"DC"
A company whistleblower on the cruises scandal goes forward despite attempts from the company to block his testimony. Democratic senators — including Sen. Eavis — call for a hearing. The company sends Gerri and Tom to testify on operations and Logan and Kendall to testify on overseeing. Tom fumbles his testimony and draws fire onto himself, making it transparently obvious that something came up between him and Greg on Thanksgiving about cruises. Kendall manages to save face by claiming competence and accusing Eavis of bias. Shiv speaks with Eavis and learns he has a second witness, a victim, coming up later in the week. She manages to talk the woman out of testifying so this event does not haunt her for the rest of her life.
Afterwards, Rhea quits the position of CEO. Logan muses to Shiv that a "blood sacrifice" might be needed to get through this scandal.
Meanwhile, Roman, Laird, and Karl are sent to secure Central Asian investors in the hopes of taking the company private. However, they are caught up in a hostage situation involving anti-corruption militia.
Tropes:
- Badass Boast: Rhea's final words to Logan. Seeing what a nightmare the Succession Crisis becomes in seasons 3 and 4, she was completely right.Logan: "You are fungible!"Rhea: "Go ahead. Funge me."
- Disposable Sex Worker: Crimes against sex workers and migrant or foreign workers in the Brightstar cruises are brushed away as "NRPI" (No Real Persons Involved).
- Hauled Before A Senate Subcommittee: The plot of this episode. The company has to testify before a Senate subcommittee at the behest of Sen. Eavis.
- Hostage Situation: While at a hotel in Bursa meeting with Eduard, Roman et al. are taken as hostages along with a large group of other guests.
- Let No Crisis Go to Waste: After reclaiming his cool and driving Eduard to serious bargaining, Roman dryly suggests finagling the other hostages while the tension is high.
- Manipulative Bastard: Shiv manipulates Eavis' witness to keep her from testifying before the Senate.
- Meaningful Name: The whistleblower, one Mr. Weisel, is consistently referred to as "weasel" by the Waystar Royco characters.
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Moral Event Horizon: Silencing a sexual assault victim and punishing no executive for covering up said assault and others is this for Logan, in Rhea's eyes. - Professional Butt-Kisser: The Republican Senator, who uses his minutes in the hearing to speak wonders of the Brightstar cruisers. In the final sequence, he approaches Kendall to congratulate him.
- Screw This, I'm Out of Here!: Rhea steps down from her position as next CEO, and doesn't budge when Logan tries to shout her back into it.
- Unperson: The dehumanising term devised by Waystar Royco to cover up crimes against sex workers, migrants or alleged stowaways is NRPI ("No real person involved")
- You Can Turn Back: Rhea asks Shiv if she's sure she wants to try to convince the victim not to testify, trying to get her to consider what she's really about to do. Shiv dismisses her and goes to speak to Kira by herself.
