As the highly acclaimed HBO series Succession reaches its much-anticipated finale, viewers are immersed in the intricate world of the powerful Roy family. This fictional wealthy dynasty commands a major conglomerate, which spans various industries such as news, movie studios, theme parks, and cruises. Throughout the show, audiences have witnessed the characters undergo profound moral transformations. From initially embodying malicious intentions, some have made faltering attempts at redemption, only to be inevitably drawn back into a web of deception and treachery.
At the heart of this season lies the pivotal event of the death of Logan Roy, the patriarch of the family portrayed by Brian Cox. This unforeseen loss has had an indelible impact on the remaining characters, further intensifying the complex dynamics within the Roy family. In a recent interview with BBC Two, Cox reflected on his character's demise, asserting that the timing of Logan's death in the third episode seemed abrupt. Expressing his personal preference, Cox suggested that a more suitable timing for the event would have been around the fifth or sixth episode of the season, allowing for a deeper exploration of the ramifications and consequences of such a significant event.
"I was fine with it, ultimately, but I did feel a little bit rejected. You know, I felt a little bit like all the work I've done [is being overlooked] and finally I'm going to, you know, end up as an ear on a carpet of a plane."
Jeremy Strong Hints at Character's Transformation for the Series Finale
During a recent discussion on the Succession Podcast, Jeremy Strong, known for his role as Kendall Roy, delved into his character's evolution and preparation for the highly anticipated finale. Reflecting on Kendall's journey, Strong emphasized the significance of Logan Roy's funeral as a pivotal moment for Kendall to express his version of the truth. In episode six, viewers witnessed glimpses of Kendall's grandiosity and his occasional ability to rise to the occasion in public speaking. However, what made this particular speech remarkable was its spontaneous nature, as Kendall hadn't prepared for it, allowing him to deliver a raw and unfiltered address that captured the attention of all.
"It's a wonderful moment for Kendall, I think, to get to what he sees as speaking the truth. We've seen him in episode six, in the Living+ presentation, there's a certain kind of grandiosity in his public speaking and he sometimes rises to the occasion, in a character that we've seen so often miss the mark. But this one, because he hasn't prepared for it and he hadn't planned to do it — which he probably would have agonized over, and the prepared version, like all of us, might have been not as good — there was something about the gauntlet that had been thrown down by Ewan denigrating [Logan's] memory," Strong said.
Strong also highlighted Kendall's acknowledgment of his father's true nature as a brute, echoing the sentiments expressed by Ewan and even Kendall himself in the past. This admission showcased Kendall's growth and complexity as a character.
"But also, it's a beautiful piece of writing by Jesse that I had very little time to learn (laughing), but that Kendall acknowledges that his father was a brute. That a lot of what Ewan said is true and that he himself has said it; he called him a malignant presence in the end of season two. But I think you see through Kendall's eyes his reverence for his father. And I think it's so important that we see it's not about market cap, it's about the life force of the man and the things that he wrought."
Succession series finale airs on Sunday, May 28th, at 9 p.m. on HBO and Max.