We take for granted the social divisions in the UK, but what this episode did was to forensically dissect the social divisions in the USA. The social contrast between the Pierces and the Roys was so well done that it hurt to see how each side played against the middle in the fight for control. It mirrored the old school monied aristocracy of the Pierces against the new rich Roys in a way that skewered their differences. At the same time showing that there's no honour amongst thieves even though Nan Pierce made a big thing about honour. I also like how we the audience have privileged information about how attitudes were changed as in the Kendall Roy and Naomi Pierce relationship. I wonder how much old man Roy intuited this in his final play. This was an absolutely brilliant episode especially because Shiv Roy acted quite out of character, again for personal power reasons which may be her downfall.
Review of Tern Haven
