I was kind of skeptical about it and put off watching it for some time. Even after Chapo had McKay on and they talked about it for a minute I didn't run to watch it. But one day I gave it a go and I have to say it's probably one of my favorite TV shows of all time. I've seen it, and I'm not joking, probably almost 10 times from beginning to end. Most of that is a few serious watches and then just having it on the background while I work.
It doesn't feel like prestige TV, which I like. It's just a straightforward story. And after re-watching it so much I notice how tight the writing actually is. There's foreshadowing in the set design and in things that are said or happen. The characters share a common vocabulary, saying certain phrases or words like a motif. I think that's supposed to show how insular the wealthy are. The editing and the way its shot is kind of like The Thick of It. The humor is Iannucci-esque at times. All the actors are great.
It does a good job showing the supporting staff constantly at work around this wealthy family who doesn't even notice them. The assistants, the waiters, the gardeners, the yacht attendants, etc. It's not a spoiler but at one point the patriarch orders all this lobster and steak and high-end food thrown out. You see the staff dumping all this shit in the trash in the background. Then they order pizza. Just little stuff like that.
spoiler
I like when they visit the Pierces and they're all wealthy liberals. They do a really good job of showing those things that rich libs love. Fawning over credentials and education and cultural shit. And when Shiv tells Gill that the part of his base who hates her family has no where else to go really highlights Democrat strategy.
Tom and Gregg are my favorite characters. Connor as a close third.
I love the bit where Roman watches the satellite launch on his phone and it explodes and he just calmly puts it back in his pocket and carries on.
Probably wasn't intentional and was just meant to be a funny bit but its how I feel when I read like a climate change article about how we've reached new unprecedented levels of whatever and scientists say it's Really Bad and then I just close it and carry on working or whatever.