Promo "Heirs" season 4 episode 3 (HBO)
In the hours after the broadcast of the third episode in the fourth and final season of "Heirs", the network was filled with hundreds of articles, and thousands of tweets and comments.
It looks like the episode, "Connor's Wedding" will become one of the most talked about TV episodes since the "Red Wedding" episode of Game of Thrones.
It won't be a spoiler to say that HBO's masterpiece will be a candidate to conquer the upcoming awards season anyway, but after this episode it will be very difficult to take away the Emmy Awards from its creators and actors at the upcoming ceremony.
The BBC has already stated: "This is the best television episode of the year", while the "Ringer" website announced that it is one of the best hours of television in the 21st century.
Fox News reporter Zoe Bryant tweeted: "It wouldn't be premature to say that tonight's episode of 'Heirs' is literally the best TV episode of all time."
Shiv, answer him!!! (Photo: HBO)
So what exactly happened there?
Those who cannot hold back until viewing, are welcome to continue reading at their own risk.
Our recommendation: There are things that are better to see than to read about.
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Heavy spoilers from here on out
The third episode of the fourth season actually ends where it all started, already in the first episode of the series: Logan Roy's financial empire is looking for a successor.
Someone to replace the almighty patriarch as CEO of the company, and leader of the family. This time, there's a more acute reason - Logan is dead.
It happened in the most symbolic way possible. This all-powerful man died alone. Locked in the small bathroom of his private jet. Far away From his family. Alienated from his children. With people he doesn't really like around him. Even without his security guard, the only person in the world he considered a friend. The entire series that has often been compared to Shakespearean plays has built up to this, supposedly predictable moment, but the brilliant writing of the episode made it more than "An episode with a twist". This is a moment that defines an entire series.
Logan's death happens off-screen.
The choice of series creators Jesse Armstrong and director Mark Mailod to spare us the moment of Logan's death, instead of providing us with this incredible information via a phone call turned out to be brilliant.
The phone call from Tom, who tries to call Shiv who screens him until he chooses to call her brother instead - turns the entire series' creator in a moment.
Instead of the rebellious children who are going to compete with their father - they become painful and grieving orphans.
One of the most exciting moments on television ever.
Shiv and Kendall are digesting (Photo: HBO)
The creators make us receive the news together with the children, from their point of view.
Without experiencing the resuscitation efforts, without being there at the moment of collapse.
The viewers and the family go through this experience together.
Together with Roman, Logan's youngest son, we still keep a shred of hope that this drama might end differently, until we see the body leaving the plane in a bag.
From here, naturally, everything will change.
The boys' separation from their father, at the last moment when he can still hear them (probably not), is a beautiful gesture from Tom, who is portrayed for a moment as a surprising leader.
Shiv, who showed the most numbness towards her estranged father in the previous episodes, misses the opportunity to say goodbye to her father and reacts with pain.
After this episode, they'll need a bulldozer to take the Emmy from Sarah Snook.
It was a purposeful display of writing and acting, with each character reacting to the tragedy in the way that best suits them.
Kendall and Shiv holding hands like little children.
Connor who responds with his famous insecurity.
A novel that surrendered to his passions.
Kerry who realizes that she's back to being nothing without her Shugar Daddy.
And only Colin, the loyal security guard, seems heartbroken for the person himself, and not for the character.
Alone, in the bathroom, away from the family.
The last scene of Logan Roy (photo: HBO)
The Los Angeles Times published her obituary for Logan Roy this morning, as if it were a real person who had passed away.
The obituary appears prominently on the newspaper's home page, and those who don't watch the series might think that a controversial billionaire, who owned conservative media companies, has passed away.
"Until his last day, he was one of the most ruthless and polarizing media barons of his generation. He reveled in the seismic changes that changed the industry," the fictional obituary reads.
This episode seems to prove that the "Heirs" series itself feels these changes in the industry, and chooses to revel in them.
Now all that remains is to process the feelings after the episode, talk about it on social networks (don't forget to make a spoiler warning) and wait for Ilan Kaprov's brilliant series blog here on the website that follows each episode.
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