Photo: Screenshot
This article contains spoilers if you haven’t yet watched season 4 (and really what are you waiting for?) Do not read on. Please note also that Succession is a show that elevates swearing to its highest level. Some of the clips contained in this story are NSFW for that reason. Please watch with care (or headphones!)
After four seasons and some 38 episodes, this brilliantly told tale of toxic trustafarians and the corporate schemers of media conglomerate Waystar RoyCo comes to an end this evening with a feature-length episode.
The Roy family; perma-scowling patriarch Logan (Brian Cox), and his Waystar-employed progeny Kendall (Jeremy Strong), Roman (Kieran Culkin) and Shiv (Sarah Snook) have been fighting like rats in a sack since 2018 for the top job.
That job is finally vacant as Logan died on his private jet in episode 3 of season 4 - his kingdom lost for want of a compression sock.
Swede tech bro - the ‘Odin of Coding’ - Lukas Matsson (Alexander Skarsgård) CEO of streaming giant GoJo wants to buy Waystar. The ‘striking Viking’ has an inside channel through Shiv – Kendall and Roman have been trying to sour the deal.
The political career of the feckless and epically deluded eldest son Connor (Alan Ruck) has ended with a whimper but he has his eye on an ambassadorship in exchange for endorsing Fascist-adjacent presidential candidate Jeryd Mencken.
The oily Tom Wambsgans (Shiv's husband), brilliantly played by Matthew MacFadyen, is furiously positioning himself for a post-Logan world – with or without Shiv.
Cousin Greg Hirsh, Logan’s great-nephew, has come a long way since first insinuating himself into the Roy empire; while colossally stupid his innate rat cunning could see him through.
Meanwhile Waystar’s exiting C-Suite: Gerri Kellman (J Cameron-Smith), Karl Muller (David Rasche) and Hugo Baker (Fisher Stevens) are eagerly awaiting their pots of gold post-sale.
While we await the fate of the miserably rich Roys, here’s a look back at some of the show’s most memorable moments.
Boar on the floor
This extraordinary scene, a Succession classic, has Logan at his sociopathic worst, a braying crowd, porcine-themed public humiliation and “oink for your sausages piggies” … what’s not to love?
Tom eats Logan’s chicken
Tom is fingered to take the fall for crimes committed in the cruise division of the company.
While they didn’t happen on his watch, he and hapless Cousin Greg conspired to destroy the evidence; but the story inevitably gets out.
Tom overwhelmed by fear, and the prospect of prison food, loses it on the Roy luxury yacht and tucks in to Logan’s chicken.
It’s awks even by Succession standards.
Classic line: “He ate my f….ing chicken, so what next? Stick his cock into my potato salad?”
Kendall’s rap
Kendall’s excruciating L to the OG rap to his father is a season two classic.
It’s watch-through-fingers TV as Kendall pays tribute to Logan in front of hundreds there to celebrate his 50 years in business over a beat “cooked up by his boy Squiggle”.
Sample cringe lyric: “Born on the north bank, King of the East side, 50 years’ strong now, he’s rolling in a sick ride.”
Logan’s face is a mask of loathing.
Classic line: “It’s burning my eyes, but I cannot look away.”
Honourable mention: Gerri’s mortified reaction.
Greg breaks up with Tom
The relationship between Tom and Greg gave Succession some of its best moments and funniest scenes.
It’s a relationship founded on fear, twisted love and bullying.
In this MacFadyen-scenery chewing clip Greg wants to branch out: “It could be like a business open relationship.”
Tom does not take it well; water bottle fusillade ensues.
Classic line: “I will not let you do this to me, I will not let go of what is mine.”
Gerri and Roman phone sex
J. Smith-Cameron as Gerri is outstanding in Succession and this jaw-on-floor scene between Gerri and wrong ‘un Roman has one of the show’s most famous lines.
Gerri tucks into a cocktail and lays into “ideas fountain” Roman, who is visibly enjoying the abuse.
“You disgusting little pig. You’re pathetic. You are a revolting little worm, aren’t you? You little slime puppy.”
Kendall confesses
It’s not all chicken chomping, sausage fights and twisted phone sex. Succession has given us plenty of high drama.
In this scene from season three, Kendall confesses to “killing a kid” at Shiv’s wedding. Jeremy Strong is brilliant portraying the billionaire princeling coming apart.
Classic line: “It’s f…ing lonely. I’m all apart.”
Logan slaps Roman
Logan’s backhand slap sends Roman reeling to the floor, it’s a brutal watch.
Classic line: “It’s just a tooth I can get another one.”
Greg at the hearing
Leggy Greggy is perhaps over-represented here, but his spectacularly bad performance at the cruise ship deposition hearing is Peak Greg.
Classic line: “If it is to be said, so it be, so it is.”
Tom and Shiv clear the air
Snook and MacFayden are electric in this scene from season four.
This argument on the balcony of their New York apartment is dripping with venom.
Classic line “It’s not my fault you didn’t get his [Logan’s approval] I have given you endless approval, but it doesn’t fill you up because you are broken.” Ouch.
You are not serious people
Logan’s last conversation with his children before he jets off to meet his maker.
Here he is urging Shiv, Kendall, Roman and Connor to support the deal he has brokered for the sale of Waystar to Matsson.
Logan doesn’t do apologies but attempts a sorry-not sorry in this scene, Shiv is unmoved.
Classic line: “You’re a human f…ing gaslight." (Shiv to Logan).
