realityplease

The reason I love this show is because everything ISN'T spelled out. You get bits & pieces to figure out for yourself. Connor's mom was institutionalized and Connor has a rather tepid personality - which isn't Logan's style - so like the first pancake, Connor was tossed aside for a newer batch. (Not that the next set of "pancakes" was much better.) Whether Roman was taunted by his siblings & made to eat dog food - or not - he's got serious self-esteem issues. Does or says disgusting things for effect or attention. One day, he's full of himself (Roman the Showman) & firing people. The next day he's a sniveling wreck. With daddy issues just like the rest of them. No wonder. Logan was left to believe that he brought home the polio that killed his sister. His aunt & uncle didn't disabuse him of that notion, and who knows, maybe beat & abused him too, given the marks on his back. (Unless abused at school or somewhere else along the way, but somewhere, Logan learned to take pain - and to give pain.) The kids were recipients of Logan's messed up way of dealing with people. They all lack self-esteem. And raised in the thrall of, but also manipulated, by Logan. Kendall was closest to taking over (he can scope issues sometimes, he can lead or connect sometimes, & sometimes he has his head in the game when not overwhelmed by sidetracks) but he can also be needy - wanting to be seen as cool, speaking in lingo. Falling into traps. Logan's inability to cede power coupled with Kendall's failings, made him an iffy choice to take over. Shiv, the only girl, was made to feel lesser than her brothers or babied ("Pinky.") Her need to show that she can run with the boys, causes her to exhibit bravado & overconfidence - sometimes unjustified. She has the same insecurity as the others - caused by Logan & coupled with Caroline's leaving, which she may have felt to greater extent. She's not stupid, but she wasn't groomed to take over - she doesn't really know the business & inexperienced as a leader & delegator - though she wants to give off an air that she can handle it. She's not fooling Matsson, however. It was no doubt a competitive household - as kids & adults, each vying for Logan's attention & love. And each failing as Logan withheld either or both of those or played one against the other. Each one with good qualities & each with major flaws. No one an easy or perfect choice to succeed Logan. What a messed up group!

I totally agree - and have said it before. Greg is merely a Greek chorus who mumbles asides. He's the barely tolerated poor relative hoping to accept crumbs & climb his way up by association. He's been used to take orders & do dirty work - to destroy documents or files, fire ATN underlings & deliver bad audition news to Kerry, tell Mr. Snippy-snip to make changes, listen to Tom's musings. To be the fall-guy or hatchet man, whatever needed. He doesn't manage anyone, isn't capable of executive decisions. He simply takes the orders from others & executes them in his own bumbling way. Even Tom has more experience & gravitas (with his own failings, of course) than Greg. Logan found him "visually aggravating." If Greg is the answer to anything, I'd be shocked. He was extremely embarrassed by whatever sport Matsson's team made of him - but will nevertheless hang onto him or whomever to get whatever crumbs or find whatever "gold" he can - no matter how low he must stoop. He has use as a go-fer or mole. He is not CEO material.

Except for the Baby Bar (lst year exam) and the actual Bar exam, there are no pre-designed exams created by the CA State Bar. So whatever exams, Kimmie says she's taking are whatever is made up by the lawyers with whom she is studying. She'll have to retain that information for the Bar exam whenever she finally takes it. (But there are a number of Bar review courses - usually lasting about 10 weeks - to prepare for the Bar Exam. Remains to be seen if she takes one of those or uses a private tutor - but the expense won't be a problem for her.) The non-law school route is pretty unique. She's not even like the typical aspiring lawyer who does it while they work at that law firm to get hands-on experience while studying the range of required topics. She's simply taking one subject at a time (while also complaining of the time it takes to be a mother of four, nattering about her business interests & Met Gala appearances, & taking time for her endless selfies.) She's stretched out her studies for 5 years now (with several more years to come) instead of doing a 3-4 year law school route. Beyond passing the baby bar for first year students (which she did on her 4th try after not one year, but four years), she doesn't have to pass exams, take exams, study particular subjects - but she WILL have to take the Bar Exam that covers an entire range of maybe 21 subjects AND a separate exam on legal ethics, so she'll have to get her knowledge somewhere. IF she ever passes the bar exam (and that a very big IF) before she's old enough to reach senility, I expect she will hire a platoon of other lawyers to do the actual work for her - do the research, draft the pleadings, fashion the arguments - and she'll make a guest appearance here & there - or swoop in to take credit if any of the matters are successful. It's not as if she'll ever be doing the work of an actual lawyer. And that's probably a good thing.

"Barnacle Bethenney" latches onto Meghan & Harry even harder. She's claiming that, only now, after backlash is hitting the Sussexes due to their spokesperson's over-wrought description of the NYC papparazzi chase, "everyone is catching up to her." She says that when she dissed the Sussexes after they left the royal family & did the Oprah interview & published Spare, she (Bethenney) "came close to cancellation" and "I got destroyed & lost business deals." Really?? I don't remember her uttering a peep about receiving backlash from her criticisms of Harry & Meghan at the time - much less "cancellation" "destruction" or "lost business deals." It wasn't her negative criticism of folks like H&M or the Kardashians, who often provide so much to comment upon, so much as the way Bethenney did it - in an obvious & lame attempt to coat-tail their attention & to grab a little run-off limelight & publicity for herself.

Bethenney's on TikTok giving advice to Harry & Meghan after their histrionic spokesperson's tale of their "relentless pursuit" by a "ring of papparzzi" "for over two hours" causing "near-catastrophic near-collisions." The hub-bub's died down, the severity of the pursuit downplayed with no arrests, violations, accidents or injuries, the NYC police having told the Sussexes they don't escort rich celebrities home but hey, why doncha hail a cab, & the Sussexes got to their destination safely. Still, "Ms. Know-it-All" has weighed in. Stating that she, of course, is a "recluse" to avoid publicity (Hahahahahahaha!) her advice is: "Don't go. If you expect to be out in Miami, NYC & L.A., just don't go." Not very useful advice because I don't think wild horses would have kept Meghan from getting out to pick up that award - or from getting the publicity from getting an award (albeit the accomplishments that usually lead to such an award at these early stages of any philanthropic career are quite thin.) Still, Bethenney, the Know-it-All Queen found she just HAD to speak out.

She isn't in an accredited law school. Or law school at all. She's studying independently with tutors. It's why she needed to take the Baby Bar - only required of those in unaccredited schools & independent study - after the 1st year of study & on only 3 topics. If you don't pass, you can't proceed with your studies. It took her 4 tries (though there's a limit of 3, she somehow got an exception) & many years (certainly more than one) until she passed. Now she's bragging she got 100% and a 95% on her "mid-terms" though on only one subject - Constitutional Law. She's the only one in her "class" so what does that even mean? Hardly competitive. Half-way through one subject. (She said mid-terms, not finals.) Certainly not the 3 or more subjects per year that one is usually tested on at the same time for mid-terms or finals. (When she finally gets to it, there will be 7 subjects on the multi-state questions & 14 subjects on the essay portion of the Bar exam. In addition to a separate exam on Ethics to be passed.) She says, in one or two MORE years, she hopes to take the Bar Exam. In addition to the five she's already spent. (Actual law school is a 3-yr. program start to finish, 4-yr. for night school programs for those who presumably work full-time, as well.) If she passes on the first try, I'll be amazed. The California Bar's only offered twice a year - although there's no limit to how many times it can be attempted. Hopefully, she'll pass before she reaches retirement age. (And maybe apply what she's learned so she won't run afoul of the law again & get a second $1.26 million fine from the SEC for a clear conflict of interest (taking payment to push a securities product) as she did last year.

Maybe it was the shock of finding out the pregnancy news in the midst of election & newsroom chaos while under the influence of coke & stress. Or maybe he never really cared about having a child so much (as least as far back as Italy) as cementing his position in the family as the father of Shiv's baby & Logan's grandchild.

Shiv is in a bad spot. Roman, that sexist jerk, called her hysterical, taunted her about her "boyfriend." Supported Mencken & did exactly what he wanted - ignoring her objections. He's still intent on breaking free of the GoJo deal. Ken will ice her out (to the extent he hadn't already by co-CEO-bro-ing with Roman or by pushing his own agenda) because he now knows she lied about calling Nate AND in cahoots with Mattson. He won't be able to trust her. (Not that he's very trustworthy.) Mattson's already ignored Shiv's efforts to get him to name a particular position for her within his operation - and either he, Oskar or one of his cohorts alerted Greg about her help to Mattson. So the Mattson side can't be trusted to look out for Shiv's interests as a reward for getting info/help from her. They didn't even protect her or keep her cooperation secret before the deal's completed. But he's her only shot going forward. Greg, wasn't intimidated by her threat to him. Instead, when pressed by Ken, he immediately ratted her out. Not only because Greg'd rather throw down with the guys (whether Tom or Ken/Roman), but also, because Shiv did nothing to promise Greg anything "golden" if he supported her. He's very much in need of a quid pro quo but Shiv didn't & never has tried to nail down his support or loyalty - so no wonder she didn't get it. Tom didn't even trust that Shiv didn't lie to him when she told him she was pregnant. He didn't apologize to her after she apologized to him, though both said equally hateful things to the other. He put guilt & the responsibility for Logan's death on her. She's got some cards left to play but there's burnt bridges all around & she's surrounded by the untrustworthy - and untrustworthy herself. If after all this, she miraculously pulls out a win, there will still be quite a lot lost. No one left to trust or who will trust her.

Yeah, I'll admit that Kendall went off on a tangent - trying to blame Rava for not being there when it happened. I forget how old Sophie is, but old enough to be with friends on the street without her mom present. But if Ken was "trying to turn it into an incident he could take action on" - it's because Rava asked him to do something - including calling Sophie because Sophie was upset. So he needed to understand what happened to make Sophie upset. Rava, however, was halting & vague. She alluded to something physical but it wasn't clear if someone pushed Sophie, pushed by her, or shoved her. Big difference between a shove & pushing by. He had to press Rava for details. So you hear that your kid's in a physical altercation (or not) & she's upset - but the details are hazy. Not sure in that moment, you're gonna connect that to your business model & how it affected your daughter. (Adopted doesn't seem relevant, even bi-racial unless the T-shirted punk made it an issue, no matter who was pictured on his T-shirt.) So Ken reacted like a stressed parent. Talking to an Ex. (And in a hurry to get to a funeral planning breakfast with the sibs - for which he was late.) Didn't seem that awful to me.

Tom thought he'd marry the boss' daughter & it would propel him to the top. It took him pretty far - from Cruises to the top of ATN. But a season or more ago, Tom was confronted with Shiv's ambition. Tom came to see that SHE was gunning for the top job, not pushing him to the top (or at least not the top over & above her.) Her ambition & switch from politics to Waystar striver wasn't what he anticipated - nor her desired open marriage, nor "playful" admission in Italy that she didn't love him. Though hurt, he hung in there - not wanting to lose what he'd attained. But when it came time to choose sides, he chose Logan, the man who Tom described as never losing. Even if that meant betraying & alienating Shiv. Logan's death changed the equation. Despite Tom's efforts to propose himself as CEO - he had no takers. When Shiv was helping Matsson, he silently rode along - happy to be given an option to align with a winning side. So they got back together. But each one couldn't tamp down their ambition or insecurities or at-odds natures or positions. That extinguished any love they could re-ignite - their true natures took over. Shiv's used her upper hand to mock him at the party (even though she excused it as lightly done for a reason) & though Tom was humiliated when "everyone" knew his ATN job was threatened. Shiv enjoyed her power over Tom - she wasn't forgiving or forgetting his betrayal. On the other hand, Tom's passive-aggressive "humor" in giving her a scorpion also gave away how he really viewed her - he wasn't forgiving or forgetting either. Both able to play act & deceive when needed, both able to sting & hurt. Tom's emotional voice crack on Zoom before introducing hatchet-man Greg to fire 100's seemed real - but followed with Tom's jokey off-screen wringing hands & fake cry while Greg delivered the bad news to the unlucky. It shows Tom's ability to fake emotion with sad eyes, near tears. Shiv was gleeful putting Tom down in front of others (not seeing that it hurt him, or brushing it off or not caring) yet expected solace from him after learning of the India issue & questioning whether Matsson is "real" - her option for power - fading. They both want to trust each other, but can't. Each too able to deceive. Each able to hurt when hurt. Each needing someone to care - but each too self-centered to be that for the other. So much real & so much fake in both of them. Poison to each other. Fascinating writing.

Yeah, I know Ken's a shit dad who only gives half-attention (if that) to his kids or their issues, or tried to blame Rava, but c'mon Rava, spit it out! So annoying when she hemmed & hawed getting out Sophie's problematic encounter. Don't know if Rava was doing it purposely to be annoying -- or just annoying. New drinking game: Every time someone tells one of the Roy kids that they're not their father. Tonight with Nate. Hasn't Mattson said that to one or two of them in past episodes? Gerri to Roman last episode? Maybe others? Each time a gut punch or triggering to the one being told - even if true or just a matter-of-fact observation. (Such as Nate saying, "I'm not Daniel & you (Ken) are not Logan. And that's a good thing.") The truth really emerged in that Shiv/Tom fight. Ouch - painful! Shiv accused Tom of marrying her for her DNA. Tom telling Shiv she'd be a shitty mother. And more. Their blows landed & hurt. Love & hate (or contempt) & hurt intertwined. Raw ambition making each one protect their own interests over that of their partner. Tom cornered with losing his job. (After callously watching 100 lose theirs - again letting Greg do his dirty work.) And Tom knows much about Shiv's intentions but where can he go with it - it's not like the CE-Bros would save him - but Tom's eyes, wide awake, trying to figure a way out. He's an odd one - the scorpion at the beginning of the episode a really passive/aggressive "gift." Both acted the hell out of that fight. So now the power's shifted again. Ken wanting to be one head, one crown. Roman the one who gathered the dirt & got Ebba to disclose ("That India thing - remind me what that was again?") though Ken also present. But without Gerri's support. And true, she "could have gotten him there" but he screwed that up. Shiv realizing backing Mattson wasn't the right play - getting hints when he wouldn't commit to promise any specific position to her in exchange for her help - but certain when the deal became flimsier than thought.

I don't find him attractive - but he DOES look better. Maybe he's filled out a little - even while still drug-thin -- and his face has matured a bit, even though his brain has not.

I don't see him putting it all out there for Shiv - at least not to benefit her. He's calculated how to appeal to her, benefit himself, or at very least, keep himself power adjacent. With some sad sympathetic faces & a plausible reason for choosing Logan over her. But, in fact, he did choose Logan. And nothing indicates he wouldn't hitch himself to someone else's star, if needed. Because he'll always opt for ultimate utility & his own self-interest over love. Ever the doofus who investigates how to make prison wine or write missives that need to be destroyed. Though making it far, he's not on the same level as Mattson (though quirky) & the movers & shakers of the world. As he'd need to be - if put at the helm of Waystar. If sucking up to Shiv helps him to snag or keep Cyd Peach's position at ATN, that's a nice play. But otherwise, he was merely a useful idiot for Logan - helping Logan keep tabs on The Rats' doings via Shiv & firing Cyd. But not seriously considered for interim CEO - by anybody - no matter how often he tried to offer his services to all of them. Not supported by those on the inside, & while not on the kill list, not especially valued by anyone on the outside, nor has he cultivated any special connections to anyone on the Board. Don't see it being Tom.

Wasted opportunity if it catches attention but doesn't draw support for the cause.

Apparently, Kimmy is taking acting lessons in preparation for her role on American Horror Story. (Hopefully, she'll be a better actress than she was a dancer. As Chris Rock said, "She got a booty & don't know how to use it.") In addition to prancing around at the Met Gala & elsewhere and still expects to take the CA bar exam in February? Wait, what? It took her 3 (?) times just to pass the "baby bar" in only 3 subjects. She deemed these boring (contracts), confusing (torts) & just right (criminal). And how many years did that take? Even though the baby bar is typically taken after completion of one year of law school or studies. The actual bar exam is on 7 subjects for the multi-state 200 multiple choice questions, but the 5 essay questions are selected from as many as 14 subjects (the 3 above plus real property, evidence, civil procedure, constitutional law, corporations, trusts & estates, conflict of laws, etc.) If she was confused by Torts, just wait until she gets to some of these! Unlike the baby bar, there's no limit to the number of times one can take the actual Bar exam, though it's only given twice a year. Maybe she'll surpass the record of Maxcy Flier who took 48 tries, taking it twice each year for 24 years, before he passed. I think she got fixated on a pipe dream, but not enough to put the actual work into it to get the job done without major distraction.

I agree. All true that too much goes to CEOs & not the people creating the value. It's gotta be disconcerting to put so much thought, work & energy into a script, only to see so many with their hands on it, sometimes distorting or changing it, or practically everyone else being recognized (the directors, producers, actors, etc.) with awards or rewarded & well paid as a result of it, & many times, the writer overlooked or forgotten or their value diminished. So to change minds, make a clever threat that has teeth & goes to the heart of the matter. Not an idle threat or joke. The Succession writers were paid for their work under the contract that existed at the time. Both sides of the controversy to act in good faith. Even as a joke or idle threat, not moving the needle.

Not too clever of a picket sign, really. If, as threatened, they "spoil" [the ending of] Succession, they might eventually get a contract nailed down - but never get hired in this town again. And gain the disapproval & irritation of many, many Succession fans.

Hate the reunion dresses. They look cheap. The satin will wrinkle after they sit for hours and what's with the extra fabric tacked on as trains? The ones with slits will ride up. The others are just meh. Nothing different or special, uniquely or well-designed, or designer-worthy. Teresa's dress looks like they tacked on an extra piece of fabric to her hips that was left over from Fuda's dress. She looks like a 1950's bathing girl pin-up with some extra long fabric to "cover" her that was hemmed in a hot hurry. Who leaves such a huge hem? They all look outdated. Even their make-up. They all got the heavy eye with the beige washed out lip & heavy spray-tan. Or maybe it's natural after a summer at the shore. In the 60's & '70's understandable, but by now, don't they know about the dangers of skin cancer & aging sun damage? And SPF? Apparently not.

Count me among those who do NOT think Greg will Forrest Gump his way to the top of Waystar. He's just a Greek chorus to state an obvious point (selling homes is nothing new), to absorb a negative comment (e.g., being "visually aggravating" or "two meters of nepotism"), to bounce a joke off or be the butt of a joke, or do dirty work (telling Kerri her audition tape didn't pass muster, telling Snippy-snip to make AI changes, or destroying files.) Sure we all know goofs who got far beyond where we expected them to land - but not to work independently at the TOP of a complex operation like Waystar Royco. He hasn't got sufficient training, expertise or gravitas. Sure, he's the type to ride someone else's coat-tails as far as it will take him, and so far, so good, but he basically, takes orders. As evidenced in this episode as in prior episodes. I don't see him getting the top job. Hopefully, after Bran was palmed off on the audience in GOT - to much audience disapproval - it was noted. At least Bran had some special powers. There's nothing special about Greg.

I think all the mm-hmmms, and yeahs & okaaays are specifically written into the scripts - to show the sibs mimicking Logan's style, whether consciously or unconsciously. Logan used all of these strategically as placeholders when he listened to others - saying virtually nothing or just these, while getting the other side to fill in the silence & reveal more about their positions - while keeping his own position close to the vest. Helped him gather opinions, take it all in, think. And then act or pounce - all without revealing his thoughts, tipping off his opponent, or giving advance notice. The sibs just don't seem to be able to use these placeholders as judiciously. Or after they get the info or a reveal of other's motivations - act out more rashly & less strategically. They're trying to be Logan by mimicking this - but just not quite Logan - for reasons unique to each of them. As for Waystar = Disney. Disney has plans for a huge community in Rancho Mirage, CA with a portion going toward seniors. Different housing plans touting access to the highly rated Eisenhower medical facility & many on-site amenities, some Disney themed. This notion isn't exciting or futuristic enough to techie Mattson & the Gregs of the world - but big corporate entities looking to entice & grab senior dollars are looking at housing projects in areas where the land costs make them feasible.

Scary. That tech guy using AI to change Logan's actual words, a "significant boost in earnings," into "double the amount of earnings" just because Greg threatened "Mr. Snippy-Snip." Sure hope that's not a really, really scary precursor of things to come in the world, but afraid it is. Makes worrying over a bad edit so minor in comparison to having your actual words changed. I agree with almost everything Artsda said - except for the firing of Gerri. Maybe it will be walked back. Because Gerri was right - though yes, not respectful. When Roman demanded respect & she said, "Say it or believe it?" that was true push-back. Especially when she also told him that he is not his father. So he fired her. But she was right that the money will wash them away, that Logan knew that tech was the way to go, & they need to offload. Waystar needs her institutional knowledge & ability to recognize & see a way out of problems. But her firing (& that of the movie exec) shows how erratic Roman can be. He's smart but in trying to placate both Ken and Shiv, and letting his emotions overtake thoughtful control & guiding of matters, he on a downslide.

I agree. Plus, it's not great that she's bringing Tom in on her dealings with Mattson, even if Tom was just silently sitting while she put Mattson on speaker. Tom's as much as told her he'll always pick himself & protect his money - over her. It's why he picked Logan over her in Italy. It's why he's an opportunist who will always choose, in any situation, whoever gives him safety & money - over her. He's not to be trusted. He doesn't have her best interests at heart - only his. A baby won't change that.

I don't think "Doderick Macht Frei" had anything to do with Greg, although, yes, Greg dressed up as the Waystar mascot Doderick the dog in his first appearance in an episode. I think I also saw a quick glimpse of a stand up poster of Doderick at the Waystar building when people entered for the meeting. Mattson's tweet was snark on the Living+ concept. "Arbeit Macht Frei" (work makes free) was a sign over the entrance of the Auschwitz death camp. So I think the tweet implies Doderick would be welcoming the elderly into Living+ "camps" that they will no doubt exit upon their death. As in the death camps. (I don't agree with Cameron Frew's interpretation, cited above.) It was Mattson's dark joke. He took down the tweet. Ken handled it well, saying he wouldn't "fave it" and apologizing if the tweet offended (even though he wasn't the source of it, Mattson was), explaining that he is European, and somehow praising Mattson anyway & acting the loving son to close things out. Doing so to much praise & approval.

Though Girardi was not mentioned by name, an award at the Nerd Ball (The White House Correspondents Dinner) went to the two L.A. Times journalists who reported on the story of "an attorney" (Tom Girardi) who took client funds to buy "his wife" (Erika Girardi not mentioned by name) $750,000 diamond earrings and his "appellate judge mistress" (also not mentioned by name) a $350,000 condo. In fact, the journalists had only to follow the bankruptcy action docket & read the notices issued by the California State Bar as to its re-formulated procedures & investigation. THEY didn't have to dig deep (the attorneys suing Girardi & the Bankruptcy trustee did that) but DID report on what others did & brought the story to the public. Giving them credit as the REASON for change at the State Bar was a bit much - but credit for their articles was deserved. If a national news group sees how egregious Tom's behavior (and Erika's taking advantage of it) was -- and out of the entire nation of reporters, selects for awards those who report on it -- how can Bravo, having permitted Tom to use RHONY as a client-attracting tool, permit Erika to continue to use Bravo as a forum to re-write history as to Tom's conduct & put a PR spin on her benefit from it?

The C-Span camera just scanned Ariana & Lisa VanderPump walking to their table at the Nerd Ball (The White House Correspondents Dinner). Both look pretty good - but like ducks out of water. Ariana looks a little embarrassed. Hard to receive all those looks & words of pity - instead of recognized for achievement. But heck, she walked out on two feet. No need to mope Ariana - hold your head high - you dodged a bullet.