RoyCast

RoyCast episodes:

• 02.29.2024

  The 2024 RoyCast Oscars Special

  We're at the movies again as Gabi and Brendan discuss each of the nominees for Best Picture at the upcoming Academy Awards, whether any of these films are any good, and what they say about the particular present anxieties of...

  
• 01.19.2024

  Succession, Ranked

  Brendan, Gabi, and producer Dan reunite for a retrospective look at the complete run of Succession by attempting to rank every episode of the series. Discussion also covers the cast and crew's final tour of the awards circuit, the publication...

  
• 06.02.2023

  Succession 4.10, "With Open Eyes" (Series Finale) with Adam Nayman

  In the Succession series finale, "With Open Eyes", the closed-loop system begins another revolution as the Roys lose Waystar for good. Critic and author Adam Nayman returns to the RoyCast to discuss the anxieties and potential pitfalls of this final...

  
• 05.26.2023

  Succession 4.9, "Church and State" with Vikram Murthi

  At Logan’s funeral mass, Kendall and Shiv eulogize their father while rallying their forces, and Roman goes to pieces. Number one boy Vikram Murthi returns to the RoyCast to talk about “Church and State” as a classic penultimate episode, the...

  
• 05.19.2023

  Succession 4.8, "America Decides"

  It's election night in "America Decides", where the Roy family tragedy spills over into a national catastrophe of their own making. Brendan and Gabi sit down for a solo discussion that dives deep into the road to this inevitable outcome,...

  
• 05.12.2023

  Succession 4.7, "Tailgate Party" with Madeleine Wall

  At the Roys' pre-election party, the simmering tension between Shiv and Tom finally boils over. Critic and programmer Madeleine Wall returns to discuss the staging and writing of that climactic blowup, the paths leading both Shiv and Tom to finally...

  
• 05.05.2023

  Succession 4.6, "Living+" with Danny Bowes

  Kendall's ambitions take flight as the Waystar team preps for a Hollywood investor presentation in "Living+". Returning guest Danny Bowes joins the RoyCast to discuss the episode's grim central conceit, its larger social and political implications, the season's tragic endgame...

  
• 04.28.2023

  Succession 4.5, "Kill List" with Charles Bramesco

  The Roys are off to bleed the Swede in "Kill List", where newly minted CE-bros Kendall and Roman face new developments in rival Lukas Matsson's bid to acquire Waystar. Critic and author Charles Bramesco joins the RoyCast to help work...

  
• 04.21.2023

  Succession 4.4, "Honeymoon States" with Megan Abbott

  The Roy family gathers with Waystar colleagues and assorted hangers-on for a wake at Logan's home, where an ambiguous pencil stroke complicates their search for an interim CEO. Novelist, TV writer and showrunner Megan Abbott joins the RoyCast to discuss...

  
• 04.13.2023

  Succession 4.3, "Connor's Wedding" with Maddie Whittle

  In “Connor’s Wedding”, Logan disrupts yet another blessed family event by unexpectedly passing away on his flight to Stockholm. Critic and programmer Maddie Whittle joins the RoyCast to break down the shocking yet mundane execution of this endgame development for...

  
• 04.07.2023

  Succession 4.2, "Rehearsal" with John Semley

  In “Rehearsal”, Succession’s final season begins to take shape as old habits die hard. John Semley joins the RoyCast to discuss the episode’s theme of regression, insularity versus circularity, the cable news landscape, new wrinkles in the Gojo deal, Connor’s...

  
• 03.31.2023

  Succession 4.1, "The Munsters" with Marie Bertonneau

  In Succession's final season premiere, a merger-of-the-week plays out in sunny California with dark clouds on the horizon. Marie Bertonneau returns to the RoyCast to discuss Logan's troubling state of mind, Catholic perspectives on sin and redemption, the world's dullest...

  
• 03.03.2023

  Bonus — Armageddon Time (2022), with Alex Sherman

  Filmmaker and film production professor Alex Sherman joins Brendan for a discussion of the 2022 film Armageddon Time, starring Jeremy Strong, Anne Hathaway, Anthony Hopkins, Jessica Chastain, John Diehl, Banks Repeta, and Jaylin Webb. Before getting to the film itself,...

  
• 02.26.2023

  Emergency — The End of "Succession" Is Near

  The RoyCast reacts to Jesse Armstrong's unexpected announcement that Succession will end with its upcoming fourth season. Topics include: the five stages of grief, the dashed hopes for a fifth season, creative decisions, what we'll miss most, spinoffs, holiday specials,...

  
• 01.13.2023

  Bonus - 2022 Year In Review

  Brendan and Gabi reunite to discuss Succession at the 2022 Emmys, speculation about the upcoming season, a recent trend in commentary about the show and other media that depict the super-wealthy, as well as our favorite films and television of...

  
• 08.05.2022

  Bonus — The Righteous Gemstones, with Marie Bertonneau (Part 2)

  In the second half of an epic recording, Brendan, Gabi, and guest Marie Bertonneau take a long view of the doctrinal, social, and political contexts surrounding The Righteous Gemstones, whether it represents a softening of its creators' earlier satirical projects,...

  
• 07.29.2022

  Bonus — Danny McBride's America, with Marie Bertonneau (The Righteous Gemstones, Part 1)

  For the first installment of a two-part episode covering HBO's The Righteous Gemstones, Brendan, Gabi, and guest Marie Bertonneau take a deep dive into the history of collaboration between multihyphenate creators Danny McBride, Jody Hill, and David Gordon Green. The...

  
• 03.25.2022

  Bonus — The Game (1997), with Adam Nayman

  For the first installment in a series exploring works that make up the creative DNA of Succession, critic and author Adam Nayman joins Brendan to discuss The Game, the 1997 conspiracy thriller directed by David Fincher starring Michael Douglas, Sean...

  
• 03.24.2022

  Postseason

  From a chat recorded on March 7th, Brendan and Gabi reunite for a loose, hangout style episode to share some news about the podcast, discuss season 3 with the benefit of a few months’ hindsight, and share wildly outdated thoughts...

  
• 12.17.2021

  Succession 3.9, "All the Bells Say" with Isaac Butler

  Dominoes fall in the Succession season finale, and "All the Bells Say": too late. Isaac Butler returns to the RoyCast for a spirited debate about the third season's flaws and virtues, as well as to weigh in with some expert...

  
• 12.10.2021

  Succession 3.8, "Chiantishire" with Anna Golez

  In another of Succession's trademark bad vacations, "Chiantishire" moves the season's plot, and maybe Kendall, towards an endgame. Anna Golez joins the Fly Guys to discuss the direction of Mark Mylod, new Nicholas Britell cues, the season's theme of historical...

  
• 12.03.2021

  Succession 3.7, "Too Much Birthday" with Madeleine Wall

  At Ken's maximalist 40th birthday party, the Waystar team celebrates a sudden release from consequences while Ken looks for a resolution of his own. Film programmer and critic Madeleine Wall joins the RoyCast to discuss some of the episode's extreme...

  
• 11.26.2021

  Succession 3.6, "What It Takes" with Jeremy Mongeau

  With returning guest Jeremy Mongeau, the Fly Guys wade into the swamp and try to dispel some of the very bad vibes emanating from “What It Takes”. Topics include: the show’s approach to the U.S. political system, the limits of...

  
• 11.19.2021

  Succession 3.5, "Retired Janitors of Idaho" with Emily VanDerWerff

  At the much-anticipated Waystar shareholder meeting, "Retired Janitors of Idaho" finds the cast of Succession in a madcap scramble as they try to salvage a last-minute settlement with Sandy and Stewy while dealing with an incapacitated Logan. Emily VanDerWerff joins...

  
• 11.12.2021

  Succession 3.4, "Lion in the Meadow" with Vikram Murthi

  A deceptively quiet episode that sets the stage for the looming shareholder meet, "Lion in the Meadow" reunites Kendall and Logan for a critical encounter at the island estate of major shareholder Josh Aaronson (Adrien Brody). Film and television critic...

  
• 11.05.2021

  Succession 3.3, "The Disruption" with Everett Rummage

  Everyone's struggling to control the narrative in "The Disruption", which sees Ken and Shiv trading blows while the government comes knocking on Logan's door. To discuss a busy installment, The Fly Guys are joined by podcaster and historian Everett Rummage....

  
• 10.29.2021

  Succession 3.2, "Mass in Time of War" with Fran Hoepfner

  Kendall pitches his siblings on his vision for their future in “Mass in Time of War,” which re-establishes the emotional and material stakes of the series. The Fly Guys are joined by Fran Hoepfner to discuss the episode’s centerpiece scene,...

  
• 10.22.2021

  Succession 3.1, "Secession" with Adam Nayman

  Succession is back and the vibes are off in the season three premiere, "Secession". Critic and author Adam Nayman joins the Fly Guys to break down COVID's impact on the filmmaking process, Succession's changing relationship to contemporary reality, Kendall's clout...

  
• 09.29.2021

  Pre-season Reunion, aka "Prekend"

  In a freewheeling reunion special, the Fly Guys return from a nearly two-year hiatus to take stock of Succession's critical and awards success, online fandom, a recent New Yorker profile of Jesse Armstrong, new additions to the ensemble cast, indulge...

  
• 10.26.2019

  Succession 2.10, "This Is Not For Tears" with Katie Stebbins

  The Fly Guys are joined by Katie Stebbins to discuss the Succession finale.

  
• 10.10.2019

  Succession 2.9, "D.C." with Brandon Nowalk

  Logan meets an existential threat as the cruise scandal unravels and faces tough questions in D.C as the various Roy children rise to their family's defense. The Fly Guys are joined by Brandon Nowalk to discuss the episode's deft writing...

  
• 10.02.2019

  Succession 2.8, "Dundee" with Alex Heeney

  Logan is visited by old ghosts in his hometown of Dundee, Scotland, as Succession lays the ground for the season's endgame. Brendan and Gabi were joined by Alex Heeney to discuss one of the season's funniest episodes, plus King Lear,...

  
• 09.27.2019

  Succession 2.7, "Return" with Dan Black

  It's a family affair as Succession revisits the emotional terrain of season one for a visit to Lady Caroline, a return to the scene of Ken's crime, and a spiritual sequel to "Austerlitz". We brought the RoyCast family together with...

  
• 09.19.2019

  Succession 2.6, "Argestes" with Nick Usen

  The bomb planted all the way back in season one finally goes off in "Argestes" as the Roys deal with the fallout from a damaging article about "the death pit" and attempt to salvage the Pierce deal. Nick Usen joins...

  
• 09.12.2019

  Succession 2.5, "Tern Haven" with Brandy Jensen

  Everyone shits the bed in "Tern Haven", as the Roys fly out to the Pierce family estate to close Logan's deal of a lifetime. The Fly Guys are joined by Brandy Jensen to decide whether the Pierces are worse than...

  
• 09.06.2019

  Succession 2.4, "Safe Room" with Jeremy Mongeau

  A long day at Waystar headquarters is an opportunity for major confrontations between Tom and Greg, Logan and Pierce CEO Rhea Jarrell (Holly Hunter), and finally Ken and Shiv. Brendan and Kate explore what makes this hour of Succession so...

  
• 08.30.2019

  Succession 2.3, "Hunting" with Julie Kosin

  Succession's second season soars to new lows of absurdity and depravity in "Hunting". The Fly Guys are joined by Julie Kosin for an episode discussion and a friendly game of Boar on the Floor. Julie Kosin is the Entertainment Director for...

  
• 08.24.2019

  Succession 2.2, "Vaulter" with Maya Kosoff

  Succession's second season gives season one episode "Lifeboats" an unofficial sequel in "Vaulter", which takes a turn for the grimly realistic. Gabi, Kate, and Brendan were joined by Maya Kosoff to talk the episode's resonances with the new media landscape,...

  
• 08.16.2019

  Succession 2.1, "The Summer Palace" with Shelley Farmer

  We're back from our silica mud bath to dig into the season premiere of Succession. Ken's a dead man walking, Logan's got his groove back, and everyone looks shinier somehow. Friend of the show Shelley Farmer joins us to talk...

  
• 08.11.2019

  Succession 1.10, "Nobody Is Ever Missing" with Isaac Butler

  The first season's tragic structure comes into focus in the finale, "Nobody Is Ever Missing". For this pivotal episode, Gabi and Brendan are joined by expert guest Isaac Butler, who speaks on the show's relationship to Shakespeare. live theatre, and...

  
• 08.10.2019

  Succession 1.9, "Pre-Nuptial" with Chris Person

  Wedding bells are ringing, but the death pit looms ever darker and nearer as the Roys gather overseas for the Roy-Wambsgans (Wambsgans-Roy?) nuptials. We're joined by Chris Person (@papapishu) to discuss the episode's satirical edge, the various agendas at play...

  
• 08.02.2019

  Succession 1.8, "Prague" with Cam Oflage

  It's haters in the building as mutual friend Cam shares his more critical perspective on the first season. Fortunately, the group reaches a consensus on "Prague" as one of Succession's finest hours and dives into its deliberate visual style, the...

  
• 07.29.2019

  Succession 1.7, "Austerlitz"

  The three hosts fly solo for an extended discussion of trauma as the show's central theme, how the Roys' "family therapy" compares to other TV depictions of therapy, Ken's relapse, and the question of what makes a Logan Roy. This...

  
• 07.25.2019

  Succession 1.6, "Which Side Are You On?" with Danny Bowes

  With its sixth episode, Succession upsets the game board for the second half of the season and kicks into high gear. Joining Gabi, Kate, and Brendan for this episode is actor, writer, and erstwhile podcaster Danny Bowes, for a talk...

  
• 07.22.2019

  Succession 1.5, "I Went To Market" with Jordan Freiman

  It's a holiday episode as the Roys come together for Thanksgiving, so we invited one of our nearest and dearest, writer Jordan Freiman, to chat about what exactly the deal is with Roman and Grace, Uncle Ewan's politics, and Greg's...

  
• 07.17.2019

  Succession 1.4, "Sad Sack Wasp Trap" with Kate H.

  The Roys get dressed for the RECNY ball, and we venture into "the death pit" with our friend Kate H., who speaks on her experience with nonprofit fundraising and on the toxic culture of WayStar/RoyCo. Follow Kate on Twitter at @Katehascats....

  
• 07.14.2019

  Succession 1.3, "Lifeboats" with Vikram Murthi

  Film and TV critic Vikram Murthi joins the podcast to discuss "Lifeboats", the internal culture of WayStar/RoyCo, the evolution of Succession's critical reception, the TV recap economy, and more. Vikram Murthi is a frequent contributor to The AV Club, Vulture, The...

  
• 07.08.2019

  Succession 1.2, "Sh*t Show at the F*ck Factory"

  The three hosts return to discuss the second episode of Succession.

  
• 07.03.2019

  Succession 1.1, "Celebration" with Brendan James

  Brendan, Kate, and Gabi are joined by special guest Brendan James to discuss Succession's pilot episode, the work of series creator Jesse Armstrong, the politics of the show, Cousin Greg, and much more. Brendan James is a co-author of The Chapo...