It’s been 632 days since the Succession season 2 finale restored monocultural TV viewing with a beautifully Shakespearean press conference and one of the most intentionally inscrutable, hotly debated facial reactions in recent history. Since then, we’ve all come to agree that Succession is indeed the best show on television, and yet there’s been no new season to capitalize on that unity and buzz. Then, finally, this year there was an uptick in cast sightings around New York, and the only production working harder to net every cool actor was Knives Out 2. And today, Tuesday July 6, at long last: a one minute ten second trailer, here to save us both from the doldrums of a post-long weekend workday and a relatively meh period of television. Let’s break down our first glimpse from what is sure to be the best series of the year.
We open with Kendall behaving like Peak Kendall—he probably just got done listening to The Knowledge Project to psych himself up. We’re all rooting for Kenny, but do you think Logan Roy needs to stand in front of a mirror hyping himself for a fresh day of battle? (Advantage: Logan.)
It looks like a big set piece early in the season will revolve around Kendall making his triumphant, daring, some might say suicidal, return to the Waystar Royco offices following the press conference. And, inevitably, the man who invented Boar on the Floor literally charges at him, out for blood. (Advantage: Logan.)
Hey, it’s beloved veteran actor Sanaa Lathan! This is our first and only glimpse of one of the new cast additions, which also include Adrien Brody, Hope Davis and Alexander Skarsgård. We know Lathan is playing a “high-profile New York lawyer” and from the looks of it, she seems to be on Team Shiv. Which is to say, she’s probably deceptively cutthroat and extremely dangerous. Cannot wait.
Speaking of Shiv, here she is looking like the living embodiment of the purple demon emoji. If the trailer is any indication, Shiv’s appetite for power and clout is only going up this year, and she’s going to go Full Littlefinger and use Kendall and Logan’s world war as chaotic cover to play both sides until she emerges as the victor. Considering how she crashed and burned trying to play this game last year, we’re not confident. (Advantage: Logan.)
And while we’re on the subject of Shiv, this is easily the runaway marquee moment across all 70 seconds. No further comment.
Not nearly enough Greg the Egg in this trailer, but Tom unleashing one of his trademark absurdly-worded threats is a great start. Remember, Greg is Team Kendall, which probably puts him at odds with his BFF Tom. Hate to see a good couple on the skids. (And speaking of, not much in here to infer on where Tom and Shiv stand these days. But knowing Tom, he probably folded.)
Judging from these paired shots of angry crowds in the streets trying to cancel Logan and the feds kicking down Waystar’s doors, Kendall’s press conference did some real damage.
Our boy Lil Kenny has a classic Middle-Aged Rich White Man’s swag deficiency, and the Ls he takes from Logan usually result in some of his most tragic fits. Remember those unfortunate designer sneakers during his short-lived bid as a venture capitalist that singlehandedly lost him cool points with a potential client? This jacket, and the fact that he’s wearing it during a fit of exasperated rage, would suggest we’re seeing him at a similar point of defeat. And, split-second screenshot notwithstanding, it looks quite hideous. It also seems like Kendall Roy has inherited Jeremy Strong’s storied predilection for all things brown. (Advantage: Probably Logan.)
There’s a lot of physical rage in this trailer! But let’s talk about that movie poster, which looks like a Michael Bay classic (“Destroyer of moons!”) and reminds us that Waystar has a film division that Roman runs. That’s a well of potential absurdity that should be explored more often.
And here’s the piece de resistance, [one of] the [many] reason[s] we cape for this show: Brian Cox, whispering threats with the same dulcet tone he uses to sell Big Macs during the NBA playoffs. Because this is Succession, it turns out he and his Number One Son aren’t just trading garden variety jabs, but specifically, Jack and the Beanstalk references. Can you feel the love? [Advantage: Logan, for the maniacal laugh.]
And shoutout to their insult go-between, Kendall’s right-hand Jess. Salute to one of the show’s must unsung characters. Whatever happens, we’re rooting for her.