just a mile down the empty road. And yet, the world moves on.
When Ken turns around in the street and faces the camera as it goes to black, was so theatric. It reminded me of the closing act of a play. Brilliant stuff.
To me, he's looking up and down the street, taking note that the traffic that ultimately lost him the vote was suddenly gone. It's like the universe itself fucked him over
I believe that this scene is what made me love the show. It changed my understanding of the previous episodes and gave me a new perspective of who Logan really is.
I think this song comes from Logans pov. He has always seen himself as a hardworking man from a poor background, and his children as undeserving nepo babies born to billions. He derailed Kendall’s coup with pretty much sheer willpower and luck. Him fighting back is making sure his children dont take control of what is his
The scene starts with logan, the lyrics “my daddy was a coal man” playing when we see logan. Then when they cut to Kendall, and the song starts to talk abt j h blaire and scabs
@@BATTLEFIELD897 the use of the song is pretty ironic here because despite Logan and Kendall being on opposing side, they’re both ultimately on the same capitalistic side that the song is explicitly speaking out against. It’s use is pretty anti capitalistic here given that one of the main purposes of the show is to portray these capitalistic titans as absolutely awful people
Rewatching this after the finale I realize it gives a bit of a glimpse into how Kendall eventually handles being out of the company. At least in my mind, he learns to move on and leave it all behind. Here he's been fired from the board, he thinks he's out and he's walking nyc just like the finale. I like to think there's more for Kendall eventually, it might not all be good, but there's more.
@@JohnBrownsBody Oh you didn't get it? Context: TNO is HOI4 mod when Axis won WW2 but lost peace. If you play U.S.A you have control of the party between R-D and NPP. If you get a bad ending such as Hall or even Yockey. You just collapse the U.S. into an extreme state but do not worry because in this timeline the U.S. will not collapse by any such as civil war or some sh*t.
It would be kinda cool if we ever got to see The Raisin. I rememeber people theorizing that Anthony Hopkins would guest-star on the show because both he and Brian Cox played Hannibal Lecter, it would be awesome if he was the president!
