In case it hasn’t sunk in yet, Succession is hurtling towards the finish line, with the latest trailer giving us an insight into the beginning of the end for the Roys.
Creator Jesse Armstrong announced recently that the upcoming season of the prestige HBO dramedy about a toxic, family-run media conglomerate would be its last.
By the looks of the new trailer, we’re set to witness more showdowns, back-stabbing and private helicopter rides than ever before.
Remind me, how did season 3 end?
Kendall, Shiv and Roman banded together after realising any chance of succession was in jeopardy after discovering their father, Logan, made plans to sell Waystar Royco without their input.
Remembering a clause in their parents’ divorce settlement that grants their children veto power over any change in company control, they ambushed Logan together.
But Logan pulled the ultimate power move by informing his children he had already negotiated his divorce agreement with their mother, Caroline, thus depriving Kendall, Shiv and Roman of any control in the company.
So how did Logan get the inside scoop on what they were plotting?
Two words: Tom Wambsgans.
Shiv told her husband of their plans on their way to confront Logan. So Tom turned around, stood up for himself and betrayed his wife.
This bloodbath sets us up for an incredibly dramatic final season.
Now, Kendall wants an alliance between Logan’s enemies
In the new trailer, it appears Kendall has gone back to the drawing board and decides on strength in numbers.
“We were cut out behind our backs, but there’s a shape for things for us. We partner up with Sandi and Stewy, with Pierce,” he suggests.
In case you need a refresher, Stewy was Kendall’s college friend who is now a private-equity investor. Meanwhile, Sandi is the daughter of Sandy Furness, Logan’s long-time rival who wants to take control of Waystar.
Meanwhile, the Pierce family own the rival media company Pierce Global Media (PGM), helmed by matriarch Nan Pierce.
Waystar nearly came to an agreement to buy PMG, but Nan called off the acquisition after the cruise line scandal came to light.
Logan ‘needs’ Roman
Out of all the Roys, Roman comes off spectacularly well in the latest trailer, with Logan telling his youngest son: “I need a fire-breather. Your help with Matsson.”
“You want me?” Roman asks.
“I need you,” Logan replies.
Matsson refers to Lukas Matsson, the CEO of streaming giant GoJo which Logan had been working to acquire throughout season 3.
Before the big confrontation in the finale, Matsson proposed to Logan and Roman that GoJo should actually acquire Waystar, with him as CEO while Logan exists with a settlement.
But does Logan really need Roman? Or is he taking advantage of his devotion for his old man?
After all, at the end of season 3, it was Roman who naively suggested Logan make a deal with his children “out of love,” a thought Logan promptly mocked.
Connor Roy is (still) interested in politics
And he’s not letting go of his presidential dream, despite his influential family’s complete lack of support.
In the trailer, Connor calls controversial congressman Jeryd Mencken his “most unworthy opponent.”
“Still clinging to your slice of the pie?” Mencken replies.
The trailer foreshadows that Mencken might emerge as a more powerful figure than first portrayed, as he tells Kendall: “I have some concerns about your old man.”
Shiv and Tom are set to come to blows
It’s one of the most toxic relationships in the show (what a feat!), and it looks like years of dysfunction are about to come to a head in season 4.
Tom’s betrayal of his wife at the end of season 3 was brutal, more so because we experienced it in real time with Shiv. If we view it from Tom’s perspective, it was an attempt to take control in a relationship that takes him for granted.
“You want to clear the air? You’re a snake,” Shiv tells him.
“You have hurt me more than you could possibly imagine,” Tom says.
The key artwork also tells us a thing or two
The trailer wasn’t the only bit of content to drop today, with two official posters giving us some food for thought.
There’s plenty to analyse, but three observations might help us with predicting what’s ahead:
- It’s no surprise Logan is in the middle, but Roman is literally his right hand man
- Shiv and Tom could not be further apart, but they’ve always had a tumultuous relationship and were spaced far apart in the official season 3 poster as well
- Greg is right at the back there with his head turned the most out of everyone – is he poised to walk away?
- Not one person is looking at Logan, except Connor.
Now let’s look at the second poster that’s been released.
There’s some striking choices:
- Aside from Logan, the only other person looking at the camera is Roman – is this another hint that he could be his father’s successor?
- Out of everyone, Greg’s looking away the most. Again, another notion he’s turning his back on Logan?
- It’s much clearer to see Logan reaching for his watch in this poster compared to the first, a detail which feels packed with symbolism. Logan’s time is up, right? Or will the cruise line scandal be Waystar’s demise, taking down everyone? After all, #MeToo sparked the Time’s Up movement.
Okay alright, give me season 4! When will Succession return?
Succession will return on March 27, with episodes dropping weekly each Monday.
Keen for a rewatch? You can stream every episode on Binge.