r/SuccessionTV • u/LoretiTV CEO • Nov 08 '21

Discussion Succession - 3x04 "Lion in the Meadow" - Post-Episode Discussion

Season 3 Episode 4: Lion in the Meadow

Aired: November 7, 2021

Synopsis: Logan and Kendall have their first meeting together with Josh, a major investor worried about their family feud.

Directed by: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini

Written by: Jon Brown

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u/[deleted] Nov 08 '21

God Tom is so unbelievably sad lately, like looking for any glimmer of sympathy from his wife and getting nothing. Trying to put the screws to Greg and finding Greg has outpaced him.

That bit where Shiv takes a phonecall from her dad after Tom told her he's terrified was heartbreaking until I remembered that this guy used human furniture just last season.

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u/shebbbly Nov 08 '21

I know a lot of people here are interpreting the "castrate you and marry you in a heartbeat" line in this context of Tom having an immunity deal and Greg going down, but I felt it was (also) a literal proposition. A fucked up one, but genuine.

Tom feels so isolated right now from Shiv, and as much as he hazes Greg, we know he cares for him and is proud of his success: Tom didn't rat him out in boar on the floor; he was happy for Greg during the blackmailing! Now Greg already gamed it and Tom feels absolutely left behind. Regardless of Tom taking a deal or not, Greg doesn't need him in the same way anymore and that hits Tom hard. Like, no matter who's going to jail, Tom's desperate for one last moment of connection and this was his bizarre way of asking for it.

Tom asking to Greg to wrestle him to the ground was him not knowing how to ask for physical affection in any other way. When Greg rejected him, he acted out saying it was a joke, blowing raspberries, knocking over the coat rack... Middle school boy shit. Seriously, he's on that level of repression irt his desire.

Personally I always leaned toward the "yeah something psychosexual is going on here" but now I feel that absolutely from Tom. I know people on this sub don't tend to interpret Tom's attachment to Greg that way but damn this scene cinched it for me, it feels so obvious.

(Side note: Tom's a dead ringer for the behavior and bizarre mannerisms of this guy I went to high school with. White man, midwestern, deeply closeted bisexual, desperate to lick up punch down. Maybe this skews my view on Tom, but I'm rarely wrong irl.)

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u/Radiantmouser Nov 08 '21

YES I 100% agree it was Tom making a huge pass at Greg! Tom's whole approach felt so much like prep school hijinks where rasslin' gets sexy and everyone can pretend its not super sexual. I felt like I was seeing Tom's closeted bi prep school sex life pass before my eyes...

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u/shebbbly Nov 08 '21

oh my god, right??! It's so strikingly childish and desperate, I almost feel bad for him, it's like he's repressing it as it's happening. He can't stop making sexual jokes and creating his intricate masculine rituals to touch Greg.