THE INTERPRETER | Jeremy Strong
THE SHOW | Succession
THE EPISODE | “With Open Eyes” (May 28, 2023)
PERFORMANCE | This week’s series finale was meant to be a crowning glory for Kendall Roy. Instead, it was the latest in a series of humiliating defeats, and the last, with Kendall failing in her quest to succeed her late father Logan as CEO of Waystar Royco. But at the same time, it was a fittingly grand final act for Strong, as he found exquisite pathos in Kendall’s downfall and put the finishing touches on one of the best TV performances of the past decade.
Kendall was riding high at the start of the series finale, extremely confident in her chances of becoming CEO. We’ve seen this Kendall swagger before, and it always ends badly for him, but Strong always brought an unsinkable verve to Kendall, so close to his lifelong goal he could taste it. He even showed us a lighter side of Roy’s famous stone-faced offspring, smiling (!) and strolling with his siblings, with Strong adding just a hint of childlike joy to Kendall’s infinitely complex character. When it came time for the high council vote, however, Kendall overplayed his hand, and when Shiv hesitated to vote for him, he flew into a rage, barking orders at him like Logan used to do. . As Kendall felt her chances of becoming CEO slip away, Strong’s face softened and Kendall began to plead, “If I can’t do this…I could die.” He was like a child who is denied his favorite toy, and he lashed out at his loved ones, asserting primal authority (“I’m the eldest boy!”) and physically assaulting Roman for daring to bring up the lineage. of his children. Strong masterfully played every emotional note along the way as Kendall clung desperately to the one thing he’d ever wanted…only to watch it slip away.
After the voting ended and Kendall was denied the CEO job, he sank into a catatonic state, with Strong wearing that deep disappointment all over his face. He didn’t say another word of dialogue after that, and he didn’t have to, with Kendall’s tear-filled eyes and slumped shoulders saying it all for him. He wandered outside in a daze, not knowing what to do with himself now that his cherished crown had been snatched from his hands before he could even put it on. It was a tragic ending for a tragic character, and while Kendall was far from perfect, Strong’s unforgettable performance made his flaws compelling, right down to the final blow.
Scroll down to see who scored honorable mentions this week…
-
HONORABLE MENTION: Bridget Everett
Image credit: Courtesy of HBO
Hurt feelings permeated the penultimate episode of someone somewhereof the stunning season 2, giving Bridget Everett the stage she needed to unleash her best dramatic work yet. Joel’s lie to Sam about her new boyfriend caused heaps of contention between the besties which erupted during a date with Fred. Joel canceled the party to apologize, but the anger and pain were too much for Sam, as seen through Everett’s gloomy eyes and stiff posture. When she finally raised her voice, our hearts sank for both parties. Then the bombshell hit, “I just don’t want you to leave me!” Sam confessed. It was a moment of truth and nakedness that left her more exposed than she’s ever been, and Everett’s delivery made it feel so pure, so real.
-
HONORABLE MENTION: Ari Notartomaso
Image credit: Paramount + screenshot
A ball of energy in sneakers, Notartomaso regularly delivered adrenaline shots to Paramount+ Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies. But the non-binary actor made tomboy Cynthia more than just a fun electric jerk, a point they brought home in the Season 1 finale. As Cynthia put her heart on the line, admitting crush Lydia, “I love you like Gene Kelly loves Debbie Reynolds in that dumb movie I secretly kinda like.” Notartomaso was so painfully vulnerable that we held our breath with their character. And when she finally confessed to fellow Pink Lady Nancy why she was so blue — in a quirky and sweet coming-out scene — her portrayer made Cynthia’s relief as palpable as her anguish. So obviously the moment she happily sang to Lydia that she was all in, Notartomaso had made sure we were too. Season 2 or bust!
-
HONORABLE MENTION: Ke Huy Quan
Image credit: Disney+ screenshot
For the first stretch of Disney+ chinese born american, Ke Huy Quan played the jester, only considered an unfortunate Asian stereotype in an 80s sitcom in the series. But in the penultimate episode, Quan showed us the depth that won him an Oscar and more, for Everything everywhere all at once. As the Beyond Repair The cast gathered for a reunion special, Jamie de Quan was bubbling with excitement. But then his character’s silly old wig was brought out, followed by a question about his legacy as “the iconic” Freddy “What Could Go” Wong. Quan, with every syllable that followed, showed us just how carefully thought out Jamie’s response was – quietly condemning his past and also expressing his unfulfilled wish that he had then been chosen as someone better. As a “hero”. Instead, Jamie continued to teach acting, which makes him great in our book.
Which performance(s) hit your socks this week? Tell us in the comments!
