'Succession' Season 4 is nearly here: 5 things to watch for

The much-awaited fourth and final season of HBO power drama "Succession" premieres on Monday and let us tell you: Coming from Season 3's banger of a finale, it's as jaw-dropping intense as you can imagine — at least based on the first four episodes HBO gave critics access to.

Yes it is jaw-dropping but remember this is "Succession," story on the ultra wealthy Roy family, so the movements don't come loud or gaudy. Instead, they lean on sophisticated subtlety — under-the-table scheming, a read between the lines kind of a thing.

There's a lot of backstabbing and acerbic wit folded into incredibly intelligent dialogue, and finesse. My gosh, the finesse the Roys and their associates with which they carry their brutality.

To further stroke your excitement — or perhaps to get you in the zone, below are a few things to watch for in the coming season.

1. Logan Roy. As its trailer promised, the patriarch of the Roy family takes center stage in Season 4.

It opens during Logan's birthday, where his children are absent. Is this why Logan appears discontent, if not introspective? But just as you begin to wonder if he was beginning to soften Logan displays his brutal might, his ruthless power.

And before you think he was all of these two sides, he immediately showcases another facade that adds to his complexity. He is Logan Roy and per one of his kids, he is a monster.   

2. Shiv and Tom. After everything that took place in Season 3, Shiv and Tom's marriage is on the brink. Despite all that tension, the most tender moments of the season happen when Shiv and Tom are on screen. You'll easily forget that just a moment ago, Shiv was bullying Tom or that the two were bickering.

But even more surprisingly: those tender scenes don't really hold anything. It's Sarah Snook and Matthew Macfadyen aided by beautiful camerawork and just-right music.

3. Tom and Greg. Ah, the uncanny pair of the series continues with their shenanigans and funny exchanges in Season 4.

Tom and Greg played by Nicholas Braun and Matthew Macfadyen. Courtesy HBO Go

Tom continues to be unreadable in his cruel treatment of Greg, Greg continues to look like a silly lapdog around Greg. Still they call on each other and together, they provide the necessary comic relief that yes, balances out the drama but also, makes it more effective.

4. Roman and Connor. While the first three seasons placed Kendall (Jeremy Strong) front and center, his brothers Roman (Kieran Culkin) and Connor (Alan Ruck) take ample time and space in the spotlight, revealing deep complexities of their seemingly one-dimensional characters.

By extension, Connor's fiancé Willa (Justine Lupe) is also given enough air time and as such, provides a different kind of uneasiness to the whole shebang.  

5. Little details that leave you sitting at the edge of your seat. "Succession" is another kind of thrilling and Season 4 is no different. Like previous seasons, Season 4 will have the viewer feel like a marites eavesdropping on the ultra wealthy at the next table. Who said what about whom? What did he do and did he really do that? So many details, small ones, petty ones that make the narrative so much richer and juicier. From a small piece of paper to a dropped call to an email, it's all here.

Pay special attention to phone calls. Much the drama unfolds during seemingly innocuous phone calls, and as such, much of the superb acting "Succession" has become known for. From bidding wars to secrets, phone calls are often where climaxes happen and important pivots take place in "Succession." Pay attention.

Are you ready for Season 4? The finale season of "Succession" premieres on HBO Go, Monday at 9am.

— LA, GMA Integrated News