ATN Announces Mencken's Victory - Succession S4E8

[@captain07234]

The most unrealistic thing about this scenario is that there are two men running for president under the age of 70.

[@cyrusamaria]

And overtly visible mental issues

[@thechefbutcher]

not anymore... vivek's runnin'............

[@seewhativescene]

Vivek got rich scamming Alzheimer's patients with a drug he knew didn't work ​@@thechefbutcher

[@seewhativescene]

Vivek was a libertarian rapper at Harvard, he's a culture vulturing interloper ​@@thechefbutcher

[@thechefbutcher]

@@seewhativescene what does this mean

[@justinhamilton8647]

Close enough. Welcome back Jeryd Mencken

[@peterberg12353]

Trump isn’t facist

[@clementine2718]

To be honest I almost prefer Mencken to Trump

[@user-xm9ms5dl8d]

​@@peterberg12353i know but he's a step in the right direction

[@ktyy777]

​@@user-xm9ms5dl8dand by that we mean the right wing direction lmao

[@fatimaabdulsattar9223]

@@clementine2718 atleast mencken is hot

[@jcnom6606]

You can’t be Logan and be a good dad at the same time Kendall

[@realhillkell]

Poetic

[@aitothechamp7263]

Well I don’t think it’s fair to base what makes kendall a good dad on if he gives you the President you want

[@Ronam0451]

​@@aitothechamp7263 how about never seeing his kids?

[@stevn182]

He was neither in this ep

[@CoolTheoryGuy]

​@@aitothechamp7263 exactly, the daughter is so fucking entitled to think that she will get the president she wants because her dad is the CEO of a new organisation.

[@janechoy2073]

"America Decides" - what an irony of an episode title when it's literally decided by what, 4 people.

[@panagiotistx]

3*

[@Zachuman]

Bro they only decided to call it given that there was a fire incident and some votes weren’t counted. Otherwise the roys haven’t done anything to change the circumstances of the election

[@Mysil-bergsprekken]

​@@panagiotistx 2*

[@TESkyrimizer]

technically like

[@zangbang9886]

That's crazy it's almost like that's the whole point

[@jeebs621]

Greg is able to do what shiv cannot, and that is play all sides to his advantage.

[@yashsinha1236]

It’s because no one sees him as a threat. He’s always been an afterthought but has shown the most professional growth in the show. He just might come out on top at the end. I do hope so

[@dv9239]

@@yashsinha1236 well he faced relatively bigger threats in the early days of his career more than any of them

[@JoaoVictor-yq8ym]

@@yashsinha1236 I don’t he will be the one succeeding but I do recognize his character growth and how far away he got. Yesterday was a testament of how good he is. Fantastic character

[@dimaxbarnes6425]

I was gonna say 'have Tom's affection', but that too, lol

[@realpotassium]

@@JoaoVictor-yq8ym he’ll definitely get somewhere, not chairman/CEO but he’ll win in his own way

[@KaylaJones2000]

This aged like a fine wine.

[@DM-zl4ln]

Yes it did

[@jcnom6606]

This episode was like watching Kendall battle the Kendall his dad wanted

[@ivanolivas9897]

It’s Kendal L. Roy Vs K. Logan Roy

[@janpolanski1957]

I wouldn’t say so, it’s not a good decision, it doesn’t serve even their business

[@jimin-ssibangtansmind7230]

@@janpolanski1957 esto más bien puede que tenga repercusiones en el futuro. En algunas escenas dijeron que el caso de los votos de Wisconsin estaba siendo llevado a la corte, lo cual podría hacer que Mencken no ganara, lo cual podría manchar la reputación de ATN y Waystar Royco/Gojo porque fueron los que apoyaron a Mencken.

[@jyoung78]

"He's someone we can do business with." Ken is trying to convince himself more than anything.

[@expensive-brother]

He'll play ball, he owes them everything

[@LloydWaldo]

@@expensive-brother he won’t play ball. They’re delusional.

[@blucolife]

@@LloydWaldo He'll play ball because ATN is #1 in cable news, and he needs them on his corner. ATN has the power to make or break presidents.

[@insiddious]

@@blucolife this didn't age well

[@blucolife]

@@insiddious How so?

[@VanAlexi]

Who needs a Season 5 when we are about to live it.

[@jackchop1576]

I think they all fail miserably in the end. Logan's "you're not serious people" is just manifesting until the finale.

[@danlopez6960]

Seriously. Also Rhea absolutely nailed it with her assessment of the three.

[@KK-pm7ud]

​@@danlopez6960 What did Rhea say?

[@Sig509]

@@KK-pm7ud “Shiv thinks she’s smarter than she is. Roman could actually be good but nowhere near right now” “Kendall, I don’t know, it’s like you put him in a big-kid diaper and he can shit himself whenever he likes. He has all the shots but he doesn’t know when to play them.”

[@rayzala1393]

@@Sig509 Yeah that was definitely dead on. What about Greg though? Two episodes left he can still do it. From the bottom to the top? The only one who knows how much a gallon of milk costs. From barfing in a costume at a theme park to executive at a billion dollar company? Maybe Gregs our #1 boy.

[@SillyFrenchKing]

@@Sig509 she did say to Kendall: ‘’when where on the other side.. Its you, Its always been you’’

[@Andre_APM]

When Shiv was criticizing Mencken in S3, I thought they might spin him as a Trump-like figure. But what makes Mencken worse is that he comes accross as an actually _competent_ and _capable_ facist politician. Incredible move by the writers.

[@mattellsworth5153]

Also Trump isn't facist

[@bubastis6306]

@@mattellsworth5153 Trump is a malignant narcissist with an extremely fragile ego who is utterly incapable of grasping anything outside of his own narrow worldview. He is not a fascist, but he enables fascists because they are the ones who lick his boots and give him power. I honestly don't think he has any sound political convictions other than 'worship me or fuck off'.

[@CrispyGFX]

@@mattellsworth5153 MAGA clowns keep saying that, but you can't see fascism if you're a fascist yourself. Read the room.

[@jt7638]

​@@mattellsworth5153 a fat slovenly gangsteresque Mussolini style fascist, but definitely a fascist.

[@cookieking2244]

@@mattellsworth5153no he’s just greedy. The GOP though does consist in large part of fascists

[@david_bleu]

Life imitates art

[@HELLO_KORO]

This happened like 8 years ago

[@nickolausturbide1804]

Romans last words while he was on top to Mencken were "Over the road and into the bar". The ending of the following episode is when he hit rock bottom and decided to go into the road of protesters and get himself hurt by the physical manifestation of his backfired decision. This all led Roman to the conclusion he wasn't meant for any of this and in the finale the final shot of Roman is him sitting alone at the bar. Brilliant stuff

[@cainandabel7059]

Bravo, Vince!

[@seewhativescene]

Roman thought he was going to be praised like Joaquin Phoenix Joker, got trampled like Arthur fleck

[@Hurrishane03]

@@cainandabel7059Vince’s spin off show was way better than this

[@slayerduval1]

And the last shot of him in the series was in a bar, smiling over a martini.

[@BatmanHQYT]

Fun fact: Justin Kirk was recovering from COVID while filming Mencken's speech, he'd even lost his voice. He nailed his performance here, the speech was both chillingly eloquent and riddled with dog whistles about his beliefs. "Haggling between cunning men", "welfare kings and queens", "a leader willed into being", "something clean in this polluted land", "proud and pure", and so on.

[@JordansTake35]

laying the ground work for authoritarianism

[@gerryendersen4718]

At first I thought Shiv was overreacting about how bad he was, I thought he would be a Donald Trump type, like says some unbelievable and harmful shit but at the end of the day governs like a standard republican, but that speech sent shivers down my spine it was laying the groundwork for fascism with a modern culture war twist, I can’t wait to see what happens.

[@rv2167]

@@gerryendersen4718 Trump did not govern like a standard republican

[@davidv5584]

​@@rv2167let's be real, the nazis were dissapointed in him cause he was pretty tame compared to their expectation. USA is already a cruel and racist system anyway, able to be seen in every ruler

[@louthegiantcookie]

@@rv2167 He was more moderate than some around him and was actually a calming influence on some of the more radical members of his administration. The key difference was in how he positioned himself as an outsider, and how his power base was a cobbled-together mish-mash of various smaller groups within the right. Not to mention his almost medieval style of leadership, in appointing immediate family to important positions. He's a bizarre combination of Andrew Jackson, Chester Arthur and Rodrigo Borgia. Unique in American politics, certainly, but fairly orthodox in his actual governing.

[@OkeRiete]

Watching this at 4am in London as Trump is about to become elected in the 2024 election hits different

[@xenawarriorprincess4495]

Romans line “we just made a night of good TV” was most chilling to me bc he is so outside of his sense of humanity and empathy. He’s a child with the god-like power of his dads company who doesn’t realize his choice just impacted the lives of 300 million people (and the rest of the world). Not to mention the idea and model of democracy. You can’t even call Roman evil he’s too fucking dumb to be conniving

[@MeLlamoFick]

I think it's just him trying to rationalize his actions. Just look at his expression while listening to Mencken's speech. He's a little worried...

[@shytguy]

And shiv is a typical corporate democrat. Cares about her own self interests and then has the nerve to talk about worrying about the future of the country. This is about saving the republic. No it’s about screwing your brothers and your bitter rivalry.

[@mschell8022]

Roman is a total nihilist

[@mschell8022]

​@@shytguy I think the ep showed how the corporate democrat is powerless against the fascist

[@shytguy]

@@mschell8022 yeah except, on a human level, shiv as an individual hides behind “saving the country” or “saving America”, meanwhile she cares a whole hell of a lot more about her own ends and interests. Sure she can say that voting for this man is wrong, but it’s just a cover for her wanting to screw her brothers. Tired of people using the word fascist in America. There may be crooked politicians or even relatively clean politicians who you don’t like, but they are a far cry from an actual fascist. The only fascist behavior that I’ve seen in this modern era comes from extremist groups on the left using fear tactics And some on the far right too.

[@mikeym1479]

"Don't we long sometimes for something clean? Once, in this polluted land?"

[@abhijeetgupta23]

Did he mean white supremacy here?

[@avelynn5976]

​@@abhijeetgupta23 yes, the speech was riddled with dog whistles

[@mikeanthonyjr6067]

Welfare checkbook crowning welfare kings and queens til everyone is a made little tyrant crowned by the state

[@TheNibblerian]

here on 5th of November 2024. great piece of art & disasterous prophecy. Thx Adam McKay.

[@jlop6822]

Kills me how they emphasize how Mencken capitalized on an incumbent stepping down to basically try to back door the presidency. Sounds like someone I’ve seen in the news lately… Oh wait, it’s not Trump.

[@daaave_]

Menken's speech is so blatantly fascistic that it sent shivers down my spine. Brilliant writing!

[@DreamandBoa]

The world needs fascism, that is the right way. All left leaning thought has to be erased from existence

[@riofernandes8891]

Don’t we long for something clean in this polluted land? Something proud and pure 😅😅😅

[@sagarthegreatable]

Nothings gonna happen 😂 Don’t overreact

[@cgijokerman5787]

@@sagarthegreatable ?

[@sagarthegreatable]

@@cgijokerman5787 what ?

[@amarezzedine]

This episode reminded so many people how awful the Roy’s are lmao

[@Unclejack328]

Facts.😂😂

[@margarethmichelina5146]

Well, what do you expect? They are not serious people. The Roys children treating the company as their playground. They think they can become the CEO when none of them has responsibility. They just want the company just because their Daddy had it, their Daddy built it but they don't know how to manage it.

[@adotbw]

The shift in tone of Mencken's voice and the music at 02:54 is absolutely haunting. Stunning, sensational stuff.

[@denisbaranov1367]

Yes!

[@ismaelismael8543]

I love how everyone at the chain of command washes their hands off the decision. Rome says nothing will happen, Tom states it's not his call, Greg says he's just following orders and the tech guy just calls someone else to put the add. Tom even complains when other networks begin to point fingers at him in particular.

[@timskully3496]

I think this is my favorite scene from the show ever. No words. Just Mencken's horrifying speech. Everyone's face speaks for itself.

[@jdhathrisen]

I quite agree. This is monstrously good writing. The line from Tom, asking to find a "brain" that will reassure people that this has all happened before and everything will be fine, is haunting. I wonder how often news organisations wheel out an "expert" to lull people into complacency.

[@seewhativescene]

I'd argue it's less about the writing, more like reading the room observing the rise of fascism in the world ​@@jdhathrisen

[@Breaker2005]

How is this fascism? Just because he's a republican candidate doesn't make him a fascist.

[@oddlycalm4452]

@@Breaker2005Dude, don’t start that losing battle. Lol. The show literally portrays him as a fascistic piece of shit the entire time.

[@Creezus__]

@@Breaker2005 wanting clean streets and not believing that -diversity is our strength- means you're a fascist theses days

[@nont18411]

Classic Kendall, every time there’s a hope I can root for him, he always does this. “What I did is to protect my children. SIX CONTINENTS!” My ass

[@deadbars8755]

bro think he Waltuh

[@TESkyrimizer]

im not havin sex with you right now Kendall

[@denverbritto5606]

His kids' father is now owed a favour by the most powerful man in the world.

[@madanigaming6595]

​@@denverbritto5606he is a nazi lol

[@lbonts]

it was the correct decision business and succession-wise, not moral but morality is punished in his world

[@antoniusmoments]

“Things do happen …Rome.” Her intensity saying that was real af. Next ep we’ll prob see her win back.

[@rayzala1393]

I think Shiv is done. She's been playing puppetmaster the whole season and now Ken and Rome know. Her influence at waystair is done. Madson is an idiot who's India problem is going to tank him and now the Roy boys have a powerful ally in Mencken. I think Mencken will be a wild card though and turn out to be bad for them all. Who knows maybe he's what the show has been leading up to.

[@SS-up5sc]

I remember laughing when he said we overestimated as if there’s “ two indias “ and I was like dude that’s straight up fraud when you add another billion to what’s already like 15% of the world population 😂

[@rayzala1393]

@@SS-up5sc Exactly. Up until now he was a in a clearly superior position. New tech taking over the old dinosaur. All that being said, after Kendall inflated the Living+ projections they're basically doing the same thing.

[@Frexican54]

She spent the next episode brown nosing Menken so not really

[@pauljones4519]

Literally the corniest moment of the entire show

[@jackevans6200]

Jeremy's acting is so on point here. The nervous excuses and justifications in calling in an election TOO early just so the company can survive. That dead behind the eyes look. The growing feeling of regret and fear in knowing they've just handed power to a dangerous demagogue whose beliefs are already impacting on his own family, all for the sake of spiting his sister. He is flat out one Tony Soprano away from having the worst panic attack.

[@aitothechamp7263]

He wasn’t spiting his sister. Shiv betrayed them to their face, lied and got called out. Rava and their daughter can’t just expect daddy to get them the President they want either. That’s not a measure of how good a father he is

[@woodwyrm]

"whose beliefs are already impacting on his own family" Moar liek bullies who think they can bully ATN through Kendall s daughter.

[@jackevans6200]

@@aitothechamp7263 I think what I was saying was that Kendall's actions were impulsive knee-jerking. He's been on the fence about whether to endorse Mencken, the only thing stopping him is his concern for how it'll impact his family. But with Shiv's betrayal, rather than wait for the election to be over so he can plot his own revenge, he instead decides to play with fire with the American democracy system, recklessly (as Kendall always does), with horrific consequences for both the company and the nation.

[@Amuseddaysleeper]

If Shiv wanted to do something she could have called Nate for real, but didn’t because she wants the gojo deal to go through. She’s complicit as well

[@Paul-ft9dn]

@@aitothechamp7263 What Shiv did or didn't do is irrelevant. And saying his family expects to "get the president they want" from Kendall is really dumb. Waystar and the Roy family weren't neutral observers, they literally played a major role getting Mencken elected through propaganda and lying about the results. They directly chose him as well. Also, a measure of how good of a father he is is obviously his actions regarding his family. An absent father who rarely talks to or sees his kids as well as playing a big role in subverting the country's democratic process and playing an active role in making the country worse for almost everyone isn't being a good father. He's insanely narcissistic.

[@jugogogo6419]

I think this move could backfire horribly. “The president is elected by the electoral college after a legal fight which is not over at the end of this episode” said Jesse Armstrong in the post-show podcast. Even here they allude to the fact that the legal contest on this could keep going for the next three moths. Imagine the ballots are found, the results are contested and the Roys are left with a flaming, crashing-to-the-ground, monster of a firm that loses all its credibility and stock value over this.

[@everythingeverywhere-r1c]

stock will drop for a day and then be fine.

[@akashreddy2928]

I think you are right but Shiv is such a big hypocrite, she thinks she is a very good person but at the end when it comes to future of the country and her power, she does not hesitate for a moment to choose POWER. She does not understand what people around her want. Her threats to Greg are empty and so comical. Kendall even tries to think about how bad of a parent he is but Shiv is just cannot overcome her own of image of self righteousness. If I was Matsson, I would just betray her and everything gets finalised.

[@denverbritto5606]

If there's fallout it will be weathered easily

[@brooklynbuglet]

I think this will play out the way it actually played out with Fox and the last election. But instead of alluding to **ump winning they've stated that Menken won which could result in them being screwed once the electoral college is counted. It will be interesting to see them point fingers and tear each other apart over this. Especially since all the kids are powder kegs that are about to blow

[@nachonachoman]

I mean the trump presidency was great for the ratings of cable news organizations: fox, CNN, and MSNBC. I'm saying this apolitically. For the show, it's more realistic that ATN stock value skyrockets like Kendall wanted

[@MichaelEmmanuelArriaga]

Shiv destroyed what was left of her marriage, Ken destroyed what was left of his soul and Roman destroyed the country. Rich kid grief is nuclear, man.

[@frankieseward8667]

If there's any consolation Mencken will lose bigly in his first midterm and get abysmal polls as scandals and disasters strike.

[@margarethmichelina5146]

In the end of the day, they all destroyed themselves by shooting themselves in their foot. They all antagonized Logan, Mattson and Tom through the entire time but the real enemy is themselves. Not just them fighting each other but they have their own demons because they all being raised by the same man who was power hungry and ambitious and they want to be better than him. But, even after his death, he's still around them from their behaviours. He's like a force of nature or a ghost that can't get away. They will all forever lived in a trauma and they all deserved seeking help. Although, I think among them, Roman is the first one who will seeking help, Shiv will be the second but Kendall never as he is so depressed and suicidal for the whole 4 seasons as he's a drug addict and is still the same 7 year old kid who's still hoping to get the CEO title from a candy store and he never gets it. Regardless how rich they are, if they don't have a purpose, they are nothing.

[@RocketRaccoon-o2l]

If Shiv never lied even though a deal with Nate was not possible, Kendall could have choose Jimenez.

[@sithersproductions]

Shiv ending up being the downfall of liberalism in America is fucking hilarious

[@RocketRaccoon-o2l]

@@sithersproductions She didn't even give Greg an angle for his silence is what leads to her defeat taking democrats with her. 😂

[@vinceslapchopper]

@@RocketRaccoon-o2l She thinks she can physically threaten Greg as if she was bullying Roman when they were kids. GTFO already, Greg is like 6'7'' and could litterally kick her fat ass to Alabama if push would come to shove.

[@sagarthegreatable]

@@RocketRaccoon-o2l exactly 😂 Greg is basically a puppy you feed him he will be quite or else he will bite shiv took a big L on that

[@willg7279]

Yeah he did it out of spite. Handed Roman a pocket ace. Logan though however would have chose Minken too

[@tB-zq2db]

anyone here today?

[@maaz322]

That episode made me nostalgic about the past, now we can feel nostalgia about the future to come.

[@somerandompersonidk2272]

It was decided.

[@_Alkali_]

I was hoping to see this

[@sarahdehak204]

Yeah!

[@mikelis106]

Mencken is such a great actor. Makes such a great self assured and narcissistic psychopath by just looking cool.

[@Liry1]

He reminds me of Gavin Newsom

[@walrus2515]

You mean Justin Kirk’s a great actor?

[@mikelis106]

@@walrus2515 yes, he tricked me into believing he IS mencken

[@bornanagaming3329]

He looks like a british mourinho

[@bornanagaming3329]

He looks like a british mourinho

[@anasbitar1270]

Who came here after Trump won 2024

[@kylenewberry9792]

Me. It fucking happened.

[@Nortwest]

Yes

[@margarethmichelina5146]

Imagine if this is how Trump got elected. By 3 incompetent idiot siblings whose daddy worked at media company.

[@SamStam12]

@@kylenewberry9792it happened 😂🤣

[@ZackEdwards1234]

Cry more!

[@_Alkali_]

This clip was playing in my head when Trump won Wisconsin

[@hkm3542]

When trump gave his speech last night thi soundtrack played in my head...

[@justinhamilton8647]

2:04 the music that plays along with this scene is so good, it’s like a defeated version of the theme

[@mr_sognr1297]

Name of Soundtrack

[@fawfulsfury626]

@@mr_sognr1297Larghetto - Piano, Celesta, Strings from the season two sound track. I can’t check right now, but the track in this video is at the very least a version of that track.

[@mr_sognr1297]

@@fawfulsfury626 Thank you, so much. I need it for a video, about the new madam president in México.

[@Paul-ft9dn]

I find it hilarious that immediately after that speech, Kendall confidently states "He's a man we can do business with." LOL

[@cornpopisabaddude]

probably loved the speech tbh

[@ryanfreerealms]

i feel like it wasn’t even confident honestly…he knew he just made a very bad move and was trying to justify it out loud but you can still see the regret behind his eyes

[@saulhernnadez9203]

@@ryanfreerealms business comes first

[@Paul-ft9dn]

@@saulhernnadez9203 business tends to function better in a status quo liberal democracy than under a fascist upheaval. It's just that fascism is viewed as better than a leftist government for business interests.

[@Chibbykins]

​@@saulhernnadez9203 who does 'business' benefit beyond the 1%

[@popeisyiyi1613]

This show literally predicted the future

[@donthomas_direct]

The answer was always right in front of us...

[@brodssn]

What people don’t realize is this was the last shrivel of humanity Kendall had left. But with him calling it, it’s gone. He wrestled back and forth but he has decided he’s “not a good guy” and “not a good father” but he’s a killer. Full Logan mode at the end of the funeral is my bet.

[@vinceslapchopper]

He is still limping between being a family guy and Logan worthy successor. He is just a pushover being so indecisive, he needs to man up already, pick a side and not change his mind every 15 minutes.

[@brodssn]

@@vinceslapchopper did you watch the episode? He picked a side. Did you hear the last line?

[@flygod.]

​@@vinceslapchopper he doesn't care anymore the ending where Rava denies him to see the kids is his last straw.

[@Joel-ik3sz]

People are so confident making claims like this without even understanding how the show works. The last "last straw" was in episode 4 where everyone claimed Kendall had lost his last shred of humanity and became a 'killer', but now it's this episode? And maybe it'll be in next episode actually next week lmao. And these "final stroke" claims have been made way back since the s2 finale. Maybe try to see the whole picture first before arriving at premature conclusions and pretending that you know something the other people watching the show don't...

[@vinceslapchopper]

@@Joel-ik3sz exactly, it's season 4 and Kendall is still insecure about what kind of man he wants to be. He is undecisive and passive and is going through the motions based on how he feels at the moment. He supports Mencken right after he finds out Shiv played behind his back but after talking to his ex wife and what a future of Mencken as president would represent for the country his kids are growing in, he is unsure it was the right move. Even at the end when he says that they can do business with Mencken, who is he really trying to convince here? Himself by the looks of it and deep down he probably knows he is wrong. I think Mencken is going to stab them in the back and allow the GoJo deal to remove control of ATN from the Roys, as he feels indebted to them right now and doesn't want them breathing down his neck for the next 4 years. It also make more sense politically for him as a libertarian to let the free market speak for itself. As Logan said, his children are not serious people, they just don't see the bigger picture nor have the foresight to be capable leaders.

[@mddono445]

Who's here after Trump got re-elected? ˙◠˙

[@causticgastrap2835]

Shiv played herself so hard

[@williammccormick984]

Epic L. She lost democracy.

[@jenkins5265]

Goes back to Rhea's assessment that Shiv think she's smarter than she actually is.

[@Unclejack328]

From day 1 she did.

[@alexanderscott2456]

She could have played that so much smarter. She lost herself any plausible deniability when she faked a phone call. The best lies are ones where there's just enough truth so that people can't distinguish the truth from the lie.

[@margarethmichelina5146]

It's also irony that Shiv who was a political consultant somehow is a total moron on her family's company. Everyone tells her many times that she is inexperience on the company but noo... she's delusional, she thinks she's great because she's the CEO's daughter.

[@BatmanHQYT]

Kendall had a look of post-nut clarity for this entire scene. The "he's a guy we can do business with" sounded like he was justifying his actions to himself more than anything.

[@Maxwell-zt5ch]

Something about the delivery of Mencken’s “State” is like it’s dripping with blood

[@RW00096]

Found it so striking how the “old guard” of Frank and co were shown to be mere observers of it all - can do nothing else but watch as the reckless next gen unleashes their carnage with no one longer there to stand in their way!

[@ozzell]

The literal fascist terminology he seeps in such as "leader emerging from the people" and being "willed into being".

[@Artur-qq1ef6zm1l]

or a real democracy with a real people's leader besides puppets of corporations! the character is obviously evil but in his criticism of liberal democracy is more than logical

[@judehutchinson8355]

@@Artur-qq1ef6zm1l idk man I don’t think you should be agreeing with the fascist caricature

[@Artur-qq1ef6zm1l]

@@judehutchinson8355 the fact that he is a fascist does not mean that he is absolutely wrong! it is the problem of the influence of the rich on politics that leads to the disappointment of voters and they find the answer in a dictator who promises to restore order ! this path is wrong, but it repeats over and over again, which means the problem is real

[@nicholasleclerc1583]

@@Artur-qq1ef6zm1l Fair point, though I can't see this "fascist" 's comment

[@Artur-qq1ef6zm1l]

@@nicholasleclerc1583 Well, this is still a democratically elected president and it would be stupid for him to behave like an outright fascist! He is not a fascist, in fact, rather sympathetic to right-wing ideas

[@jamesthemadeley]

4:19 the dismissiveness from Tom hahaha this episode made me realise he knows how to cut the cord when he needs to. I liked the Tom-centric episode

[@ahlishaholloway233]

By far one of the most chilling scenes in the entirety of this show. The "tradition" Mencken comes from will destroy the country, and it was the Roy family who brought him to power. To them, it's just fun and games. It's monopoly money. But Mencken is the rational conclusion to the empire the Roys are trying to run, and everything he'll do is on them.

[@causticgastrap2835]

This is scarier to me than any horror movie

[@nont18411]

The Roys literally just made a Nazi president just to spite Matsson. What a great family.

[@cr3160]

based mencken destroying american empire

[@sagarthegreatable]

Nothing will happen don’t exaggerate 😂 people will go back to normal the next day it’s just viewership and business as usual

[@unadanni]

@@sagarthegreatable You sound white.

[@namkhanhng1802]

Elon Musk watching Trump won be like

[@spectrum838]

I liked how they did their research on elections and had consultants, it’s hard to immerse yourself in a shows election when the results are so utterly batshit but this is entirely realistic and plausible

[@ethansensbach5500]

I think what’s so striking here is that even Roman looks like he’s known what he’s done

[@ororomunroe4055]

Lol this episode shown Roman is a psycho, he doesn't care about anything or anybody besides himself

[@SA-oq5lz]

​@@ororomunroe4055 out of all three siblings, he's the most similar to his father

[@SA-oq5lz]

@Nick brilliantly explained

[@SomeoneIsAlwaysMovingOnTheSurf]

The way he moved his eyes and smiled looked sinister

[@C0H87]

Very demonic. Snake-like. Justin Kirk is an incredible actor. He’s chilling.

[@RJTheCerealGuy]

Shiv critiquing menkyn is the funniest thing I think. She’s sitting on her high horse like she cares about people and social justice when she truly just wants her bag. Great writing in this show to demonstrate how in politics there is no morals, only greed.

[@christophermaxieii8727]

“We’ll go far” “Over the road and into the bar” Feels like fascist signaling (it was said twice this episode?) - and when you rewatch the other interactions between Mencken and Roman, it becomes clear. Roman’s a rich spoiled billionaire kid who’s at least open and honest about where his class interests lie: in democracy, nobody has more to lose than the rich. Because of the evils of colonialism and the nightmare system that arose from its poisonous soil: most of the oligarchy is white. So fascism is the cleanest and clearest system to maintain the dominance of the rich over us all. Roman is at least transparent about that. I think Shiv represents the mainstream neoliberal Democratic Party: complicit & connected to the system at every turn, but tries to act like they’re different: nothing but empty platitudes, and no real resistance until it’s too late. The “we can do business with him” line from Kendall is just so bone chilling. I think he represents the big business & elite writ large: when push comes to shove, the money and power is what matters - at any cost to us all. So the fascists are fascists. The Democrats act like they’re not complicit but water down any real meaningful changes because they feed from the same trough. When the time came, Waystar had more to gain from a fascist regime so Kendall made the business choice (because corporations are inherently sociopathic). I think this show is brilliant - what a big warning sign for our democracy. This is all just my take but yeah. “Some people just can’t cut a deal Fikret” - the power this tiny cadre of people in these broken sociopathic institutions yield over us is dangerous.

[@bigbeautifulape5283]

You don't have a democracy anymore, Americanski.

[@bombers7878]

A+ analysis.

[@laytoable]

As a socialist argentinian historian I say: Bravo! Beautiful analogy and comparison

[@tshepomolibeli]

Well put

[@chungusmaximus526]

​@@laytoable Sometimes, you need a Franco to keep the reds at bay. There are worse fates than a few baton-bruised leftist privileged college rogues who dress in black. But I'll admit, there should be more subtle ways of eliminating the socialist affliction. Infiltrating their little groups and controlling the opposition are great tactics. The introduction of hard drugs within their ranks and create addiction clusters in those groups is another good way to render them useless and untrustworthy to the general public.

[@iValentinaaaaa]

This episode was like an one hour long panic attack

[@donclarity]

facts man 😆 what a roller coaster of emotions 🍿

[@BatmanHQYT]

Less than 24 hours later: Comes to a grubby compromise with cunning men haggling for his attention. Populist of the year, this fella.

[@Pentaholic88]

Here before too many people say they came here after the election results

[@TheSiskin26]

Whoever wrote Mencken’s speech is a genius “… and I find the responsibility awesome” on one hand… And “… leader emerged from the people, wield almost into being…” And all the rest. Pure articulation and accuracy.

[@ethanroberts2658]

Imagine the reactions of other news companies talking about Tom for calling the election and trying to find everything about him to pull him apart only to have him be made CEO of waystar Royco 72 hours later

[@pji1979]

No one at ATN wanted Mencken. Even Roman only wanted him for personal gain, not politics.

[@dantdt4693]

Lol Roman loves him

[@igotashake]

@@dantdt4693 Roman only loves Mencken because Logan approved his choice to endorse him

[@peter0702]

you mean after promoting Mencken for years??? Common at least Ravenhead loves Mencken.

[@flygod.]

​@@igotashake plus He can make roman lone ceo

[@erlingfabricius]

Exactly like most people at Fox News don't want Trump behind the scenes

[@lordofthebuckets2676]

This episode hits a little too close to home.

[@gregoriomassa8529]

Why?

[@lordofthebuckets2676]

@@gregoriomassa8529 I think it’s obvious.

[@gregoriomassa8529]

@@lordofthebuckets2676 Trump? I think this guy is waaay more facist that the Orange man

[@lordofthebuckets2676]

@@gregoriomassa8529 it’s not just Trump, it’s just the whole general political climate right now.

[@dws0828]

@@lordofthebuckets2676 i think it’s the idea of who will come after Trump. Someone who is actually well spoken, seemingly educated, young and vindictive enough to actually push the US into a disorderly and somewhat authoritative state. Scary stuff indeed

[@AA-qb7ni]

This ep was a whole panic attack omg 😂😭

[@omutrog8738]

Mencken's speech is insane. Perfectly captures the powerful rhetoric of fascism. Make everyone feel like they can be awesome at the cost of everyone else. The Roy's have made a grave mistake

[@sithersproductions]

Mencken is golden, Jimenez has the charisma of a damp rag. Logan Roy would be proud of his sons.

[@shaw12222]

@@sithersproductions because having more charisma makes you the better choice?

[@lbonts]

@@shaw12222 no, but for the roy’s and their business it was the better choice probably

[@aitothechamp7263]

Nah it’s cool

[@pts1135]

@@shaw12222 yes, when you’re running a “news” organization

[@Bob-fj7lr]

This is one of those times where you can see the influence of hip hop. This speech was practically on string beat. Everything from the first moment of "ah well" is so musical and the whole speech is incredibly lyrical and rhythmic.

[@andrewstephens5885]

Was this a video essay you saw or something homie, I don’t disagree the writing and delivery is nuanced.

[@Bob-fj7lr]

@@andrewstephens5885ive heard people who worked on the music say hip-hop was a big influence for them. But I didn't see a video essay on this.

[@Saigeee333]

This show knew how to do political satire without it feeling heavy-handed or leaving people complaining that it is “too woke.” I think it can be enjoyed by people on any point in the political spectrum.

[@shellyfox9338]

If Roman and Kendall were smart, they would listen to that speech very carefully, particularly the part about how Mencken is not “grubby and transactional”, despite all the people who “think that’s how things work.” They’d think about who is more likely to appeal to Mencken as someone he can rely on to be effective, and get things done for him: the Roy brothers, or Matsson, who will undoubtedly be reaching out to Mencken that very evening to make his pitch. Sure, the Roy kids got you through the door, Mr. President, but who do you think can take your media dominance to the next level? It was the whole logic for the original GoJo deal in the first place. If Roman ad Kendall we’re smart, they would have thought about that. But Roman and Kendall are not smart.

[@felyxr]

They are in fact, not serious people.

[@sagarthegreatable]

Depends sometimes it’s about creating relationships Roman did create a good relationship with him and he immediately called Roman after the speech I mean they got who they wanted gojo is the next step you can’t really predict what happens next episode succession has always been like that this episode Roman did well they got what they wanted

[@Joel-ik3sz]

But of course, this commenter is the truly smart one! What a calculating genius, viewing these peasants from a bird's eye view.

[@saulhernnadez9203]

They obviously know what he’s about dude lol they’re doing it for their business not for the good of the country

[@g.f.2729]

all these comments missing her point, mencken doesn't have to block the gojo deal he doesn't even need them anymore, he won (assuming there's no brooks brothers/supreme court plotline)

[@gee2541]

this show is so good at finding the sort of actors who believably look like they could be corrupt, arrogant politicians/businessmen lmao

[@neoaziegelbauer]

I think this would be a good time to address that Connor Roy was interested in politics from a very young age

[@gamerbradmanplays788]

just remembered this after trump win

[@quitestiger2818]

They showed menckens victory in such s way if the allied were defeated snd the Axis now holds the keys to Europe and the world

[@trevorgerardfrederick]

There are some terrifying comments here.

[@antoniorivera6863]

Some people just can't cut a deal, Fikret.

[@ismaelamedjoserojas4920]

Damn!!!!!! Things do Happend

[@bierntclaypool8601]

The first section of this scene plays This is Not for Tears, but an extended version I don’t think we’ve heard beginning at :45. Could be a splice from a different composition, I would really like someone’s help here. This has been killing me trying to find this OST!

[@flygod.]

Kendalls is one shove away from being entirely dead inside.

[@YnotNomis]

A night of good TV!

[@sarahdehak204]

Resonates differently now...

[@luigiwiiUU]

LMAO IT HAPPENED AGAIN

[@chastamar]

Key part of the speech starts @1:55

[@Jai137]

'Cunning men haggle for the best price. That's not me' Sych hypocrisy

[@RobGordonJC]

It was also an anti-Semitic remark

[@seanodonoghue3688]

What does this quote mean ? I dont understand layers to it

[@Ronam0451]

​@@RobGordonJC no

[@ZackEdwards1234]

​@@RobGordonJC 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@cameronearls6497]

What does that mean exactly? I interpreted it as smart men that know how to play the insider DC political games subtly influence the government to do what's best for the people/organizations they represent. How is that a dog whistle? Obviously Mencken is full of them, but this didn't strike me as one.

[@playman350]

The sly, impish smile when he says something about "something pure" in "this polluted land" Terrifying.

[@ieatsand9259]

Not even a dogwhistle, he’s basically broadcasting it

[@TheDreamingJune]

Yeah, that smile and his proud expression while saying that line made my skin crawl. Justin Kirk is such a fantastic actor.

[@MJ-py7dm]

Mencken's speech was legendary.

[@SouthwestVet]

The speech is an ode to the fascist rhetoric of the mid 20th century. Armstrong (show runner) is a big history buff and the narrative of the speech is almost word for word what hitler said in his early 1930 addresses about his destiny to lead. Rising through the rubble of society’s underbelly to usher in a new time. Great speech no doubt, but dangerous

[@Jeminids]

Yep, fucking terrifying.

[@FeaturingKO]

Dude. The title alone is spoilers. I don't even subscribe to you the algorithm threw this in my face. Wtf

[@williammccormick984]

Why are you on KZbin at all?

[@licoriceluv906]

​@@williammccormick984 what kind of stupid question is that?

[@TheGoonSquadd]

Lol cry more or watch the show on Sunday

[@robinouuuuuuuu]

Average situation in argentina

[@adam-ll1yf]

"Things do happen... Rome"

[@ahmedelsaidy1995]

This episode made me want the deal to happen, They fully deserved what happened in the finale !!

[@jasondavis1460]

Absolutely Chilling speech from Mencken which is reflected in the character reactions to what they've just done except Roman who dismisses it as Good TV.The writing is so on point for demagogue/fascist about 'emerging from the people' and 'Cunning men haggle' this is where Succession is at its best and also Justin Kirk deserves some kind of Emmy recognition for this

[@nothajzl]

The writing is so good. Even tho Mencken is talking bollocks, he sounds compelling, and the carefully crafted words (again, by the writers) DELIVER.

[@07Gorki]

Y saber que así es como se han puesto presidentes, ellos protegidos en su burbuja de privilegios mientras todo un pueblo lo padece. Excelente manera de mostrar la perversidad de los Roy.

[@asdf852asdf]

Kendall sinking the country into fascism and betraying her daughter for power is EXACTLY what Logan wanted for him, he finally turned into the killer and Kendall hates it lmao

[@Ronam0451]

Fascism? Just like in 2016 when they destroyed america? Yeah, remember america?

[@ZackEdwards1234]

Did you just misgender him?

[@justinhamilton8647]

@@Ronam0451 this show isn’t for you

[@angryanakin]

@@justinhamilton8647he was fucking around

[@shanel7707]

It's funny how all these fascist on TV shows like Succession or Peaky Blinders are way more believable and subtle vs the actual fascists in real life. The writers obviously put so much work went into this speech, it's on the level of "Tomorrow belongs to me" from Cabaret.

[@FIREHOUSESAM]

This is one of my favorite performances of the show from Justin Kirk as Mencken. Such a good job portraying a creepy, sinister fash also worried about having deniability.

[@Bob-fj7lr]

"ahhh well!" Amazing line

[@scottystcloud7086]

Thats why screenwriting is so hard. That line was just a set-up to what the writers really wanted to say but the actor delivered it so perfectly it became a message in and of itself. In lesser hands it would've just been "ah, well...here we are!" and not nearly as menacing.

[@pickleslicker]

what's interesting is that that line isn't even in the script. justin kirk usually tends to follow the script but this was one of the few times he improvised. goes to show how great he portrayed mencken

[@Creezus__]

Loved the speech!

[@jlall4467]

A true patriot

[@flygod.]

This Speech Rivals Frank Underwood

[@mr.thunder1219]

I love how Mecken's speech reflects those ideals with references to "something clean" and pure. Like he's definitely not a good guy. Came a long way since that hotel bathroom. A can of coke can come with a crown! Also he says "that we have become mere transaction. I give you this, you give me that." Kinda shows in the next episode when he tells Kendall "Oh I thought you were the sound system, now you wanna choose the track." Mencken played his way to the top. I don't think he was ever going to be "their" president.

[@littlemissfoff]

Ken was so sad and hot in this ep

[@kali_uchis7635]

I love how u can see a moment of humanity in Shiv when she says “things do happen, Rome” Because of her background in politics, I do think she genuinely hated Mencken and knew the harm he would cause. the one time she has a moral backbone she still shot herself in the foot due to her other schemes

[@emilym3679]

That brief look of...guilt(?) that passes Tom's face at :19, never to be seen again...

[@Sophie_kent]

Justin Kirk is a great actor. I hope there is a series on Jaryd Menken.

[@ieatsand9259]

Yeah this isn’t Marvel we’re not getting anything else

[@molom1741]

Justin kirk is amazing! I would love a series about mencken

[@gorrium5027]

love that he says the most batshit stuff but the news bracket just says very moderate snippets