The succession reaches a series high when Roys chooses the next president (2023)

The Roys have always been easy to read. Like all people with power, money, access and privilege, they want to hold on to that power, money, access and privilege. Whether they have any guiding moral truisms, principles, or beliefs that go beyond “upholding the status quo and our role in it” is difficult to say — and often irrelevant. The policies they impose on Waystar Royco sustain its popularity and delight its shareholders. The cynicism and nihilism with which they approach every situation maintains their indifference and perceived superiority.

The only true supporter of republican ideology for what it really issupportscould be Connor and watch as his brothers and even his father met his political aspirations with mockery and sarcasm. Why do you want to be a politician, someone who works?ProPeople? Real movement is whoever pulls the politician's strings, and the Roys always have been -- "What It Takes," the sixth episode of this third season of , makes that perfectly clearsuccessorand one of the absolute best in the series.

What an absolute hour-long tornado, full of piercingly gruesome, quiveringly pathetic and amusingly melodramatic material that makes the differencesuccessorGreat. For all the time we spent in Virginia on the secret weekend when powerful Republican influencers and donors gather to decide who to support in the next presidential election, which gives What It Takes its whiplash narrative pace, is everything that happens off screen.

Just KendallFeuerLisa after rightly denouncing him for overreacting to the government! Logan isdefinitelyslept with Kerry just a few weeks after he swore to Marcia that he would stop being so inattentive and indiscreet! (I know Marcia was holding her purse and that's good for her, but why would you embarrass her like that again, Logan?!) Greg gets a new lawyer who's already advising him to sue Greenpeace! Shiv accepts Tom going to jail and this has resulted in her husband not playing in her head so much that she doesn't even seem to notice when he doesdisappears to have a huge breakfast with his treacherous brother at a nearby diner!

All of this corresponds to what these people are - selfish, self-obsessed, egocentric. And what makes “What It Takes” so good is reminding us how this hidden toxicity spreads, how it works, and how it empowers big and small in every way. The greatest danger insuccessoris to believe in anything; This show treats this expansion of self as a kind of weakness. Believing in her own ordeal, Kendall trips over her own cock. Shiv believes in the American Republic and is ridiculed. Connor believes in himself and leaves the stage. The only truly powerful people right now are Logan and Roman, with the latter completely remodeling himself in the former's vein because they only care about themselves.

"I've always found it difficult to get interested in politics," says Roman, because it doesn't affect his life; "I don't care about the curriculum or ideological purity as long as they understand and show up," says Logan. If you're so rich, what does it matter who's president? Remember that "no amount of antibacterial gel will be able to cleanse America from me"? It's all a game, and the only thing Roman wants as Logan's shadow is to win. And frankly, he is. Roman is now #1 dad, laughs at memes with Logan, and laughs in bathrooms with the most terrifying Republican candidate, the one who spells his first name Jeryd becauseof course he does.

The only person who seems really close to Logan/Roman's sanctity is Tom, and for an opposite reason. You have everything to lose and he has nothing, and if we all remember oursFight ClubTraining: "Only when we have lost everything are we free for everything". Tom genuinely believes he's going to jail and he genuinely believes Shiv is preparing to leave him (because how dare she use birth control!) and he genuinely believes Greg is on an uptrend, leaving behind his once cared for/abused back, and yet-and still— he's still not throwing in his luck with Kendall. Matthew Macfadyen is a phenomenal actor who's always done a great job on this show (recently with the perfect "I'd castrate and marry you" line right now!), but his work against Jeremy Strong comes next. level things.

Macfadyen is a deeply empathetic blend of resignation and curiosity, resentment and rejection, politeness and aggressiveness, and his conversation with Strong is like a tennis match where Kendall tries to whip Tom and Tom smacks each of them. Tom can often appear on the wall like a clumsy fly, all proud and docile, but I really don't think he's an idiot. He understands power and he understands that Kendall doesn't have it. Macfadyen's pitying tone as he tells Kendall, "You know what they're doing in his suite? They elect the next President,” is melancholic, thoughtful and extraordinary. Maybe Tom will leave the family, but he won't do it by joining Kendall. Kendall is a broken man and Tom is not broke yet. He's desperate, but he's not helpless.

"What It Takes" begins after the Roys' triumph in maintaining control of their company, reaching an agreement with Stewy, Sandy and Sandi, and avoiding a vote at the recent shareholders' meeting. Interestingly, although Gerri, Karl, and Frank were instrumental in the stockholders' meeting, none of them are present in this episode, which begins with the Roy family heading to Virginia and the Future Freedom Summit. The remodeled family dynamics remain here: Roman is closer to Logan, Shiv is outside, Logan is kinder to Tom, and Connor is still low-key threatening to everyone.

The Roys enter Virginia feeling like they're kingbreakers (President Raisin is definitely on his way out) and on a mission to be kingmakers. Along with Michelle Anne of the White House and Republican agent and donor Ron Pectis (the ever-charming Stephen Root), the Roys arrive to find out who ATN will be supporting in the six months leading up to the presidential election. (Interesting that this timeline puts us in May, because both Kerry and Shiv dress more like it's fall.) The Roys are still after President Raisin to possibly ease the investigation into Waystar Royco, though unsurprisingly, there are power struggles within the family over which would-be Republicans should shine.

The three favorites are the ineffective (and boring) Vice President Dave Boyer (Reedbirney), the policy-oriented (and seemingly mediocre and therefore not over the top) Senator Rick Salgado (Yul Vasquez) and Proud Junge. -bordering nerd Jeryd Mencken (Justin Kirk), who drives the base into a frenzy with his endlessly aggressive, totally empty attitude. Connor sees an opportunity to present himself, but let's face it, it's not going to happen. ("In a room full of Timothy McVeighs, does Connor suddenly look like a Roosevelt?" Unfortunately no, and I'm guessing that means Connor didn't get that European job?)

Boyer, who licks his lips way too much, goes to Kerry, his assistant's lover, just as Logan taunts him. Salgado tells Shiv that if she helps Logan become President he will send Logan to jail - and Shiv agrees, but no one else is interested in Salgado as a candidate. Instead, it's clear that with what Shiv calls his "It's all red pill, baby" ideology, Mencken will be the man. Was there really any other way this could have happened? There wasn't.

Never mind that Mencken mocks Logan and disrespects ATN; He'll certainly change his mind when he realizes that ATN is looking for a candidate. What matters is how fast Mencken and Roman vibrate, and I'll be honest: it was very sexual! I almost felt uncomfortable! Has Roman ever been as flirtatious, shy, and flirtatious as when he was talking to Mencken? Kieran Culkins charm offensive across the pitch as was Romannot lessmore direct than with Gerri, but that's how it wasmostattractive: all winks and pursed lips and genuine smiles. I really thought Roman and Jeryd were going to kiss and I'm sure someone is already writing this fanfic. They're just "a bunch of nice guys having a disgusting time," and it doesn't take Logan long to convince himself of that, does he?

"The weather said I was going to fall. The weather said I should go away. I guess I'm a climate denier," Logan says before he sleeps with Kerry, and when Shiv claims she won't be in the family photo with Mencken the next morning, he wears her down with just one line. "Are you part of this family or not?" he asks, and honestly, Shiv,What are you doing? Do you think it's a victory to take three people away from Mencken? "You won, Pinky. You won,” Logan says, and this is a snapshot of how this father shares the power with his children: evil.

It seems like a natural transition to discussing Kendall, doesn't it? My husband is missing something! He initially annoys Lisa by not taking the questioning of her practice seriously ("I approved the illegal payments because I love sexual assault and I love covering it up. Is that bad? ... I'm not saying that, I'm saying what you think you, I assume, don't you?”) and she's offended, offended by Lisa's warning that the papers he provided "lack some of the explosiveness they claim they might have." The fact that Mom is marrying Caroline without telling him Kendall shook enough ("Ken Bores Mom") that he flunked his US government meeting? Or did he blow up on purpose? I think there's a bit of both that affects Kendall's actions and when Lisa calls him "arrogant and defensive." ..extremely familiar and garrulous," he can't handle it. Bye Lisa and hello, possibly, Tom.

But Kendall, for all his efforts to be a fair leader, is not a coalition builder. He offers Tom basically nothing in exchange for his cooperation, and while Kendall thinks he's a martyr, Tomactually it is like that. He offered himself to Logan. He agrees to take on some of Greg's crimes: "Carry me, you piece of shit." He's curious to know how a toilet can be such a bastard! (Me too!) And consider how Kendall and Tom behave during and after their meeting: Kendall insults Tom and his marriage to Shiv, calls him a "country mouse" and then takes a picture of him as blackmail. Kendall's desperation is getting really bad, and I'm going to go ahead and call Tom with this analysis: "I'm guessing you're going to be screwed. Because I've seen you fuck yourself a lot. And I've never seen Logan get fucked.

Couple this line with what Shiv said earlier: "Nothing is more dangerous than a second-rate person who sees his opportunity." The problem, of course, is that Shiv's statement could apply to any of the children. What will Kendall do? What will Roman do? What will Connor do? What will Shiv himself do? And what does Tom do - always sit and watch and wait - what will Tom do? I can't waste all the cake batter.

missed observations

• A drinking game that would kill you: How many times does Shiv and Kendall say "Uh-huh" in a Daddy Logan emulation.
• This season certainly loved its guest stars, didn't it? We have Adrien Brody for an episode, Stephen Root and Yul Vasquez (hot with his all white hair) for an episode and Alexander Skarsgård for an episode next week. (I suppose Justin Kirk is staying on longer.) All these familiar faces are fun, but it would have been nice to have had more of Hiam Abbass and Arian Moayed, who are no longer regulars on the series. And Sanaa Lathan is righteous nowwar? Caramba, Kendall!
• No pre-credits opening scene in this episode, and the lack of interruptions definitely added to the driving feel of the episode.
• "We allow the music to be played at my father Lisa's tempo and I don't know why!" Imagine Jeremy Strongwhip. Fear is too much!
• Shiv's recurring response to Roman is that he wants to have sex with Dad Logan or Mom Caroline, and I beg them to put together new material. Shiv is perhaps the least creative of the Roy kids when it comes to ruthless competition.
• This episode wasn't heavily influenced by the Greg/Tom moments, but it's hard to decide which was more perfect: "I likeHamilton" and of course. We all have" or "I saw you ... fly on the wings of white power. Did it feel good when the fascists lifted you in the air like the Stanley Cup? Both are excellent as usual.
• Kerry gives Shiv a stinky look from across the room as she talks to Salgado - the last thing Logan needs is another spy, but it really looks like she is. And once again, Shiv can't seem to understand what her father wants or needs: she complains to him about credit for the deal at the AGM, she tries to convince him to switch parties and support the Democrats, she's that Convinced Ex-wife Caroline's upcoming wedding will excite him, though all she really does is make him laugh, and she doesn't think he's sleeping with Kerry until she sees it right in front of her. Shiv may have been Logan's favorite child at one point, but the closeness between them since season two has only been damaging. “My opinion counts more” – no.
• "Maybe I don't want to donate my body to political science." I see, Willa.
• Roman's ideas for ATN would likely be hugely popular, which is deeply depressing: "E-girls with guns and Juul pods... Deep State conspiracy time, but with a tongue in cheek, you know? Fun."
• Next week: Kendall's 40th birthday party with a potential Weimar and Carthage and Dante and AI theme! Actually, I'm not expecting Zadie Smith and Chuck D cameos, but the "Lukas Matsson" that Kendall is expecting is the name of Skarsgård's character. Get ready!