Buckle up fuckleheads we’re excited for the Succession finale

[CultureAlienationBoredomandDespair]

Continuing our discussion here 😊

I hope I'm okay to bump this thread. I just finished watching last night - DH was away for work so a big pause until we could watch S4 and seriously, avoiding the spoilers was hard work but I managed and I'm so glad I did when I saw episode 3.

Lots to think about, I'm still digesting, but one thing I'd like to discuss is that New Yorker article. I was watching the recent CBS interview with Jeremy Strong and they mentioned it and he looked so genuinely hurt, I really felt for him. I then found and read the article and thought it was incredibly bad-faith, that they'd basically found every negative snippet they could, deliberately excluded any context and put the worst spin on it they could to create a particular narrative. As the writer has known him for years I wonder if there's jealousy at play there. Has anyone else read it?

Have you got a link to it?

@slamfightbrightlight here you go:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/12/13/on-succession-jeremy-strong-doesnt-get-the-joke

It would be an interesting background piece otherwise but it's just snide throughout imo.

'Lots to think about, I'm still digesting, but one thing I'd like to discuss is that New Yorker article. I was watching the recent CBS interview with Jeremy Strong and they mentioned it and he looked so genuinely hurt, I really felt for him'

I heard him being interviewed on the Kara Swisher Succession podcast and I really liked him. I thought he sounded really earnest and genuine. Yes, maybe he is a bit of a pain in the arse to work with, but a lot of people seem to have it in for him, including some of his (very unprofessional) colleagues!

@Lottapianos agree, he comes across as earnest and pleasant. He's no nepo-baby, he's earned his success by his own merit and dedication and that's got to involve a level of intensity, especially as I get the impression he's in it for the love of the craft rather than the pursuit of fame and money.

I have a feeling the writer of the New Yorker article apologised after it came out, as it had been heavily edited from the version submitted. I may have hallucinated that whole thing but that's my feeling.

He did a great 'Actors on actors' interview for Variety with Anne Hathaway and it was fascinating, well worth a watch here.

I can imagine him being pretty tricky to work with, but only because he demands so much of himself. It pays off as his work is incredible.

Always happy to have this thread bumped! I haven't been able to re-watch the finale yet, I think it is just too heartbreaking.

Incidentally the Ellen Pompeo and Katherine Heigel chat on Actors on Actors was also fascinating and put me on to 'The Offer' on Amazon Prime, which is one of my highlights of the year - obvs Succession is number 1 but it was well worth watching.

@tribpot , that looks really interesting, will definitely give it a watch

I have a feeling the writer of the New Yorker article apologised after it came out, as it had been heavily edited from the version submitted. I may have hallucinated that whole thing but that's my feeling.

That's interesting. I was just reading the GQ article and it sounds like it had a big impact on him for a while. Poor bugger. Clearly that vulnerability that comes through sometimes with Kendall that is so effective. He said it made him feel foolish.
But I also saw that a lot of actors came to his defense afterwards.

I've gone down a big Succession wormhole today now that I don't have to avoid spoilers, and got almost no work done.

I'll give that link a watch, thank you, and I'll definitely watch The Offer after I've had a few days decompressing and watching something light.

I do vaguely remember a bit of a to-do about that article at the time but that’s the first time I’ve read it. I feel for him though can also see why he would be very hard work! I do think that added layers to his performance in Succession though as well as his relationship with everyone else in it.

Thanks for sharing the article. It’s well written but I agree - you can sense an element of jealousy in there, a bit of tall Poppy syndrome. As someone said, if the writer has known him for years, maybe he begrudges him his talent, recognition of it, fame & money?

It actually makes me really fond of Strong for blurring the lines between himself and Kendall. So what that he’s serious, determined, into immersive acting methods & puts his acting idols on a pedestal? The casting was superb all round. Strong definitely deserved his Emmy - though that probably irked Brian Cox no end.

I just bought a coffee grinder today, funnily enough. Can’t imagine ever driving round Italy with it though. 🤣

Aaron Sorkin was angry enough about the article that he had Jessica Chastain actually release this statement on twitter. He felt he'd been taken completely out of context.

My DH lovingly pre-grinds his coffee beans into a special tin and then travels with his aeropress!

Anyway I definitely feel like I need to rewatch the whole thing, the dialogue is so quickfire that I've probably missed lots the first time around and I think it'll be fascinating to see the beginning when being much more familiar with the characters. I also want to rewatch Peep Show now, it's been years.

Huge respect to you for not knowing the E3 bombshell. Did you avoid all human contact between then and now? 😂

Huge respect to you for not knowing the E3 bombshell. Did you avoid all human contact between then and now?

Avoiding human contact is largely my natural state 😂
Honestly I don't know how I managed, but I am so so glad I did, the suddenness and building confusion of that episode was incredible and knowing in advance would have lost that impact. Just didn't see it coming at all.

In retrospect the timing was perfect as the fallout and chain of events after definitely deserved most of a season.

Yes, kudos to you @JudgeAnderson for avoiding the big spoiler in S4.
It’s great that Aaron Sorkin set the record straight about being taken out of context, and that the writer of the New Yorker article apologised.
I’m very tempted to rewatch all 4 series from the beginning, to savour the wit & witicisms.
Apropos….”my boy Squiggle cooked up this beat” 😂

Yep I'm really glad you got to watch Episode 3 the way it was intended to be viewed @JudgeAnderson. It is just one of the most remarkable episodes of television ever filmed.

I’d actually like to go back and watch it all in light of reading that Strong didn’t like to rehearse. As annoying as it might have been for his cast mates it must have added so much natural tension to the scenes. When they all seem so pissed off with Kendall I wonder how much of that was real life!

Ha ha, quite @slamfightbrightlight …especially Roman & Ken’s fight in S4, though the verbal assaults between them all is on par with any GBH.
I wonder if Strong uses the same acting techniques if playing a likeable, well balanced, genial character - or perhaps he’s not drawn to these type of roles.

I'm in hospital at the moment (nothing too serious) and looks like Gojo has been diversifying 🤣

I just bought tickets for his new play in London next year. I’d love to see Brian Cox on stage.

Do we think Matsson let Kendall come back and then gave him the soap dispenser division??

🤣🤣🤣
Maybe they’re diversifying to proverbially wash their hands clean of the cruise ship & other shenanigans.
I hope you make a speedy recovery & get well soon 🤗

I see Brian Cox is staying true to form in his play….

Thank you @Spamham

Soap dispenser division 🤣🤣