You know that feeling when you're watching a car crash in slow motion, but the car is worth billions of dollars and the people inside are wearing Patek Philippe watches? That’s exactly what Succession Season 2 Episode 9, titled "DC," feels like. It is arguably the most uncomfortable hour of television Jesse Armstrong ever put to paper. It’s the penultimate episode of the season, and honestly, it’s where the "blood in the water" transition truly begins.
The Roys are in Washington, D.C. They aren't there for a gala. They’re there because the cruise line scandal—the "No Real Person Involved" (NRPI) nightmare—has finally caught up to Waystar Royco.
Logan Roy is a man who believes he can bully the tide into not coming in. But in this episode, the tide is a Senate Judiciary Committee. It’s a brutal look at how power fumbles when it can't use its usual tools of bribery or intimidation.
Why the Congressional Hearing in Succession Season 2 Episode 9 Still Haunts Fans
If you've ever had a performance review go poorly, imagine that, but televised to millions of people. The hearing is the centerpiece. It’s where the "Succession Season 2 Episode 9" tension hits a boiling point. We see Tom Wambsgans, played with a terrifyingly fragile desperation by Matthew Macfadyen, absolutely crumble under questioning.
Senator Gil Eavis is a shark. He knows exactly how to trigger Tom’s insecurities. When Tom is asked about "Greg the Egg" and the emails with the subject line "You Can't Make an Omelet Without Breaking a Few Gregs," it’s hilarious. It’s also deeply pathetic. You're watching a man realize his entire career might be a sacrifice for a family that doesn't even like him that much.
But the real mastery of this episode isn't just the public humiliation. It’s the private panic.
Backstage, the "Panic Room" vibe is high. Logan is trying to figure out who to throw under the bus. This is the core of the show’s DNA—the search for a "blood sacrifice." It’s a term Logan uses that basically sets the stage for the explosive Season 2 finale. In "DC," we see the list of names narrowing. Is it Gerri? Is it Tom? Is it Kendall?
The Rhea Jarrell Problem
Holly Hunter’s character, Rhea Jarrell, reaches her breaking point here. She was supposed to be the "outsider" who could bridge the gap between Waystar and PGM. Instead, she gets sucked into the Roy family’s toxic sludge.
The moment she realizes that Logan actually knew the extent of the cruise ship crimes is the moment she checks out. It’s a rare moment of morality in a show that usually treats ethics like a suggestion. She can't do it. She won't be the CEO of a company that covers up sexual assault on the high seas.
Her exit is quiet. It’s dignified. It’s the opposite of how a Roy leaves a room.
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The Dynamics of Survival
Let's talk about Shiv. In Succession Season 2 Episode 9, Sarah Snook plays Shiv with this jagged edge. She’s trying to save the company, but she’s also trying to save her own skin. Her "woman-to-woman" talk with the whistleblower, Kira, is one of the most manipulative scenes in the entire series.
Shiv doesn't use threats. Not really. She uses empathy as a weapon. She tells Kira that the lawyers will tear her apart, that her life will be ruined, and that she should just take the settlement and disappear. It works. It’s effective. And it’s the moment you realize Shiv is just as cold as her father. Maybe colder.
Meanwhile, Roman is in Turkey. He’s trying to secure private funding from a sovereign wealth fund to take Waystar private so they don't have to answer to shareholders or the government. The contrast is wild. While Logan is sweating in a hearing room, Roman is dealing with a literal hostage situation in a hotel.
It’s peak Succession. High-stakes geopolitics mixed with Roman’s bizarre internal monologue. He actually comes through, in a way, showing that he’s more than just a court jester. He realizes the deal is "fake" before anyone else does.
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Real-World Parallels and Nuance
A lot of critics at the time compared this to the real-world Murdoch hearings or various Big Tech testimonies. The writers clearly did their homework. The dialogue isn't just "TV lawyer talk." It’s the specific, evasive language of the ultra-wealthy.
- "I don't recall."
- "To the best of my knowledge."
- "That wasn't my department."
It’s a masterclass in how to say everything and nothing at the same time.
Some viewers find the D.C. setting a bit slower than the usual New York high-rises, but that's the point. The Roys are out of their element. They can't just fire the Senators. They have to play by rules that weren't written by them.
What This Episode Teaches Us About Power
The takeaway from "DC" is that power is only as good as the secrets you can keep. Once the light shines in, the cockroaches scatter. Logan Roy is a titan, but in this episode, he looks like a tired old man who is losing his grip on the narrative.
When Kendall steps up at the hearing to defend his father, it feels like a turning point. He’s sharp. He’s focused. He’s the "Killer" Logan wanted him to be. But the irony is that by becoming the killer Logan wanted, Kendall becomes the biggest threat to Logan’s own survival.
Actionable Insights for Succession Fans and Analysts
To truly understand the weight of Succession Season 2 Episode 9, you have to look past the insults. Look at the logistics of their downfall.
- Watch the body language in the hearing: Notice how Logan stays still while everyone else fidgets. It's a display of dominance even when he's losing.
- Track the "Blood Sacrifice" theme: Re-watch the scenes between Logan and Kendall. Every interaction is a test. Logan is measuring Kendall's neck for the noose.
- Analyze the Shiv/Kira dialogue: This is a perfect case study in "soft power" manipulation. It’s a great example of how to win an argument by pretending you’re on the other person’s side.
- Compare the Turkey subplot to the D.C. plot: One is about old-world political power, the other is about new-world global capital. Both are equally dangerous.
If you’re revisiting the series, pay attention to the lighting in this episode. Everything is gray, sterile, and cold. The warmth of the Roy family's gilded cages is gone. They are in the belly of the beast.
The next step for any fan is to immediately jump into the Season 2 finale, "This Is Not For Tears." Everything that happens in D.C. is the fuse. The finale is the explosion. Observe how the "NRPI" acronym evolves from a corporate joke into a legal anchor that nearly sinks the entire ship. Keep an eye on Greg—his "cluelessness" is his greatest defense, and in this episode, he uses it like a shield. Turning point reached. Article complete.