I was barely holding myself together then they got Shiv on the phone. She reminded me so much of me when my dad had a heart attack and I was sure he was dead. It has been forever since I cried like that (logan reminds me of my dad in not the best ways which made this extra hard)
I really loved how uniquely they did this and how real it felt. We didn't see the lead up. There was no ominous cough or foreshadowing shot of Logan wincing in pain earlier in the episode. It was entirely unexpected. I liked that we didn't really get anything the kids didn't get. We were dropped into the middle of it, suddenly and blindly, asking the same questions they were asking. It really helped convey the confusion and shock they felt.
Rewatching this reaction and I think Connor’s reaction is so heartbreaking because in learning that Logan died, he also learns that he wasn’t even on the way to his wedding like he hoped he was. “He never even liked me.” Is such a heartbreaking result of both of those things.
ironically i think it’s also the most beautiful reaction, for the exact moment when he says “sorry, you know what sorry i’m sorry, i don’t even know what i mean, he did. he did.” he said that for his younger siblings, he knew that might hurt them to hear and he took it back for them, that was his priority within seconds of hearing the most devastating news. i will forever be amazed at how many different times the writers were able to convey so much about these characters with a single small line of dialogue. also love how Connor’s relationship is laughed at throughout the series and at the possibility of it ending he acknowledged that he’s an emotional rock who doesn’t need love, but then when it mattered at the end of a day like that, he’s the only one of his siblings who had someone to hold and comfort him. love what they did with this series
Matthew Macfayden is incredible in this. Obviously all of the kids are fantastic but him on the phone keeps it so grounded in reality. Same with the man who plays Frank. They just feel so real. So good.
I like the moment when Kendall asked to talk to the pilot and Frank got frustrated, punched a wall and then said something to Kendall with a calm voice. And that seemed so realistic and fitting to his character.
The fact that Matthew Macfadyen was on the phone with cast from his home in England to make sure they got to authentically for the scene was so brilliant
A little behind: Jeremy wasn't told where Sarah was when he went downstairs to tell her the news. So when you see Kendall looking for her, that is, in part, a genuine reaction of trying to find her in a crowded room. And the heartbreaking hug between the siblings at the end was improvised. This is truly one of the best episodes I've ever watched, I already miss this show so much.
Incredibly ambitious move to kill him not even half way through the season. Jeremy, Sarah, Kieran are some of the greatest actors I’ve ever seen especially in portraying grief
Genius move. A lesser show would have done it in the season 3 finale. This way Logan is still fresh in your mind for the remainder of the show and the audience doesn't get a chance to grieve the character in between seasons.
Favorite moment this episode is when Kendall meets Shiv with compassion and she immediately knows someone died. “Shivy honey…” her immediate response is “mom??”
The script of this episode...some of those lines have stayed with me months later especially "I love you, but I can't forgive you" and nearly everything Connor said but especially "my father is dead, and I feel old". Powerful writing, amazing performances all round. The kind of episode of TV that makes you want to give a standing ovation
The contrast of Logan walking up the stairs to the plane at the beginning of the episode talking about being more aggressive and then him being brought down those very steps in a body bag just a few hours later is quite something. Death doesn't announce its arrival.
Connor's reaction really got me, because the "He never even liked me" followed up immediately with taking it back because his younger siblings looked absolutely devastated? Connor was really the one attempting to be a dad those kids because their father never cared for their emotional wellbeing like him.
Probably the greatest episode of tv I’ve ever seen live as it premiered. Apparently they ran the moment tom first called, straight through to when kendall was on the phone with frank multiple times as a single take. Then the final cut was just several runs of that stitched together. An absolute masterclass in acting, writing, directing and editing
I’ve never seen a show handle the passing of a main character this well in the aftermath. Especially a character as dynamic as Logan. I was so engaged and interested probably more than ever! It won’t fall off it actually gets better.
This is *exactly* what happened with my dad when he passed and what we had to do (talk on the phone to him while he was getting rounds of chest compressions). This episode came out of nowhere and did a perfect job of capturing all the confusion, the panic, the anxiety - it was hard to watch.
I loved that they did it early bc it gives time to have the succession be the focus. I love they didn’t draw out his death either, just done and done off screen. No will he or won’t he, but is he dead or not.
By far the best interpretations of grief represented in so many different ways from so many perspectives. This episode cemented their awards this year. It felt like we were with them this whole time. ❤
I don’t know if you guys watch the thing where they talk about the episodes after watching but you definitely should for this one because the director talks so much about the episode and the planning like for example when Kendall goes to look for shiv they didn’t tell Jeremy where Sarah was going to be standing so he’s actually looking for her in that scene
What a way to hide Logan’s death putting it into Connors wedding episode even though Logan was a terrible person the acting of grief did make me shed a tear what a wild episode excited to see what the dynamic on the show will be now logans gone
This scene was so difficult to watch because it was so realistic and so raw. The panic of the loved ones on the phone and the every calmness and matter of fact was of the people talking to them on the phone about their Dad, who knew him but didn’t love him the way the kids did.
I remember when season 4 was airing, I kept getting the feeling Logan would die in episodes 1 and 2 of this season. His death was always imminent because of the show being called Succession yet it was still unexpected when it happened. It was so sudden and that's how it happens, unfortunately. Some entertainment media like Vulture @ New York Magazine made parody articles announcing Logan Roy's death with a mock bio, it was cool to see how into it the media was. I'm always team kids and Sarah, Jeremy, and especially Kieran just knocked it out of the park this season moving forward. I'm glad this wasn't spoiled for you guys because, in a show with not a ton of traditional spoilers, this is probably the most difficult thing to hide from new fans lol.
I still can’t believe there are people who don’t like the way this episode played out lol this is what death is like. No sense of finality, no warning - I know it made people uncomfortable, and suspended in disbelief, but that’s the way you’re supposed to feel. Obviously it’s how the kids feel, and understandably so much of the audience was right there with Roman in complete denial
it was incredible watching this when it first aired, really great writing and acting from the whole cast. love that you guys thought about connor the whole time, glad that despite the tragedy he got a good ending, finally being able to have an honest talk with willa, and the wedding still happened-not as the spectacle he planned, but as an intimate affair attended by the few who actually cared it’s so strange to realize that if he attended the wedding, logan could’ve died surrounded by his family, but instead he died alone in the toilet. deserved. rest in piss, logan.
I started watching this show in February, watched it very slowly and didn’t finish it until July. Not catching up in time to watch it live is one of my life regrets lol
Absolutely unreal performances in this episode! The rest of the season is so good because it’s so complicated. Grieving your abusive father yet losing the largest looming person in your life has got to be confusing and the kids definitely struggle to move forward. Roman/Kieran especially will blow your minds and break your hearts. Love your reactions!
This ep really sold how frustrating a situation like this would be bc I think theres a rule that you cant stop chest compressions until someone qualified can declare him legally dead and understandably no one on the plane is comfortable being the guy to just say hes dead so theres just people saying "uh.. i dont know" over and over again
I remember almost all the times I was mad at my brother or father and yet I couldn't imagine such a scene happening. Watching this the first time made me realize life is too short too hold grudges against people you love, because death doesn't warn you but it's coming for all of us.
This episode is a masterpiece for all the obvious reasons and absolutely incredible acting/ storytelling- but there’s so much nuance throughout it. This is supposed to be “Connor’s episode”, and it isn’t.. but it is. In some ways, this was the closure and certainty Connor always looked for. He grew up so isolated and confused about his place in his family. When Willa says she’s not walking away, that she’s happy, that’s where he finally found his place. He ended up spending his wedding day with the people who accept him for who he is. Not hundreds of guests. Not the classic “Roy spectacle”. Willa is his family now. In a really tragic way, he’s finally free from disappointing his father. From feeling awkward and lost. He can find himself now.
Maybe the greatest acted show of all time, all of the main cast really have absolute standout episodes. This one had so many incredible performances, but Sarah Snook blew me away the most with her so real and heartbreaking crying. The previous episode Alan Ruck was a standout with his monologue at the end, it’s hard to pick just one for Jeremy Strong but he’s next level in “All the Bells Say”, Kieran Culkin’s breakdown in “Church and State” is award worthy in itself and Matthew McFayden gives one of the most nuanced performances in the show, but “Tailgate Party” is the first that comes to mind where he truly stole the show. Finally we ofc have Brian Cox, for whom I don’t have a specific episode in mind, but I do think overall he gives the strongest performance in the show and one of the greatest performances in tv history
God this episode is SO good. I can't wait for you guys to get through the rest of this final season but I'm so sad it's coming to an end. The acting from everyone in this episode is fantastic. The portrayal of the sudden and unexpected grief was done so well. As this show is coming to an end I'd love to throw a suggestion out there. It would be amazing to see you guys react to Buffy the Vampire Slayer at some point if you haven't already seen it. Happy new year!
The entire scene from the phone call till they got off the boat was done in one take and they didn’t tell Jeremy strong where Sarah snook was gonna be so he actually had too look for her
Been waiting for this ep reaction. You should watch the behind the scenes/talk they did for this episode. They kept the film going & had to hide new film in certain areas & new cameras to film so it looked like 1 whole non stop show.
It’s so sad. The kids never ever learnt how to express their feelings because of Logan assholeness and now when he’s dying they are completely inhibited and unable to talk when it matters.
And it’s crazy that they all were trying to make Logan “feel better” over the phone - when he was really just the world’s most abusive and narcissistic dad, and deserved none of the praise.
PLEASE watch 'The Society of the snow' and react to it 🙏🏻 I'm really looking forward to your reaction guys! It's based on a true story and it is an amazing film.
I’ve watched season 1-3 but not this one so watching this episode I was thinking why isn’t logan’s body being shown? then I paused and read an article that also said they didn’t show his body only for him to be shown here 15:49 ???
This is why I love this show, this episode was the most shocked I’ve ever been watching something since BCS. It’s perfect, and while this episode is great, the rest of this season somehow holds this quality.
I don't think it's true they don't care about Connor, it's just that in that moment they weren't thinking about him. They were totally just thinking about how their dad was dying.
When I first started watching this episode with my dad, I thought to myself that this was just an act. Because we all know that Logan loves to screw over his kids. But then I realized that it was real.
I actually think this episode is wildly overrated. The acting and the writing is a little OTT for me, I don't feel a huge amount of sympathy for any of them in this situation. They're all really shitty people, and Logan is the shittiest of them all.
Figured it out lmao I can see why you’d think it’s the over the top, the characters are incredibly animated, emotionally broken and delusional so they act in strange and operatic ways. Not an episode I’d rewatch but a really good one.
Yeah, for me some of the acting felt a bit OTT. I love the show, and some of the later episodes are incredible. I just think this one was way overhyped, because of the twitter sensation it caused, and when you rewatch season 4, it's not even in the Top 5. @@andrewstephens5885
