74. "Succession" with Caitlin Flanagan
74. "Succession" with Caitlin Flanagan
The great family drama comes to an end, and we bring in the Atlantic essayist to talk privilege and parenting, menace and beauty, and the real tragedy of the show
Appears in this episode
Devastated! Satisfied! The HBO series “Succession” had its finale, and Nancy and Sarah could not wait to discuss with Atlantic writer and essayist extraordinaire Caitlin Flanagan, who joins Smoke ‘Em to “sit shiva” for the Roys. Discussed:
Who saw the ending coming?
The “failson” that was Kendall, and why does Sarah want to fix him?
The louche character of Roman, nihilist
Shiv meets the fate of her mother, her worst fear
Why the Greg theory of victory was never gonna wash
A father’s love: The real narrative drive of the show
“It takes three generations of American life to make a Shakespeare scholar”
Freud’s repetition compulsion
The funeral episode and the speech that was Nietzsche meets The Fountainhead
Shiv and Tom: “A change has come / she’s under my thumb”
That nasty Jeremy Strong profile in the New Yorker
Why “privilege” is a shallow metric to talk about a human life
NOTE: We had tech problems! There’s a lag after Caitlin’s answers that wasn’t there in real time, and at one point we lose Nancy, though she comes back. Forgive us. We were too excited, and Sarah hasn’t met her techie boyfriend yet.
Episode Notes:
Caitlin Flanagan in The Atlantic
“‘Succession’ Nailed the Unreal Way We Live Now,” by Kurt Andersen (New York Times)
The “Elizabethan painting” in the back of the limo:
“On ‘Succession,’ Jeremy Strong Doesn’t Get the Joke,” by Michael Schulman (New Yorker)
“Farewell, Kendall Roy,” by Michael Schulman (New Yorker)
“Jeremy Strong: That Profile Felt Like ‘A Profound Betrayal,’” by David Canfield (Vanity Fair)
“Why Do So Many ‘Succession’ Fans Think They Can Fix Kendall Roy?,” by Becca Holland (Collider)
74. "Succession" with Caitlin Flanagan
Spoiler Alert:
My fiancé didn’t like the ending, but I loved it. He said he didn’t understand why Shiv would ultimately side with Tom over the siblings, i.e., Ken. I totally got it, however. Tom loves Shiv and will always protect her. Plus, he’s the father of her child! He’ll make sure that child gets everything it needs. If Ken took over the company he’s be a loose cannon plus he’d always be looking out for his interests before anyone else’s. Tom and Shiv, insomuch as they’re married or at least co-parents, have interests that overlap way more than Shiv and her brothers.
Shiv was smart to swallow her pride and align with Tom. He got what he always wanted. Now he’ll ensure Shiv has everything she needs.
I thought the ending was perfect and just how it should be. Amazing acting. Phenomenal show.