‘Succession’ Season 4, Episode 7: ‘Tailgate Party’ Recap

Nearly forgot about this because, as always, so much happens on every episode of this show. It’s comical to me that the siblings were trying to get Connor to drop out just hours before the polls open. Like, it’s not going to make a difference! His name is already on the ballot.

In politics, there is the very brazen pattern of political donors with no foreign policy experience getting cushy ambassador positions, so dangling that in front of Connor felt very realistic.

There was something weirdly romantic about Connor telling Roman about Willa: “There’s one person here who doesn’t think I’m a joke, and I’m gonna listen to her.” In the post-show commentary, Alan Ruck points out that they’re the only “successful” couple on the show, and it’s true! It says a lot about all the relationships of this show. — Marina

Wait, when Connor said that Willa is the one person there who doesn’t think he’s a joke, I was like, BUT IS THAT TRUE???? I just don’t believe it. I know she doesn’t think his money is a joke, so there’s that. Like, can we PLEASE be honest here? Willa is an actress. She’s acting. That said, it also made me think that, actually, there isn’t anyone here that doesn’t think Connor is a joke. But if he needs to believe otherwise to get him through the day, and Willa is cool playing along, cool cool cool. — Candice

No, literally, I was like, “What will him dropping out do for y’all?” Moreover, I think it’s actually so sad that Connor and Willa are the only couple who aren’t on the rocks because their relationship isn’t one rooted in love, per se. Cheesy, I know, but I don’t see any sort of mutual respect here. Yes, marriage is objectively a contract in the legal sense. (Like Drake said, “Make sure you hit him with the prenup!”) But there are no endearing undertones to be found here; so, is it really a marriage? Or is it a commercial exchange harking back to the 1700s? To keep it a buck, Connor is Willa’s sugar daddy. That man is deluding himself into thinking that she’ll grow to actually love him, though she explicitly said before the wedding why she’s there. All the Roy kids suck at relationships, I’ll just say it. — Ruth

Roman calling Willa Connor’s “wife” in air quotes was funny, but also, so, so mean. Ruth, I think that’s maybe what makes their relationship (and now, marriage) work. They both know what this relationship is for, and there’s a real honesty there. — Marina

LOL the air quotes KILLED me. Dead on my couch.

I don’t have the same confidence that they are both in this marriage for the same reasons. Hence, Connor asking Willa in a previous episode whether she was in it for the money. Connor, please. People are dying. — Candice