Who's Next: Succession Spoilers & Speculation

[Aethera]

A place to speculate based off previews or just your own imagination. Spoilers welcome here, but let's keep them out of the episode threads. 

[Eyes High]

Press Release for 2x10:

On the Roys’ grand Mediterranean yacht, Logan (Brian Cox) weighs whether a member of the family[1], or a top lieutenant[2], will need to be sacrificed to salvage the company’s tarnished reputation. Roman (Kieran Culkin) shares his hesitations about a new source of financing[3], as Kendall (Jeremy Strong) suggests a familiar alternative[4]. Shiv (Sarah Snook) proposes taking her open marriage with Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) to another level[5]. Connor (Alan Ruck) finds himself in an unenviable position as reviews of Willa’s (Justine Lupe) play roll in [6].

1. Member of the family: Greg, Tom, or Kendall?

2. Top lieutenant: Gerri or Frank? There is a shot in the 2x10 promo of Logan taking Gerri's hand at the table when he informs everyone that he needs a meaningful skull to wave around for the shareholders' benefit.

3. Roman's hesitations about a new source of financing: He has misgivings about the Asgarov deal, as we see Laird addressing Roman in the 2x10 promo about what will happen if they don't take the company private.

4. Kendall's familiar alternative: Since we know Naomi is in the finale from filming pics of the actress in Croatia with the cast where they filmed 2x10, I'm guessing the "familiar alternative" is the Pierce acquisition.

5. Another level for the open marriage: Divorce, maybe?

6. Willa's play: I'm guessing the reviews are terrible, judging from Willa throwing her phone in the 2x10 promo...and I assume that will place Connor in an unenviable position because the show closing early will mean that he'll have no way to recoup his investment.

I'm guessing the finale will be a grim affair, judging from the title ("This is Not For Tears") and these comments from Matthew Macfadyen about what we can expect from Tom in the season finale:

Quote

What can I say? At the risk of being boring, I don’t know what I can say, and also it’s weird because the memory of shooting it is one thing and actually what it's like is another thing, so I won't say anything at the risk of preempting [the show].

Edited October 9, 2019 by Eyes High

[Francie]

I just wanted to play the random speculation game.

Naomi Pierce is going to die next episode (Kendall's 40th birthday), isn't she? Kendall's spiraling, and usually that means that someone near him is going to pay. 

Will Connor Roy actually gain some traction in the presidential race? While ATN can't get behind him, they also can't really squash him if there's a groundswell of popular support. I would love to see Shiv secretly throw her weight behind Connor because he's a better alternative to Menken the Fascist. I think the run will be the presidential run with be the subject of Season 4. 

 

[Ellaria Sand]

More random speculation...

My guess is that the show will last 5 seasons. If so, we are half-way thru the show. We have seen Logan down and nearly out a number of times. His health is failing. Still, he always comes out on top. The kids keep trying to gain control/influence (and "the top job") and, so far, no one has done it successfully. I thought that Kendall might prevail after the S2 Finale but he appears more lost than ever. 

With that in mind, nothing dramatic will happen this season but the status quo has to start to shift. It may start this season. (I don't think that Logan survives to the end of the show but he isn't going to depart any time soon.) Tom seems poised for a CYA move. Did he hire a lawyer? Will he go to the Feds?

Equally, Greg keeps bouncing all over the place but, at some point, that character has to do "something." What his Ewan's purpose in the show going forward? I'm not sure that he is clever enough to make a major move but he is becoming desperate.

 

 

Edited November 23, 2021 by Ellaria Sand

[Kirsty]

A commenter on the Guardian recap of this episode put Logan's comment about Peter Munnion together with Kendall's age ie. Logan said that Kendall's mother's new fiance is a man who has been sniffing around her for forty years, right? And Kendall is turning forty. So what if Logan is not Kendall's biological father?

It would be one hell of a twist! And it might push Kendall over the edge. But it's such a fundamental change that I don't know if the writers would do it.

Edited November 23, 2021 by Kirsty

[Cramps]

On 11/23/2021 at 9:54 AM, Kirsty said:

A commenter on the Guardian recap of this episode put Logan's comment about Peter Munnion together with Kendall's age ie. Logan said that Kendall's mother's new fiance is a man who has been sniffing around her for forty years, right? And Kendall is turning forty. So what if Logan is not Kendall's biological father?

It would be one hell of a twist! And it might push Kendall over the edge. But it's such a fundamental change that I don't know if the writers would do it.

THAT is really interesting. I don’t know how much more over the edge manic pixie nightmare boy can spin, but it would certainly give the show a much needed plot twist. 

[aghst]

My speculation is that as long as Bryan Cox is okay, health-wise, he will be around throughout the entire series, 2-3 more seasons.

His character is too popular.  The actors playing the other characters are good but Logan has most of the gravity.  Show wouldn't be the same without Logan.

And the personality of Logan is that he isn't going to step back and anoint one of his children to take the spotlight.

Or make the big decisions.

He'd probably pass away without naming a successor.  In that case, the children would all sue each other.  Even if he named one of them, they might still sue each other contesting his will.

If he does name one while still alive, the other kids won't take it easily.  They don't depend on being second in command or having some other executive suite role because they all have equity.  Logan offered Kendall $2 billion for his share.

All of them have money to walk away.  They  won't be happy about not getting chosen and there is no way any of them will work under another.