Roman's breakdown was brilliantly acted by Kieran, and also hard to watch as well. Roman is the most trauma bonded to Logan, and it's clear that his dad's death has affected him the most. Kieran should win ALL of the Emmys.
So please explain. They more someone abuses you the closer you are to them and/or need them? Could be true but for some reason I cant make sense of it. 🤔
@@Yolduranduran Its more so that, in roman’s case (abuse shows itself in many different and complex ways), the more abuse he endured from his father, the more he craves his love and validation. it’s like every time his dad insults him or harms him he feels less and less worthy, and thus is more desperate for his love. he’s never taken seriously by logan. logan has always been focused on kendall and has always been more tender towards shiv (he’s not a golden father by any means to her either). but roman has never gotten much from him, and he’s the only one of the children that gets consistently physically abused is well. which is why we see him in the end taking beatings from the protesters; he’s so used to physical harm as a punishment for ‘fucking up’ because of logan. hope this helps 😔
@@Yolduranduran there’s a narcissism expert (Dr Ramani) who mostly does narc abuse recovery content but has some amazing Succession videos. She reiterates multiple times that Roman is incredibly trauma bonded to his father and “his father’s ghost”
Honestly I think that Shiv allowing Tom to go home and rest during his grief was actually her taking his feelings into account for once. Plus she told him to go to their apartment and not the hotel he was staying at
I completely agree! It didn't seem like a move to get him out of her way, it felt like she genuinely wanted him to be okay. It was quite interesting to see, that small moment of care and vulnerability between the two, especially after the fight they had in episode 7.
I saw it more as someone beating their spouse (her drinking the champagne to show her ultimate power) then giving them a hug and promising not to do it again, just to ensure they’re not strong enough/pained enough to leave.
Her eyes glistened at his grief (not for the first time during the funeral day, she’s emotional and feeling for others). I believe she genuinely feels for him but I agree with you. She would gaslight anyone and she always takes the long way round. She’s complex and so is their relationship. But she also needs an ally, any ally, and there’s a chance Tom could bring Greg with him - which she wasn’t smart enough to do but she knows Greg created an in for himself with Matsson. Ultimately, Shiv can’t get out of her own way; twice Matsson has basically said ‘Tell me what you want’ and she struggles to seize or meet the moment
I disagree. I think his emotional state was distracting for her. She needed to keep her head straight during the funeral, knowing that Mattson is evaluating every move by the Roy children. She wants to remain married to Tom, but won't if it means losing control. Suggesting he go rest, is a motherly and controlling thing to do.
I want Kendall so bad, but I don't think so. Roman will be too jealous and probably side with the board vote to sell. Mattson will not name Shiv CEO, but he'll probably name Tom since there is no way Greg will be CEO. Greg lacks even more experience than Shiv and Mattson, Kendall and Logan have all Pointed it out
@Oscar Y in terms of international and domestic relations for the image and reputation for a company is means a lot. I'm sure Greg will get a massive better role but not CEO.
Kendall doesn’t see the chess board the same way his dad did. Logan was so calculated that his closest confidants, family, and we the audience are still left searching for his motives. Kendall is the complete opposite: his best moments come from impulse, driven by emotion and myopic goals. He cannot overcome this fatal flaw and I believe the smartest people in the room are well aware of it. I think each of the Roy’s will fail in their own predictable ways (shiv - arrogance, kendall - shortsightedness, roman- insecurity).
I think it's Tom as CEO, he pushed through Mencken, Mattson asked Shiv at the viewing party "where is Tom?" And he was hard at work still at ATN, something Mattson would like. Tom was with Logan at the end, he's also logically the best choice besides the children. If you say Greg I'm sorry idk what show you've been watching.
I think you're correct, I also think Tom was in the car with Matsson when he was speaking with Shiv at the end. I have friends that have been saying Greg will be CEO and my response to ALL of them has been exactly the same.
Did anyone notice that Kendall approached Collin and told him "people talk" because Collin is the only person who knows about the murder (besides the two siblings)? That's why Kendall was so worried that Collin was talking to a shrink, and that's why he wants him working for him (NDA). Since Kendall knows he is losing his right arm Jesse, he needs a new one. Logan trusted Collin and told him he was the only person he could talk to, so I think Kendall is making very intelligent choices.
Depends what you mean by “intelligent choice” I view the show as a tragedy, and think that “winning” the succession battle is to lose your soul. Jess was a young, liberal WOC, who reflected Ken’s liberal ideals. Ditching her (and those like her) for his Dad’s old school right hand man is him abandoning his views and becoming his father. I think it will help him “win” the top job, but I don’t think that makes him a winner. About to watch the final episode right now so I guess we’ll see what happens! Happy viewing all!
in my head, the only reason why Connor knows about the mausoleum before the others is because he might have planned the funeral. Since he planned that other party it makes sense to me that he would plan this too. We also know that Logan keeps records so I don't doubt that there was a receipt somewhere for Cat Food Ozymandias
It’s safe to say that Rhea was right about the kids. Shiv left so many loose ends open that the chance Matsson is actually going to make her CEO is very slim despite her thinking she really set herself up. Kendall has all the pieces set up but because of Shiv’s undermining it can easily all slip through his fingers in an instant at the board meeting. Then Roman (who I think will be the kingmaker) constantly shows that while he is smart emotion guides him first and foremost. And I think his last major decision in the show will be to the detriment of the family. Safe to say it’s going to be a very interesting series finale.
I just remembered in the first season where Kendall was ready to take over and then it all falls apart during the board meeting. What happens in the finale? The board meeting.
It's too late for kendall to become his dad. His kids are scared of him and wouldn't even roll the window down for him, he's not getting custody. He's a 40 something year old man with lots of known drug issues and has not a single home run. You can't expect me to believe the first time he hits a home run in his life will fall at the most important time. That's ridiculous. He's only still in the game due to nepotism, not merit.
Somehow I don’t think people in the corporate world would give two shits. Kendall has the knowledge, but he has to entirely shed his humanity to become Logan, and he’s gone through so many crushing life-changing moments that he seems numb enough to do so at this point. It’s the most realistic ending really.
I genuinely believe---- especially more and more since Logan's death and seeing Kendall's subsequent shift---- that Logan always DID see Kendall as a killer. He just needed to keep him in check enough so that Kendall wouldnt make a legit play for Logan's position while he was still alive. I mean, sure, Kendall did make a play..... several times..... but those instances never came from that killer place that has long been dormant. They came from an emotional, abused space of either revenge or (like what Roman is doing) trying to prove his worth. I think how Logan treated Kendall was a bit like a dog who is abused into becoming a fighter: Logan had him on a chain and was in command, but now he is gone, and the chain is broken, and that dog who was carefully controlled is now running amok. But while Logan always had a plan and a play since he was the creator of this world of his, Kendall hasnt had to struggle in the way his dad did and therefore, I dont think will come out on top. He could never see all of the moving pieces the way Logan could. But hey..... thats my opinion 😊
Kendall has struggled just as much. Money doesn't erase those feelings, and nobody in this show has suffered more on-screen than Kendall, not even close. The eulogy is giving viewers the framework of Kendall's ascent (or descent). The way Ewan describes Logan's upbringing mirrors what he does to Kendall starting in S1. Logan brings home the polio, thinks he kills his sister and has to live with that guilt due to his aunt and uncle. The same exact thing happens to Kendall with the waiter, where Logan tortures him in a similar way. Ewan then mentions at one point, Logan stopped trying to be a good person, and they almost directly cut to an unwavering Kendall Roy. Lots of visual storytelling and subtext, but all signs point to Ken as the big dawg next week
What an absolutely stunning break down. This gives immense clarity on what the show creators are trying to tell. Episode 8 is the most important episodes of all because it tells so much about the roys and their utter hollowness and oblivion to the reality. NRPI, says logan!
This show sweeps the rug out from the audience which makes it so great. Kendall's Season 2 finale press conference, Conner's Wedding which was barely about Conner's actual wedding and instead Logan's death, and now this last episode. The trailer shows Roman all high and mighty and he completely crashes. Expect the unexpected. Logan has been building momentum and is the clear cut sibling to win but it almost seems too obvious. He has had his fair share of moments that would anoint him as the one. But again we'll all see. I want him to win it but what I want more is a jaw dropping shocking last moment to close out the series where we all take a collective gasp. This show is the best show to ever grace TV, it has a lot to deliver on but with Jesse Armstrong and his genius it's going to be one hell of a ride. I can't freaking wait. He needs to start to script another TV show immediately with his level of genius!
People aren't remembering how Logan always had the president in his pocket. Corporations have more power than the president does individually. If Kendall can win over the board, Matsson and Mencken have no say in anything. The finale wants you to think it'll be a battle between Shiv and Ken, but I don't think this is how it will happen. I think Ken takes both Waystar and GoJo somehow, and I am prepared for glory as a Kendall truther from day 1
No one promised shiv that she would be the American CEO. Kendall is going to overdose and roman is a wreck always has been. All 3 kids are going to be taken out by real players. The kids have nothing to offer anymore.
'Real players' lol, has it not become clear that none of the people in this show has any more merit than another when compared? They have money, money wins. When you abandon your 'morals', as Ken seems to have chosen to do/accepted, you have an edge. It will be thematically unsatisfying for all the siblings to simply keep losing once their father is gone, as his parental manipulations are the primary things that held them back. It would also be boring. The person who will win will be he with most thematic pith, and thus far that person is Ken. Also, what that win will ultimately end up meaning/looking loke is up in the air for me, I have no idea. In the end, we'll have to wait and see. Hell, maybe Tom becomes CEO, but he isn't exactly a 'real player' lol.
@Josse Coupe he's not his daddy, no matter how much he tries. His dad knew he didn't have the skill set needed. The board knows this, and no one respects him. None of these people have any morals or ethics. They use you as a tool and discard you when the jobs accomplished. Fun to speculate on how this plays out. I think Logans brother Ewen makes a move.
@@Kilroy-h5u I think Ewan strongly dislikes Kendal, just look at him during the eulogy. Maybe he sees that Kendal, just like Logan, has stopped trying to be a good person. Once it comes down to a board vote, he'll definitely not vote for Ken. Ken does have it in him, he almost won many times, but sadly his father knew just how to twist the knife simply because he was his father. And yea, he is not his father, but thats not necesarily a negative thing. Logan was also a fool in many ways, he got blindsided like 3 times and almost lost the company every such time. The top spot isn't decided by skill, Logan simply knew how to get the world to twist into the shape he wanted, simply by knowing how it works, not feeling any remorse, and sheer force of will. Whether Ken can similarly claw his way through, idk. I'd hope so, as that would be very poignant and almost saddening. Love me a bittersweet ending.
Lol, Sjiv isn't in the running. She only thinks she is. Neither "Mr. President" or "The Swede" want her as the USA CEO. At this point, the only possible people ending up as CEO are Kendall, Tom, Greg, Gerry or some guy we never heard of. Either way, the end is a tragedy, for either the siblings destroyed themselves by not working together, or they did so and Kendall prevailed by becoming his dad, which is even more tragic.
13:30 Another point about John Berryman's "Dream Song 29" that I just noticed is that every season finale of Succession features an excerpt from that poem. Season 1x10: Nobody is Ever Missing Season 2x10: This is Not for Tears Season 3x09: All the Bells Say
Logan took care of that. It was 2 drugged up guys & the waiter grabbed the wheel, causing the accident. Ken dove & tried to save him. That's over, except for Ken's guilt. People should get over It. It was very bad, but over.
My moneys on mattson winning. Then he can either make shiv CEO and keep her under his thumb as always or on TOM. Really looking forward to tom winning this surreal battle after being constantly undermined this season. It makes sense in the modern world, as privileged kids would stand no chance against self made people who tend to have a more Machiavellian outlook to business. Edit: This aged rather well.
what if its conor? the idea would be that the president would push for conor because conor may make the clearest sign that he's politically aligned with the president.
@@JohannBestowrous the main problem with Conor is that he's afraid of competition, that's why he went for the most ridiculous title at first. For a guy like Mattson, hunger is everything, it even trumps leadership experience. But yeah, let's fucking go with the theories. The best show on TV rn🔥
Roman seemed the most introspective and had a lot of focus on him taking in everyones eulogies. I wonder if he might break from Kendall just out of rebellion and spite in the board meeting in a way he couldnt do to Logan
We are really underestimating Roman just because he cried and fell on a road. This show's character dynamic changes within 5 min. The finale will be actually the last 10 min from the 90 min of runtime next week.
Dream Song 29 has also been used as the finale title since season 1. And in each finale, the death of the waiter played a crucial part. Season 1 had the actual waiter dying. Season 2 had Kendall think he deserved being the fall guy for the cruise scandal because of the waiter. Season 3 had him tell his siblings about the waiter. Now I feel like the event is about to come to a head in the finale.
On Dream Song 29: There's also an interesting video on the reoccurring theme of rabbits that is exclusive to Kendal (e.g. the kids sick pet rabbit, at Kindle's b-day party the kids put his gift in rabbit wrapping paper and he's unable to find the gift, etc...) all of this takes place after Season 3, Ep 8 where Kendlal almost drowned in the pool... Fun speculation is that everything from that point forward has been Kindle's dream as he goes from his lowest point in the show to ascending to CEO with respect an admiration of the board.... Imagine the poignancy if the first half of the series finale is Kendal winning everything he wants at least, then at the very end we flash back to that moment at the pool and it's all just a vision of what could have been for Kindle. A flash before his eyes before he succumbs to death to drowning in that pool.
the way I have been thinking Gerri, Carl and Frank are gonna win in the end. They have just been chilling in the background as if they've seen this all before and they are just waiting for their moment to strike.
Honestly, if it turns out Mencken didn't actually win Wisconsin amd ATN loses their credibility and is tied up litigation that knocks it down a major peg and the Roys face the consequences for it, that would be an amazingly ironic ending
I think a lot of people don’t get the point of the 9th episode when they say that Greg can become CEO. The whole funeral sequence alone decided the ending of the show in my opinion. Greg couldn’t stop his grandfather from saying such stuff which shows that at the end of the day Greg is just a scared little helpless puppy (as said by shiv to Logan in the pilot episode). Roman just can’t handle any type of emotional pressure and is still insecure which will effect the CEO role. Shiv says a lot about women in her eulogy but seems to contradict herself by being a smarta** and saying to her mom and Mattsson that she will apply the same method of her mom and dad to not emotionally care for the kid. Mattsson might just not like shiv for being so oversmart. Kendall might seems like the best choice according to the eulogy and all the decisions he is making like his dad but I think he will lose in the end. Because he is not able to oust himself from any guilt which is being inflicted on his wife and family. Safe to say that the ending is gonna be very interesting.
Seems Shiv was the only sibling that grew emotionally and moved on. Her final act was her way out of that continium hell with her brothers and her own truth. She was always in favour of the sale, always with a foot and a half on another career, and was now able to make a business hard view: that none of her brothers would be good CEOs or at least would try to harm her. She was ready to move on despite not knowing what her future would be...her pregnancy played little to no part in her decisions. She saw what we have knew during all these seasons, including how damaged she is relationship wise. She was always the strongest sibling that had spent the longest time away from her father...REMEMBER? She had built her career away from Logan, he called her in when he got old though she had never worked in the company before, unlike the brothers. She knew she brought all this mess into her already damaged life, so it made sense, character wise, that she would take the hard step to start correcting whatever she could, the HIGH ARCH OF THE CHARACHTER is that the move did not really secure her any power, was not based on revenge nor any scheme.
Note that Shiv and Tom kept their wedding rings all the season 4. Except Tom who doesn't have it at the start of e1 but has it at the end of it. TOM WAMBSGANS FINALLY MADE ME FEEL SOMETHING ! YOU'VE FALLEN IN LOVE FINALLY ! End of the SCRIPT BOOK for Shiv and Tom in the car : An accomodation, an equilibrium, that could last with a certain stabilty, proxy wars and detentes for many years to come..nothing needy from either side. A queen and a prince. Two bombs transported with great care.
I've said it before at other post but after watching the first 3 episodes from Season 1 last night, the American CEO will be Cousin Greg. Go back and watch. Logan was hospitalized at the end of the 1st episode. The 2nd has the kids in a tizzy, jockeying for position. 3rd episode: The surprise return of Logan. Meanwhile, Greg is moving up from vomiting in the furry costume at the park to Waystar offices. Greg is always around, taking in everything and dispensing it to the right person. The show is better watching it back to back rather than week to week.
Shiv is a typical corporate democrat. Talks nonstop about progress and helping the downtrodden and the future of the republic, yet her own monetary self interests supersede “progress” or “change” or the “preservation of democracy. Only when she is backed into a corner or caught in a lie does she fall back on taking the moral high ground.
I've read somewhere else Roman's fall on episode 9 might position him for a surprise turn of events on the finale, because this show likes to mess up with people's expectations. I agree more with this video's view, that Roman's fall means he is out of the picture for succession now
All three children lose, just like in King Lear. A tragic end for all three of them. Tom either gets CEO or Greg fires him and becomes the US puppet CEO. Ewan has influence and could play a role with that. The other "player" is Gerri. If she gets Roman to "defect" away from Kendall (highly possible), then she could be a more serious CEO than either Tom or Greg, and she'd have the backing of the old guard. Less likely than Greg or Tom, but possible.
Howdy from New Zealand! Great recap/review. Theory = Everything depends on Menken, but If Menken double crosses the Roys (blind) and Ok's the Go Jo deal. Matsun inputs Greg as "American CEO". Greg has learnt and is learning and turning/turned in sociopath leaving Tom well behind. Then all the Roys lose and the dynasty ends!
We are really underestimating Roman just because he cried and fell on a road. This show's character dynamic changes within 5 min. The finale will be actually the last 10 min from the 90 min of runtime next week.
Greg has no entanglements, no emotional attachments, didnt get done in by Logan Roy, and has nothing to really lose out of everyone. He just may be the last man standing. He is what you call “dumb smart”. Oxymoron of sorts. As he learned from the best on how to be the worst person you can be! And he is always walking around in the background with that sh-t grin.
looking closely at the Song 29 poem, you can see every season finale episode’s named there. Nobody is ever missing, This is not for tears, All the bells say, and now With open eyes
The bodyguard knows about Kendall killing the waiter so I feel that might be used somehow. It feels like they've been sitting on that just waiting for the perfect time to use it (kind of like the penultimate episode of Breaking Bad with regard to the info Walt revealed to Jessie about Jane). Also, apologies as it's been so long since I've watched the first season but did anything ever happen with Greg when he had to shred all of those documents but kept some for himself? If not, maybe that will come out in the finale too. My money is on Greg or Tom getting the CEO gig though I would love Geri to come out on top somehow, too. And we still don't know all the details of Greg's night out with Mattson so maybe that will play a role in this. Not sure if they would throw a bone to Connor as far as a CEO gig or some other position in Waystar but he seems to prefer politics. Then again, if Mencken does indeed get the presidency he could give Connor something if Connor helps him and Mattson out. I suppose it depends on those ballots that still need to be counted and whether that's going to get screwed up somehow. I feel like the Roys will all end up losing in true Shakespearean tragedy fashion. And Kendall may indeed kill himself at that point.
Roman used to be my pick...when he lost Gerri, he lost himself. He had the best mentor to be an excellent CEO. I feel sad for him😓 I like Shiv as a character but kinda disappointed in her...I thought she was going to build a different empire or maybe try to be the CEO of Pierce. And that...WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE PIERCE news station? They completely forget they bought it. Shiv would be perfect if she tried to manage it. And Kendall...well...he is truly Kendall Logan Roy
Greg is going to win. He has experience inside the org, he's grown close to Mattson, can be easily controlled, is liked (or at the very least, not disliked) by Mencken, and would be an American CEO. I repeat: Greg is going to win.
The series finale tittle references to open the eyes, it references me to the ideia of something the siblings overlook: cousin Greg and Tom, the latter is on his downfall after ATN called the fascist president, but Greg is silently walking up the latter and causing chaos between the siblings, just like Littlefinger from GOT: "Chaos is a leader". Greg is up to the throne.
My theory is Maatsen screws all of them out of the company. He promises Shiv a ton but nothing concrete and as Logan always said and his final lesson to all his kids was to always get something in writing. Kendall should take over but this will be the complete destruction of them all. Shiv now holds no weight in the political sphere (maybe she commits completely to being a good mother), ego death for Roman who still feels lost without his dad, and Kendall loses his family, power, and influence all in one foul swoop. I could even see some foreshadowing of a suicide attempt or overdose from Kendall after all is said and done. Greg comes into the fold and Tom answers to him. New CEO is Gerri.
I love that last lady for calling them out. These guys are pretty emotionally immature and unevolved. How many of particularly black men say that they never had a positive role model in their lives or no one that believed in them?! One encounter is significant enough to make a difference, so how are you denigrating the potential impact of one year of positivity in a child's life?! I think it's perfectly fine to be a "positive role models" collector, and to stay in the child's life. It's up to the kids to ensure that boundaries are maintained and no lines crossed
Agree to the Shakespearean comparison. It's no wonder that Jesse Armstrong is English. This show definitely felt very Shakespearean in the way it was presented. And I loved it.
I think it will be too predictable for either of the siblings to be on top (either because Rome is out of the race). It feels like the deal will go through and Tom will be chosen as the American CEO, leaving the kids to choose their own paths in the end. I say this for three reasons- 1. Tom actually has the business acumen to run a company unlike the sibs (Shiv only has confidence and Kendall though is experienced, is too impulsive to be on top). This is something also Mattson prefers as he seemed to have been impressed by the fact that Tom was actually fucking working while the kids were throwing a party or were busy trying to show themselves as the successor during their father’s funeral. Yes, it was their father but let’s be honest, each sibling wanted to use the funeral as a business opportunity. 2. Something tells me that the casual namedrop by Greg to Mencken will allow the latter to realize that Tom indeed made the call. Yes, as the puppet of the siblings but ultimately he was the interim CEO of ATN (I believe) who had the option to say no but chose Mencken anyway. 3. He has time and again impressed Logan. Logan has insulted him throughout yet he got married to his daughter and stayed. Last season, it was being foreshadowed that Logan is growing softer (in a way) towards Tom. Most importantly, Tom threw his own wife under the bus to prove his loyalty to Logan which I am sure impressed Logan a lot. Moreover, Tom does not come from money, something I presume the likes of Logan really appreciate as the finale of S3 showed how much Logan hated his kids’ brattiness, who wanted to usurp the throne but were too fucking stupid and spoilt. And when it will failed, they tried the “love” card. Time and again, sibs have failed to realize that they cannot use love as and when it is convenient for them. Ken realized this I feel, but the other two really do not. Point is Tom always did what it took regardless of family/funerals/parties. Either to gain someone’s loyalty or to keep the business running. The past few eps have shown that Tom, though under immense pressure, is actually capable of running things. He also has stood up to Shiv and can fly high. Further, he can also be a good puppet/lap dog for Mencken and Mattson. And admittedly Tom only cares about his career and money which I am sure will skyrocket once he is appointed. And I have been wanting KLR to take over the entire season but it seems unlikely. Unless the writers have some mad twist planned which I hope they do. This show will go down as one of the greats and the cast has been stellar throughout the entire four seasons. Sad that it will end but happy that it will be a tight four-season watch for the next gen. Edit - I CALLED IT!
Matsson and Mencken agreed to Shiv's idea of an American CEO for the company, but they didn't agree to HER in the role. They'd probably both like capable-but-servile Tom in the role.
I think that Ken will take the American CEO from Shiv, so a Roy is still in charge of the American investments. The other siblings are all cut out. GoJo still takes Waystar.
Yeah. I could be wrong, but the way the camera points at Matsson and his reaction during Kendall’s speech, I think it showed a real interest and desire for him to crown Kendall instead of Shiv.
@kevinlittrell3407 I thought that i saw the same thing. Kendall was block the deal and this be the only way for things to move forward. The board doesn't want a Roy to run things. Stewy and others have said the same. This way Mattson run things and Kendall answers to him. I have no idea how they will put everything in one episode...lol
Mattson told Shiv she has no experience & her pregnancy works against her in this patriarchal power structure. I think Kendall will win, but be unhappy and alone.
I think this episode crushed the difference between Shiv & Kendall. There both opportunists & will do what they need to do to stay on top, no matter what. Shiv's going for the win by siding with the big boys. Whereas Kendall is building himself a small army for war. Ironically it's Roman - the guy who's seemingly the worst & most heartless - that will crumble under the immense pressure of stepping up.
Agreed! It's conjecture based on Lady Caroline. They have more or less portrayed Shiv as the devil incarnate, so this is just another layer. One thing is for sure ----- Tom Wambsgans is going to help Shiv through her pregnancy any way that he can. He wants his baby!
Can any Barry and Succession fans who were watching Breaking Bad as it was airing tell me if this is what it felt like awaiting the series finale back in 2013?(!!!)
I really hope the final episode has some kind of exchange where Kendal expresses that his father would have wanted him to succeed him, when asked why, he goes on about his qualities, and when it is pointed out that others have those qualities too, Kendal then states that he is family and that counts for something, and then he's asked if he wants his own children to succeed him. I could see a very interesting reaction from Kendal, he could mention that when they're older they'd be just like him and so yeah, he might say he doesn't know them that well because he's busy 'protecting them', but I *really* want him to almost dismiss them, citing that they're children, like toddlers, not fully developed, so they're not important yet, but when they're adults then he'll get to know them and then he'll see, but for now he can't make any judgement because they're just kids, they're not really people, they're "not serious people". It would be a perfect way to recontextualize this father/child relationship, maybe for Kendal but mostly for the audience. Kendal, and Shiv and Roman, all expected to be able to succeed their father just because they are his children, but look at how Kendal treats his kids, how Shiv is preparing to treat her kid, they don't really care for the children, they care about their own legacies, they care about seeming like good parents, but they aren't good parents, and they're gonna probably look down on their kids their whole lives. They will never see their kids as worthy of replacing them, they will only focus on themselves and their power and their own success right up until their death. You could even have Kendal repeat similar phrases that his father said in the first season when he announced he wasn't retiring, Kendal could say he has decades ahead of him, he doesn't need to consider the matter of succession for a long time, and he's going to be capable of leading this company right up until his death, just like his father, so it's not even down to him to care about that kind of thing, let them fight over his corpse after he's dead. And in that moment Kendal comes to understand that his father never gave a shit about succession simply because he would not live to see it through, and that everything Kendal and Shiv and Roman have been doing this whole show, trying to be able to appease their father and win the business just so they could succeed him, Logan Roy simply did not give a shit.
The logical choice would be hard working Tom; the writers' strategy. But remember, he made the false call for Menchen at ATN. He may end up being the scape goat if interment CEO Kendall can pull it off. I think they'll safe pick Geri or uf they are misogynistic, one of the board members to everyone's surprise.
Gregg is definitely going to stay wherever waystar fallin to. But i don't believe mattson is going to choose him as CEO, mattson like him, but i don't think he will choose the Roy's blood. Sorry Shiv
Seasons 3 Kendal had the perfect mix of goodness and killer isntinct, but I think failing to take Logan out oushed him over the edge and now he's trading his soul for power.
WATCH MORE - With the finale around the corner, who has the best chances of winning? Here's our TAKE: ua-cam.com/video/74-ZcbPDTRI/v-deo.html
Roman's breakdown was brilliantly acted by Kieran, and also hard to watch as well. Roman is the most trauma bonded to Logan, and it's clear that his dad's death has affected him the most. Kieran should win ALL of the Emmys.
So please explain. They more someone abuses you the closer you are to them and/or need them? Could be true but for some reason I cant make sense of it. 🤔
@@Yolduranduran Its more so that, in roman’s case (abuse shows itself in many different and complex ways), the more abuse he endured from his father, the more he craves his love and validation. it’s like every time his dad insults him or harms him he feels less and less worthy, and thus is more desperate for his love. he’s never taken seriously by logan. logan has always been focused on kendall and has always been more tender towards shiv (he’s not a golden father by any means to her either). but roman has never gotten much from him, and he’s the only one of the children that gets consistently physically abused is well. which is why we see him in the end taking beatings from the protesters; he’s so used to physical harm as a punishment for ‘fucking up’ because of logan. hope this helps 😔
@@Yolduranduran there’s a narcissism expert (Dr Ramani) who mostly does narc abuse recovery content but has some amazing Succession videos. She reiterates multiple times that Roman is incredibly trauma bonded to his father and “his father’s ghost”
@@eliza6971 yes, I have seen some of her videos I will review that part. Its just so disturbing. 😔
@@pissypamper7789 I do agree that him running out on the street was with the intention of getting hurt.
Honestly I think that Shiv allowing Tom to go home and rest during his grief was actually her taking his feelings into account for once. Plus she told him to go to their apartment and not the hotel he was staying at
I completely agree! It didn't seem like a move to get him out of her way, it felt like she genuinely wanted him to be okay. It was quite interesting to see, that small moment of care and vulnerability between the two, especially after the fight they had in episode 7.
I saw it more as someone beating their spouse (her drinking the champagne to show her ultimate power) then giving them a hug and promising not to do it again, just to ensure they’re not strong enough/pained enough to leave.
Her eyes glistened at his grief (not for the first time during the funeral day, she’s emotional and feeling for others). I believe she genuinely feels for him but I agree with you. She would gaslight anyone and she always takes the long way round. She’s complex and so is their relationship. But she also needs an ally, any ally, and there’s a chance Tom could bring Greg with him - which she wasn’t smart enough to do but she knows Greg created an in for himself with Matsson. Ultimately, Shiv can’t get out of her own way; twice Matsson has basically said ‘Tell me what you want’ and she struggles to seize or meet the moment
Yeah Sarah Snook had tears in her eyes at that moment
I disagree. I think his emotional state was distracting for her. She needed to keep her head straight during the funeral, knowing that Mattson is evaluating every move by the Roy children. She wants to remain married to Tom, but won't if it means losing control. Suggesting he go rest, is a motherly and controlling thing to do.
Kendall Logan Roy has always been his father’s number one boy.
KLR - killer
Everyone's saying that. Think it'll work out?
L to the OG!!
I want Kendall so bad, but I don't think so. Roman will be too jealous and probably side with the board vote to sell. Mattson will not name Shiv CEO, but he'll probably name Tom since there is no way Greg will be CEO. Greg lacks even more experience than Shiv and Mattson, Kendall and Logan have all Pointed it out
@@yestoES355I don't think no experience is not a bad thing for Mattson, Greg better did nothing and just listen to Mattson unconditionally
@Oscar Y in terms of international and domestic relations for the image and reputation for a company is means a lot. I'm sure Greg will get a massive better role but not CEO.
Kendall doesn’t see the chess board the same way his dad did. Logan was so calculated that his closest confidants, family, and we the audience are still left searching for his motives. Kendall is the complete opposite: his best moments come from impulse, driven by emotion and myopic goals. He cannot overcome this fatal flaw and I believe the smartest people in the room are well aware of it. I think each of the Roy’s will fail in their own predictable ways (shiv - arrogance, kendall - shortsightedness, roman- insecurity).
I think it's Tom as CEO, he pushed through Mencken, Mattson asked Shiv at the viewing party "where is Tom?" And he was hard at work still at ATN, something Mattson would like. Tom was with Logan at the end, he's also logically the best choice besides the children. If you say Greg I'm sorry idk what show you've been watching.
Greg betrays Tom in the series finale....It's coming
I think you're correct, I also think Tom was in the car with Matsson when he was speaking with Shiv at the end. I have friends that have been saying Greg will be CEO and my response to ALL of them has been exactly the same.
@@jerry85g7 Perhaps, but the board would NEVER vote in Greg as CEO, he's an opportunistic idiot.
Pushing the egg to the moon. Hes legendary - his father tried to sleep with all the men in Sausalito
you were right ! Fucking Tom is CEO
Did anyone notice that Kendall approached Collin and told him "people talk" because Collin is the only person who knows about the murder (besides the two siblings)? That's why Kendall was so worried that Collin was talking to a shrink, and that's why he wants him working for him (NDA). Since Kendall knows he is losing his right arm Jesse, he needs a new one. Logan trusted Collin and told him he was the only person he could talk to, so I think Kendall is making very intelligent choices.
Indeed he is rebuilding his fathers fiefdom.
Depends what you mean by “intelligent choice”
I view the show as a tragedy, and think that “winning” the succession battle is to lose your soul.
Jess was a young, liberal WOC, who reflected Ken’s liberal ideals. Ditching her (and those like her) for his Dad’s old school right hand man is him abandoning his views and becoming his father.
I think it will help him “win” the top job, but I don’t think that makes him a winner.
About to watch the final episode right now so I guess we’ll see what happens!
Happy viewing all!
@@raeroache2952 Kendall died in the finale sorry
I wonder if they'll ever delve into Connor's relationship with Logan, and how he was the only one to know about the Mausoleum.
Or whats the deal with his mom and Logan's first marriage.
The way the show is structured is we only know and see what the three leads know and see. So, most likely not.
in my head, the only reason why Connor knows about the mausoleum before the others is because he might have planned the funeral. Since he planned that other party it makes sense to me that he would plan this too. We also know that Logan keeps records so I don't doubt that there was a receipt somewhere for Cat Food Ozymandias
well considering there's one episode left and a ton of loose ends to be wrapped up, I don't see Connor's relationship with Logan being explored
@@ajwaddanwarr3409she was sent to a psychiatric hospital
Sally Anne was my Carrie is low key one of the most hilarious lines of this show
Priceless & Hilarious 🤣
Kerry*
“so to speak” 😂
It’s safe to say that Rhea was right about the kids. Shiv left so many loose ends open that the chance Matsson is actually going to make her CEO is very slim despite her thinking she really set herself up.
Kendall has all the pieces set up but because of Shiv’s undermining it can easily all slip through his fingers in an instant at the board meeting.
Then Roman (who I think will be the kingmaker) constantly shows that while he is smart emotion guides him first and foremost. And I think his last major decision in the show will be to the detriment of the family.
Safe to say it’s going to be a very interesting series finale.
I forgot all about Rhea! Brillant!
imagine roman is the kingmaker and ends up choosing greg because roman still owes him that favor lol.
@@christiandude121 Yes, cousin Greg should be CEO. This was an awesome series and we need a sequel!
I just remembered in the first season where Kendall was ready to take over and then it all falls apart during the board meeting. What happens in the finale? The board meeting.
@@I.AM.JUPITER I miss her.
the fact that sally-ane is actually Brian Cox's wife is amazing
What!!!!
It's too late for kendall to become his dad. His kids are scared of him and wouldn't even roll the window down for him, he's not getting custody. He's a 40 something year old man with lots of known drug issues and has not a single home run. You can't expect me to believe the first time he hits a home run in his life will fall at the most important time. That's ridiculous. He's only still in the game due to nepotism, not merit.
Somehow I don’t think people in the corporate world would give two shits. Kendall has the knowledge, but he has to entirely shed his humanity to become Logan, and he’s gone through so many crushing life-changing moments that he seems numb enough to do so at this point. It’s the most realistic ending really.
You mean Kendall.
Honestly I don't think this comment section is talking enough about how Connor Roy was interested in politics from a young age
😂😂😂
I genuinely believe---- especially more and more since Logan's death and seeing Kendall's subsequent shift---- that Logan always DID see Kendall as a killer. He just needed to keep him in check enough so that Kendall wouldnt make a legit play for Logan's position while he was still alive.
I mean, sure, Kendall did make a play..... several times..... but those instances never came from that killer place that has long been dormant. They came from an emotional, abused space of either revenge or (like what Roman is doing) trying to prove his worth.
I think how Logan treated Kendall was a bit like a dog who is abused into becoming a fighter: Logan had him on a chain and was in command, but now he is gone, and the chain is broken, and that dog who was carefully controlled is now running amok.
But while Logan always had a plan and a play since he was the creator of this world of his, Kendall hasnt had to struggle in the way his dad did and therefore, I dont think will come out on top. He could never see all of the moving pieces the way Logan could.
But hey..... thats my opinion 😊
Kendall has struggled just as much. Money doesn't erase those feelings, and nobody in this show has suffered more on-screen than Kendall, not even close. The eulogy is giving viewers the framework of Kendall's ascent (or descent). The way Ewan describes Logan's upbringing mirrors what he does to Kendall starting in S1. Logan brings home the polio, thinks he kills his sister and has to live with that guilt due to his aunt and uncle. The same exact thing happens to Kendall with the waiter, where Logan tortures him in a similar way. Ewan then mentions at one point, Logan stopped trying to be a good person, and they almost directly cut to an unwavering Kendall Roy. Lots of visual storytelling and subtext, but all signs point to Ken as the big dawg next week
Excellent analogy about the dog on a leash.
@@gimmegimmechicken👏🏼
Little Lord Fuckleroy is true heir to the throne.
What an absolutely stunning break down. This gives immense clarity on what the show creators are trying to tell. Episode 8 is the most important episodes of all because it tells so much about the roys and their utter hollowness and oblivion to the reality. NRPI, says logan!
agree! I am pinned to my chair watching. need this to watch a 2nd time. think they will all crash and burn. Logan did call them morons.
This show sweeps the rug out from the audience which makes it so great. Kendall's Season 2 finale press conference, Conner's Wedding which was barely about Conner's actual wedding and instead Logan's death, and now this last episode. The trailer shows Roman all high and mighty and he completely crashes. Expect the unexpected. Logan has been building momentum and is the clear cut sibling to win but it almost seems too obvious. He has had his fair share of moments that would anoint him as the one. But again we'll all see. I want him to win it but what I want more is a jaw dropping shocking last moment to close out the series where we all take a collective gasp. This show is the best show to ever grace TV, it has a lot to deliver on but with Jesse Armstrong and his genius it's going to be one hell of a ride. I can't freaking wait. He needs to start to script another TV show immediately with his level of genius!
People aren't remembering how Logan always had the president in his pocket. Corporations have more power than the president does individually. If Kendall can win over the board, Matsson and Mencken have no say in anything. The finale wants you to think it'll be a battle between Shiv and Ken, but I don't think this is how it will happen. I think Ken takes both Waystar and GoJo somehow, and I am prepared for glory as a Kendall truther from day 1
kendall truthers RISEEE
🤨
This might be first time I have heard a difference voice over on this channel and it shook me for a bit 😅
As bad as Matsson is in his own right, it’d be so satisfying to see him hand the Roys their biggest and final loss. It’s what they deserve.
Quite the parallel between Logan "killing" his sister and Kendall feeling like he's solely responsible for the death of the waiter.
Good shout
One of the most brilliant shows ever, and we get to watch it in real time. How lucky we are.
No one promised shiv that she would be the American CEO. Kendall is going to overdose and roman is a wreck always has been. All 3 kids are going to be taken out by real players. The kids have nothing to offer anymore.
Yup, their playground is dead
@@attabanana4709 looking forward to how this plays out. Good writing
'Real players' lol, has it not become clear that none of the people in this show has any more merit than another when compared? They have money, money wins. When you abandon your 'morals', as Ken seems to have chosen to do/accepted, you have an edge.
It will be thematically unsatisfying for all the siblings to simply keep losing once their father is gone, as his parental manipulations are the primary things that held them back. It would also be boring. The person who will win will be he with most thematic pith, and thus far that person is Ken. Also, what that win will ultimately end up meaning/looking loke is up in the air for me, I have no idea.
In the end, we'll have to wait and see. Hell, maybe Tom becomes CEO, but he isn't exactly a 'real player' lol.
@Josse Coupe he's not his daddy, no matter how much he tries. His dad knew he didn't have the skill set needed. The board knows this, and no one respects him. None of these people have any morals or ethics. They use you as a tool and discard you when the jobs accomplished. Fun to speculate on how this plays out. I think Logans brother Ewen makes a move.
@@Kilroy-h5u I think Ewan strongly dislikes Kendal, just look at him during the eulogy. Maybe he sees that Kendal, just like Logan, has stopped trying to be a good person. Once it comes down to a board vote, he'll definitely not vote for Ken.
Ken does have it in him, he almost won many times, but sadly his father knew just how to twist the knife simply because he was his father. And yea, he is not his father, but thats not necesarily a negative thing. Logan was also a fool in many ways, he got blindsided like 3 times and almost lost the company every such time. The top spot isn't decided by skill, Logan simply knew how to get the world to twist into the shape he wanted, simply by knowing how it works, not feeling any remorse, and sheer force of will.
Whether Ken can similarly claw his way through, idk. I'd hope so, as that would be very poignant and almost saddening. Love me a bittersweet ending.
Great video! The shift from betting on a winner to the cost of winning reminds me a lot of Damages and Better Call Saul, the "fallacy of sunk costs".
I team shiv! She's a tame version of her evil dad. Also i really like Alex Skarsgård, actually really like him. My favorite ep of him was ep 9
Lol, Sjiv isn't in the running. She only thinks she is. Neither "Mr. President" or "The Swede" want her as the USA CEO. At this point, the only possible people ending up as CEO are Kendall, Tom, Greg, Gerry or some guy we never heard of. Either way, the end is a tragedy, for either the siblings destroyed themselves by not working together, or they did so and Kendall prevailed by becoming his dad, which is even more tragic.
The James Cromwell speech should get him an Emmy
Worst one of the four.
@@ateallthemonsters2302 🧐
@@ateallthemonsters2302 shivs eulogy was garbage lmao wdym
What's he done with his life that makes him sit on high judging everyone else? He's guilty of moral superiority, IMO.
@@ollieenger1424 Only a true diktard accuses people of being morally superior as a NEGATIVE. Typical Trump voter zombie
13:30 Another point about John Berryman's "Dream Song 29" that I just noticed is that every season finale of Succession features an excerpt from that poem.
Season 1x10: Nobody is Ever Missing
Season 2x10: This is Not for Tears
Season 3x09: All the Bells Say
I wonder if Kendall killing that kid will finally come back to haunt him. Definitely something Shiv and Roman could use against him.
Logan took care of that. It was 2 drugged up guys & the waiter grabbed the wheel, causing the accident. Ken dove & tried to save him. That's over, except for Ken's guilt. People should get over It. It was very bad, but over.
Help us Daniel Jiminez, you’re our only hope
imagine Tom ends up becoming ceo LOL
Tom would deserves it most. He is the only one actually working and doing a good job. Narrative-wise it should be Kendall.
it’s tom
@@Josh-the-man Tom is as much, if not worse, parasite than the Roy children. They all are undeserving to be the next one in the top position.
He delegates hard work to others (like firings to greg while he sexts with whiv
lol imagine
My moneys on mattson winning. Then he can either make shiv CEO and keep her under his thumb as always or on TOM. Really looking forward to tom winning this surreal battle after being constantly undermined this season.
It makes sense in the modern world, as privileged kids would stand no chance against self made people who tend to have a more Machiavellian outlook to business.
Edit: This aged rather well.
Tom will become Mr Mom
what if its conor? the idea would be that the president would push for conor because conor may make the clearest sign that he's politically aligned with the president.
@@JohannBestowrous the main problem with Conor is that he's afraid of competition, that's why he went for the most ridiculous title at first. For a guy like Mattson, hunger is everything, it even trumps leadership experience. But yeah, let's fucking go with the theories. The best show on TV rn🔥
If Matsson wins and picks Gerri as CEO the ending will be perfect ❤
@@rachel-gi6ul Better yet, Hugo becomes CEO. Woof woof
Roman seemed the most introspective and had a lot of focus on him taking in everyones eulogies. I wonder if he might break from Kendall just out of rebellion and spite in the board meeting in a way he couldnt do to Logan
We are really underestimating Roman just because he cried and fell on a road. This show's character dynamic changes within 5 min. The finale will be actually the last 10 min from the 90 min of runtime next week.
Dream Song 29 has also been used as the finale title since season 1. And in each finale, the death of the waiter played a crucial part. Season 1 had the actual waiter dying. Season 2 had Kendall think he deserved being the fall guy for the cruise scandal because of the waiter. Season 3 had him tell his siblings about the waiter. Now I feel like the event is about to come to a head in the finale.
I’d like that. Ken needs to be brought to his knees
What about the waiter? Is a waiter described in the poem?
On Dream Song 29: There's also an interesting video on the reoccurring theme of rabbits that is exclusive to Kendal (e.g. the kids sick pet rabbit, at Kindle's b-day party the kids put his gift in rabbit wrapping paper and he's unable to find the gift, etc...) all of this takes place after Season 3, Ep 8 where Kendlal almost drowned in the pool... Fun speculation is that everything from that point forward has been Kindle's dream as he goes from his lowest point in the show to ascending to CEO with respect an admiration of the board.... Imagine the poignancy if the first half of the series finale is Kendal winning everything he wants at least, then at the very end we flash back to that moment at the pool and it's all just a vision of what could have been for Kindle. A flash before his eyes before he succumbs to death to drowning in that pool.
You think the waiter story will come out because of the bodyguard hating the Roy kids? But, what kind of NDA would he have signed?!
Nice one. Honestly, that's the only true weapon Shiv has against him at this point...
I really need all the Roy's to not get what they want, and Gerri to get picked by Matsson as CEO ❤😂🎉
the way I have been thinking Gerri, Carl and Frank are gonna win in the end. They have just been chilling in the background as if they've seen this all before and they are just waiting for their moment to strike.
Honestly, if it turns out Mencken didn't actually win Wisconsin amd ATN loses their credibility and is tied up litigation that knocks it down a major peg and the Roys face the consequences for it, that would be an amazingly ironic ending
I think a lot of people don’t get the point of the 9th episode when they say that Greg can become CEO. The whole funeral sequence alone decided the ending of the show in my opinion. Greg couldn’t stop his grandfather from saying such stuff which shows that at the end of the day Greg is just a scared little helpless puppy (as said by shiv to Logan in the pilot episode).
Roman just can’t handle any type of emotional pressure and is still insecure which will effect the CEO role.
Shiv says a lot about women in her eulogy but seems to contradict herself by being a smarta** and saying to her mom and Mattsson that she will apply the same method of her mom and dad to not emotionally care for the kid. Mattsson might just not like shiv for being so oversmart.
Kendall might seems like the best choice according to the eulogy and all the decisions he is making like his dad but I think he will lose in the end. Because he is not able to oust himself from any guilt which is being inflicted on his wife and family.
Safe to say that the ending is gonna be very interesting.
Yes, this is the content i like from this channel
How does shiv put all her eggs on mattson's basket without any assurance from him ? Shiv isn't smart but not that dumb.
Seems Shiv was the only sibling that grew emotionally and moved on. Her final act was her way out of that continium hell with her brothers and her own truth. She was always in favour of the sale, always with a foot and a half on another career, and was now able to make a business hard view: that none of her brothers would be good CEOs or at least would try to harm her. She was ready to move on despite not knowing what her future would be...her pregnancy played little to no part in her decisions. She saw what we have knew during all these seasons, including how damaged she is relationship wise. She was always the strongest sibling that had spent the longest time away from her father...REMEMBER? She had built her career away from Logan, he called her in when he got old though she had never worked in the company before, unlike the brothers. She knew she brought all this mess into her already damaged life, so it made sense, character wise, that she would take the hard step to start correcting whatever she could, the HIGH ARCH OF THE CHARACHTER is that the move did not really secure her any power, was not based on revenge nor any scheme.
Note that Shiv and Tom kept their wedding rings all the season 4. Except Tom who doesn't have it at the start of e1 but has it at the end of it.
TOM WAMBSGANS FINALLY MADE ME FEEL SOMETHING !
YOU'VE FALLEN IN LOVE FINALLY !
End of the SCRIPT BOOK for Shiv and Tom in the car :
An accomodation, an equilibrium, that could last with a certain stabilty, proxy wars and detentes for many years to come..nothing needy from either side.
A queen and a prince.
Two bombs transported with great care.
Once again I must commend this channel for trenchant and insightful analysis! Seriously great stuff here.
I've said it before at other post but after watching the first 3 episodes from Season 1 last night, the American CEO will be Cousin Greg. Go back and watch. Logan was hospitalized at the end of the 1st episode. The 2nd has the kids in a tizzy, jockeying for position. 3rd episode: The surprise return of Logan. Meanwhile, Greg is moving up from vomiting in the furry costume at the park to Waystar offices. Greg is always around, taking in everything and dispensing it to the right person. The show is better watching it back to back rather than week to week.
Shiv is a typical corporate democrat. Talks nonstop about progress and helping the downtrodden and the future of the republic, yet her own monetary self interests supersede “progress” or “change” or the “preservation of democracy. Only when she is backed into a corner or caught in a lie does she fall back on taking the moral high ground.
Shiv rises tall, Roman has a fall, and Kendall the KLR is Logan after all.
I've read somewhere else Roman's fall on episode 9 might position him for a surprise turn of events on the finale, because this show likes to mess up with people's expectations. I agree more with this video's view, that Roman's fall means he is out of the picture for succession now
All three children lose, just like in King Lear. A tragic end for all three of them. Tom either gets CEO or Greg fires him and becomes the US puppet CEO. Ewan has influence and could play a role with that. The other "player" is Gerri. If she gets Roman to "defect" away from Kendall (highly possible), then she could be a more serious CEO than either Tom or Greg, and she'd have the backing of the old guard. Less likely than Greg or Tom, but possible.
5:17 I didn't catch that Shiv refered to "she" for the baby when talking to Mattson but "it" to her mother.
Carolyn's move was smooth but good gracious was it bold.
“You are not serius people “ that is why all of the Logan’s children Will fall and greg and tom will win
Howdy from New Zealand! Great recap/review. Theory = Everything depends on Menken, but If Menken double crosses the Roys (blind) and Ok's the Go Jo deal. Matsun inputs Greg as "American CEO". Greg has learnt and is learning and turning/turned in sociopath leaving Tom well behind. Then all the Roys lose and the dynasty ends!
We are really underestimating Roman just because he cried and fell on a road. This show's character dynamic changes within 5 min. The finale will be actually the last 10 min from the 90 min of runtime next week.
“He fed a certain kind of meagerness in men.” Such an apt summary of right wing media.
My money is on Tom becoming the American CEO.....the the son that never was becomes the king
Greg has no entanglements, no emotional attachments, didnt get done in by Logan Roy, and has nothing to really lose out of everyone. He just may be the last man standing. He is what you call “dumb smart”. Oxymoron of sorts. As he learned from the best on how to be the worst person you can be! And he is always walking around in the background with that sh-t grin.
looking closely at the Song 29 poem, you can see every season finale episode’s named there. Nobody is ever missing, This is not for tears, All the bells say, and now With open eyes
Man this is good commentary. Loved the episode and enjoyed hearing this
The bodyguard knows about Kendall killing the waiter so I feel that might be used somehow. It feels like they've been sitting on that just waiting for the perfect time to use it (kind of like the penultimate episode of Breaking Bad with regard to the info Walt revealed to Jessie about Jane). Also, apologies as it's been so long since I've watched the first season but did anything ever happen with Greg when he had to shred all of those documents but kept some for himself? If not, maybe that will come out in the finale too. My money is on Greg or Tom getting the CEO gig though I would love Geri to come out on top somehow, too. And we still don't know all the details of Greg's night out with Mattson so maybe that will play a role in this. Not sure if they would throw a bone to Connor as far as a CEO gig or some other position in Waystar but he seems to prefer politics. Then again, if Mencken does indeed get the presidency he could give Connor something if Connor helps him and Mattson out. I suppose it depends on those ballots that still need to be counted and whether that's going to get screwed up somehow.
I feel like the Roys will all end up losing in true Shakespearean tragedy fashion. And Kendall may indeed kill himself at that point.
What a recap. Best I've seen on UA-cam
Roman used to be my pick...when he lost Gerri, he lost himself. He had the best mentor to be an excellent CEO. I feel sad for him😓
I like Shiv as a character but kinda disappointed in her...I thought she was going to build a different empire or maybe try to be the CEO of Pierce. And that...WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE PIERCE news station? They completely forget they bought it. Shiv would be perfect if she tried to manage it.
And Kendall...well...he is truly Kendall Logan Roy
Best breakdown so far!
Greg is going to win. He has experience inside the org, he's grown close to Mattson, can be easily controlled, is liked (or at the very least, not disliked) by Mencken, and would be an American CEO. I repeat: Greg is going to win.
Hirsch?
oof
Kendall winning with him having Kerry working as his assistant to replace Jess would be super Oedipal lol
The series finale tittle references to open the eyes, it references me to the ideia of something the siblings overlook: cousin Greg and Tom, the latter is on his downfall after ATN called the fascist president, but Greg is silently walking up the latter and causing chaos between the siblings, just like Littlefinger from GOT: "Chaos is a leader".
Greg is up to the throne.
My theory is Maatsen screws all of them out of the company. He promises Shiv a ton but nothing concrete and as Logan always said and his final lesson to all his kids was to always get something in writing. Kendall should take over but this will be the complete destruction of them all. Shiv now holds no weight in the political sphere (maybe she commits completely to being a good mother), ego death for Roman who still feels lost without his dad, and Kendall loses his family, power, and influence all in one foul swoop. I could even see some foreshadowing of a suicide attempt or overdose from Kendall after all is said and done. Greg comes into the fold and Tom answers to him. New CEO is Gerri.
I love that last lady for calling them out. These guys are pretty emotionally immature and unevolved. How many of particularly black men say that they never had a positive role model in their lives or no one that believed in them?! One encounter is significant enough to make a difference, so how are you denigrating the potential impact of one year of positivity in a child's life?! I think it's perfectly fine to be a "positive role models" collector, and to stay in the child's life. It's up to the kids to ensure that boundaries are maintained and no lines crossed
Great breakdown ! Articulates and explains things I had missed for sure
im very sure that mattson will use shiv in getting the company
but will install greg as US CEO
it just has to be this way
Agree to the Shakespearean comparison. It's no wonder that Jesse Armstrong is English. This show definitely felt very Shakespearean in the way it was presented. And I loved it.
"sooner or later, however well we think we've killed ourselves off, our feelings return"
Yo thats powerful team
Tom CEO Greg head of ATN. The Disgusting Bros.
I could see Tom being the American CEO over shiv tbh
If you're wealthy, you'll always have a happy ending. The opportunity to do other things is always prevalent.
Greg and/or Tom was in the car with Matsson at the end.
I think it will be too predictable for either of the siblings to be on top (either because Rome is out of the race). It feels like the deal will go through and Tom will be chosen as the American CEO, leaving the kids to choose their own paths in the end. I say this for three reasons-
1. Tom actually has the business acumen to run a company unlike the sibs (Shiv only has confidence and Kendall though is experienced, is too impulsive to be on top). This is something also Mattson prefers as he seemed to have been impressed by the fact that Tom was actually fucking working while the kids were throwing a party or were busy trying to show themselves as the successor during their father’s funeral. Yes, it was their father but let’s be honest, each sibling wanted to use the funeral as a business opportunity.
2. Something tells me that the casual namedrop by Greg to Mencken will allow the latter to realize that Tom indeed made the call. Yes, as the puppet of the siblings but ultimately he was the interim CEO of ATN (I believe) who had the option to say no but chose Mencken anyway.
3. He has time and again impressed Logan. Logan has insulted him throughout yet he got married to his daughter and stayed. Last season, it was being foreshadowed that Logan is growing softer (in a way) towards Tom. Most importantly, Tom threw his own wife under the bus to prove his loyalty to Logan which I am sure impressed Logan a lot. Moreover, Tom does not come from money, something I presume the likes of Logan really appreciate as the finale of S3 showed how much Logan hated his kids’ brattiness, who wanted to usurp the throne but were too fucking stupid and spoilt. And when it will failed, they tried the “love” card. Time and again, sibs have failed to realize that they cannot use love as and when it is convenient for them. Ken realized this I feel, but the other two really do not.
Point is Tom always did what it took regardless of family/funerals/parties. Either to gain someone’s loyalty or to keep the business running. The past few eps have shown that Tom, though under immense pressure, is actually capable of running things. He also has stood up to Shiv and can fly high. Further, he can also be a good puppet/lap dog for Mencken and Mattson. And admittedly Tom only cares about his career and money which I am sure will skyrocket once he is appointed.
And I have been wanting KLR to take over the entire season but it seems unlikely. Unless the writers have some mad twist planned which I hope they do. This show will go down as one of the greats and the cast has been stellar throughout the entire four seasons. Sad that it will end but happy that it will be a tight four-season watch for the next gen.
Edit - I CALLED IT!
Something tells me Roman will have a noble turn. Dont know how or why but he's the most human out of siblings so to me it would make sense
Matsson and Mencken agreed to Shiv's idea of an American CEO for the company, but they didn't agree to HER in the role. They'd probably both like capable-but-servile Tom in the role.
Fikret becomes the CEO. It’s clear as day.
I think that Ken will take the American CEO from Shiv, so a Roy is still in charge of the American investments. The other siblings are all cut out. GoJo still takes Waystar.
Yeah. I could be wrong, but the way the camera points at Matsson and his reaction during Kendall’s speech, I think it showed a real interest and desire for him to crown Kendall instead of Shiv.
@kevinlittrell3407 I thought that i saw the same thing. Kendall was block the deal and this be the only way for things to move forward. The board doesn't want a Roy to run things. Stewy and others have said the same. This way Mattson run things and Kendall answers to him. I have no idea how they will put everything in one episode...lol
Mattson told Shiv she has no experience & her pregnancy works against her in this patriarchal power structure. I think Kendall will win, but be unhappy and alone.
Love this channel. Keep up the good work, guys!
I think this episode crushed the difference between Shiv & Kendall. There both opportunists & will do what they need to do to stay on top, no matter what.
Shiv's going for the win by siding with the big boys. Whereas Kendall is building himself a small army for war.
Ironically it's Roman - the guy who's seemingly the worst & most heartless - that will crumble under the immense pressure of stepping up.
I don't like them portraying Chiv or Shiv as not caring as a mother. Not all business women think like that.
Agreed! It's conjecture based on Lady Caroline. They have more or less portrayed Shiv as the devil incarnate, so this is just another layer. One thing is for sure ----- Tom Wambsgans is going to help Shiv through her pregnancy any way that he can. He wants his baby!
This was such an amazing video thank you so much 😊 can wait for the finale
Oh I'm definitely rooting for Kendall
Can any Barry and Succession fans who were watching Breaking Bad as it was airing tell me if this is what it felt like awaiting the series finale back in 2013?(!!!)
This is so deliciously bleak. I can't wait to see this last series!
I really hope the final episode has some kind of exchange where Kendal expresses that his father would have wanted him to succeed him, when asked why, he goes on about his qualities, and when it is pointed out that others have those qualities too, Kendal then states that he is family and that counts for something, and then he's asked if he wants his own children to succeed him.
I could see a very interesting reaction from Kendal, he could mention that when they're older they'd be just like him and so yeah, he might say he doesn't know them that well because he's busy 'protecting them', but I *really* want him to almost dismiss them, citing that they're children, like toddlers, not fully developed, so they're not important yet, but when they're adults then he'll get to know them and then he'll see, but for now he can't make any judgement because they're just kids, they're not really people, they're "not serious people".
It would be a perfect way to recontextualize this father/child relationship, maybe for Kendal but mostly for the audience. Kendal, and Shiv and Roman, all expected to be able to succeed their father just because they are his children, but look at how Kendal treats his kids, how Shiv is preparing to treat her kid, they don't really care for the children, they care about their own legacies, they care about seeming like good parents, but they aren't good parents, and they're gonna probably look down on their kids their whole lives. They will never see their kids as worthy of replacing them, they will only focus on themselves and their power and their own success right up until their death.
You could even have Kendal repeat similar phrases that his father said in the first season when he announced he wasn't retiring, Kendal could say he has decades ahead of him, he doesn't need to consider the matter of succession for a long time, and he's going to be capable of leading this company right up until his death, just like his father, so it's not even down to him to care about that kind of thing, let them fight over his corpse after he's dead. And in that moment Kendal comes to understand that his father never gave a shit about succession simply because he would not live to see it through, and that everything Kendal and Shiv and Roman have been doing this whole show, trying to be able to appease their father and win the business just so they could succeed him, Logan Roy simply did not give a shit.
The logical choice would be hard working Tom; the writers' strategy. But remember, he made the false call for Menchen at ATN. He may end up being the scape goat if interment CEO Kendall can pull it off. I think they'll safe pick Geri or uf they are misogynistic, one of the board members to everyone's surprise.
Fantastic recap
I think it’s gonna be me, Jose Munoz
The best ending would be AntiFa bombing the Waystar tower with all the Roys in it.
🤡
Except their collective stupidity would prevent them from the ability to create said device. Piss bottles is all they can handle.
I think Mattson will make the deal with Mencken, Mattson will hire Greg instead of Shiv as CEO because he can control him
Great video! Eager to run in this Sunday
Plot twist: the American CEO will be Tom or Greg...
Kendal has never been a team player
neither the other two
Kendall doesn’t listen to anyone. You can not be leader and never listen.
Gregg is definitely going to stay wherever waystar fallin to. But i don't believe mattson is going to choose him as CEO, mattson like him, but i don't think he will choose the Roy's blood. Sorry Shiv
Some good craft talk in this one, reminded me of the old days. Keep it up please.
Greg as Mattsens american ceo is my dark horse
It took 4 seasons for me to finally kind of like Kendall. I have a feeling though, Tom will be it.
Seasons 3 Kendal had the perfect mix of goodness and killer isntinct, but I think failing to take Logan out oushed him over the edge and now he's trading his soul for power.