Succession Review: Return (Season 2 Episode 7)
A return to a place of hard memories brings Kendall back down on Succession Season 2 Episode 7, “Return.”
The episode is brimming with the past, from Roman and Shiv playing on their mother’s emotions to solve a shareholder breakdown, to a return of Greg’s blackmail documents, to Kendall facing the one family he’s best to stay the farthest from. It’s all a reminder of the hardships the family has faced to get where they are now, and how the mastermind (Logan) will never allow true freedom for his children.
photo: Graeme Hunter/HBO
Logan’s ultimate cruelty comes with putting Kendall through facing the family of the man he accidentally killed at the end of the first season. Is it because Kendall is starting to show progress of digging out of his emotional hole, is it his interest in Naomi, or is it because Kendall’s questions that Logan finds degrading? Or is it more simple, that Logan wants to watch another human suffer for an afternoon?
Likely it’s all of the above. His comments afterward show he doesn’t really see the grieving family as anything more than peasants, like the Roy family are on a different plane of existence. This is all a means of bringing Kendall down to his level, a way of seeing his son go beyond rock bottom while still putting on a smile and offering a compliment while he does it.
The episode becomes this heart-wrenching and devastating look at Kendall returning to the place he never wanted to return to. From the very mention of it at the start of the episode, all of his goodwill comes undone. His spirited greeting to Shiv at the opening party, the way he’s lighting up when with Naomi, all of it comes undone and he’s back to a shell over a few scenes.
He can’t even find help from his own mother, who rather pause the topic and duck out the following morning to fully avoid the realness Kendall needs at this point. It shows that despite the overwhelming amount of people surrounding Kendall, no one’s out for his best interests. It’s all about the opportunity, all about what’s in it for them, leaving him cold and alone when in dire need of closeness to confess.
photo: Graeme Hunter/HBO
The hardest moment comes while visiting the family home as Logan talks to them in the other room. Kendall’s guilt eats at him so much he feels the need to clean the glass he used, as though he doesn’t want to cause any more burden for them. Even placing cash through their mail slot does not absolve him, though it’s a wonder if this may come back up, as there is likely witnesses (beyond the taxi driver).
Jeremy Strong has been unbelievable this season on Succession, but this episode in particular is exemplary. Standing out on this titan cast, and doing so while mostly catatonic and locked in the subtleties of brokenness, shows the outstanding talent he possesses.
Rhea appears to be making a play for successor, and only Shiv is savvy enough to notice. With the warning to Kendall, her aspirations are at least on the radar now, but as the kitchen conversation shows, Logan is not one to accept questioning of his relationships. Holly Hunter’s able to make Rhea this sweet, kind role that has a hint of ambition a few layers underneath, making you question that kindness.
Further strain on the Tom and Greg relationship means more of a chance the best duo on television may be coming to a close. Neither can trust the other now, leaving both in this strange flux. Greg’s able to save a few of the documents from being destroyed, but now that Tom feels safe, it’s a wonder if his at-times cruel treatment of Greg may take a further turn. I’m not ready for them to break up, not yet.
photo: Graeme Hunter/HBO
Succession Season 2 Episode 7, “Return,” becomes a reminder that despite every chance, no one in the Roy family below Logan have a certainty on their future. They do everything that is asked for them, and there will be so much more to come, but still they remain in stasis, exactly where they are the week before.
Maybe there will be a wake-up call one day for one of them, namely Kendall, as the toxic world they find themselves in will only become more bitter as it goes along. But that’s half the fun of the show, and so it will likely continue to eat away at them. Their only hope may be to be on the right side when that toxicity is looking for a target.
It all has to be worth it, after all. It’s what they are all banking on, the hope of something good at the end. Succession may not be that show, though. But that journey is proving to be one of the most powerful on television.
What did you think of this episode of Succession? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Succession airs Sundays at 9/8c on HBO.
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Kevin Lever
Kevin Lever has been following television closely for most of his life, but in starting to cover it, he has grown a further appreciation. He strives to give the blockbusters their due, and give the lesser known shows a spotlight to find more fans.