Succession Season 2 Rewatch: E3 ‘Hunting’
In these uncertain times, one thing we can all look forward to is the eventual return of HBO’s critically acclaimed drama/comedy Succession for its third season.
And since I have nothing to do but sit at home watching TV, I figured it was time for a Succession rewatch, because the last thing we want to do is go into season 3 of our favorite show lost and unprepared.
Season 2 Episode 3 “Hunting” aka the one where they play Boar on the Floor.
Written by Tony Roche and directed by Andrij Parekh —this episode begins in New York City with Cousin Greg entering a wine bar for a casual lunch meeting with a female author who’s writing a biography on Logan Roy.
Despite the fact that they are seated across a small café table from one another — in person — at a dining establishment, Greg insists that this is, “NOT A MEETING.”
He firmly states, in a very pre-rehearsed tone, that this is nothing more than “a precursor to seeing if I’d be potentially willing to meet.”
At this moment, the entire audience is yelling at the screen in unison, “OFF THE RECORD, GREG! THE PHRASE YOU’RE LOOKING FOR IS OFF THE F*CKING RECORD!”
Greg continues, saying that if were to actually meet with her (you are in the very process of meeting with her, Gregory) he could get in a lot of trouble. He admits that he’s actually quite afraid of his uncle (Logan) because he can be intimidating and vindictive when he’s upset.
The author starts jotting down notes, copying every not-so-flattering word that Greg uses to describe Logan. This causes Greg to freak out because — as he very clearly said — this is not a meeting.
The writer, taking pity on Greg’s naivety, tells him, “If you want this to be anonymous, you have to tell me that from the beginning, you can’t do that retroactively.”
Simply repeating the words “this is not a meeting” over and over is not the same as saying, “this is off the record” or “I would like to remain anonymous.” Damnit, Greg! You loveable buffoon.
Meanwhile, at the Waystar headquarters, Logan Roy meets with his physician. The doctor takes his vitals and tells him that given the fact that he’s only recently recovered from a stroke, he should probably take some downtime. Perhaps even stay home from the company retreat in Hungary this year. Logan rejects this suggestion outright saying, “What? And let them have meetings without me? While the cat’s away… I don’t fucking think so.”
This is the first of several nature/animal-related metaphors that Logan employs throughout the episode to convey the idea that he’s being betrayed by people in his inner circle. And I know that it kinda ruins the chronological flow of this blog, but, what the hell, here’s five more:
- “I’ve got snakes in the fucking basket!”
- “Fucking pigmies! Fucking lice!”
- “We’ve got rats on the ship!”
- “Oink for your sausage, piggies!”
- “Termites in the woodwork. Insurgents.”
He also refers to the attempted Pierce takeover as being “as choreographed as a dog getting fucked on roller-skates” My point is, Logan has a very vivid imagination and a splendiferous way with words.
Ok, back to the episode.
From his in-office doctor’s appointment, Logan barges into the board room where he finds his top minds lounging about drinking coffee and eating danishes. They scramble to look busy, assuring Logan that they’re just ‘taking five.’ Logan responds, “I’ve got three banks, 50 lawyers, two PR agencies, DF Kings, and an army of private dicks trying to fight this takeover but, no, take five to eat my pastries…”
The executives put down their snacks like naughty school children and resume their seats at the boardroom table. Logan continues, telling them that what they need to be focusing on right now is a corporate takeover. The bigger the better. He’s set his sights on acquiring PGM, a rival media company owned by the very liberal very wealthy Pierce family.
As we’ll see later in this episode and throughout the remainder of the season, the Pierces are presented as the Democratic counterpart to the conservative Roy family. If ATN is Fox News, then PGM is MSNBC. So, if Logan were to acquire PGM, it would drastically impact the nature of American news coverage. But, more on that later.
The Waystar executives express varied reactions to Logan’s proposed acquisition of another major media company. Gerri is skeptical, Tom says it’s “chunky,” Ken likes it because he has to, Rome likes it because he genuinely enjoys firing people, the other execs hold their tongues because they’re afraid of Logan.
It’s official, they’re going to try and buy Pierce. Nobody is particularly excited about it but everybody is too scared to disagree with the boss. As the meeting adjourns Tom, ever the company man, says, “Let’s bone this turkey!”
Settle down, Tom.
Back in Logan’s office, the upper management team discusses who amongst them should serve as a liaison to the blue-blooded Pierce family and facilitate the buyout. Since none of them seem like a good fit for the delicate job of dealing with liberals, Logan suggests bringing back Frank, the former COO. As Jamie Laird points out, “Frank does have friends in dry places.”
Ken agrees that bringing Frank back would be a good move. Roman hates the idea, telling his dad that if he brings Frank back, he’ll “Fucking walk…back to my office…to sulk.”
That’s three votes to one, not that it matters, so Logan finalizes the decision to forgive and rehire Frank. Adding that the old COO will be the “guest of honor” at their upcoming corporate retreat in Hungary.
Hoorrayyyy for Frank.
They’re all about to get up and leave the office when Karolina (head of PR) and Gerri (head of scheming) enter the office looking distressed.
Logan asks them what’s wrong, they respond, “It’s Connor…”
Remember how Connor is running for president?
Well, turns out he’s just recorded his first official “campaign ad” which is just a video of him standing in his kitchen holding a beer saying how he’s sick and tired of having Uncle Sam’s “hand down his pants” and that from now on he’s going to refuse to pay federal taxes even if it means going to jail.
Connor Roy has officially entered what he calls the “ideas primary” of the upcoming presidential election. Apparently he’s running as some sort of Libertarian? He hates taxes, that much is clear.
Roman returns home to find his girlfriend Tabitha on the couch watching Connor’s campaign video. She asks if he’s seen it. He regretfully admits that he has. The couple shares a good laugh at the elder Roy brother’s expense.
Then, their conversation turns to business. Rome tells Tabitha about his dad’s plan to buy PGM. She is visibly baffled by this development, insisting that a buyout of that magnitude must be illegal or at least immoral from a journalistic standpoint. Tabitha states that PGM is “like, real news. That’s what my parents watch!”
Rome responds that his dad will do it anyway because he’s like a “human Saudi Arabia.” He then asks if she would be willing to put him in contact with her friend Naomi Pierce so he could gauge her opinion on a potential buyout.
Switching domestic settings, we move to Shiv and Tom’s apartment where Shiv’s covert phone call with her dad is suddenly interrupted by Tom returning home from work. Shiv asks Tom what he thinks about the PGM takeover. He says he thinks it could be good. “Yeah! Dick over Pierce, dick over Sandy and Stewy, double our size. No one is going to want to tackle a big angry pufferfish bristling with dick!”
Another vivid nature-related sexual metaphor… These writers have a real thing for bestiality jokes.
Shiv still isn’t convinced. If they take over all of the news… then where is she going to get her actual news? The implication being that ATN is bullshit journalism. Mind you, she’s saying this to her husband who is the head of news for ATN.
If you’re keeping a scoreboard for the number of times that Shiv treats Tom like a human pile of garbage, add this one to your tally, and keep that marker ready because right after she calls ATN fake news, she asks Tom if (regardless of what he actually wants) he would be willing to tell Logan that the takeover is a bad move at the company retreat in Hungary.
Tom meekly responds, “I don’t think I want to do that, Shiv.” This prompts Shiv to mime making a fake phone call to the “replicant department” telling them that her “meat puppet is broken.”
I know people generally like Shiv, but, the way she treats Tom is 100% unforgivable. In my notes for this scene I just have, “Tom gets penis cut off and handed to him by wife.” Which… yeah, that’s pretty much what happens.
The next morning, the Waystar team arrives at the airport (PJ hanger) for their company trip to Hungary. Tom asks Gerri why they’re going to Hungary of all places for the retreat. She replies, “It’s a nice place to shoot a gun where nobody cares what you hit.” Gerri! You incorrigible minx.
Aboard the PJ, Cousin Greg says he can’t believe he’s on a private plane. “It’s like I’m in a band! A very white, very wealthy… band. It’s like I’m in U2!”
Roman, indulging his new-money cousin, says, “welcome to the inner sanctum.” Greg muses, “Yeah — yeah, it’s nice. Way nicer than the outer sanctum!”
This brief moment of comic relief from Greg is cut short when Karolina informs Logan that she’s just learned that someone in his inner circle has spoken to that female biographer who’s writing a book on him. He’s furious. “Anyone who speaks to her is fucked. They’re dead to me. Nobody goes sniffing around my fucking panties.” Hearing all of this, Greg is now terrified.
Logan turns to Kendall and accusingly asks, “Ken, is it you!?” Kendall insists that it isn’t. Logan replies, with one of the best lines of the episode, saying, “Ok. It’s just… history speaking, whenever I’m betrayed, it’s usually you.”
Logan proceeds to go on one of his profane-riddled tirades about how he’s surrounded by rats.
Greg, trying and failing to look innocent, asks Kendall what Logan’s so mad about. Ken tells him that someone is trying to write his dad’s biography. Greg replies, “Oh, I hadn’t heard. So, he’s not a fan of the old, uh… the old biographical, uh…” Ken cuts him off, “Yeah, he’s not a fan.” Adding, “If someone talked, someone inner circle, Sam (aka rat-fucker sam) will smoke them out, and dad’s gonna chop them up and throw them into the fucking Danube.”
Greg just chuckles nervously, nods, and quips, “Haha, right? Blue Danube no more.”
After this incredibly uncomfortable flight, the team arrives in Hungary. They promptly hop in a fleet of Range Rovers and drive to the rural estate where they’ll be hunting and bonding as a team for the next few days. Or, at least, that’ the plan.
Their “hunting lodge” is… sick. It makes the Summer Palace look like a doublewide meth lab by comparison. It’s another prime example of the shameless wealth pornography for which this show has become famous, and I for one have no problem with it. Feed me the mansion porn, Succession. It’s fun to look at.
Inside the mansion, everyone is getting settled and situated for a fun weekend of chugging red wine and murdering animals.
When Logan finally enters, everyone takes it as a cue to convene in the dining room. Or… a dining room. It’s hard to tell with these sorts of houses. They all congregate in a room. That much is clear.
Into this room walks Frank, the guest of honor. Logan greets him like an old pal at a reunion tailgate, “Frank! How ya been? Come here, you old bastard.”
As a token of forgiveness, Logan hands Frank a box with a Rolex in it. On the back of the watch, the words, “Some work of noble note may yet be done, Not unbecoming men that strove with gods” are engraved.
This is an excerpt from the poem Ulysses by Tennyson.
The full quote goes like this, “Old age hath yet his honour and his toil; Death closes all: but something ere the end, Some work of noble note, may yet be done, Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods.”
This passage is interesting for a number of reasons. First, it is from a poem about living life to the fullest, even in old age. Ulysses is bored at home sitting by his hearth so he decides to go back into the world and seek adventure. But, it also has another meaning. This poem is partially about his son, Telemachus, who Ulysses says will take over as his successor when he dies… passing him the scepter and therefore his kingdom. This theme of succession is obviously relevant to the show. But, the reason it’s interesting to this scene, in particular, is that Frank was formerly in league with Kendall to oust Logan from his job.
To summarize, Logan gave Frank a watch with a quote from a poem about 1) reembarking on an adventure as an old man and 2) passing on the throne to his son.
Frank thanks Logan for the watch and asks him if he’s ok. Logan replies, “Sandy and Stewy have got my nuts in a vice. But Frank, you’ve got the grease to slip them out!”
Frank looks disgusted at this image of greasing Logan's nuts out of Sandy and Stewy’s grasp. However, he gets the basic idea. Kendall tells Frank that it’s nice to see him. Roman tells Frank that he sucks. The gang is back together.
This warm and fuzzy reunion is interrupted by a large Hungarian gentleman who enters the room and tells everyone that it’s time to get changed and attend their pre-hunt safety briefing.
Logan replies, “Safety Briefing? Here’s your safety briefing: If you move against me, I’ll put a hole in the back of your fucking head.”
Logan is putting off real Dick Cheney vibes in this scene, which had to have been intentional on the writer’s part.
From here, we return stateside where Shiv is attempting to talk Connor out of running for president. Again, Shiv is just dumping all over the hopes and dreams of the men in her life.
She tells Connor that him running for president is “batshit” among other unsavory insults. Connor can’t really hear her, though, over the sound of his blender. What’s he blending, you might ask? Is it a smoothie? A protein shake, perhaps? Nope. It’s red wine. Burgundy, to be precise. He’s “hyper-decanting” his wine, which just means putting it in the blender for 10 seconds in order to soften the tannins and bring out the flavor.
I remember googling this shit when the episode first aired in 2019 to see if it was a real thing and yes, it is, people actually do this. But, Connor is such a goofy eccentric character that I would 100% believe that he just made this up.
It all adds to the irony of him running for president as a populist libertarian when he also hyper-decants his wine, lives in a hotel penthouse, and paid $250,000 for Napoleon Bonaparte’s severed penis. Connor, however, clearly doesn't see this irony.
Back across the Atlantic, and then another 1,000 miles inland, the Roy party is off on their “hunting trip” which is basically just them shooting at boars that have been rounded up for them by their guides. “Piggies in a barrel” as Tom puts it.
As he and Greg make their way across a meadow to the firing range, Tom takes stock of their surroundings. “Europe! Nice bit of war-torn, spooky, anti-semitic, authoritarian Europe.” Greg agrees that Europe is nice.
Then Greg tells Tom, in his patented roundabout Greg-ish way, that it was he who spoke with the biographer. He emphasizes that it was “just a pre-meet! She tried to turn it into a meet-meet, so I left.”
Tom takes a moment to digest this piece of breaking news before telling Greg what he thinks might happen if Logan finds out.
Greg, you rascal. You done f*cked up, now.
After their hunting expedition, the whole team poses for some tasteful company photos in front of their dead boars.
And here is where shit starts to get real weird.
Throughout the episode, Logan’s suspicion of his inner circle has risen and risen until now — at dinner — it has officially boiled over into full-blown hostile paranoia.
On his way into the dining room, Logan is approached by Jamie Laird who delivers my personal favorite line of the whole episode: “I hate to be a party pooper, but I have poop…”
Jamie tells Logan that the Piece family is aware of his intentions to buy them out and they are not happy about it. In fact, Jamie says that it freaked them out.
This news is ill-received by Logan who says that “This was supposed to choreographed! That’s about as choreographed as a dog getting fucked on roller skates!”
Jamie suggests that it could have been an accidental leak. Logan insists that this was no accident. “Someone’s trying to fuck me… It’s someone here. I’ve got snakes in the fucking basket!”
And on that cheerful note, Logan enters the dining room.
For about five minutes, he pretends to be pleasant and friendly. He makes small talk with his employees and encourages them to eat and drink. But then, the wheels start to come off. And boy do they come off.
He begins by asking Frank why he came back. Frank says it’s because he was invited. Logan calls him a “fucking creep” and says that he’s only there because he went for three other jobs and didn’t get them and now he’s come crawling back like a worm.
Frank asks what this is all about. In other words, why is Logan being a dick all of a sudden?
Logan answers the question with a general accusation, “Someone has spoken to Michelle Pantsil (the biographer). We’ve got rats on this ship. And Pierce. What’s going on? Hmm? Who’s got my back? Who’s really behind me? Anyone wanna own up? Anyone wanna rat out a rat?”
The entire dinner party just stares silently down at their plates like their dad’s yelling at them. For some of them, it is their dad yelling at them.
Stalking down the table, Logan halts behind Cyd Peach. “Cyd, are you a rat?” Logan asks. Cyd says that she is not. Logan then points his finger across the table at Ray and asks if he’s a rat. Ray stammers mumbles but finally manages a “No.” Good job, Ray.
Logan continues prowling down the table stopping again behind Karl. “Karl, you got something to tell me?” Karl cleverly replies, “Such as?” Logan fires back, “Oh, I don’t know, where the local whorehouse is.”
Kendall starts drinking.
Logan, clearly getting nowhere with his interrogation methods, ratchets things up a notch and says, “EVERYONE, PHONES ON THE TABLE! COMPANY AND PRIVATE. PHONES ON THE TABLE NOW!”
Everyone scrambles for the cellphones and places them on the table.
Gerri makes some remark about how this can’t be legal. Logan doesn’t care. They’re in a spooky rural mansion in Hungary, there are no rules out here.
Logan shifts his attention to Tom and asks, “Tom, did you and your fragile ego talk to Pantsil?” Tom says that he didn’t and suggests that they change the topic of conversation to strategy. Logan tells him to put a sock in it until he’s pumped a grandson into Shiv.
Logan switches back to Karl, “Karl do you like the Pierce deal?” Karl says that he does. This is a lie. Karl is a dirty liar who lies.
Logan deduces as much and says, “Bullshit… Boar on the floor.”
And thus begins the most ridiculous party game of all time: Boar on the Floor.
Karl goes and stands in the corner.
Logan resumes his interrogation of the dinner party, asking Tom if he likes the Pierce deal. Tom says that — personally — he really likes the Pierce acquisition. Logan calls bullshit and tells him to go into the corner and join Karl. Boar on the floor!
Logan asks Gerri what she thinks about Pierce, she says that honestly, she’s had a few doubts. Logan praises her honesty and spares her from joining the boars on the floor. Next, Logan asks Greg what he’s been up to lately. Greg responds that, like Gerri, he’s also been having doubts. Logan calls him a “fucking doubter” and tells him to join the boars in the corner.
Boar on the Floor!
Greg is incensed, he calls foul play saying, “But, the rules are that you’re spared if you tell the truth!” Logan assures Greg that there are no rules and once again tells him to go stand in the corner with the other piggies.
Boar on the Floor!
Logan soliloquizes, “Someone spiked Pierce. Which one of you boars did it? Tom! Sit on the floor! It’s fun. It’s a game. Boar on the Floor. Get down!”
Tom sits on the floor.
Logan begins chanting “Boar on the floor! Boar on the floor!” Everyone joins in, chanting mercilessly in unison at the unfortunate boars as they cower in the corner.
Greg, on the floor next to Tom, asks “Why am I in this?” Tom turns to him and says, “How the fuck would I know, Greg? You think I have a rational explanation for this?”
As the chanting reaches a crescendo, Logan summons Frank, the guest of honor, and instructs him to throw sausages from a silver platter at Tom, Greg, and Karl. “Frank! Feed the piggies, guest of honor!”
Logan turns to the chanting crowd and gestures for them to be silent. Then, he turns back to the boars on the floor and tells them to “oink for their sausages.”
They’re indignant at first, refusing to demean themselves by oinking like pigs for their sausage. Then, Tom breaks and starts oinking. Suddenly, the other two pigs join in the oinking. Logan isn’t satisfied, saying, “No. No half-hearted oinks.”
Then Karl, leading by example, just yells, “OINK OINK OINK OINK!” Goddamnit, Karl…
Logan addresses the piggies, as they’re oinking, and says, “On the count of three, the last piggy to eat a sausage is the mole. Now, crawl in a circle and close your eyes.”
Greg, Karl, and Tom close their eyes and crawl in a circle all while oinking and snorting like pigs.
Logan starts the countdown, “Three. Greg, oink! Two… one.” Logan and Frank then throw sausages at the piggies on the floor who fight over them like animals for fear of being the last and therefore the mole.
While the boars on the floor are fighting over the sausages, all of their coworkers cheer them on, telling them to “grab the sausage!” It’s pretty fucking insane. Anyone’s who’s ever pledged a fraternity got Jason Bourne-style flashbacks during this scene… Especially looking at Ray’s facial expression as he watches the piggies scramble for their sausages on the floor.
Not that it matters, but, Greg and Karl got the sausages, leaving Tom as the only emptyhanded boar, and therefore the mole.
Roman is videotaping the whole thing on his phone, which is a huge party foul. Never videotape hazing, Rome, that’s like talking about Fight Club.
Kendall sees that Rome is about to incriminate the whole company and steals his phone out of his hands. Ken then doubles down on this rare opportunity and decides to go through Roman’s phone to see if he’s hiding anything.
Roman tries desperately to recover his phone from Ken to no avail. After about two seconds of digging, Kendall sees that Rome has been speaking with Naomi Pierce, a member of the Pierce family.
Boom. Big reveal. Rome was the unwitting mole who tipped off Pierce.
Logan is surprised at and disappointed in his son for fucking up his plans. He calls Roman a moron. Roman insists that he is, in fact, not a moron. Logan asks Roman how much a gallon of milk costs. Roman has no idea.
Logan asks Ray how much a gallon of milk costs, Ray has no idea. Logan, to the whole group, says, “You're all a bunch of silk stocking fucks. I’m surrounded by snakes and fucking morons! Who backs me on Pierce, huh?”
Nobody speaks.
Kendall interjects, “None of them do, dad. Karl’s lying, Ray’s lying, Gerri’s playing both sides…”
After a moment of heavy silence, Logan says, “Well, here’s news, we are going after it. And what’s more? I WILL WIN!”
With that, Logan exits his elegant company dinner party, leaving morale at an all-time low and fear-inspired loyalty at an all-time high. For him, this was a thoroughly successful team bonding experience. For better or worse, everybody has been reminded of who’s in charge. Logan Roy.
The next morning at breakfast, everyone makes half-hearted small talk and avoids eye contact. Like the morning after an especially bizarre orgy. Tom tells a group of guys that he had, “one too many” the night before. Claiming, “I don’t remember anything.” Sure, Tom. You blacked out. That’s totally believable.
As Tom walks up to the breakfast buffet, Cyd Peach asks him if he’d like any sausage. He politely declines. Cyd says that she’ll eat his sausage any day. Tom says he’s sure she will.
Logan enters the breakfast room and takes a seat at a table in the corner. Presumably, so he can keep his eye on everyone. Kendall and recently re-hired Frank join Logan at his table. Logan bids them good morning and apologizes if last night got a bit “fruity.”
That’s one way of putting it…
Karolina approaches the table and informs Logan that she’s just learned who spoke with Michelle Pantsil… it was Mo (aka Mo Lester). She also informs Logan that Mo has just died.
Greg overhears this from his table and is visibly psyched.
Gerri goes into Roman’s room to inform him that everyone’s waiting for him. Rome looks ridiculously hungover. Gerri has to do his shirt buttons for him, Roman says that he would have sex with her.
And thus the Roman and Gerri psychosexual crazy-train has officially left the station. Choo choo, you sick f*cks. Can’t wait to rewatch their phone sex scenes in the coming episodes.
On the flight back to New York, Frank approaches Logan to let him know that Pierce’s CEO Rhea Jarrell just emailed him to let him know that she’s aware of their plans to buy PGM and she wants to help them. This is great news. Good work, Frank.
Back on American soil, Tom returns home from his traumatizing trip to find Shiv relaxing on the couch. She asks him how the Hungarian retreat went. He says that it sucked and perhaps it “wasn’t great what you sent me to do, which was, you know, the opposite of what I wanted to do.” Shiv says she’s sorry.
Tom continues, “We’re a team, right? And I don’t wanna be a dick, but, maybe I should get more input into team tactics?” Shiv agrees that they are a team.
Changing the subject, Tom asks her how her weekend went. She tells him that she cheated on him. Well, they’re in an open relationship, so, technically she didn’t cheat on him. But, she did have sex with a hot actor dude from Willa’s play… Tom regrets asking. Tom regrets a lot of stuff.
They exchange the least affectionate hug of all time and Tom retreats back to his room to unpack.
Shiv then receives a phone call from her dad. Logan says, “Sorry I missed you’re call. I’ve had a lot to deal with. Termites in the woodwork. Insurgents.” Shiv replies, “Oh yeah? Coming from where?” Logan sighs and explains, “The front row. The cheap seats. Every-fucking-where.” Shiv replies, “Not from me.”
Logan, happy with this response, tells his daughter that it’s time for her to come in. It’s time to get the ball rolling on succession. Logan hangs up. Shiv smiles to herself. The credits roll.
Takeaways from the episode:
The three major throughlines of the episode were 1) Logan’s paranoia 2) Shiv and Tom’s crumbling marriage and 3) The Pierce deal. All of these stories will carry over into the next episode. There will be no more playing of Boar on the Floor, unfortunately. But, that doesn’t mean that the Waystar employees will stop tearing each other apart every chance they get.
It seems that Greg is out of the woods for the time being as far as his “not-meeting” with Logan’s biographer goes. Kendall continues to play the Darth Vader to his father’s Sidious. Roman’s moment in the sun (no pun intended) has come to an end. Frank is back! That’s a big development. The character of Rhea Jarrell has been introduced, even if just by name. And Connor is still very much running for president. Oh, and Shiv cheated on Tom.
See you back here next week for a recap of Episode 4, “Safe Room” where we’ll get to see Tom throw a whole bunch of water bottles at Greg. It should be fun.
Thanks for reading,
CP
