MAJOR SPOILERS for Succession’s final season.
While the final season of Ted Lasso is an exhausting flop, the final season of Succession is amazing. They did something stunning in the third episode of the season: they killed off Brian Cox’s patriarch Logan Roy. Logan didn’t even get a good “death scene,” although the first two episodes of the season featured a lot of Logan-centric storylines and scenes (including Logan’s final words to his children, “I love you but you are not serious people”). While Cox delivered an excellent performance in the two-and-a-half episodes he was in (plus one “cameo”), that does not make him the lead actor of this season. Unfortunately, Brian Cox wants to be nominated in the lead-actor category for awards.
Brian Cox has submitted his performance as Logan Roy, the recently departed Waystar Royco CEO on HBO’s “Succession,” into the lead actor (drama) category. Cox’s team exclusively confirmed to Variety that the actor’s iconic turn as the bold father and media mogul will be considered alongside his two co-stars, Jeremy Strong and Kieran Culkin, who opted to switch into the category for the show’s fourth and final season.
Cox’s character died in the third episode of this season, “Connor’s Wedding,” which left many pundits speculating the Scottish actor, who received two previous noms in the lead drama actor field, would downgrade to either the supporting actor or guest categories. That won’t be the case, which puts the drama series uniquely positioned to make history in several ways.
With Cox, Culkin and Strong opting for the same category, the show could make history as the first to land three lead drama actor noms in a year. In addition, it would be the first for any leading male category.
Yeah, no. Jeremy Strong and Kieran Culkin are the leads of this season, alongside Sarah Snook. I’ve been happy with how much screen time Matthew Macfadyen has gotten this season as well, although I think Macfayden should absolutely stay in the supporting category. Cox putting himself up in the lead category is category fraud, sorry! But as many have noted, Cox is doing what Logan Roy would have done: try to screw over his “sons” and weaken their shot at winning. Honestly though, the race between Culkin and Strong was always going to be brutal – they’re both delivering amazing performances, week after week. With Cox’s entrance into the lead category, he will get a lot of “sentimental” votes. I don’t know.
Photos courtesy of HBO/Succession.
Hum….seems like he would still get the sentimental votes in supporting category though right?
Interesting choice. Especially since his character died less than half way through the season.
Who’s the one going all method now, Brian?! Lol!
I hope he doesn’t prevail and get rewarded for what seems like kind of a d*** move. He’s not a lead this season, period.
Between Strong and Culkin who would you pick?
I feel like Strong is playing himself, so I’d pick Culkin 🙂
Both are really good and so is everyone in fact.
I feel like Culkin is playing himself. So we even each other out. Good thing we’re not voting! But I am glad they’ve broadened Culkin’s character so he’s not just popping up, telling jokes.
MacFadyen is amazing in his “insecure nobody bully” role! Also, this series has really great music.
And thank you for not giving us a death scene, or an endless hospital scene with Cox.
If nothing else, there is good material here for someone to create a mockumentary style skit of these three actors, each channeling their character on the series, campaigning behind the scenes for the Emmy.
Cox: “Oh f*ck off. I love them, but they are not serious actors.”
Strong: “I love them, but I’m not IN love with their performances. You know dog?”
Culkin: “It’s an incredibly evolved, ruthlessly segregated city you’ve built on this geological fault here so, um, give me the f*ckin Emmy.”
Well played!
I feel like Kieran Culkin will win everything come award season. The next episode at the funeral should be a great one for him. There is no way he is not going to have a complete meltdown at the funeral and I can’t believe his siblings agreed to him doing the eulogy!
I always wonder if Charles Dance would have been a better Logan. At the moment Sarah Snooks and Matthew McF are out acting the rest with their rollercoaster of a relationship.
Nominates himself?
That seems like a pretty egotistical move, no?
My dude, Brian, I enjoy your performance but you are getting a little out of control with this, I know it’s the last season and all but, C’mon.
Dial that EGO back, you are not truly Murdoch.