# Succession on HBO **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted, hbomax-wb-dc\ **Created:** [June 4, 2018, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/succession-on-hbo/815428 "2018-06-04T19:34:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 20
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/succession-on-hbo/815428/381 "2023-05-08T20:50:30Z")
I bet Alaska goes Dem, meaning Conner costs Mencken the election. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/succession-on-hbo/815428/382 "2023-05-08T20:51:47Z")
I bet Mencken is like Trump in 2016 and beats the polls and shocks the world. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/succession-on-hbo/815428/383 "2023-05-08T21:48:34Z")
I thought that was specifically the deal, he was to announce he was dropping out and urge his voters to back their guy. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/succession-on-hbo/815428/384 "2023-05-08T22:02:44Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > There is no way that the fight with Ebba and her dropping the India bomb wasn’t completely staged. Mattson is preparing to fuck those guys. That seems like a reasonable assumption but I would’ve thought that such data could easily be checked. Certainly if the deal proceeds as normal it’'ll now form part of the due diligence checks and it’ll be shown to either be true or not. If it is all staged then Mattson must be betting that Kendall is provoked into some other rash course of action so that Waystar doesn’t even get to that due diligence stage. At which point the subterfuge is revealed, Kendall’s assumption is torpedoed, His plans are scuppered, the Waystar stock price sinks and Mattson acquires on the cheap. That would see _all_ of the Roy children being nicely harpooned (Shiv having been a pawn of Mattson all along). And just a thought, if that were the case what are the chances of Greg being used by Mattson to deliver the defenestration of the Roy siblings? Anyhow, we’ll find out soon enough. And yes I agree with others on the power of that balcony scene. I said upthread that I think Matthew Macfadyen had been knocking it out of the park consistently and he absolutely delivered again. ---
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/succession-on-hbo/815428/385 "2023-05-08T23:10:59Z")
That’s interesting, and funny, about Greg firing a Roy. They did spend at least 2 scenes with Greg/firing people for that not to lead somewhere. However, it might lead to Greg just being able to do 'big boy" things versus specifically being ability to fire people (and specifically the Roy trio). ---
**Author:** ![nicky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f0a364/32.png) [@nicky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nicky)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/succession-on-hbo/815428/386 "2023-05-09T13:13:02Z")
Ive circled back to Mattson being as much of a fuckwitted fuckup as the Roys. I think lingering scandiphobia means i dont want to see a swede be _really_ strategically cunning. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/succession-on-hbo/815428/387 "2023-05-09T14:43:59Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > If it is all staged then Mattson must be betting that Kendall is provoked into some other rash course of action so that Waystar doesn’t even get to that due diligence stage. > At which point the subterfuge is revealed, Kendall’s assumption is torpedoed, His plans are scuppered, the Waystar stock price sinks and Mattson acquires on the cheap. Another theory I’ve seen is that there in fact _are_ massive hidden problems with Gojo and Mattson, by floating the India numbers, is trying to provoke Kendall into buying Gojo for a price much higher than their true worth (or what _will_ be their actual worth once the hidden issues becomes public knowledge) I like the fact that we can’t really tell and that many options are equally plausible. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/succession-on-hbo/815428/388 "2023-05-09T18:32:10Z")
Agreed. And seeing much-put-upon Greg firing the three Roys would be three million kinds of _awesome_. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/succession-on-hbo/815428/389 "2023-05-09T18:47:33Z")
Had AI write Greg the Egg firing his cousins, with a bit of dressing up from me: GREG HIRSCH: (smiling nervously) Hey, you guys, what’s up? It’s great to see you all again. KENDALL: (skeptical) Greg, what’s going on? GREG HIRSCH: (chuckles nervously) Oh, nothing too serious. I just wanted to catch up with my favorite cousins at the ol’ salt mine…cuz! ROMAN: (rolls his eyes) Fuck you Greg. I’m outta here. GREG HIRSCH: (ignores Roman’s comment) So, how about, um (shuffles papers in front of him) a game of truth or dare? Shiv, truth or dare? SHIV: (looks at him suspiciously) Um, no. GREG HIRSCH: (grinning) Oh yeah, that’s not, we can do that…later…that’s stupid. KENDALL: (impatiently) Greg, can we please get to the point? GREG HIRSCH: (deflates) Right, sorry. Look, I’ll cut to the chase. I’m firing you guys. ROMAN: (surprised) What? Fuck you. You can’t do that. GREG HIRSCH: (backpedaling) I mean, I can, but I don’t want to. It’s just that the shareholders and the board of directors have lost confidence in you…your ability…your _abilities_ to lead the, uh company. The Waystar Royco and all the _things_. KENDALL: (angrily) And you think you can do better? GREG HIRSCH: (nervously) Well, I’m certainly going to try my best. But I’ll bet you guys get a really pretty sweet severance package, like I’m sure you will, right? The room falls silent as the three siblings process the news. Greg looks around the room, hoping for a positive response, but all he gets is stony silence. GREG HIRSCH: (trying to sound upbeat and shuffling papers again) Okay, well, I guess that’s it then. (Looks at his papers) I’ll, uh, see you guys around. Like, family…parties, Christmas…it’s been…real…good, fun. OK! The siblings get up scoffing and and crosstalking, “Fuck you Greg,” “Yeah, fuck you Greg.” Roman throws a full water bottle at the table in front of Greg, soaking him. Greg tries to ignore the water running down his face onto his ill-fitting suit as he gathers up his papers, looking like a doofus. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/succession-on-hbo/815428/390 "2023-05-09T19:32:28Z")
Looks like the screenwriters are safe for a while. AI does lame dialog. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/succession-on-hbo/815428/391 "2023-05-09T22:29:33Z")
Yeah, the AI didn’t have the siblings speaking In impenetrable metaphors nearly enough. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/succession-on-hbo/815428/392 "2023-05-09T22:53:07Z")
I thought some of the greg lines worked if you imagine him awkwardly sputtering them while trying to be charming. The line about a “pretty sweet severance package” made me laugh ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/succession-on-hbo/815428/393 "2023-05-10T03:27:15Z")
> [@nicky](#): > > Ive circled back to Mattson being as much of a fuckwitted fuckup as the Roys. Yep, I don’t get all these Mattson is just an evil genius who concocted this whole plan and got Ebba to agree to it and thought 15 steps ahead. This is the guy who sent a Holocaust tweet during a presentation and called Kendall’s number “gay” (what is he a teen from the 90s?) in a public party. Unless he’s the one trying to tank the deal, but then why offer soo much higher than what Waystar Royco is worth. Though Succession has never been the type of show where the schemes are so intricate and elaborate. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/succession-on-hbo/815428/394 "2023-05-10T03:35:42Z")
Maybe they are trying to portray him like Musk and Twitter. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/succession-on-hbo/815428/395 "2023-05-10T03:37:13Z")
I think that’s probably the best comparison. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/succession-on-hbo/815428/396 "2023-05-10T14:43:54Z")
Yeah, I think the point is that they’re all a bunch of self titled morons drunk on their own PR. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2023, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/succession-on-hbo/815428/397 "2023-05-15T02:52:07Z")
Man, tonight’s ep needed to come with a trigger warning. Getting heart palpitations like it was 2016 all over again, with a feeling of dread for 2024. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2023, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/succession-on-hbo/815428/398 "2023-05-15T02:58:25Z")
Yeah, I can’t remember the last time I had this amount of anger and nausea over a show. Never? ---
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2023, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/succession-on-hbo/815428/399 "2023-05-15T03:17:55Z")
Same. I really disliked Roman. I’ve always liked him in this series, but not this episode. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2023, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/succession-on-hbo/815428/400 "2023-05-15T03:21:05Z")
Roman’s been a horrible piece of shit since ep 1 (so has everyone, except Greg, that took longer). He’s been a Nazi piece of shit for a long time too. I don’t see how this episode is an aberration for him at all. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/succession-on-hbo/815428.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/succession-on-hbo/815428.md?page=21)