(Spoilers for Succession Season 2 below)

When Succession’s 3rd season began airing, the reception from fans was a bit mixed. After that explosive season 2 finale, many felt a bit cheated by how relatively standard the third season wound up feeling (at least initially). Kendall’s jaw-dropping betrayal paired with tense advertising seemed to promise a “new” Succession, one where its characters were at all-out war and its stakes were sky-high. But that is simply not what this show is. Instead of the screaming matches, villains behind bars, and financial ruin that many expected, Succession’s third season blessed us with a leisurely-paced deconstruction of each of our main characters and their relationships with one another.

This season is a lot less plot-centered than its predecessors, which works to its advantage. Rather than focusing on monumental events and their repercussions, it chose to examine its characters in relation to one another. This is facilitated by there being two “teams” this season: Team Logan and Team Kendall. Each of our main character’s oscillations between both sides for their own benefit provides most of the tension for the first 5 episodes. The 4 episodes that follow, however, are a lot more grounded as they put these characters’ motivations, fears, and insecurities under a microscope as new threats to their statuses of power emerge.

Succession’s writing has always been impressive, from its delightfully cruel insults to its Shakespearean misdirections. However, Jesse Armstrong and the rest of the writers’ room have somehow topped the brilliant “This Is Not for Tears” with this season’s finale “All The Bells Say”, which retroactively improved the entire season thanks to its payoff. As previously stated, Season 3 is paced slower than the first two seasons. However, the deliberate pacing coupled with the excellent character writing coalesced in this masterful finale, which is a tense, raw ride from beginning to end.

The absolute best thing about this show is its characters, and while its writing is some of the best in recent memory, Succession would not be the same without its phenomenal ensemble. Brian Cox is as terrifying as always, despite his larger-than-life presence being faced with its fair share of setbacks. Alan Ruck’s comedic chops are still a bit underutilized this season, but whenever he gets material to sink his teeth in, boy does he deliver. Kieran Culkin’s physicality is unmatched and embodies Roman’s gripping arc this season with ease. Nicholas Braun’s shift this season as fan-favorite Greg is believable and expertly portrayed, while still maintaining his top-notch comedic timing. Jeremy Strong continues to be painfully hard to watch as the deeply insecure Kendall, and I mean this in the very best way. Sarah Snook has her best season yet, as the conflicted but oblivious Shiv, who gives this character layers of vulnerability that make her simultaneously difficult to sympathize with and easy to empathize with. But the shining star of this season is Matthew Macfadyen. Tom’s arc here is a lot more understated than Roman or Kendall’s until the end, but he manages to illustrate it beautifully with his subtle delivery and facial expressions. Most of the time, his inner frustrations and dissatisfactions remain latent. It’s only in his twisted dynamic with Greg that we ever see his true emotions regarding his situation at any given point.

The beauty of Succession is not in watching the circumstances the characters find themselves in change. Most of these shifts are lateral and undone a few episodes later. Rather, what makes this show compelling is the way their character dynamics alter as each season goes on. For instance, Kendall’s press conference at the end of Season 2 continues to be deeply satisfying to watch, even with the added context of Season 3. I believe this is because the joy of this scene does not solely come from Kendall using his newfound platform to denounce wrongdoing. Rather, what truly makes it so gratifying is the pivotal act of Kendall finally freeing himself from his father’s grasp after watching him squirm lifelessly all season. Even though the 1% will rarely have any lasting financial consequences, Succession ensures that their emotional consequences feel just as, if not more, world-shaking. This is especially evident during the Season 3 finale. The actual events that occur will not drastically affect anyone’s lifestyle or financial status, but the fallout of several of these characters’ dynamics will be lasting. After all, no matter how much money you make, you cannot escape the ramifications your choices have on your relationships. The heightened focus on this aspect of its characters this time around makes Succession’s third season both the best season yet and the best show of 2021.

10/10