As we approach the final episode of HBO succession, a tiny detail can give us a clue not only to how the series will end, but also to the meaning behind it. succession generally. The title of the finale of each of the series’ first three seasons borrows a line from the same poem. Titles of other episodes succession were recently released and this season 4 finale was confirmed to once again have a title from the same poem as its predecessors. The name that was chosen for successionThe series finale may tell us how this series will end, but perhaps more importantly, it gives us an idea of what this series really means and the importance of Kendall Roy (Jeremy Strong) journey.
poem in the heart ‘succession
Each of successionThe title of the season finale is taken from Dream Song 29 by the author John Berryman:
One day a thing sat on Henry’s heart
so heavy, if he were a hundred years old
And many more, and crying, insomnia, for all the time
Henry couldn’t fix…
The poem that begins with the lines above is about a man who often wakes up feeling guilty about having killed someone, but when he checks how much damage he has done, he finds that he did not kill anyone, although everyone. Episode titles for succession Season 1, 2 and 3 respectively: “Nobody’s ever gone missing”, “It’s not for tears” and “Everybody calls the bells” are all lines from the poem going in reverse order. While we wait for the final, it was safe. suggest that this scheme will continue and it will be officially confirmed as the title of the series finale “Eyes Open” has been confirmed.
That each of these season finales is named after moments from this poem shows that the meaning of this poem is very important to the series. In a way, it’s amazing that this show has dared to punctuate each season in this way - to pull one meaning and storyline from another medium in order to get to the point over and over again. However, having discovered many connections between the hero of the poem, Henry, and successionKendall Roy, as Kendall wrestles with guilt over the many wrongs that were almost inevitable because of the world he grew up in, it’s clear what the meaning of this poem is.
“Once upon a [Kendall’s] heart”
It is clear that Kendall Roy is very to blame. It’s easy to assume that this is the result of an accident that killed a person during the Season 1 finale, interestingly titled “Nobody’s Missing.” However, the more viewers get to know Kendall, the more it seems like it’s really just a piece of the puzzle and not the cause, Kendall’s involvement in this death was a symptom of something bigger in his life. Despite what it seems, Kendall is not really made for the cruel and ruthless world he was born into. This notion has been prevalent throughout the series. He, according to Shiva (Sarah Snook), the most diabolical Roy, devoid of “Killer instinct, you’re wet, you’re green, you’re intellectually insecure, you’re not emotionally strong enough, you’re addicted” and “not a serious person”, among other things, in the words of Logan (Brian Cox).
These days we see what Kendall is really capable of; he can turn a strange video of his late father into positive press; he can present himself before the whole world and win them over to his side; he can throw himself without restraint into the dark depths of the capitalist hell over which he is (perhaps) the appointed master. But despite his superficial “to hell with patriarchy” attacks on the press, his “cool new rule” that everyone should unquestioningly follow his example, the music he listens to as he hits the air on his way to the office, viewers saw the real Kendall . No matter how well he plays the role of a spineless, innocent CEO, the deep-seated conscience hinders his authenticity with each new endeavor.
“Dream Song 29” is taken from Berryman’s large collection of poetry. 77 dream songs which runs through the story of a man named Henry who is said to have been Berryman’s own interpretation. Berryman lost his father at a young age to suicide, and in the course of writing poetry, Henry struggled with depression and guilt, as did Berryman.
It seemed almost inevitable that the series finale would borrow its title from this poem, though it was impossible to predict which line it would choose. The choice of Eyes Open could definitely have some direct meaning. Maybe others will find out the truth about Kendall’s involvement in someone’s death. Maybe he will come to terms with the role of his place in the world and his position as CEO of Waystar Royco in his relentless guilt. Or maybe he will open his eyes again and realize that no one is missing. In fact, “no one ever goes missing.” However, it might be a mistake to follow the idea that there is a clear thread or obvious interpretation of the meaning of the line as to how succession will end. After all, there is a precedent for an episode title not being a clear explanation of the episode itself. Note that “Nobody’s Ever Missing” is the title of an episode in which someone is sure to go missing.
The second season finale is titled “It’s Not for Tears”. This is an interesting choice given the fact that this line in the poem seems to suggest that Henry will end his guilt, ignore it, or overcome it. In this episode, Kendall betrays Logan and tries to throw him under a bus for company crimes instead of letting Logan do it to him. While Kendall doesn’t get rid of his guilt by doing this, he certainly represses it. In the next season finale, “All the Bells Are Ringing,” Kendall finally confesses to his siblings the crime that weighed so heavily on him. In an emotional scene with a raw performance of Roman (Kieran Culkin) and Siobhan assure him that although he played a role in someone’s death, it was not his fault. If the “bells” in this case are church bells, perhaps Kendall grants herself a little forgiveness in this episode.
What does this mean for “continuity” Conclusion?
No matter how succession may come to a conclusion that many have predicted may not be as definitive, brief and dry or compelling as some certainly hope, it is clear that this series has a story it wants to tell about conscience, privilege and moral responsibility . Kendall is the leader, whether he’s the firstborn, the CEO, or Logan’s “number one boy.” Kendall is the star of a story about having a conscience, about overcoming what you’ve been told to find the truth, about doing the right thing even if the world hasn’t taught you that.
Some fans of the show may be wary of what will happen if Kendall’s downfall is imminent, as we watched him suffer such a stunning defeat that he almost killed him. But whatever the fate of Kendall, or his siblings, or Waystar Royco, or the media conglomerates, or the viciously greedy media conglomerate CEOs, or the viciously greedy system, we can only hope for one thing for Kendall, and that’s what he’s getting closer and closer. to the abyss since the premiere of the series.
In Dream Song 29, writes Berryman, “if he had a hundred years or more and wept, sleepless, all that time Henry would not have been able to reform.” As for Kendall, we hope he does well. We hope that he can do his best to do good and follow his own conscience and not the conscience of those around him. And maybe that means Logan doesn’t have to borrow big, big shoes; maybe that means not following in those big footsteps at all. We can hope that he will retract what he is truly guilty of. Maybe with “Eyes Open” he will do it, and only this will drown out his guilt.
Source: Collider
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