‘Succession’ recap: S3 E8 – “Chiantishire”

If anyone thought that the stockholder episode this season was the craziest episode of Succession, they would undoubtedly have their mind blown by what transpires in the eighth episode. Just when it seems one can get a sense of where Jessie Armstrong’s heading with the series, he always manages to throw a curveball and leave us all stunned. After what occurred tonight, who knows what happens during the season finale. With that in mind, let us attempt to dive into our top 5 takeaways from episode 8.

5. Falling apart

For starters, what seemed to be a slam-dunk deal for Waystar and GoJo is seemingly falling apart. Roman (Kiernan Culkin) was so sure of this happening that he was becoming a sexually repressed version of his dad. Roman feels that this will vault him to the top, and with that, leave his siblings in the dust. However, it appears that Lukas (Alexander Skarsgård) has played him. He’s done just enough of a dance with Waystar that it seems there’s no turning back from this deal, and now he wants a merger of equals. Even Roman isn’t dumb enough to think that this will ever happen. He even says as much to Gerri (J Smith-Cameron). What’s shocking is when it comes up in the meeting, Logan doesn’t immediately turn it down. Could Alexander Skarsgård be joining the show in a more significant role? However, that’s not even the biggest story out of this.

During the meeting, Roman feels so great after dad didn’t just meltdown at the thought of a 50/50 merger; he decides to send a dick pic to Gerri. However, he manages to send it to his dad instead. This, of course, sends him into a tailspin and gives Shiv (Sarah Snook) the opening to trash both Gerri and Roman. Logan even hints at possibly firing Gerri. Gee, I wonder who would have so much dirt on Logan if they were suddenly terminated?

4. Never Change

Watching Cousin Greg (Nicholas Braun) attempt to pick up a woman is hysterical. He’s so awkward, and I love it. A couple of these moments broke up the insanity of episode 8.

3. Hi Mom

We once again are graced by the return of Roman, Shiv, and Kendall’s mother, Lady Caroline Collingwood (Dame Harriet Walter), and it did not disappoint. Of course, they are altogether due to Caroline’s impending nuptials. Roman tries to talk some sense into her about a pre-nuptial agreement, but she won’t hear anything of it. If there’s any doubt about why Rome has mommy issues, watching those two interact will clear that up. She has also taken a neutral stance in the feud between Kendall (Jeremy Strong) and Logan (Brian Cox). This catches her son off guard and might be a contributing factor to the meltdown that he’s about to have (more on this later)

2. It’s all out on the table

Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) and Shiv have some of the best dialogue in this episode. The last few days’ events have sent her over the edge to the point where now she’s willing to fight for the company. Shiv has, in a sense, begun to morph into her father. Mix in a horrid conversation with her mother about how she was a mistake, and now it seems kids are in their future. This, of course, catches Tom off guard, and in the course of their “dirty” talk, so much truth is spoken by Shiv. She essentially says that the only reason why Tom wants her is that Shiv is out of her league. If there’s any doubt about these two divorcing down the road, this pretty much eliminates that.

1. Please, let me be wrong

Kendall uses this wedding to demand a face-to-face with his father. During their meeting, he pleads with him to let him out of the company. He wants to take that deal he was offered at the party. Kendall calls him a horrible human being (which isn’t a lie), but it triggers Logan to bring up his past and the waiter he killed the weekend of Shiv’s wedding. When Logan leaves, he tells Kendall to “F” off. Towards the end of the episode, we see Kendall floating in a pool with this look of hopelessness. Could he be having suicidal thoughts? Is the only way out of the family death? We are left with so many questions at the end of the episode.

Photos: Graeme Hunter/HBO

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Dewey Singleton

I'm a member of Critics Choice, Hollywood Critics Association, and The Society of Professional Journalists. I am also on Rotten Tomatoes. My bylines include @awardswatch, @deweysmovies, @awardsradar, @weliveentertainment, @bleedingcool, and @insessionfilm. I am married to @sgitw and have two sons.

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