unpacking Succession's most dangerous character

Let's talk about Gregory Hirsch/Cousin Greg/Greg The Egg/Gregory/Sporus - my favourite character in Succession - and why he's coming for the throne.
Megan Garber's amazing article in The Atlantic (not The Athletic, like I stated in the vid): www.theatlantic.com/culture/a...
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TV REVIEW/RECAP of: Succession(HBO)
Timestamps:
0:00 0. The Snake Pit
1:16 1. A Bumbling Idiot
3:14 2. Tom and Greg
4:18 3. A (not so) Bumbling Idiot
6:42 4. The Last Linguistic Hope
Created by: Jesse Armstrong
Starring: Brian Cox, Sarah Snook, Jeremy Strong, Kieran Culkin, Matthew Macfayden, Nicholas Braun, Alan Ruck, Hiam Abbass, Adrien Brody, Peter Friedman, J. Smith-Cameron, Alexander Skarsgård
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What do YOU think of Succession? Do you think this is the best thing on HBO Max at the moment? Brian Cox, Sarah Snook, Jeremy Strong, Kieran Culkin, Matthew Macfayden, Nicholas Braun, Alan Ruck, Hiam Abbass, Adrien Brody, Peter Friedman, J. Smith-Cameron, Alexander Skarsgård?
_______________________________________________________________________
Come say hi on my social media feeds:
Instagram: / scene_it_re. . _______________________________________________________________________
ATTRIBUTIONS:
This video contains copyrighted material from the feature films listed above. I believe all content used falls under the remits of Fair Use (see below), but if any content owners would like to dispute this I will not hesitate to remove said content. It is not my intent in any way to infringe on their content ownership.
Contact: [e-mail]
HBO
HBO Max
Succession
Review
Recap
Roy
Roys
Kendall
Logan
Shiv
Connor
Tom
Greg
Gerri
Willa
Josh Arronson
Lukas Matsson
Kerry
Lisa Arthur
________________________________________________________________________
FAIR USE DISCLAIMER:
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[@SceneItReviews]

Heya gang, just a bit of an addendum to the Shiv comment in the intro because people are somehow construing this one line as some sexist putdown about a female character??? First of all, I don't HATE Shiv, and I don't think she's an uninteresting or throwaway character because she's a woman. That's ridiculous. Do I think she's the "most interesting" character? No, I have some issues with the consistency of her writing, but she's still a brilliantly crafted element of the Roy's world, and provides an interesting commentary on the misogyny prevalent in a mostly male elite class. The characters are the best thing about the show, Shiv included. So no, I'm not saying, "oh Shiv's your favourite character? You must be an idiot, she sucks!" The line was just highlighting her habit of consistently self-sabotaging when she is SO CLOSE to reaching a position of influence, and how frustrating that must be if she's your pick for the throne. I know that other characters do this too (Ken being the main example), but her failure at the Pierces, followed by HER HUSBAND being the catalyst that destroys the kids coup in the Season 3 finale are the main elements that stick in my mind. So, I was just saying: "Wow I'm glad that I don't keep getting disappointed by a character that routinely trips up JUST before the finish line, that would be so infuriating as a viewer." If that hasn't been your experience and you love the rollercoaster Shiv experience and she's your ride-or-die, all the power to you! Maybe she'll prove me wrong and dominate Season 4, and egg on my face for doubting her. But I just needed to clear up that "I don't know what to tell you...get a new favourite character" isn't some thinly veiled misogynistic dart. It's just a comment about the painful viewing experience that accompanies supporting any of these characters. Cheers, Jack x

[@NiteOwl2000]

I didn't see misogyny in the comment. Shiv reminds me a lot of characters like Sally from Barry and Skylar from Breaking Bad, they attract a lot of misogynists, but you can have problems with those characters without being one.

[@clairegopaul4977]

thanks for this clarification bc I was half paying attention when I started the vid and was like 🤨 but that totally makes sense hahaha

[@DullSilver404]

it's scrapping at my mind, r u skill up? you sound so similar to me

[@SceneItReviews]

@@DullSilver404 haha no, just another aussie

[@dominicrouse2623]

@@DullSilver404 I really like “scraping my mind” Hundo gonna steal that. Thanks!

[@rixatrix]

You can’t make a Tomelette without breaking a few Greggs.

[@PistolPis88]

oh hahaha...NOT!!

[@dirtyxpeper]

Wow

[@casper7402]

You can't make a tomelette without breaking a few greggs

[@genseek00]

Some Greggs 😂

[@DhruvBurman]

67 times..

[@elixorvideos]

“Are you asking if you can blackmail me?!” That’s my favourite line in the entire show and sums Greg up so well

[@carriefingsolomon]

Omg I know 😂

[@GageReed]

I'll NEver tell!

[@nidhishshivashankar4885]

“What’s it worth..? in terms of the .. _me_ of it all..?” “That, is *not* how it works” Very similar energy lol

[@martenveersoo8502]

is that fuckin Mort? ;D@@GageReed

[@xdef1ne]

@@GageReedthat was my favourite one liner from Greg in the entire show

[@MrVisde]

I love how Gregg keeps advancing himself, plays every side, and keeps failing upwards because of his alliances. No one sees him as a threat.

[@muwgrad1987]

He might fire Tom before this is over. Who knows?

[@frankievalentine6112]

Word. At first I didn't understand his cruel reaction to Kerry when she came to the house after the "big event," and siding with Marcia seemed very weird, but then I remembered Kerry was absolutely awful to him so many times, when he brought his gf to the party "This isn't a shake shack," so he was definitely getting back at her in her most vulnerable moment for all the abuse.

[@johans3164]

He is basically Anti Littlefinger. Greg is such an anomaly and i love it. A bumbling idiot who can be a mastermind if he wants to. Just keeping his foolishness for the sake of making others not seeing him as a threat

[@TheNotSoRandomDude]

He is not that dumb.

[@wallybingbang4350]

@@johans3164 Deception 😅

[@mrs_hindson7239]

I find it amusing that Greg is physically this great GIANT of a man but the family make him seem so small. It's like he has a power but he doesn't know how to use it... yet!😏

[@popcorn8153]

My favorite line is when logan calls him Icabod Crane. It's a line I try and use on tall people all the time.

[@michielroskam3877]

Hes gonna be..........the succesor.......dum dum dum....... i know it😮

[@snowset675]

Height definitely plays a role cos I akso noticed that

[@unclerogerANKI]

"It's like Jaws if everyone in Jaws worked for Jaws" has to be one of the greatest lines in TV ever.

[@MrKit19832009]

He's just moseying. Terrifyingly moseying. Amazing.

[@elistavinger3059]

I forget the exact syntax but his line about Logan resembling Santa Claus as a hitman is pretty good too

[@santividal9387]

@elistavinger3059 Hahah,that one is also super funny. Gregg truly has some of the best quotes in the series. Even if it's not funny, the "what I ​was going to use my soul for anyways? Souls are boring. Boo souls" is a heck of a quote.

[@sneedle252]

One thing I haven't seen in Greg is the petty, personal mistreatment of other people. Even when he's using human furniture, he asks the person to tell him if he's too heavy and only puts one foot up. I suspect this is because, as someone who didn't suffer the abuse that the other Roys did, he isn't marred by the self-hatred that they are. So, while ambitious, he doesn't feel the need to abuse other people.

[@user-tz2zz5ij1s]

Greg is slowly evolving into being more corrupt and and selfish. He has stated to use people more and more for his benefit. He doesn’t have the sadistic traits yet, but I suspect the writers are playing with nature vs nurture. I think he will become one of the most despicable characters because he uses his innocence as a front while learning how to play the game.

[@ahabmalik7710]

how are you people watching the same show as us lol

[@7elEvan1]

He uses boyish awkward charm and plays nice but he doesn't make anyone else's life better. His relationship with Comfrey is a great example

[@NathanielRises606]

Just wait, Greg will have become Logan II by the end. He will walk over the bodies of all the siblings and finally Tom.

[@srldwg]

@@user-tz2zz5ij1s It was apparent to me when he stated that the woman that he had liked and then dated was now a stepping stone to dating higher tier women.

[@whiteowl82]

What I like about Greg is that it's never clear if he's a mastermind pretending to be incredibly stupid or if he's incredibly stupid and is slowly becoming a mastermind. Both options are very interesting to me and I could honestly see it going either way.

[@PistolPis88]

by this comment, it's pretty clear you sure aren't a mstermind

[@mohamedelyaouti2051]

​@@PistolPis88 thanks for your insight mister alpha male mastermind 😂😂

[@pizzatimemanyodabatman3693]

I always took him for a dumbass who just knows when there's an oportunity to grab by the tail

[@igormachado2194]

Greg has never once showed a single shred of stupidity. He is insecure and awkward, but he is definitely not stupid.

[@vanomxxx]

Neither is what I get out of Greg .

[@Laizerdisk]

Greg was actually pulling strings from the first episode! It’s a really subtle scene and I didn’t put it together at first but Greg lands his initial job at Waystar by suggesting himself as a potential replacement board member who would be more favorable to Logan than Ewan. His first step into the inner circle was done through a willingness to screw over his grandfather.

[@frankievalentine6112]

Perspicacious 😆

[@hpmoody]

Under his mothers direction. Remember it was his mother who pushed him into going to Great Uncle Roy's birthday party.

[@flux.aeterna]

@@hpmoody he’s an adult, he chose to do what he did

[@sangun123]

i mean yeah but to claim he's a mastermind is a stretch, if not for Tom taking him under his wing as a fellow underdog, greg would've slowly faded away @@flux.aeterna

[@wNaya]

@@flux.aeterna His mother literally tells him to buy adult clothes to go meet Logan

[@Skoringo]

Kendall, Shiv and Roman are playing checkers with Logan. Tom is playing chess with Kendall, Shiv and Roman and Logan. Greg is playing 5D chess with everyone. Connor is playing Tic-Tac Toe.

[@RL_Williams]

Connor...😂😂😂

[@anthonycannata5480]

S4 ends with Connor becoming president because he’s the oldest son and receives empathy and attention to his campaign from his fathers death.

[@adams546]

Basically, everyone playing chess with anyone in Succession.

[@Missab4000]

We literally began the series through Greg’s eyes, in his POV in the mask at the amusement park. I feel like there’s a significance to that.

[@agustinaluna5829]

I agree, I ahrdly believe he´s getting the CEO title through Matsson on the finale

[@sacramentalist]

Yeah, he starts as the audience surrogate while viewers figure out the business and family dynamics.

[@ck891]

Technically the series begins with Logan pissing on the floor lol

[@HeelPower200]

I think people are too focused on the big position. The Carl, Gerri and Frank positions are just as solid and important. You're gonna need a new generation to replace those crucial positions. I see Greg ending up there because he nows how to be invisible just like Gerri.

[@1998Cebola]

They are all positions that need a highly specialised degree and an extreme amount of real experience. The kids and Greg are out of the question, becuase none of them are qualified to fill the positions. Tom, and maybe Shiv, are the only ones that could do those jobs in any capacity.

[@negnatrepsej2903]

@@1998Cebola Ken would def be able to fill an COO role at waystar if he kept sober and just did whatever his dad said like start of season 1 and in season 2

[@dv9239]

I mean they are solid for the solid people See how Rhea was fucked twice

[@dumbdumb9612]

do you truly believe Greg's ambitions end there? the egg won't settle for third camp he wants to plant his flag at the top of mount everest

[@adamdevlin4533]

Greg won't actually realistically end up anywhere near the top. The whole point of him being a self-insert for the average person is that the average person, were they in his position, might act a little like him, might even pick up some things ambiently from the people around them, but they'll never really fit in. And when the time comes for him to be useful as a pawn or a human shield, he'll do just fine, because that's all anyone has ever respected him as. Don't pretend you'd end up any better off.

[@user-fu2hk9of9f]

One thing I like about Greg is that he stood up to the Roys when they were thinking of getting Conor elected President. It’s one of the few moments where Greg doesn’t scheme or quietly sit back and watch, he actively says he doesn’t think they should have Conor run the country. It gave me hope about his morals (in at least that moment) and it also showed how brave he could be on top of his scheming - it was obviously important enough for him to state out loud, in a room full of Roys, a clear opinion he had.

[@michaelmoncur3733]

My favorite thing about Greg is that he lost his 250 million dollar inheritance to keep his job with the Roys. He's not primarily motivated by money. What he wants is to be a "player" and belong in the world of these characters. It will end up making him rich, of course, and probably destroying his soul, but it's a better motivation than the others have.

[@EzraDair]

Not really. He was actually going to quit and he even met Logan to tell him that but he is just too coward that everyone in this family scares him. He got scared by his grandpa and he also got scared by Logan.. he only got stuck cause Logan shook him in that bathroom scene

[@ShacklefordR]

Ewen was dangling that $250M like a carrot on a stick to Greg, and made it pretty clear that it wouldn't be simply given to him...

[@borjastick]

We won't know if he lost it until grandpa dies. I think he's the one character with the most power and control but he only half knows it. He's incredibly likeable and charming but he also knows what information is powerful.

[@kilgoretrout321]

Greg wasn't raised by Logan Roy, so he's not going to have the awful emotional scarring that the rest of the young folks have. Tom wasn't raised by Logan either, but he's in love with one who was, and she learned all Logan's most perverse and relationship-harming tricks. I enjoy watching Greg float like a moth in a sea of butterflies or a swan in the midst of ducklings.

[@1DusDB]

@@kilgoretrout321 but, as he admitted to Lucas in recent S4E7 after being the responsible of firing so many people, he did not feel bad he just did it, so cold no regrets. Maybe Greg is being contaminated by the Roys.

[@cancerino666]

One of the things I most liked in S1 was how it showed the family would squabble over who gets more billions than the other, but can't even bother to make sure distant family ain't homeless.

[@annachang7323]

Just one nitpick, in the beginning, Greg wasn’t a theme park employee, he was actually there to attend the Waystar management training program, so he was on the route of becoming someone in the management level in the company in the future, the same program that Roman did in season 2. He had a big leg up than a regular employee at the Park.

[@StevieDecks]

I’d also like to nitpick here. Ewan is Greg’s grandfather, not his uncle, meaning he’s the Roy kids’ first cousin, and not a distant cousin like the video says. Other than that this is a great video

[@bio-hazzard1233]

@@StevieDecksno I think he’s their second cousin right? He’s their first cousin son so wouldn’t that make him their second cousin?

[@StevieDecks]

@@bio-hazzard1233 Yes you’re right. His mother is their first cousin. I forgot about her because we barely see her.

[@kimkimsan]

@@bio-hazzard1233 actually it would be Greg is the Roy-kids' first cousin once removed. (The child of your first cousin). But Greg to Kendall's kids or Shiv's baby would be second cousins.

[@NikhilSenan]

“I’ve got a group of new guys Gregging for me” / “Gregglets” is one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen on TV outside the many British series that capture such oblique humour.

[@SquirrelNutkins]

That’ll be the British writers.

[@line4169]

Same writer as peep show

[@briteboy6131]

"Who are these Greggies??"

[@sbusisomaseko2607]

My favorite line from him is when he was asked if he would vote for Connor and he said " I would spoil the ballot to his benefit"

[@luniette]

i have a really rich set of cousins on my moms side and we got close these past few years since she passed and their mom passed too. i’m literally cousin greg to them 😭 can’t afford a taxi yet the next day i’m invited to the most expensive residential building in new york with celebrities walking in and out playing dress up. wild

[@sanpellegrinolimonata]

Any of your cousins single? 😏

[@IronDoggg]

@@sanpellegrinolimonata So women are REALLY like this, uh? That's Shameless, not Succession...

[@neil6349]

@@IronDoggg the redpill

[@a.a1872]

@@IronDogggit’s a harmless joke buddy!! learn to laugh a little

[@kazeemsanni1064]

Greg is a classic case of “Play the fool, to catch the wise”

[@mishael_wilson]

"I'm the smartest person in the room and everybody shold listen to me". I think that's shiv's biggest personality trait either she is right or wrong. That is what makes her my favourite character

[@krustomer]

So me vibes

[@juliaa6399]

Also the fact that she’s never gonna be logan’s pick because she’s a woman. When they’re picking the next presidential candidate she’s legitimately the only person in the room who has worked in politics and yet she’s ignored, she’s always gonna be ignored at the end of the day. It’s rough to watch but i feel like it’s important

[@dianamontengro]

@@juliaa6399 there was an episode where they mentioned that Shiv wrote a rlly bad corporate briefing and Roman was laughing ab it. so while she is very competent in politics the corporate world Logan operates in is different and she needs the training which i think is why logan suggested a very logical 3y plan for her to step up. But shiv insecurity ab his dad’s loyalty (rightly so) made her act impulsively and sabotage herself. Def one of my fav characters!!

[@krustomer]

@@juliaa6399 Women's opinions are soooo often ignored. It really is like we're invisible to people sometimes. Think of how people treat your mom

[@andralunar]

@@juliaa6399 Is it really because she' s a woman? Unless i'm forgetting, Logan is an asshole but he has no issues letting women take charge. For instance he obviously values Gerri's work, and also wanted Lisa first as his lawyer before knowing Ken had already got her. Shiv obviously is very smart, but she has little to no experience in the company, by choice right?

[@willwright1904]

What you all are missing is that Greg is Logan's brother Ewans grandson. I believe he not only reminds Logan of a younger version of his brother who he dearly misses but in a love hate way. Also having Greg around irritates his brother so that is a good bonus for Logan. Logan tells Greg directly in the bathroom that he likes him. And to pick "Uncle Fun"

[@IllusionistBeatsOfficial]

I doubt anyone missed that. It's blindingly obvious

[@joyanna9433]

Nobody "missed" that dude

[@addictivenews]

greg is the true definition of moving in silence

[@kratino]

I love Greg. He and Roman are tied for the most hilarious characters in an otherwise horrifying show.

[@twatts1523]

Toms pretty funny, too. To make a Tomlette, you gotta break some Greggs.

[@cmk9495]

I just finished season 3. Greg seems like a decent guy, really sweet and puts up with a lot of crap from the family, but he’s smarter than what’s led on. Tom and Greg’s alliance is interesting. I enjoy their interactions.

[@Kaylbee]

Greg's not much better than the rest of them, really. Remember when, after much effort, he was finally dating that blonde girl but at the wedding, completely flips on her when he saw that other girl? Also he didn't keep those documents for some moral reason, he kept them to move up by blackmail. And then when Tom is asking him to make a deal with the devil, Greg says "What am I going to do with a soul anyways?" The only reason we think Greg is better than he is is because he's bumbling and awkward.

[@trinidiana]

Agree with Kevin, Greg is not terrible, but he is not really sweet at all. He is very opportunistic. He was one of the best characters for sure though, love me some Greg the egg!

[@PruneauYT]

Very well crafted! Greg is fascinating to see (d)evolve throughout the series, for sure. I don't quite get why we shouldn't pick Shiv as our favourite character, but I guess it depends on your definition of favourite. She is fascinating to watch mess up, bring forward her plans, only to get th summarily rejected, time after time. She's the Charlie Brown to Logam's Lucy. And her dynamic with Greg's boyfriend (and incidentally her husband) hasn't been seen much on TV. I'm always glad to see a Shiv scene, because I know a masterful disaster is upcoming.

[@SceneItReviews]

That's definitely fair! Probably being a bit harsh on Miss Shiobhan - I more meant it must be pretty demoralising constantly getting your hopes up only for her to put her foot in her mouth (and completely implode) once again. But she's definitely never boring. Who knows, maybe she'll take control in Season 4 ;)

[@PruneauYT]

@@SceneItReviews It depends of "favourite" means who you root for, or just who you like watching, for good and horrible reasons. Her unique brand of cruelty towards Tom, mixed with pathetic desire for paternal approval which makes her incapable of taking any decision are what makes me so happy to see her back on the screen. Not that I don't also enjoy the other ones. This show is so very high on my list! I gotta say, my unpopular opinion is thay Stewie is way overrated. The character is associated with recurring risks to the family fortune and power, but by himself he seems to be mostly a conduit for the real threats. Yes, a funny conduit, but I still don't get the hype. He could vanish forever and I wouldn't mind it a bit.

[@SceneItReviews]

​@@PruneauYT True - you've got to be able to tolerate the ups and downs no matter who your fave character is - they all have ups and downs, wins and losses. And fair call about Stewie! I personally think he's pretty funny and enjoy that he's one of the only characters in the show (other than maybe Marcia, Nan Pierce, and Maatson..) who has the balls to stand up to Logan. Brings an interesting dynamic and juxtaposition to Kendalls habit of getting absolutely dominated by Logan during every confrontation.

[@goldenflower3182]

@@SceneItReviews Kendall does that too. Roman does that too. Tom does that too. Yet you only mentioned Shiv. It’s really not subtle.

[@SceneItReviews]

​@@goldenflower3182 Everyone makes a play for power - that's the premise of the show. But I don't think anyone's snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in as brutal fashion as Shiv did at the Pierce's. It's impossible to read Logan's intentions, but she seemed to be his preferencial successor until she blurted out at the dinner table and then got tricked by Rhea Jarrell into applying for other jobs. She also kept returning to Logan with seemingly false hope that THIS TIME he'd anoint her. Of the other characters you mention: - Ken's biggest public loss was S1 Ep6, but that was because Roman doublecrossed him, not because he put his foot in his mouth. He then kills the kid end of S1, which I'll concede was a major implosion point for him. - Roman only truly showed interest in leading the company the last few episodes of S3, so there hasn't really been enough time for him to self-sabotage in a corporate setting (that rocket blew up end of S1 but there were no public or corporate repercussions - he remained a 'nepotism baby with obscure senior position in the company') - Tom is now in the inner circle, and outside of the public hearing seems to leverage any public embarrassment to his advantage (working behind the scenes similar to Greg) In summary, I'm just saying I assume it would be infuriating to support Shiv if you were hoping she's going to win, because she routinely shoots herself in the foot. This could and hopefully will change in S4, with the kids teaming up, but I'm not trying to make some underhanded sexist statement by highlighting a female character's blunders, as you seem to be intimating.

[@rossrreyes]

Gregg will end up with EVERYTHING

[@LuisSierra42]

u know it

[@Mario_1611]

I hope they don't just do that Cliche.

[@borisbadinoff1291]

Great clip. In your intro "who's your favorite character, tells a lot about you", you forgot to add "If you enjoy watching Succession, it tells a lot about you." Such as getting pleasure from constant cringing watching pathetic, shameless characters bar none. Many people might feel that life's too short to spend any of it trying to acquire a taste for this level of disconfort. 🙂

[@SceneItReviews]

True - there's a level of masochism in enjoying the twisted characters haha

[@1987Liono]

You should have seen Peep Show. Now that is torture.

[@borisbadinoff1291]

@@SceneItReviews My comment above reflects my first reaction after painfully watching a couple of episodes and dropping off. To be honest I did come back to the series months later, and it was much easier, finding it quite funny. Which really proves that Succession is an acquired taste. Nothiing innate about watching abject characters wriggling under the pressure of their self-imposed toxic aspirations. :-)

[@sonchik6324]

I’m my experience, being a fan of succession mostly comes from some crippling family trauma, no less

[@EughhBrothereughh]

I watch it to make myself happy I'm not them

[@ben-jammin121]

Love Succession, love Greg the Egg, and love your videos. Keep it up!

[@artmedyk]

Yeah, there's something in Greg, that make him imposible to dislike! Some good part and goofiness, but also that manipulative part and skill to achive his goals! Great written character. BTW I've just come across your channel and ... you definitely should have more subs and views! You are great story teller, have nice voice and ability to interested your viewer!

[@WindyTrousers]

I like the way Greg is written with him having all this ammunition of knowledge and evidence that he's just stockpiling. It remains to be seen how he deploys it and to what end it either benefits him in a malicious and malevolent way or in an altruistic way that helps everyone... or anyone, if that's even possible. I don't think he knows how to wield the huge sword he's carrying.

[@Kaldurahm1]

Heya. Are you caught up yet with this latest episode? It's been a few months since your comment and we're 12 episodes from the series finale. What do you think now?

[@johnnyrivas2619]

I see that you, too, are a man of culture and grace. It's gonna end with Gregory taking it all, using Tom as human furniture.

[@partycitydumpster]

Tbh I've always read Greg as being a portrait of someone stumbling up the ladder by way of simple being (1) family, and (2) interested in the ladder. His entitlement isn't super obvious because he's always juxtaposed with everyone else, but he is the more goofy embodiment of someone who contributes nothing, has no skills, who everyone kind of hates, but still achieves some amount of success because of nepotism.

[@TyrellGlen]

Just discovered this channel, now I’m watching all of it. Really great content. This guy should blow up

[@SceneItReviews]

who's your favourite succession character...and why is it also greg???? ;)

[@dawnstorm1494]

yeah, greg's also my fave! he's just really fun to watch and root for despite him also being pretty awful morally. I do think I might disagree a bit about there still being hope for him, though. I think his bumbling nature and lack of confidence has started to wear off a bit in s3, as he's started to actually say and believe what he means a lot more (ex: not wanting connor to be president, "what am I gonna do with a soul anyways?"). and I think his devolution into becoming just another roy is where his arc is headed (especially since I can't see a happy ending for anyone involved in this show). will be rooting for him every step of the way though!

[@ahabmalik7710]

it's kendall btw

[@kurosami7604]

Greg’s bumbling around in the first season was fine, but by season three it get’s fucking stale. Like he’s so stupid sometimes it hurts and it’s hard to watch

[@ahabmalik7710]

@@kurosami7604 and his entire arc is him getting more corrupted I hate how many people finish the show saying he's the only one who's not evil while he's trying to sue greenpiece. and don't get me started on the watch thing while kendall gave him an apartment

[@SceneItReviews]

​@@kurosami7604 that's fair, I mentioned that the Tom and Greg dynamic is a bit overdone by Season 3

[@454ffv]

Ewan's not his uncle that's his grandfather. That's why he was to inherit his money. Logan's the uncle to greg because GREG'S THE COUSIN

[@Lyyysa]

I was looking for this correction

[@Kaylbee]

Logan is Greg's great-uncle because Logan is Ewan's brother. Greg's mom is direct cousin to Shiv, Roman, Ken.

[@JoyaLewisTheMusician]

Love the presentation - the simplicity, the short length, the font - gonna check out more of your content! ❤

[@rutkettu]

Amazing analysis! Can't get over how good this series is.

[@jrrtalkin]

I'm so impressed with your video editing !

[@HollyHargreaves]

Great breakdown!

[@clarabp2613]

One of my fav moments of Greg in season 4 is when he just casually ears dropped a conversation between Matsson and his colleague using a traductor to later give the info to Kendall. I was like: The boy is learning

[@teddiemercury207]

I think it's going to come down to Tom vs. Greg, and the winner could go either way. Initially the show was set up where Greg was a regular guy and Tom was one of them. As time goes on, however, they've been hinting at the idea that the opposite is true. Finding out Greg was going to inherit hundreds of millions, Greg jumping from side to side depending on who looks like they are going to benefit him the most, even small things like on the yacht where he mentions the wine is "not his favorite". Of course everyone has preferences, but a bumbling regular guy on a yacht most likely wouldn't have mentioned it. With Tom, he has genuine emotional reactions to Shiv's mistreatment of him (their marriage isn't just a strategic move to him), he was willing to go to jail for them without trying to weasel up a scheme to sacrifice someone beneath him like Greg, he has been loyal to Logan and Greg without wavering, and the show made a whole thing about his parents paying for a portion for the wine at the wedding so we would know that something like that is typically outside of their means. Greg stole papers he was told to shred, securing his own self interests, while Tom almost held a press conference admitting the company's wrongdoings because it was the moral thing to do. Greg is a blue-blood rich guy pretending to be a regular guy, and Tom is a regular guy pretending to fit in with the wealthier class. It's going to come to a point where neither of them can fake who they are anymore and that will determine the winner. I think it will go one of two ways - 1. Tom Wins - Tom's loyalty to Logan could eventually get him the win if Greg jumps ship thinking he has a better opportunity with the Roy kids, making Tom the last man standing. Also, Logan resents the rich kid personalities that his family has, because he had to earn it all himself. He may see the value in Tom getting to the top on his own accord without a hand out. 2. Greg Wins - Greg could easily betray Tom to take the lead without Tom seeing it coming due to his loyalty and the fact that regular people like Tom believe in the idea of rank. Tom is above Greg and Logan is above both, but for people like the Roys, rank doesn't exist like that. You are on the top (Logan) or you are doing whatever it takes to get there, regardless of if you have to hurt your boss, spouse, friend, parent, etc. Also, Logan seems to really care about the successor being in the family. Between Greg and the Roy siblings, Greg is the lesser of the evils, so Logan could default to him.

[@otto_corso]

Fantastic breakdown!

[@asmileisspecial]

What a fantastic and insightful comment.

[@adamriet-muller7358]

How would Greg or Tom win though? You really think the board members vote for Greg or Tom? This is a billion dollar company choosing Greg?? I don't see it.

[@teddiemercury207]

@@adamriet-muller7358 I'm not sure how it would play out, but the board can be turned any way Logan wants. The show has always made it pretty clear that Logan gets what he wants (whether that is good or bad). If he decides Greg or Tom should be his successor I'm sure he knows how to make it happen with the board. The board shouldn't want any of the characters we have seen so far to take over, but it's never mattered what the board thinks because Logan can control what they do. It shouldn't be that way for sure, but it has been so far. It'd probably be the biggest plot twist in the history of the entire film and tv industry if the successor was chosen based on logic or ethics. I'd like to see it though!

[@jazzylastname6757]

I’d love to know what you think now, with the new episodes out. I definitely see some sort of Tom vs Greg showdown on the horizon. Especially with the newest episode, Greg was very much reminding me of Tom. He was playing all sides and was even written into the will. However, it seemed like Tom is kinda loosing his footing. He’s trying to insert himself and be a team player but it’s just not working and he’s not fitting in anymore. Its like their switching roles in a way. But that’s just my opinion. And I really enjoyed your breakdown. Who do you think is gonna come out on top, imo it’s gonna be Kendall. And Greg (maybe Tom) will get one of the roles that Gerri/Frank/Karl have.

[@fergie42069]

the first shot of Greg is him smoking weed in his car in the parking lot of his mascot job at the amusement park and look at him now.

[@yelyahfan88x94]

I love this show so much even though everyone is absolutely awful.

[@rippindrummer666]

Shiv and Logan are by far thei worst. Tom, Greg and Ken at least have some shred of emotion or decency imo

[@TisDana]

This analysis is on point

[@thyagosaints]

Great stuff Man, congrats, also love Greg and succession 🇧🇷❤️

[@belle8732]

i think the fact that greg feels more human, makes his character and progression all the more dark. greg is very selfish, and unlike the rest of the roy's, he knows that being selfish is bad and yet he consistently has his own best interest in mind. the scenes with his grandfather are what i find particularly revealing. he mooches, he goes to meetings he wasn't invited to and injects himself into everyone else's business. tom knows this, and that's why he busts his balls about it but still likes greg. tom knows greg has the capacity to be just as horrible as the rest of them. greg is like a trojan horse that never fully exits the better exterior, he shoots from the inside.

[@LouisLitt369]

Dude is spectrum coded so main character syndrome is often a part of that. I wouldn't just look at him as being selfish that way

[@nohandle508]

"Audience surrogate", now this is brilliant.:-D Another fabulous video, thank you! :-) Gosh, I miss these horrible amazingly-written characters.

[@sebastianmaharg]

Excellent insight. I couldn't agree more.

[@meganryan9945]

Well done!

[@murica8]

Loved this video. So good.

[@stantono]

Great vid as usual! My favourite character is still Stewy but I do love me some Greg! I can't wait to see what moves the egg will make next season, I'm sure he'll continue to surprise us all haha.

[@SceneItReviews]

could end up running for president with connor!

[@ChezzaOuttaNowhere]

On the first episode i said “oh that guy will win it all.” And i still suspect so. The show starts with him, which i find interesting considering they immediately play him to the back and focus on other characters. But we are absolutely watching it through Greg’s experience and eyes. He is the main character of this show. I’m just waiting to be right.

[@babadook4404]

Ewan isn't his uncle, it's his Grandfather.

[@stephaniemartin-ward4578]

Right? Does this person even watch the show?

[@aleksisuuronen5969]

Btw Ken knew about the cruise doc's already at the end of S01. Greg tells it to him at the wedding which is partly why Ken starts to keep him closer in S02. It's not only just for coke and company. So it explains much better that Ken most likely approached Greg about them at the end of S02 and convinced that Greg is very close to the chopping block. Which wasn't entirely untrue, at all. Greg was at that point more problem than help for the company after the hearings, so his standing wasn't good. It was also a place to use the documents for Greg because he doesn't get the main blame for it but Ken does.

[@RobbyRockaholic]

Great video I think he’s still a sleeper killer , when you may it put like this it’s awesome but I see him as pretty much the same guy from season 1 but this excites me could he gain even more power and I’d like to see some more character development

[@robinouuuuuuuu]

greg betraying tom will be devastating

[@ishmael_03]

Greg is a funny character but I like the Roys a lot because they think they're smarter than they actually are and their banter is hilarious! 🤣

[@agsmashups]

God. You make me worry one day that he’s going to stop stuttering about and that’s the moment we know he’s lost his soul.

[@GerhardDaghoul]

ON point! kudos! Best dramedy ever lol.

[@cerealkiillar]

Greg is the answer to the question, "If it were myself infiltrating Roy World, what/how/why would I do?" Brilliant response. And no. There is no way to hold onto your soul in that realm. Just fuggetaboutit. 💀BTW, Love you. Just subscribed.

[@naheemquattlebaum2267]

Love Greg, especially since him and Tom has the best dynamic on television. But, I find having Greg as a favorite is "too easy" especially since he's the audience surrogate. I've chosen Tom for this challenge. He's essentially Greg if he involved himself with the family business at an earlier time. Tom sees Greg as himself if he wasn't as ambitious. Tom leveraging his marriage with Shiv, relationship with Greg, and loyalty to Logan against each other is a very interesting slippery slope to watch last season.

[@katjau_]

Shiv is a very interesting character

[@chameleon25]

I feel like all three siblings compete for the “if self sabotage was a person title” lol

[@Saucyminx597]

I've always felt there was something about Greg. He's gonna grow up to be the worst of the bunch I think.

[@douglascohen2521]

Greg is the only one in the family that is poor, nothing to loss, willing to take a risk, and with the support of two senior members of the board of directors. This is a test to see who would be the next CEO.

[@andymatzner4891]

Greg is like Jar Jar Binks...who 'just happens' to facilitate the transfer of power to the Empire...

[@sangun123]

greg was never the "good guy" in my opinion, he was just the perpetual underdog, and we all love rooting for an underdog

[@grasstastesbad]

i agree. i feel like he flies under the radar because he’s not bad in the way logan is or other characters are and he’s clumsy so you think he’s harmless but greg’s kind of a sociopath. he doesn’t have much of a conscience

[@emmahardesty4330]

What a treat. Thanks--

[@uydagcusdgfughfgsfggsifg753]

Greg is the GOAT, so is Logan, Roman, Tom, Gerry, Kendal, show is filled with icons

[@goldenflower3182]

So is Shiv too. One of the best and most complex characters we’ve seen on the show. Alas the misogyny the show addresses and critiques, rears it’s ugly head in real life fans of the show.

[@uydagcusdgfughfgsfggsifg753]

@@goldenflower3182 Shiv’s choices make me not like the character, but the acting of it is knocked out of the park 100%

[@DavidWatts505]

Fuck I haven’t seen this show in a little while and when I heard that intro music hit damn

[@v-22]

You forgot to mention when he told Logan straight up he shouldn't make Connor president, that showed he has some moral values and backbone.

[@paperchasindude6578]

This is a great video essay. May I ask what software do you use or what things you require to make a video essay?

[@SceneItReviews]

Hey mate. I use Adobe Preimere Pro to edit, but if you're just starting out you can use some free software called 'Shotcut'. Then all you need is a computer, some creativity, a microphone, and some footage :) Good luck!

[@susanzooz]

Shiv is a GREAT character!!!

[@SceneItReviews]

Agreed, her S4 has been incredible.

[@gettinmymoneyup9816]

greg has to be everyones favorite character, he leveraged his nepotism and you can't blame him for that, but at the core of it all he still embodies what most of us would act like if put into this position in life that he's been granted.

[@robynsegg]

Greg & Tom are the bromance of the century... and I'm here for it. Thank you for listening to my TegTalk. 🤣

[@cahyasatixoxo7207]

I think it’s interesting that some of the most despicable character are the most able to make a good first impression and thus might not be so repulsive in person, but the characters you really like would seem totally horrible on first impression.

[@naFarto]

That's just great writing

[@barfymann362]

Comedian Norm Macdonald famously said, "Play the dumb guy". It's true in Standup comedy but also in a corporate environment, you want to appear as non-threatening as possible - you don't want to give away your advantage. Imagine being at a game of Poker, and you're the loudest person on the table - you're the Phil Hellmuth, giving away what you have by not keeping your calm. Now look at Phil Ivey and Daniel Negreanu, both fantastic players and both always calm. Phil Ivey with his death stare and Daniel with his technical knowledge to be able to dissect the table all the whilst maintaining a happy demeanour.

[@akcoady]

"The wise man laughs and listens - or just listens - while the fool talks."

[@akcoady]

Fool speaks.

[@paulakdna]

Unnecessary comment about Shiv. She's an amazing character! So smart and at the same time naive for overstimating people around her.

[@brunonavarrete4008]

Great take on my favorite character as well. Not sure it applies as of last episode though xD

[@SceneItReviews]

his Season 4 arc has been brutal :(((

[@AA-qb7ni]

I really do think Greg could take over. He's pretty smart and meddling his way into things.

[@LTADrocks]

I reject this thesis! I think it's the opposite, Greg had to behave nicely when he was poor because non-rich people generally expect basic decency out of each other in polite society, but once he got a taste of the Roy lifestyle and way of treating people, it enabled him to luxuriate in the self-righteousness that his mother fostered in him growing up by feeding him the family mythology that one day he'd have wealth. Because he didn't have wealth, he always had to suppress that belief to get by until now. I think Greg is genuinely a bad guy, who pretended to be a good guy to get ahead, then once he had his foot in the door, he became more comfortable letting his selfish, cruel, conniving self out (especially since he saw the Roys doing it and getting away with it). I'd say most of your observations of which character is the most human are more applicable to Tom; who is a good guy, but pretended to be a bad guy to impress the Roys. Tom shows immense amounts of guilt and remorse for every bad decision he makes whereas Greg effortlessly backstabs like the rest of the Roys. Tom only seems better at it because he's been doing it longer. Personally, Greg is innately slimy and untrustworthy but Tom is decent and any of his failings come from being put in so many difficult circumstances with impossible choices.

[@jordinometry1589]

Ewan is Greg’s grandfather

[@crystalriley9671]

I love the character of Greg and I'm rooting for him. I believe Logan's loyalty to the family will ultimately have him choose Greg over Tom. Logan knows that Greg is now disinherited by his brother, and still he chooses to be around Logan without any promises of being in his will. Greg is a risk taker, just like Logan, and he does recognize it.

[@oversensitivenipples]

yup, checks out, shiv is my favorite and im also self sabotage personified

[@Blueon123]

Cousin Greg, is the Marshall D teach of succession

[@jillmeredith2012]

The night of the penultimate episode, I was bartending at a wedding, so I was missing that episode drop. One of the guests actually looked like NIcholas Braun, and I commented on that. He was flattered, a huge fan of the show, bummed he also was missing the episode drop, and we agreed that Greg was our favorite character. "It's not that lemony!" Got to use that reference when we were serving Lemoncella La Croix at a recent gig, too.

[@borjastick]

The character is huge in the whole thing but he and they don't really see it. The casting was a stroke of genius because the part requires naivete and innocence combined with a tenacity to hold tight and work out what's important. Brilliantly played.

[@colangepinero]

Brother great vid but you mentioned the Athletic on your reference to Megan Garber it was the ATLANTIC. I was scouring the Athletic looking for the article but found it was the Atlantic. Great content nonetheless ❤️

[@SceneItReviews]

My bad! I'll drop a link to the article in the description to clear it up

[@TisDana]

My character is Gerri.

[@leagarcia6029]

when greg slapped tom back in the final ep🎉🎉🎉😮

[@joyanna9433]

Greg is the only one in that entire fed up family that emotes like somewhat of a person.

[@xxnijaanarchyxx6095]

just 1 tiny thing i'd like to point out, by s2 greg is already 'rich' so the poor guy trope for greg only really applies for s1. however now he's rich but he doesn't act/spend it like the other rich ppl in the show bc of him being poor at first

[@Raulbikcube]

I don't know. He was still looking at studio apartments in Staten Island in season 2. Kendall had to give him an apartment. I think he got a promotion later in the season, but he spent a big chunk of season 2 pretty broke.

[@nathaliebaquiro8500]

He's still pretty relatable tho, he was relying on Ken giving him the watch as a gift, and when he didn't, he did not know how to buy a watch, so he bought an expensive one that didn't even work. He can have the money but he doesn't have the personality traits, he's still approachable.

[@sangun123]

yeah it wasnt until halfway through the season that greg "blackmails" tom for a new gig and tom mentions "way more money". Mind you im sure greg was making great money before, just not "billionaire" money that tom has through marriage@@Raulbikcube

[@jakebaker4066]

“What’s up fucknuckle?” - Tom Wambsgams

[@iliaponomarev1624]

My favorite character is Willa. Absolutely. But as for Greg, he's sometimes a bit painful to watch. I keep thinking maybe if he were a little bit smarter, he'd own Waystar already. Or maybe got himself into a problem he couldn't get out of. I don't know

[@originaozz]

Me realizing I watched this show with no favorite character. Guess I just like to see them all burn.😂

[@Pantsinabucket]

Coming back to this with the realization that HBO kept hinting at Greg as a threat just to keep us on our toes. Only 7 episodes left and it seems like we’ve all been fooled into watching our beloved Greg become just as awful as the rest of the Roys while also staying powerless.

[@user-cd4bx6uq1y]

The point is that there still are some good channels on youtube (through which you can watch a series without watching it)

[@kilgoretrout321]

I can't pick a favorite. They're all sympathetic in some way because the writing and acting is so good. Obviously they're all horrible people, but their motivations make them understandable. I love Greg and Tom. Tom has the most understandable pathos because, in a heartless place, he actually has a heart. And Greg is the most relateable character in this world because he apparently grew up poor (even though he was set to inherit 250 mil). The writers also established that he has many objections to the horrible things the Roy family does, yet I must note he has fallen in love with the rich world, the high living that is at the heart of each of the characters' worst traits. I think Shiv is super close to having a soul, but she'd only get it through treating Tom like a human being, which she seems loathe to do. Kendall is so annoying yet I'd love to see him figure out how to stop trying to prove himself to his dead father. Anyway, I think you're giving Greg too much credit for manipulation. He definitely wants to be in a comfortable situation, but he does not have the skills to do it. It's more a combination of luck and opportunism. I think the chief difference between him and the other characters is he hasn't been tainted by Logan Roy. Well, that was until Logan made him feel welcome in order to get back at his brother.

[@chameleon25]

I couldn’t pick a favorite either lol I just know it’s not Kendall haha.

[@batt0usai377]

I loved in the finale when Gregg said its Succession-ing time and Successioned the Succession out of Succession.