Now I know there's one more episode to this absolutely perfect television show, but I need to write this now, The Sopranos, Breaking Bad, The Wire.... Move over Succession is here to topple you. I'd like to keep this series review short and sweet but there is so much to unpack not just in the shows entirety but in this episode specifically.
The culmination of everything prior to "Church & State" is all laid out in it. The writing is most important and I believe Succession the greatest written television show of all time... at least matched with breaking bad. The way the characters are written in this show should be studied. Every character is fleshed out to the point where you really believe they are real. Kendall Roy = Walter White. Honestly there hasn't been a better character since Heisenberg. Then Kendall Roy. I know Brian Cox gets all the love in this show and it's well deserved but Jeremy Strong is in the convo as one of the greatest characters ever written for television. The way the writers make you root for him but at the same time make you hate him is astonishing. One moment he's threatening to take his children from their mother (who obviously is the clear parent who should have custody, seeing that Kendall Roy is a complete psychopath or as his father would say, Not a serious person). To the next moment where you honestly believe he loves his father and was raised in a way where Logan's "tough love" was exactly what his children needed. Kendall Roy the character is the best character development I've ever seen in tv.
Next is the acting... also again I believe on par or if not better than The Sopranos cast and Breaking Bad cast. Every single actor make you feel... they feel real. In such a nuanced and honest way. All of the main cast is phenomenal and should have no issues finding leading work in any film or tv. Again, Brian Cox was the main draw and rightfully so but in his absence this cast has done him Justice and have given their A game to every scene.
Finally is the directing. As maybe the most important aspect. For how flawless the writing and acting is, you still need to put the paper to screen, and the filming of these incredible written scenes and dialogue is done in such a flat and cold way that just makes the words and acting so much more poetic.
Honestly we are lucky to have seen this program even with one more episode left, I am more than comfortable saying this is the greatest form of entertainment on television I have seen maybe ever. At least since that maniac in the New Mexico desert. I feel lucky to have watched this show and no matter how It ends I am lucky to say I witnessed it's greatness. I hope you all agree. It's been a blast!!!
The culmination of everything prior to "Church & State" is all laid out in it. The writing is most important and I believe Succession the greatest written television show of all time... at least matched with breaking bad. The way the characters are written in this show should be studied. Every character is fleshed out to the point where you really believe they are real. Kendall Roy = Walter White. Honestly there hasn't been a better character since Heisenberg. Then Kendall Roy. I know Brian Cox gets all the love in this show and it's well deserved but Jeremy Strong is in the convo as one of the greatest characters ever written for television. The way the writers make you root for him but at the same time make you hate him is astonishing. One moment he's threatening to take his children from their mother (who obviously is the clear parent who should have custody, seeing that Kendall Roy is a complete psychopath or as his father would say, Not a serious person). To the next moment where you honestly believe he loves his father and was raised in a way where Logan's "tough love" was exactly what his children needed. Kendall Roy the character is the best character development I've ever seen in tv.
Next is the acting... also again I believe on par or if not better than The Sopranos cast and Breaking Bad cast. Every single actor make you feel... they feel real. In such a nuanced and honest way. All of the main cast is phenomenal and should have no issues finding leading work in any film or tv. Again, Brian Cox was the main draw and rightfully so but in his absence this cast has done him Justice and have given their A game to every scene.
Finally is the directing. As maybe the most important aspect. For how flawless the writing and acting is, you still need to put the paper to screen, and the filming of these incredible written scenes and dialogue is done in such a flat and cold way that just makes the words and acting so much more poetic.
Honestly we are lucky to have seen this program even with one more episode left, I am more than comfortable saying this is the greatest form of entertainment on television I have seen maybe ever. At least since that maniac in the New Mexico desert. I feel lucky to have watched this show and no matter how It ends I am lucky to say I witnessed it's greatness. I hope you all agree. It's been a blast!!!