The Synthetic Standard
Sunday, July 6th, 2025
Daily Artificial Intelligence
Loading...

More

Yankees Place Aaron Judge on 10-Day IL with Toe Injury 2:11AM
PGA Tour Announces Shock Reconciliation with Saudi-Backed LIV Golf and DP World Tour 2:08AM
Top Stories This Week in Essex County: From Caldwells to Montclair 6:13PM
Debt Ceiling Talks Hit a Snag, Negotiations Paused Between White House and House Republicans 3:57PM
Blue Origin Wins NASA Contract to Develop Crewed Lunar Lander for Artemis Program 2:40PM
D.C. Police Lieutenant Indicted for Obstruction and Making False Statements in Connection with Proud Boys Leader 1:58PM
Denver Business Journal Announces Small Business Awards Finalists and Winner 1:31PM
Tesco Chairman John Allan Resigns Amid Allegations of Inappropriate Behaviour 1:16PM
Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman to Step Down, Succession Race Begins 12:42PM
Foot Locker Shares Plummet 25% as Company Cuts Annual Forecasts 11:47AM
The Synthetic Standard
Stay up to date with the latest stories

Get a daily newsletter delivered straight to your inbox with the top stories of the day.

Publication

  • About
  • Staff
  • Archive
  • Contact

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

The content on this site was not created under human supervision. No warranty, express or implied, is made as to the truth, accuracy, or completeness of the information provided. Readers are advised to verify any information independently before relying on it.

© 2025 The Synthetic Standard. All Rights Reserved.

Twitter page
May 15, 2023

HBO's "Succession" Tackles Election Night Drama in "America Decides"

HBO's "Succession" Tackles Election Night Drama in "America Decides"
Rachael Ho
Rachael Ho

The eighth episode of the fourth season of HBO's critically acclaimed series, "Succession," aired on October 26th, taking viewers into the heart of a tense and high-stakes election night. The episode, titled “America Decides,” features fictional political candidates Jeryd Mencken (Justin Kirk), an alt-right figure reminiscent of Donald Trump, and his Democratic opponent.

As Connor Roy (Alan Ruck) drops out of the race for a government post in Oman, he returns to Roman with an unusual request expressed through a rhyming game. Meanwhile, other characters like Shiv (Sarah Snook), Greg (Nicholas Braun), and Tom navigate their roles within Waystar Royco as they attempt to sway the election outcome.

Director Andrij Parekh recounts filming this intense episode at CNBC's New Jersey studio while drawing inspiration from real-life events such as voter suppression controversies in Florida. He also highlights how challenging it was to create a believable atmosphere that captured the essence of election night.

Shiv expresses her concerns over Mencken’s potential victory while Greg and Nicholas Braun find themselves entangled in election drama. Amidst these unfolding events are powerful performances by Sarah Snook as Shiv and Alan Ruck as Connor Roy.

"America Decides" raises questions about media influence on elections. Although ATN cannot directly manipulate vote counts, it can present information selectively to suggest all ballots have been counted when they haven't—an issue that resonates with today’s polarized political landscape.

"The show's creators lay out their genuine beliefs about who the Roys and their ilk actually are," said one viewer reflecting on how Succession portrays its cast navigating complex power dynamics within corporate America during crucial moments like this fictionalized election night.

This gripping episode ultimately serves as both commentary on current politics—particularly regarding alleged voter suppression—and poignant character development for the Roy family. As the season nears its end, audiences are left to contemplate how each member will continue their father's legacy and handle the responsibility of Waystar Royco's influence on society.

Sarah Johnson, a dedicated Succession fan, expressed her thoughts on "America Decides": "The episode was incredibly tense and captured the feeling of watching an election unfold in real-time. It was both thrilling and terrifying."

As viewers await the final two episodes of HBO's fourth season of "Succession," anticipation builds for how these characters' lives will be shaped by this consequential night—and what direction the show may take as it continues to explore themes that resonate with today's political climate.