‘Succession’ Season 3 Episodes, Ranked

10.

The third season of HBO’s Succession arrived with a handful of weighty expectations. With much more attention placed upon it than in previous installments, the Jesse Armstrong-created show fully established itself as the show of the moment, captivating the Internet in a manner typically reserved for Game of Thrones. Despite claims the series lost its fastball, the last stretch of the season absolutely delivered, cementing its status as the best show of the year.

With the (Italian) sun having set on the show’s finale, “All the Bells Say,” we’re taking a look back at the episodes of Season 3 and pitting them against one another, Boar on the Floor style, to determine the winner. After all, a bit of healthy competition is certainly in the spirit of the show’s corporate jockeying, backstabbing, and various highs and lows. Here’s our look at the best of Succession Season 3, ranked from best (there’s no such thing as a bad episode of this show) to most best.

[Ed note: This post contains mad Succession Season 3 spoilers. Proceed with caution.]

9.“Mass in Time of War” (Season 3, Episode 2)

The One Where: The Siblings Side Up

As fun and engaging as it is to see the various members of the Roy family figure out who to cast their lot in with, “Mass in Time of War” is a bit of a table-setter, functioning as a way to re-establish the status quo before diving into the rest of the season. Certain bits established here—like the idea of poisoned food—continue to ring out throughout the rest of the season, but it’s ultimately a transitive, shuffling of the deck to move our characters from one point to another before the season begins in earnest.

8.“The Disruption” (Season 3, Episode 3)

The One Where: Shiv Goes Nuclear; Kendall Gets Roasted

Let’s be clear, no one in the Roy family is worthy of admiration, but the way in which Shiv—who once upon a time functioned as the moral compass of the family—compromised herself this season is a spectacular bit of character writing. Under the impressively steady hand of Birds of Prey director Cathy Yan, “The Disruption” marks Shiv’s dark descent into some truly devastating behavior, as she releases a damn letter about Kendall that feels like a point of no return for their relationship. Even more brutal is how Ken watches her attacks on him from inside the studio of a Samantha Bee-esque character (fantastically played by social media icon Ziwe). An absolutely brutal turn of events for all involved.

7.“Lion in the Meadow” (Season 3, Episode 4)

The One Where: Adrian Brody Shows Up

I’m a little higher on this episode than others, mostly because of how seamlessly Adrian Brody managed to enter this world. Perhaps the biggest bit of stun casting on the show to date, Brody’s Josh Aaronson effectively and efficiently establishes himself as a cutthroat worthy of existing in this world. To continue the lion metaphor of the episode’s title, Logan and Kendall are lambs to the slaughter, Josh effortlessly toying with them for his amusement. In a season full of Ls for the Roy family, this loss felt especially brutal.

6.“Secession” (Season 3 Episode 1)

The One Where: Battle Lines Are Drawn, Shiv Screws the Pooch, Gerri Reigns Supreme

Following up the absolute shock of the Season 2 finale was always going to be difficult, but “Secession” handles the task admirably, infusing the Season 3 premiere with a real sense of propulsion as Kendall begins to put his plan of attack in order. This episode is electric, a bullet train of momentum that quickly establishes a brand new world order for our characters. The cat and mouse game between Kendall and Logan is fascinating as each decision to shore up their position in the face of the oncoming storm. Toss in the usual Roy family dynamics—i.e., Shiv’s royal fuck-up with Lisa—and you’ll realize Armstrong and crew are cooking with gas here.

5.“What It Takes” (Season 3, Episode 6)

The One Where: The Roys Pick the Next President

If you ever needed a reminder about the dangers of self-aggrandizing, “What It Takes” is a case study in how it oozes out, enabling all kinds of horrid behavior. As the Roys head to Virginia to play kingmaker for the next Republican Presidental candidate, the beliefs (what little they have!) of many characters are tested. Those who attempt to cling to any sort of ethos are punished for it, resulting in one of Succession’s most depressing episodes yet. “What It Takes” also features an absolute masterwork of performance from Matthew Macfadyen; the series dark horse actor, his conversations with Greg and Kendall are among the finest work of his career. The Succession cast will likely have to engage in a fierce competition worthy of the Roys themselves when it comes to next year’s Emmys, but if there’s any justice in this world, this episode will ensure Macfadyen comes out on top.

4.“Retired Janitors of Idaho” (Season 3, Episode 5)

The One Where: Logan Goes Piss Mad

If you’ve somehow had the misfortune of ending up with a UTI, you’ll know it’s a pretty excruciating feeling. However, we’ll wager that you’ve probably not had a UTI at Logan’s age or saddled with his level of responsibility. The way in which the reigning Roy slowly begins to go off the rails shows just how inept the Roy children are and how Logan is the only bit of connective tissue keeping Waystar together. Cox, in particular, is electric in this episode as he slowly goes off the rails. “Retired Janitors of Idaho” is a micro example of Succession’s appeal in the macro—there’s nothing better than watching everyone break down and seeing the chaos unfold.

3.“Too Much Birthday” (Season 3, Episode 7)

The One Where: Kendall Has a Birthday Party; Roy Family Dynamics Hit a New Low

In a season wherein issues—presumably both narrative and COVID-related—kept the cast apart from one another, it’s refreshing to have all the Roys under one roof for an extended period in “Too Much Birthday,” as we’re finally treated to some real emotional fireworks. Helmed by Hustlers director Lorene Scafaria, Kendall’s 40th birthday party is a tribute to Roy excess that spirals out of control when his siblings show up with hidden agendas in mind. The worst offender is Roman, whose rapid ascendancy causes him to embrace his father’s worst tendencies. Sure, he may be headed towards a professional high here, but Roman’s morality is at an all-time low.

2.“Chiantishire” (Season 3, Episode 8)

The One Where: Roman Sends Daddy a Dick Pic

Holy hell, man. Succession seems to pride itself on indulging in cringe-worthy behavior, but I was speechless at so many different points throughout Season 3’s penultimate episode. To quote Kendall, we have nothing but (shameful) bangers here—Greg’s attempt at climbing the dating ladder, Connor’s botched marriage proposal, Shiv’s abominable bedroom behavior with Tom, Roman’s wrongly sent dick pic, Shiv’s attempts to squeeze Gerri, and Kendall’s attempted suicide—all adding up to culminate in one of the series’ best episodes. Roman may not feel like he’s a sicko, but as an audience member, I couldn’t help but feel like one I watched all the chaos unfold.

1.“All the Bells Say” (Season 3, Episode 9)

The One Where: The Siblings Team Up; Tom Wins

Sure, this might be some extreme recency bias, but this one felt like a barn-burner. [Ed note: No need to trip; Succession is three-for-three when it comes to amazing season finales.] The crosses and double-crosses, the emotional toll of Kendall’s confession, the way all the disparate elements of the season built to and culminated in this were spectacular. Seeing the Roy siblings united together felt like a heist in the best way. Only, as it typically goes with a good con, someone is always one step ahead. Tom’s—of all people!!—jockeying sends the show into a brand new direction, one that’s both rooted in character and gives the narrative a bold, exciting and fascinating wrinkle. The only question we’re left asking is this: How soon can we get Season 4?