THE INTERPRETER | Brian Cox
THE SHOW | Succession
THE EPISODE | “Rehearsal” (April 2, 2023)
THE PERFORMANCE | It can be frustrating to watch the Roy kids try to stand toe to toe with their hulking father Logan Roy, only to get squashed over and over again like so many pesky flies. But Cox’s impressive performance as the patriarch of the Roy family is so richly detailed and compelling that we almost encourage the old man to keep winning. This week, Cox called up tremendous energy when Logan let his family and employees know that this aging lion can still roar, while revealing even the slightest hint of vulnerability. (But just a hint.)
Logan’s ability to intimidate everyone around him was on full display when he passed by the ATN offices unannounced, Cox’s considerable gravity causing everyone to quiver in their boots. Logan then addressed the troops with a fiery speech full of colorful rhetoric, with Cox’s booming voice and keen eyes making it clear that Logan isn’t ready to hang up his spurs just yet. (He urged ATN staff to be more aggressive in reducing competition, bellowing, “You fucking pirates!”). “I’m still here, you know. I did not go. But Logan’s biggest unresolved issues remained with his kids, and he canceled their karaoke outing to tell them how hurt he was that they missed his birthday party, with Cox expressing a wistful smile … well, what passes for a real wound in the world of Logan Roy.
His kids weren’t buying him, though — he also wanted them to sign the GoJo deal — which reminded us of how Logan masterfully manipulates his family to maintain his iron grip on power. (His attempt at an actual apology was pretty dismal, to be fair.) But Cox activated the spell as Logan offered Roman a plum role at ATN, telling his youngest son, “I need you. ” It was overwhelming to see Roman fall under his spell again, but also understandable because Logan can be so convincing when needed. Succession is a grand Shakespearean drama, and it works because Cox gives it the domineering, compelling father figure it needs at its center.
Scroll down to see who scored honorable mentions this week…
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HONORABLE MENTION: Sara Gilbert
Image Credit: Hulu Screenshot
Wednesday Conners offered a visual we never thought we’d see: Darlene Conner dancing! It might have seemed out of place for Sara Gilbert’s acid-tongued alter ego to try to seduce her husband Ben, but the end result was nothing short of sublime. Gilbert, who seldom, if Never, is asked to do physical comedy, fully engaged, in turn delivering one of her funniest performances yet. Don’t believe us? pull it scene in question and watch her make her way into Jay R. Ferguson’s eye line as Darlene declares that she and Ben will never dance again. Or when she rubs up against him and clarifies that she’s not wearing perfume; she went through a blast of Febreze. Was it above? Outrageously so! But Gilbert took the chance and delivered a perfect 10.
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HONORABLE MENTION: Kiefer Sutherland
Image credit: Paramount + screenshot
Make no mistake – there will always be a place in our hearts for laser-focused Jack Bauer. But what Kiefer Sutherland does on Paramount+ rabbit hole is distinct and… well, a little nutty. Corporate espionage expert John Weir established himself as somewhat paranoid early on, due to his late father’s inclinations. Well, said dad (played by Charles Dance) is actually alive, and this week, he and John had a breakfast conversation that was rambunctious and at times combative, giving Sutherland a chance to be animated so entertainingly as CTU’s Jack ever was. Whether it’s defending turkey bacon (“It’s not a big political thing, I just like it”), yelling positively at Ben bragging about being “there” for him kindergartenor carrying on a sweet side conversation with Hailey throughout, Sutherland was a joy to watch.
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HONORABLE MENTION: Julian Works
Image Credit: Courtesy of Fox
Tuesday’s surprisingly heavy episode of 9-1-1: Lone Star largely rested on the shoulders of Julian Works, who doubled as firefighter Mateo Chavez and his “identical cousin” Marvin. What started out as a fun visual gag gradually morphed into a harrowing exploration of guilt, honor, and forgiveness, peeling back layers of character that we didn’t expect the series to examine. Much of the episode, particularly Mateo’s sitcom-style nightmare, played to Works’ well-established comedic strengths, but he also deserves credit for the character’s darker moments, which felt like the audience was spiraling right next to him.
Which performance(s) hit your socks this week? Tell us in the comments!
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