A groundbreaking episode of television shook up the TV landscape. Yet the fallout from “Connor’s Wedding” will decide how Succession concludes. Who will take over now that Logan Roy is dead? Three Roy children (Kieran Culkin, Sarah Snook, and Jeremy Strong) all want the crown. Meanwhile, the old guard wants their piece of the action. Who will emerge victorious? Directed by Lorene Scafaria, Succession – “Honeymoon States” intends to set up the next chapter of the Roy dynasty.
The Recap
The Roy kids wake up the next day and get ready for the day. Shiv (Sarah Snook) receives a call from her doctor. She received an amniocentesis, and it becomes clear Shiv is pregnant. She’s approaching 20 weeks.
Kendall (Jeremy Strong) arrives at Logan’s apartment, surrounded by paparazzi. Hugo (Fisher Stevens) discusses an issue on the phone. When Kendall leaves the elevator, Marcia (Hiam Abbass) is waiting. She offers her condolences, and Kendall returns them. Kendall was unaware that Marcia was in the picture any longer, but she reveals she spoke to him multiple times daily. Kendall receives condolences as he walks to join Roman (Kieran Culkin) and Shiv.
Roman surprises his siblings by saying he’s feeling okay. The others are crushed and joke about his reaction. Shiv catches Tom and Greg walking through the service. Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) joins Gerri (J. Smith Cameron), Frank (David Rasche), Karl (Peter Friedman), and Karolina (Dagmara Dominczyk). When Tom asks who they think will take over as CEO, Frank ushers them into the other room. The board is set to meet in the coming hours.
Roman sees them walk away and notes that Logan was about to fire half of them. Shiv thinks the narratives are bad for business. Greg (Nicholas Braun) comes over and offers his condolences. Greg tries to talk with them about his Grandfather, but they tell him to leave. At the same time, Matsson calls Roman. Kendall says they need five minutes to discuss strategy.
In the other room, Frank and Karl lead a mini-meeting on the upcoming Board meeting. Karl worries about the kid’s commitment to the GoJo deal. They know the board wants to move forward. Gerri wants to use Frank to call the board to “offer advice” for who takes over.
Karl wants to downplay the kids using kind language, while Tom refers to them as “screwups and dipshits.” Gerri tries to become the interim CEO, but Frank puts Karl forward. They begin infighting, and there’s apparent weakness across the group. Finally, Tom pushes himself into the ring. Karl destroys Tom with several insults but is interrupted by Karolina asking for Frank.
Roman reaches out to Matsson, but they catch his second in command. Matsson “cannot come to the phone” because his company is on a retreat. His secretary asks who is leading, and the kids explain they’re figuring it out. Matsson wants them to be there in 24 hours.
Greg offers his apologies to Marcia. Connor (Alan Ruck) and Willa (Justine Lupe) come up the elevator simultaneously. They give each other condolences. Marcia congratulates Willa, telling her to “look how far she’s come.” Willa throws it right back at her. Willa and Connor are set for a trip next week to the swing states. While Willa goes to get food, Connor asks Marcia how much to buy his Dad’s house. Marcia does not blink and asks for $60 to $70 million. They agree on $63 million.
Frank pulls Karl into another room. As executor, he was handed a “worrying sheet of paper.” When Karl reads it, he appears stunned. He asks if it can go away. No one else knows right now. Gerri joins them, and they pass the letter to her. They seem to hint that the person Logan has suggested take over the company is a woman, but not Gerri. She reminds the men that the board ultimately makes the decision. Logan’s input, based on a piece of paper that was left undated, may not be relevant.
Connor and Willa discuss the sale. She’s not thrilled, but Connor wants to move forward. They meet up with the other kids. They are still struggling with the emotions of it all. Hugo walks in and brings more obituaries. He pulls Kendall aside and asks for Kendall’s help. Hugo tells Kendall about his daughter, who sold Waystar stock before news of Logan’s death was made public. Kendall asks if the phone records will clear him, but he “cannot recollect.”
Kendall sighs and walks back to his siblings. They joke about the obituaries until Tom asks them to come upstairs. Tom tries to clear the slate with Kendall after the events in Italy, and Ken wishes him good luck.
The Roy children enter the library where Frank, Gerri, and Karl are located. Frank loops them into the fold. They bring up that Kendall was initially meant to take over as CEO in the event of Logan’s passing. However, there were pencil addendums, and Shiv points out that the marks almost look like Kendall’s name was crossed out. They begin to fight amongst themselves, and Kendall says “It doesn’t say Shiv.”
Karl brings Greg into the room and makes him aware of the addendum. When Kendall says he was cited to take over, Greg asks if he’s meant to be the number two guy. Everyone begins laughing. Tom knocks at the door and gets everyone to come downstairs for the service.
Kendall and Frank remain in the room. He asks Frank if it’s real. Frank tries to reaffirm its authenticity and tells Kendall that his Dad loved him. Kendall sits down and asks if Frank would back him. He remains open to the idea but asks if Kendall actually wants back in.
Shiv and Roman discuss what they heard inside. They do not seem to be on Kendall’s side. Tom comes down the stairs and tries to ask Shiv how she’s doing. She throws his choice to back Logan over her in his face. Shiv then says that she’s come to grips with the fact that she killed him. She vents to Tom about her mess of a life. He listens and reminds her about the first time they were together. He had flown to France, and they were intimate. Together anything seemed possible. She pushes him away and walks off.
The three Roy kids gather together and joke about Colin wearing jeans. Suddenly a drug dog comes in. Marcia says Jayred Mencken is coming to the service. Shiv does not want him there, Roman pushes back, and Kendall says they must have a relationship with him for business.
Peters gives a speech about Logan Roy’s power as a conservative. As he does, Tom tells Greg about the more embarrassing aspects of Logan’s death. Connor comes up and scoffs at the speech. He thinks conservatives are trying to turn Logan into a hero for their movement and will do so in the next 48 hours.
Sandi, her Dad, and Stewy arrive. They roll into the room and Roman jokes about older Sandy’s happiness that Logan died. Greg is speaking with Marcia when Kerry arrives. Marcia told her not to come. Kerry tries to go upstairs, but Marcia will not let her in. She spills her bag, and Roman helps her pick up the stuff. She mutters about Logan wanting to marry her and that there would be notes to the lawyer. Marcia has her escorted out.
Kendall wants to speak with Shiv. They continue to fight. Tom tries to talk with Roman and offers his condolences. He knows about the paper, and he also knows Logan only trusted Roman. After a minute, Roman starts cracking jokes causing Tom to walk away. However, the message seems to have gotten through to Roman.
Kendall begins speaking to Stewy. They rib each other, and Kendall breaks for a minute. He then asks Stewy to back him in the board meeting. Stewy questions him and asks if it makes any sense. Kendall wants to move forward with GoJo because Waystar is “a haunted house.” Stewy asks what’s in for him. Kendall asks him to do a solid.
Connor and Willa talk about the house. Shiv and Roman make fun of them when Kendall walks over. He has Stewy willing to back one of them, and then they can sell to Matsson. They all ignore him until he has an outburst.
They finally begin to talk, and both siblings have issues with Kendall being the face of Waystar. Kendall thinks they can still be in charge and then bring in Pierce with ATN. The piece of paper becomes the centerpiece of the fight. Roman points out that he was still actively COO, has communications with Matsson, and comes clean that there were deals the other two did not know about.
Kendall agrees to do it with Roman. Shiv wonders where she fits in with their plan. Kendall does not think Shiv will play with the board. She does not have experience. Roman also believes the board will go for two but not three.
Shiv demands to be included in everything, and they agree to bring her on board. Once they get Pierce, she’s in. They promise again and get ready for the meeting. Gerri knocks on the door to call them upstairs.
The kids and Stewy meet Gerri, Frank, and Karl upstairs. The kids pitch Kendall and Roman as co-CEOs. Gerri pitches herself, but Roman points out that their Dad had soured on her. Karl pushes back against Kendall, but Stewy hops to their defense. They want the deal, they want to get out, and then they move on to bigger and brighter things.
Hugo and Karolina get word that it’s official. They begin drafting up the statement when the board walks out. Shiv walks by, and Greg remains oblivious, shouting, “long live the king.” Marcia sees her on the steps as she leaves. Shiv remains upset and falls down several stairs. Tom helps her up, but she pushes him away again.
Kendall and Roman walk into Logan’s office. They see he played sudoku and laugh about it. Karolina and Hugo ask about things from a Comma perspective. They explain there are two paths to take when the markets open. Either they “embalm Lenin,” or they strike out as a fresh start. The fresh start would also entail bringing out the skeletons in Logan’s closet. The brothers agree to go with option A.
Kendall goes to the bathroom and pulls out his phone. He looks at his phone and zooms in on the picture of the paper. After he does, he steps outside and tells Hugo to move forward with option B. He wants Comms to go after Logan. Hugo does not want to go freelance, but Kendall mentions their conversation from earlier. Hugo nods.
