Kendall Roys Journey to Freedom and the Rise of Cousin Greg – Film School Rejects

Succession star Jeremy Strong explains how his character is working towards liberation. Plus, there may be something special in Season 3 for Cousin Greg.

HBO

Entering the Discourseis a thrice-weekly column where we dig into who is saying what about new releases and upcoming projects. Today, we look at what Jeremy Strong, Nicholas Braun, and Sanaa Lathan have to say about Succession Season 3.

In just a few short weeks, HBOs Succession will finally be back, for Season 3. I dont know about you, but I miss the toxic Roy clan, from the curmudgeonly and cruel patriarch, Logan (Brian Cox), to the awkward Cousin Greg (Nicholas Braun). Yes, theyre all atrocious characters in their own way, but somehow we cant help loving them anyway.

The third season of Succession sees a division in the family as Kendall Roy (Jeremy Strong) tries to take down his father. The past two seasons have been tumultuous, to say the least, for the eldest Roy child. Hes been grappling with divorce, addiction, and the smothering influence of a controlling and cruel parent.

But Season 2 ended with Kendall sticking up for himself and making a calculated move against Waystar to regain control. Trailers for Season 3 of Succession tease a power struggle that force the remaining siblings Siobhan (Sarah Snook), Roman (Kieran Culkin), and Connor (Alan Ruck) to take a side and declare their loyalty.

During a virtual panel for Succession Season 3 at the Television Critics Association summer press tour, Jeremy Strong addressed his characters growth and how it feels like a moment of liberation. As quoted by TVLine, the actor said:

Theres a sort of phase transition of, like, moving from one state to another. I felt that, after the press conference, it was as if Id sat under the Bodhi tree and achieved a moment of clarity, and what feels for Kendall like enlightenment and liberation. So I think we see a sort of airborne Kendall at the beginning of the season, someone who feels like hes finally wrested himself free from the chains that have been binding him. Theres an airborne quality to it.

Jeremy Strong also added a piece of insight about Succession Season 3 that he received from series creator Jesse Armstrong. Looking at Kendalls current standing both in the family and the world:

[Armstrong] did say to me, It was as if Napoleon was sitting in Moscow, and everyone has left the city. So its sort of a Pyrrhic victory, which I think is part of what we explore in Season 3. Ive done the thing, but if I dont have support in a coalition, what is the value of it?

After watching Kendall struggle for two seasons, the time for his rebirth is now. He is not without guilt as his abuse of power and privilege do not go unnoticed. But after decades of frustration, and frankly rage, hes ready to fight back against the head monster.

Theres even hope for sweet Cousin Greg who has bumbled his way through the shows world of the wealthy elite through a strangely endearing relationship with Tom Wambsgans (Matthew Macfadyen), Siobhans husband. At the same TCA panel, Braun said:

Everyones got a version of the same ambition to get up there, to at least slot up a bit. And so I think Greg makes some nice moves himself this [season].

Sanaa Lathan, Adrien Brody, and Alexander Skarsgard join the cast of Succession in Season 3 as players in the Roy rebellion. Lathan plays lawyer Lisa Arthur, who is bent on taking down Logan. In an interview with Yahoo!, she joked that her role in Alien vs. Predator helped her prepare for such a role:

Slaying that alien fing creature definitely gave me some skills to handle some of these characters.

Brody plays Josh Aaronson, a billionaire activist investor who becomes a main player in the Waystar battle. Skarsgard plays Lukas Matsson, a successful tech founder and CEO.

Its been two years since the Season 2 finale of Succession, and new episodes cant come soon enough. We await the fate of the Roy family with bated breath.

Succession Season 3 premieres on HBO Max on Sunday, October 17th.

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Kendall Roys Journey to Freedom and the Rise of Cousin Greg - Film School Rejects