Kendall pitches his siblings on his vision for their future in “Mass in Time of War,” which re-establishes the emotional and material stakes of the series. The Fly Guys are joined by Fran Hoepfner to discuss the episode’s centerpiece scene, its thicket of character motivations, guilt, complicity, Messiah complexes, Based Ewan, and the return of Marcia. 

Fran Hoepfner (Twitter: @franhoepfner) is a writer, cultural critic, and Editor-at-Large for Bright Wall/Dark Room. https://www.brightwalldarkroom.com/author/franhoepfner/

Dan Sallitt on Michael Clayton: http://sallitt.blogspot.com/2008/02/michael-clayton-or-why-do-we-even.html

Succession 3.2, "Mass in Time of War" with Fran Hoepfner

Everyone's struggling to control the narrative in "The Disruption", which sees Ken and Shiv trading blows while the government comes knocking on Logan's door. To discuss a busy installment, The Fly Guys are joined by podcaster and historian Everett Rummage. The conversation begins by digging into Succession's fascination with the Napoleonic era and revolutionary history, then turns to this week's installment and its treatment of online life, old media versus new media, headspaces, bunker mentality, Colin canon, and more. 

Everett Rummage (Twitter: @Trillburne) is the host of Age of Napoleon, a podcast about the life and times of Napoleon Bonaparte. https://ageofnapoleon.com/

Succession 3.3, "The Disruption" with Everett Rummage

A deceptively quiet episode that sets the stage for the looming shareholder meet, "Lion in the Meadow" reunites Kendall and Logan for a critical encounter at the island estate of major shareholder Josh Aaronson (Adrien Brody). Film and television critic Vikram Murthi returns to the RoyCast to talk the loaded silences and emotional violence of Ken and Logan's reunion, the parallels between father and son, Josh Aaronson's motives, the episode's mix of dramatic narrative and sitcom plotting, Terminal Tom, simmering online backlash, and more.

Vikram Murthi (Twitter: @fauxbeatpoet) is a freelance critic whose writing about film and television regularly appears in the AV Club, The Nation, and Reverse Shot. 

Vikram's piece on the production of Succession for Filmmaker Magazine: https://filmmakermagazine.com/109903-location-truth/#.YYytr55KhfV

David Davis on Roman and Gerri's relationship: https://itsdavid.substack.com/p/david-davis-d61

Succession 3.4, "Lion in the Meadow" with Vikram Murthi

At the much-anticipated Waystar shareholder meeting, "Retired Janitors of Idaho" finds the cast of Succession in a madcap scramble as they try to salvage a last-minute settlement with Sandy and Stewy while dealing with an incapacitated Logan. Emily VanDerWerff joins the RoyCast to discuss this episode's farcical energy, its visual and narrative form, the show's political themes, Shiv's redpilling, childhood traumas, the prospect of Roy-Wambsgans offspring, and Ken's Sermon on the Marriott.

Emily VanDerWerff (Twitter: @emilyvdw) is critic-at-large for Vox and the co-creator of the fiction podcast Arden.

Emily's piece on "Retired Janitors of Idaho": https://www.vox.com/culture/22777228/succession-episode-5-season-3-recap-review-retired-janitors-of-idaho-logan-abuse

Succession 3.5, "Retired Janitors of Idaho" with Emily VanDerWerff

With returning guest Jeremy Mongeau, the Fly Guys wade into the swamp and try to dispel some of the very bad vibes emanating from “What It Takes”. Topics include: the show’s approach to the U.S. political system, the limits of triangulation, Justin Kirk’s home run performance, the Conheads, Shiv’s identity crisis, Roman’s show biz aspirations, the episode’s undercurrent of sinister libidinal energy, the respective rises of Kerry and Greg, Tom’s blackpill era, and the Ken Hive in shambles. 

Jeremy Mongeau tweets from @JeremyMonjo.

Succession 3.6, "What It Takes" with Jeremy Mongeau

At Ken's maximalist 40th birthday party, the Waystar team celebrates a sudden release from consequences while Ken looks for a resolution of his own. Film programmer and critic Madeleine Wall joins the RoyCast to discuss some of the episode's extreme highs and lows: Tom's King Kong moment and subsequent rough night, vagina tunnels, Connor's bag, Greg's game, Lukas Matsson, the return of Naomi, an ascendant Roman, a frustrated Shiv, dueling Electra and Oedipus complexes, Hudson Yards, Ken's music taste, childhood regression, the death wish, the aftereffects of abuse, and more.

Madeleine Wall (Twitter: @parietines) is a film programmer for Indie Memphis and critic whose writing has appeared in Cinema Scope, Sight & Sound, MUBI, and Quill & Quire. https://www.indiememphis.org/

We love doing this podcast and we take pride in delivering thoughtful and thorough discussions. RoyCast is a passion project and we incur minor ongoing expenses related to producing and hosting the podcast, however, we have no intention of paywalling the show. For those who would like to support you can do so here: https://roycast.square.site/#uHRBZn We are deeply grateful for all who listen!

Succession 3.7, "Too Much Birthday" with Madeleine Wall

In another of Succession's trademark bad vacations, "Chiantishire" moves the season's plot, and maybe Kendall, towards an endgame. Anna Golez joins the Fly Guys to discuss the direction of Mark Mylod, new Nicholas Britell cues, the season's theme of historical change, Greek tragedy, deadbeat dads spanning multiple generations, Peter Munion, Kendall's fate, water imagery, John Berryman, podcasts, the Roys as analogues for the Kennedys, Shiv and Tom renegotiating their relationship, Roman's sicko moment, Logan's prejudices, Connor's proposal, Greg's flailing storyline, Lukas Matsson's true motives, and more.

Anna Golez is the proprietor of no context Succession (Twitter: @nocontextroyco) who you can find tweeting even more about Succession at @waystarceo.

Emily VanDerWerff on the episode's final shot: https://www.vox.com/culture/2021/12/7/22822667/succession-episode-8-season-3-chiantishire-kendall-recap-dead

Jesse Armstrong on the season 2 finale and John Berryman: https://www.vulture.com/2019/10/succession-season-2-finale-jesse-armstrong.html

RoyCast is a passion project and we incur minor ongoing expenses related to producing and hosting the podcast. However, we have no intention of paywalling the show. For those who would like to support you can do so here: https://roycast.square.site/

Succession 3.8, "Chiantishire" with Anna Golez

Dominoes fall in the Succession season finale, and "All the Bells Say": too late. Isaac Butler returns to the RoyCast for a spirited debate about the third season's flaws and virtues, as well as to weigh in with some expert commentary on the recent Jeremy Strong discourse. Topics from the finale discussion include: Ken's confession, the Roy children teaming up, parallels between Matsson and Logan, billionaire elitism, the decision to sell Waystar and its implications for the future, Godfather references, Kieran Culkin as the season's MVP, Sympathy for Shiv, Tom as the show's true protagonist, Greg's place in the narrative, costume design, and the long-deferred dream of Connor Season.
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RoyCast is a passion project and we incur minor ongoing expenses related to producing and hosting the podcast. However, we have no intention of paywalling the show. For those who would like to support you can do so here: roycast.square.site/
~~~
Isaac Butler (Twitter: @parabasis) is a cultural critic and author of The Method: How the Twentieth Century Learned to Act, available 2/1 from Bloomsbury. 
He is also the co-host of Slate's Working podcast. https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/method-9781635574784/

Succession 3.9, "All the Bells Say" with Isaac Butler

From a chat recorded on March 7th, Brendan and Gabi reunite for a loose, hangout style episode to share some news about the podcast, discuss season 3 with the benefit of a few months’ hindsight, and share wildly outdated thoughts about the awards race. Topics include: Euphoria, The Righteous Gemstones, Golden Globes, SAGs, Emmys, Succession season 2 versus season 3, episode rankings, fantasy casting, and favorite films of 2021.

Apologies for Brendan’s squeaky chair in the background of this ep.

Postseason

For the first installment in a series exploring works that make up the creative DNA of Succession, critic and author Adam Nayman joins Brendan to discuss The Game, the 1997 conspiracy thriller directed by David Fincher starring Michael Douglas, Sean Penn, and Deborah Kara Unger. The discussion kicks off with an analysis of the title sequence, which inspired Succession's own opening credits, and branches off from there to explore other interesting connections between film and series. Towards the end, Adam and Brendan also discuss Succession executive producer Adam McKay's recent film Don't Look Up. This episode was recorded before the Oscar nominations, so listeners will once again be privy to some laughably outdated awards speculation.
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Community's spoof of The Game's ending, from "Conspiracy Theories and Interior Design": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de4KwN6CjZ8
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Critic Gina Telaroli on The Game, for Criterion: https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/7135-the-meaning-of-money-in-the-game
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Adam Nayman (Twitter: @brofromanother) writes about film for The Ringer and Cinema Scope magazine. His latest book is David Fincher: Mind Games. https://www.abramsbooks.com/product/david-fincher-mind-games_9781419753411/

Bonus — The Game (1997), with Adam Nayman

The original and still independent Succession podcast. Seasons 1-3 available widely.

Postseason

RoyCast

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