Slate Money: Succession – S2E6 "Yuppie RoboCop"

Slate Money Podcast | September 16, 2019
Host: Felix Salmon (Axios)
Guests/Panelists: Emily Peck (HuffPost), Taffy Brodesser-Akner (author & journalist)

Episode Overview

In this Slate Money: Succession recap, Felix Salmon is joined by regular panelist Emily Peck and special guest Taffy Brodesser-Akner for an in-depth, hilarious, and insightful discussion of Season 2, Episode 6 of HBO's Succession, titled “Argestes.” The trio unpacks the episode’s central themes of power, family dysfunction, media intrigue, and shifting gender dynamics within the Roy family, as well as the business and social undercurrents surrounding the failed acquisition of the Pierce media empire.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Enduring Appeal of Gerri (00:50–03:15)

• Taffy is a self-professed “Jerry stan”:

  “I live or die by Jerry.” – Emily Peck [01:22]

• Gerri’s survival instincts and sideline authority shine in this episode.
• Admiration for her ability to be three steps ahead, especially managing the company’s MeToo crisis by pulling Shiv into the PR spotlight.

2. Family Dysfunction & Emotional Currency (03:34–08:32)

• Logan’s physical aggression towards Roman (knocking out his tooth) is dissected with both skepticism and dark humor.
• The notion that “capital” on the show isn’t just money, but who gets to speak their mind:

  “The real capital on this show is who is allowed to say what they think.” – Emily Peck [04:34]

• Logan's control versus Kendall's lack of authority is illustrated in the private jet scene.

  "Everything you do is fucking bullshit. And I’m very disappointed in you." – Logan, quoted by Felix [05:17]

• Marcia's rare assertion of power toward Shiv is contrasted with her usual inscrutability [06:45–07:13].

3. Wealth, Status & the Allure (07:27–08:32)

• Emily admits the trappings of Roy wealth are more aspirational than repulsive, even while acknowledging the family’s toxic dynamics.
• Taffy interrogates whether material comfort is worth the loss of authentic connection.
• Consensus: The Roys, though awful, display a warped intimacy and closeness.

4. The Argestes Conference & Corporate Scandal (09:03–15:18)

• The setting is a clear riff on real-life power summits like the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference and Aspen Ideas Festival.
• The fallout from the cruise line sexual misconduct scandal (uncle Mo, the cover-up, and the death at sea) forces the Roys into crisis management.
• Roman, Kendall, and Shiv’s responses to the scandal diverge sharply:
  • Kendall pushes for an apology, potentially projecting his own guilt from the manslaughter [17:09–17:34].
  • Shiv and Gerri favor stonewalling and minimization.
• The panel bemoans the inaccurate depiction of journalism fact-checking (especially vis-à-vis New York Magazine) [24:17–25:07].

5. Women, Power, and the "Female Option" (30:12–32:09)

• Shiv is thrust into the crisis because being a woman is now a “plus” for the company—an ironic reversal of Logan’s earlier claim that her gender was a minus:

  “It’s a plus that she’s a woman.” – Taffy [31:32]

• Her big moment on stage is a blend of attempted gravitas and crumbling confidence; her “dinosaur” comments are discussed as both a blunder and a subtle dig.

6. Rhea, Nan, and Corporate Maneuvering (11:43, 12:07, 13:28, 28:30)

• Rhea's outsider status in the Pierce family, ambition, and possible motivations for selling are dissected.
• Her awkward loyalty split between Logan and Nan culminates in her telling Nan to “calm down”—the podcast panel agrees this is a grave error:

  “Never tell anyone to ever calm down.” – Taffy [12:43]

• The hosts question whether Rhea is setting herself up as Waystar’s next CEO.

7. Comic Relief & Memorable Moments (14:48–16:13, 36:10–38:52)

• The Tom-Greg dynamic is celebrated as the true “viewer stand-in,” with their attempts to create a new ATN slogan (“We Here For You” / “We Hear For You”) providing comic gold:

  “It’s good because it’s not clear exactly what it means. So lots of wiggle room.” – Greg [15:18]

• Tom’s anxiety over being scapegoated in the press, juxtaposed with his need for attention:

  “Is it a piece about me? Is it about me? They asked for me.” – Tom [16:12]

• Emily laughs at Shiv dubbing Roman and Kendall the “cover stars of Toxic Male Monthly” [36:22].

8. Analyzing Visual & Behavioral Details (18:41–20:11)

• Roman’s childish, fidgety way of sitting is noted as physical evidence of arrested development.
• Gerri’s maternal yet strategic care for Roman is discussed.

9. Real-World Corporate Parallels (34:18–35:14, 37:08–37:59)

• The “300-year investing horizon” billionaire character is linked to SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son (spliced with references to MBS and Azerbaijani oil money).
• The culture of Sun Valley, Aspen, and their real-life equivalents is explored with Felix drawing on his media reporting background.

10. Favorite Lines & Quotes (35:20–39:18)

• The team shares favorite quips and moments:
  • “Horse potatoes!” – Nan [36:10]
  • “Two cover stars of Toxic Male Monthly” – Shiv [36:22]
  • “I’m such a big fan of your money.” – Greg [34:43]
  • “For the shit I’m pouring, pouring over you onto your minions, I’m very disappointed.” – Logan [05:12]
  • “It’s good because it’s not clear exactly what it means.” – Greg [39:18]

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On Gerri’s brilliance:

  “She is three steps ahead of everything, especially in this episode.” – Taffy [02:30]

• On Logan’s authority:

  “But I feel like when Logan says something like that, he means it and people are scared. And when Kendall says something like that, everyone goes like, that's hilarious.” – Felix [06:08]

• On women’s status in crisis:

  “In this episode, it’s a plus. He’s turned on his heels because of all this MeToo shit and... the world is slipping away from him.” – Taffy [31:32]

• On Rhea’s shifting allegiance:

  “She tells her boss to calm down.” – Felix [12:43]

• On ATN’s new slogan brainstorm:

  “It’s good because it’s not clear exactly what it means. So lots of wiggle room.” – Greg [15:18]

• On media fact-checking accuracy:

  “For any Slate money listeners...this is not how investigative journalism works.” – Felix [24:45]

• On the Roys’ closeness:

  “I think the Roys have incredible human connection, and they all work in symbiosis with each other. I think they're a very close family.” – Emily Peck [08:40]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Gerri’s Appeal: [01:22–03:15]
• Logan and Roman’s Confrontation: [03:34–05:59]
• Logan’s Authority vs. Kendall’s Impotence: [05:10–06:16]
• Women’s Power after the Scandal: [30:12–32:09]
• Rhea/Nan Power Play: [11:43–13:28]
• Comic Tom & Greg Slogan Brainstorm: [14:48–16:13]
• Visual Echoes & Family Dynamics: [18:41–20:11]
• Favorite Lines: [35:20–39:18]

Notable and Memorable Moments

• Gerri’s maternal-leaning yet always-strategic bond with Roman: [02:38–03:15]
• Roman’s unique way of sitting reflects the family's arrested development: [18:41–20:11]
• Logan’s emotional vulnerability to Marcia and his manipulative use of Shiv as a shield post-scandal: [25:56–27:49]
• The hosts’ collective swoon over Jerry’s sartorial choices and Taffy’s behind-the-scenes trivia about ad-libbed lines: [21:14–23:19]
• The meta-debate about whether the show’s depiction of New York media fact-checking bears any resemblance to reality: [24:17–25:07]

Conclusion & Predictions

• The hosts speculate about the future roles of Rhea and Shiv, and whether the Pierce deal will rise from the ashes.
• They highlight the show’s deftness at blending business, family psychodrama, and contemporary corporate crises.
• The episode closes as the hosts regret not seeing more from certain side characters (Lawrence, Nan) and agree the unpredictable, toxic energy of the Roy family remains the show’s true subject.

Episode full of biting quotes, sharp analysis, and the irreverent wit that makes Slate Money a must-listen companion to Succession’s ruthless world.