Succession Review: Safe Room (Season 2 Episode 4)
Panic and tragedy find themselves as opportunities for the Roys on Succession Season 2 Episode 4, “Safe Room.”
The active shooter scare is something unfortunately relevant in today’s America, showing the chaos and terror of gun violence and the panic it can cause from the unknown inside that chaos. But it wouldn’t be Succession if there’s not a few jabs at premium safe rooms versus grunt safe rooms, elitism worming its way into protection just like anything else.
photo: Peter Kramer/HBO
That it turns out to be an office suicide is an extra layer of dark, another window into the mental depths the ATN crew must delve into to report Logan’s version of the news. The news of the suicide isn’t met with tragedy but rather with relief, a sudden change back to normalcy. This isn’t the show where guns at the workplace will be addressed; it’s the show where everyone goes back to doing damage.
The negotiation between Rhea (Holly Hunter) and Logan is a delicate moment on the episode. It’s not really in the conversation, but how the conversation plays out. Shiv’s interjections are ignored or downright silenced as she goes for a more nuanced approach; it’s Kendall’s number games that get the negotiations to a resting place, with Logan’s approval.
It’s where Logan continues to place sibling against sibling, but it’s hard to tell if he does this for the deal, or does this to watch the battle. Kendall’s number drops, effectively bidding against himself, have a stronger impact on Rhea, but the way Logan shuts down Shiv is a reminder he may be offering it all to her, but there’s no meaning behind it.
He’s still seeing who will come out on top, if anyone at all. It’s a mirror image of Succession Season 2 Episode 2, “Vaulter,” of Kendall and Roman being played off each other over the fate of Vaulter. This time, Kendall’s ready to use the brute force he shied away from before, where Shiv’s more tactical approach, like Kendall’s, is dismantled.
photo: Peter Kramer/HBO
It’s become apparent over the course of both seasons that Roman’s dismissiveness toward anything trivial is a cover, every slight and failure reflecting back on him internally. His small victory at management training is a sign he can do something if he puts his mind to it, as rare as those moments come up. Plus, the VR experience sounds rather neat.
Roman’s relationship with Gerri continues down some obscure boundaries, his reaction to phone sex with Tabitha and Gerri going in completely different directions. It’s coming across as though being diminished and ridiculed are active enjoyments for Roman rather than painful, as evidenced with his phone call with Gerri. Their relationship is going down a path that is sure to lead to ruin of some kind.
The Greg and Tom “break-up” forming into a new understanding is a highlight. Greg and Tom are more a married couple than Tom and Shiv, their bickering and swinging power shifts revealing Greg isn’t such a pushover as he lets on. What’s interesting is Tom’s acceptance of the blackmail is like he’s proud of Greg, more than upset. If anything, it’s showing Greg is moving up with the big boys, ready to use dirt.
A quick little moment from their fight in the fake safe room is Greg’s aside about open relationships: this is the phrase that sets off Tom, since the words hit so close to home and his relationship with Shiv. It’s another betrayal he can’t accept, and his rage-filled water bottle tosses are an unloading on Greg for big picture problems he faces.
photo: Peter Kramer/HBO
The final scene is like a nail in the coffin for Kendall, his last ounce of freedom stripped from him with the large glass barrier taking away his once pristine view. It’s partly a metaphor for being caged in further, but there’s a brief hint toward suicide, of standing on the edge earlier on the episode, and it reads like the option, or the thought, is taken from him.
With how deep Logan’s surveillance of Kendall appears to be, it’s possible the construction was double-timed in order to take the option from him. He does know about the petty thefts, after all.
There’s this sense on Succession Season 2 Episode 4, “Safe Room,” that no one is in control except Logan, and while he makes his moves, everyone just wants the noose’s grip to lessen a little along the way. These characters are fighting for their relevance, fighting for what’s been offered to them, to the point where they are fighting for scraps in the moment, rather than fighting for a fuller meal ahead.
What did you think of this episode of Succession? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Critic Rating:
User Rating:
Succession airs Sundays at 9/8c on HBO.
Follow us on Twitter and on 
Instagram!
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
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.