Can Royco's business titan really "build something better" with Waystar on the way out, or is he just a lonely old pirate missing his loyal crew?
[Editor's Note: The following review containsRevelationfor "successor” Season 4, Episode 2, “Rehearsal”.]
"It's not the end," Logan shouts at the end of his rousing speech in the ATN newsroom. "I'm going to build something better, something faster, something lighter, something badder, something fiercer, and I'm going to do it from here, with all of you."
Even before Logan (Brian Cox) ends his tirade by yelling "They're fucking pirates" to a roomful of Manhattan reporters, it's clear he's earned it. Worried looks from Greg (Nicholas Braun) and Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) are replaced with nods and wary smiles. At the end, applause breaks out, applause is heard, and Greg the Egg smiles. But like many things about "Succession," the end result doesn't imply the truth of what happened.
Without all the noise, Logan is holding on to a straw. His impromptu speech is staged on boxes of copy paper. He is only three inches taller than Tom. Some of his first words – “I'm going to spend a lot more time with you becauseI like it here' They are pure lies. Logan doesn't want to be here. He wants to gut Pierce Global Media and rebuild it in his own image. Before that, he wanted to run the megacorporation formed by the merger of Waystar-Royco and GoJo. But Lukas Matsson (Alexander Skarsgärd) denied him the last chance, as did his children, throughgot over it by PGM- took the first.
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Now Logan is a man without a mission. A pirate lost at sea trying to build a better ship without a loyal crew, or at least the crew he prefers. Sure, he can round up a few more sailors, but his first mates are leaving. He can let Gerri (J. Smith Cameron) know that he hasn't left the house yet. He can make Tom and Greg do whatever he wants (without formally influencing anyone to hire his assistant/lover as the new ATN host of course). And yes, he can scare his employees to death, like Santa Claus as a killer, but his true power is fading, and he knows it. Last week, he left the saddest birthday party for an even sadder birthday dinner, reflecting on the afterlife with his "best friend" and paid bodyguard, Colin (Scott Nicholson). This week she canceled his sons' helicopter so they'd miss his brother's rehearsal dinner, then split the little trio up by stealing Roman (Kieran Culkin) to work with him at ATN.
These are not the machinations of a media mogul; These are the desperate acts of a rebellious and unloved retiree, who worries about what comes next while he manipulates the only people he has power over: his family. On the surface, he can put on a show and piss people off. But deep down, he's just an old man trying to talk about his deepest fears. It's like Roman says at the beginning of Episode 2: "Man, dad was a god. And he tomorrow he's going to sell the empire to a Swede from 4Chan and give him blowjob jobs."
To say that Logan would be happier if GoJo's acquisition of Waystar failed would be wrong. Logan will always hate his children (and his followers) if they cancel his big deal. Logan needs to protect his legacy and wants to secure a "good" sale on his terms. Unfortunately, he is dealing with "unserious people" whose only ambition is to burn him down.
Well, two of them do anyway. After tasting Dad's blood in the season 4 premiere, Kendall (Jeremy Strong) and Shiv (Sarah Snook) are hungry for more. In case it wasn't made clear by the disdain shared by PGN in the opening scenes of Episode 2, complaining that the current show is aimed exclusively at college professors before switching to "What's Happening in Africa?" which Shiv correctly identifies as "Homework: The Show" - the pair's bloodlust is evident during "Rehearsal".
Kieran Culkin in succession
Courtesy of Macall B. Polay /hbo
As Roman and Kendall tease Kerry's (Zoe Winters) ATN debut, Shiv gets a call from Sandi (Hope Davis), who wants him to consider voting against selling GoJo. "Maybe we shouldn't just say hi," Shiv quickly admits. "Maybe it annoys my dad, but maybe it's okay." From then on, she's on a crusade to convince her siblings that it's in their best interest to anger her father. She brings up the subject early only to be fired, but lingers through Connor's (Alan Ruck) disastrous rehearsal dinner, her sad apology for an after party (no one should be singing Leonard Cohen's "Famous Blue Raincoat" hours before the wedding ) and a surprise meeting with Logan in the kids' private karaoke room. Shiv hardly needed another reason to make his father's life difficult (not after the fun he had stealing PGN), but he got one when he helped Tom bust Manhattan's top divorce lawyers, which he did to put down the next litigation. in an early vacuum. She wouldn't say Shiv was struck with anger, she's not stupid enough to burn the billions of hers they'll soon inherit in revenge, but she doesn't see all the pieces at stake.
Which brings us to Kendall. Everything you need to know about the mood of Tom Ford's favorite Buddhist is contained in two scenes: the first is when Lukas Matsson calls his insomniac "friend" to tell Kendall not to date Stewy (Arian Moayed). and raised Sandi. Lukas says categorically: "Either I back off or I leave." So what does Kendall do? She hangs up, opens her messaging app, and sends Stewy a text. It doesn't matter what the numbers are either. Believing in Luke, Kendall sees an opportunity to have sex with Papa Roy. She then takes it. Later, on the way home, Kendall is beaming. Because? Well, your older brother (who is getting marriedtomorrow) has just declared that his biggest superpower is being able to survive without love, his father just called all four of his children "fucking idiots," and he's about to torpedo a big payday (which he has to pay for the PGN, not to mention move on with his luxurious life). But it doesn't matter as long as they catch Logan.
If Kendall or Shiv had stayed the course, they might realize Logan is out of options: He's been relegated to running a news network he doesn't even want after being cut off from his biggest company and his kids. (He even admits he wanted it for his birthday! Said a sentiment!) Instead, his stubborn insistence on playing pranks on his father pushed the suspicious Roman into Logan's arms, rather than simply giving the patriarch a letter, which he can face. the other children of his, but offers him a path back to prosperity. What happens to the PGN agreement if the united front of the brothers breaks down? What's going on with the GoJo deal? What to do with the family fortune if not with the family itself? Maybe Logan was right. Maybe this is not the end yet. Good luck with the Matsson meeting, I guess.
Nota: B+
Nicholas Braun and Matthew Macfadyen in 'Succession'
Courtesy of Macall B. Polay/HBO
Greg aspers
Is Tom a good boss?
Of course not. Don't be absurd. He is abusive, moody and cunning. In no way would I want my financial or personal well-being tied to Mr. Wambsgans, but I'd be lying if I said the question didn't occur to me when he asked Greg about an "incredibly complicated piece of diplomacy." ("It's like Israel and Palestine, only harder and more important" has been a top-notch quote since it was used in the trailer, and now it's better in context.) Still, there's the Disgusting Brothers on The Tape of Kerry-trying to figure out the best way to show on TV that she's terrible without involving her boss or herself-TomYShow Greg what to do.
Establish a strategy, address important talking points, and provide the necessary information. Of course, Tom knows that Greg can't execute any of these concepts when going up against Kerry, but a) while Tom is much, much better at covering up bad news with barely perceptible gibberish, telling Kerry she's a lousy presenter is without a doubt a suicide squad, so why not ask a subordinate to do the dirty work and b) Greg has to do it?learn. He'll need to know how to have these conversations if he wants to survive on ATN, and more importantly, Greg needs a skill, any skill, really, just one. I'm not sure what he does all day, but I know he hasn't graduated since the first time we saw him throw up in a mascot uniform. If Greg can be a shade, maybe he can keep wearing suits and ties instead of those smelly old animal suits?
And you should probably have a better line than "Arms ain't cool, they're a bit anti-TV."executive level business.
slime pup time
Roman's switch to Logan this week shouldn't come as a surprise. On one hand, Kendall and Shiv like to tease his brother for being conflict-averse, but there's some truth to that. At the end of season 3, he had to be convinced to go to Logan and find out; Much of his plan hinged on Roman defending the brothers over his father, and he did.
But the last two weeks have taken the pattern too far. In Episode 1, Roman is the only Holdout to help The Hundred go after Pierce. Acknowledging all the work they've put into this, as well as their complete independence from his father, he stands by the idea until it's clear that Kendall and Shiv are done with it. It happens again in Episode 2. Shiv and then Kendall decide it's in their best interest to demand more money from the GoJo business, despite Roman's repeated urging. He's ready to roll, take what comes his way, and gut the PGN. But his brothers aren't, they're already bored with their new toys, and they're basically asking Roman to join the next attack on dad.
Of course, Roman has been in more contact with Logan than she has, and their shared lyrics play a role in sowing divisions within the trio. But the way Kendall watches the news says she's "a little hot" and then signals Roman's approval—"take care"—as proof that Baby Bro is being too nice to her dad. Absolutely hysterical for us, but justifiably irritating for Roman. They should have made the poor boy feel safe. If not, it's back to dad, back to the man who called Roman "100 percent crucial to the [GoJo] transition" before the fallout in Italy. Now Logan has who he needs. Here we go again.
Do you have any jokes?
"He's wearing sunglasses there. It's like Santa Claus is a killer." – Greg watches as Logan wanders the ATN floor
The best line so far on the air on ATN
"Somewhere fun and real, away from the fancy balls," Connor says, describing where his after party would be. "A real bar with girls and boys who work with their hands, and have grease and sweat on their hands and blood in their hair."
"I don't like these guys," says Roman. "You sound like a medical experiment gone wrong."
“Succession” season 4 will air new episodes on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.
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FAQs
What is wrong with Logan in Succession? ›
Death visits CEO Logan Roy, and stays
The Lion in Winter Roy has battled health issues from the start, suffering a severe stroke in the first season, when he was nursed by his fiercely protective third wife Marcia (Hiam Abbass).
Logan's incapacitation sets off a heated succession debate among his children, as the Board rushes to inform the media about leadership contingencies before the stock market opens. Greg is tasked to retrieve some important items from the Roy apartment.
Who told Logan they were coming? ›The season ended, however, with a final twist as Tom arrived and received a clear happy greeting from Logan. It was at that moment that Shiv realised that Tom had betrayed her and informed Logan of what the siblings were planning, enabling her father to outmanoeuvre them.
Do they vote Logan out in Succession? ›Frank tries to stall until Kendall can arrive, but Logan refuses to leave the room and strong-arms people to vote for him, instead of his son Ken. Frank Vernon and some other people vote against Logan, but everyone else sides with him, including his son Roman.
Why couldn t Logan regenerate in Logan? ›In Logan, scars and bullet holes that once would have vanished remain permanently visible on Wolverine, who is in constant physical agony in the movie, and it all comes down to a single fatal affliction: Adamantium poisoning.
Why does Logan start dying? ›The primary reason why Wolverine is dying in 'Logan' is adamantium poisoning. Due to his old age, Wolverine's healing factor was not as effective as before, which resulted in adamantium slowly taking its toll on Logan's body.
Do Tom and Shiv divorce? ›It appears that the previous season's events have ended Shiv and Tom's marriage for good While Tom and Shiv are "taking a break" at the beginning of Season 4 of Succession, it appears they have officially broken up in one of the premiere's final moments.
What is the best episode of Succession? ›Succession's 'Connor's Wedding' Is Now The Highest-Rated Episode Of Any Show Ever On IMDB. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. While by the end of the hour it was pretty clear that Succession's “Connor's Wedding” was the best episode of the series, as it turns out it may be the best…
Did Marcia leave Logan in Succession season 2? ›When Logan announced Rhea as his successor and the new CEO of Waystar, Marcia was not happy at all and was noticeably absent from the season two finale - presumably having left Logan.
Did Tom tell Logan kids were coming? ›There's a new number 1 boy in town! Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) makes the biggest power move of the season (and his life) by betraying Shiv and telling Logan his kids' plan to shut down the sale of Waystar Royco.
Does Shiv actually love Tom? ›
Yes, Succession's Shiv Roy Really Does Love Tom – Here's The Evidence. Of the three main Roy children, Shiv (Sarah Snook) has always been the hardest to pin down.
Why does Logan call him Romulus? ›His younger brother Roman (or Romulus, as Logan calls him when he's feeling paternal), played by Kieran Culkin, is a crass and flippant cad, who says whatever pops into is head because he's never had to face any sort of consequences.
Did Roman vote against Logan? ›Roman, terrified of disappointing his dad, backtracks from the plan and votes against Logan's removal. Roman's deciding vote clinches a win for Logan, who immediately fires Kendall, Frank and the board members that betrayed him.
Who did Logan cheat on Marcia with in Succession? ›Marcia Roy
Throughout season 2, her marriage to Logan was increasingly rocky and seemed to have fractured completely after his affair with PGM CEO Rhea Jarrell.
She does seem to have some genuine affection for Logan however, as his wife Marcia came to threaten her about getting tested for STD's, implying the two were having an affair (which was never confirmed or denied). When placed in the line of fire, Rhea tends to step back or walk away to avoid controversy.
Why did Logan start aging? ›Like having a skeleton coated in lead, the metal leeches into Logan's body over time. It takes years to have a major effect, but by 2029, the year “Logan” is set, the adamantium has so weakened Logan that he's aging at a normal rate and struggling to heal himself after injuries.
How did Logan lose his immortality? ›He has lived to that great age because his mutant healing power greatly slows down his aging processes and protects him from environmental abuses. But, the adamantium that the Weapon X project used to coat his skeleton is toxic. It has slowly poisoned him and weakened his healing powers.
Can Logan regrow limbs? ›The mutation that makes Wolverine worthy of the X-Men is that his cells regenerate at incredible speeds. He ages at a snail's pace, he can re-grow parts of limbs and organs after serious injury, and he is basically impervious to infection and disease.
How old was Logan when he died? ›Wolverine was 197 years when he died in the movie 'Logan. ' He was born in 1882 as James Howlett, and the movie 'Logan' is set in the future, in 2029. So, even though his age is not specifically mentioned in the movie, if we follow the Marvel Universe's timeline, we can establish how old Wolverine was when he died.
Why does Logan bleed in the Wolverine? ›After Logan loses some of his healing powers and his wounds do not heal as quickly as they should, he is shot several times, bleeds and is left with wounds that take time to heal.
Why was Logan hiding? ›
As a result, the U.S. government declared Charles Xavier's brain a "weapon of mass destruction", forcing him and Logan to hide in Mexico, near the edge of the Mexican-American border. Sometime after the incident, Logan began giving Charles medication to ensure that similar attacks would not occur.
Is Shiv pregnant on succession? ›Is Shiv pregnant in Succession? Yes, it was confirmed in season four, episode four titled “Honeymoon States” which aired on Sunday, April 16, 2023, in the opening scene.
Why did Tom and Shiv separate? ›No profit. In the season 4 premiere, the Roy siblings finally seem kind of happy, but Tom and Shiv have ended up on opposite ends of a bidding war that has crippling ramifications for their personal relationship. No longer able to confide in each other, the two officially agree to a divorce.
Why did Shiv marry Tom in succession? ›Throughout the series, it's been clear that their marriage doesn't consist of an honest relationship between two functioning adults, but of a power struggle between them. Shiv is with Tom, so he could be her token in Waystar-Royco and a tool for her to get back at Logan.
Who is the most likeable character in Succession? ›1 Gerri Kellman
Still, from a fairly sound-minded point of view, Gerri is the best thing if only everyone would stop underestimating her so much. In many ways, she's more deserving of promotions than all the Roy kids.
The rules of the game are simple: you pick your emotionally weakest dinner guests, and force them to them crawl around on the ground making pig noises while you throw sausages at them and chant: “Boar on the floor”. It's both a power move and a Guantanamo-level act of total humiliation.
Why is Succession rated R? ›Community Reviews
Succession is an intense drama about familial relations and power in the modern world. It has strong language, but little to no violence or sexual content. Children might not understand, however teenagers possibly could appreciate the program.
Roman Roy and Shiv Roy are definitely siblings in Succession, but the show has hinted that the two characters are actually twins. Succession mainly focuses on the Roy family, with all four of Logan Roy's children being major players in the critically-acclaimed HBO series.
Does Marcia actually love Logan? ›She's in love with Logan, even though he is not an easy man and not a simple human being. She's part of it now because they're married. We learn she doesn't get overwhelmed — she has control over what happens and enjoys being the serene, decision maker.
Why does Logan Roy have scratches? ›We know that he and his brother, Ewan, grew up in the care of their uncle, Noah. Logan still blames himself for the death of their sister, Rose—and whatever happened to him and Ewan afterward, it seared a lot of angry, red scars into his back.
Why did Tom eat Logan's chicken? ›
Actor had laughing fit during comfort-eating scene
The scene in question sees Macfadyen's character Tom Wambsgans comfort-eating chicken off his father-in-law Logan's (Brian Cox) plate after his wife Shiv (Sarah Snook) insists on extending their open marriage into having a threesome.
So there you have it. Logan Roy does love his children. The issue still gnawing at the heart of Succession, though, is he does not respect them.
Did Tom snitch to Logan? ›During the Emmy-worthy finale, it turned out Tom was his very own class snitch and alerted Logan to an incoming coup from his kids.
Does Shiv care about Tom? ›But when Tom acted against Shiv and her brothers in order to gain Logan's favor at the climax of Season 3, it seemed like the ultimate betrayal they'd never come back from. Despite this, the interactions between Tom and Shiv in the last episode prove that there's still care and affection between the two of them.
Is Shiv the youngest in Succession? ›Siobhan, commonly referred to as "Shiv", is the youngest child and only daughter of Logan Roy from his second marriage. She is a left-leaning political fixer who previously distanced herself from her family company until finally receiving an offer of leadership from Logan.
How old is Shiv in Succession? ›If Roman is in his mid-thirties, then it's likely that Shiv is in her early or mid-thirties or in Succession.
Who is Logan Roy's favorite child? ›However, the actor has confirmed that he has a favourite among Kendall (Jeremy Strong), Roman (Kieran Culkin) and Shiv (Sarah Snook), suggesting that the latter was his top choice.
Who is Connor Roy's mother? ›The children reunite with their mother, Caroline Collingwood. Willa and Connor are talking to the priest, Willa says she's a playwright and jokes that Connor doesn't do anything. He is hurt at this. While going over plans with Shiv, he says instead of Logan, he'll give Shiv away.
How old is Connor Roy supposed to be? ›Connor (Alan Ruck) is Logan's oldest child, the only one born from his first marriage. While his age hasn't been explicitly stated in the series, Ruck told The Guardian that the character is “in his fifties”. Ruck, meanwhile, is aged 66.
Did Shiv cheat on Tom episode 6? ›Greg Hirsch informs Tom of Shiv's cheating. Tom ignores him. Tom mentions to Greg that his favorite movie is Love Actually. Shiv and Tom previously had a plan for Tom to move up and eventually get Waystar Royco.
Does Logan get a vote of no confidence? ›
Series showrunner Jesse Armstrong told Vanity Fair that the vote of no confidence against Logan was inspired by Disney's 2004 shareholder meeting, in which Michael Eisner was voted out of his position as the company's chairman after 20 years of holding the title.
Did Shiv cheat on Tom with Nate? ›Shiv informs Tom she's not sure if she wants a monogamous relationship. She also confesses her affair with Nate. Before consummating their marriage, Tom asks if he can kick Nate out and Shiv agrees.
Is Marcia the villain in succession? ›Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Succession" season four, episode four "Honeymoon States." Each week we're picking a "villain" who stands out among the power-hungry cast of characters. In Sunday's episode, Marcia (Hiam Abbass) returns and takes the role of antagonist in Logan's wake.
Who was Logan Roy's first wife? ›Logan's Wives: Wife #1, Caroline, Marcia
From offhand remarks in Season 4, we also know Logan had her placed in a mental institution when Connor was young. Caroline Collingwood, Logan's 2nd wife, is the mother of Kendall, Roman, and Siobhan.
The Matriarchs of the Roy Family
Logan was married a total of three times in his life. His first wife is unnamed in the show, but she is Connor Roy's (Alan Ruck) mother. Logan's second wife was Caroline Collingwood, mother to Kendall (Jeremy Strong), Shiv (Sarah Snook), and Roman (Kieran Culkin).
Logan Roy is the main antagonist of the HBO drama series Succession. He serves the main antagonist of the first three seasons, and the overarching antagonist of the fourth and final season.
What disease does Logan have in Succession? ›DALLAS, April 10, 2023 — The American Heart Association sends fans of the two-time Emmy Award winning best drama series “Succession” our heartfelt condolences following the sudden cardiac death that killed off main character, Logan Roy, played by Brian Cox.
Does Logan smile at the end of Succession? ›He's shied away from his strength, Kendall has. Logan knew in order to sacrifice himself, he would have to do it through his family. He figured that the one chance he had was to make Kendall into the killer. That's why, at the end, he smiles.
What mental illness does Ken have in Succession? ›Kendall is arguably the protagonist of “Succession.” He's the second-eldest son, who at the start of the show seemed most likely to win the position of CEO. However, his deeply depressive personality, struggles with drug addiction and heavy reliance on his father's opinions quickly unravel his chances.
Why was Logan always sick? ›It's not until much later in the film that we learn why, exactly, Logan is so sick: the Adamantium in his body is poisoning him. For those of you who don't know, Adamantium is metal put into Wolverine's body during Project X — it's what makes his claws so darn effective.
Why does Logan limp in Logan movie? ›
The key car in the movie is a limousine, driven by Logan as he attempts to stay under the radar. With the car key in many scenes throughout the movie, it needed to make a statement but not detract from the star actors. Ultimately a Lincoln limousine style was used, built on the body of a Chrysler 300.
Is Kendall's son autistic? ›Iverson Roy is the son of Kendall and Rava Roy, and the younger brother of Sophie Roy. Iverson is likely on the Autism spectrum.
What mental illness does Catherine Linton have? ›Wuthering Heights masquerades as a love story, but it is really a study of trauma. Catherine and Heathcliff both have Complex Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and also shows signs of BPD.
What are Logan Roy's scars from? ›Once when Kendall openly insulted Logan, Logan replied with "If my uncle heard me talk like that..." alluding to his uncle's abuse and temper. Whether the abuse really happened or not is up for debate, but Logan is shown having large, deep scars on his back, which are implied to have been given by his uncle.
Is Laura Logan's daughter? ›Iron Man's recent research confirmed that Logan is actually Laura's biological father, rather than just being a female clone of Logan. After Logan's death, Laura officially adopts his codename of 'Wolverine' to honor his memory.
Why are there no new mutants in Logan? ›As Pierce holds Rictor at gunpoint, Rice tells Logan, who killed Rice's father years ago at the Weapon X facility, that no new mutants have been born due to genetically engineered crops created by Transigen and distributed through the world's food supply. Logan, having found a gun, shoots Rice dead and injures Pierce.
Why wasn t Logan healing? ›The Adamantium was continuously poisoning him. As a result, his healing powers started failing gradually. Thus, by the time Logan was released, there were not many medical resources available for the mutants. Even if there were, the bonding process of Adamantium could not have been reversed.
Who did Logan cheat on Marcia with? ›Marcia Roy
Throughout season 2, her marriage to Logan was increasingly rocky and seemed to have fractured completely after his affair with PGM CEO Rhea Jarrell.