After five years of feuds, back-stabbing and pithy one-liners, Succession is coming to an end.
Following the dysfunctional members of the Roy family as they battle for control of one of the world’s most influential media conglomerates, Waystar Royco, the show has won critical acclaim and praise from viewers eager to learn who will finally seize power as the fourth and final series begins tomorrow.
At the end of last season, Logan Roy, the ruthless patriarch of the family played by Brian Cox, was seemingly poised to cede control, selling his company to streaming tech entrepreneur Lukas Matsson (Alexander Skarsgård), leaving his power-hungry children Kendall (Jeremy Strong), Shiv (Sarah Snook) and Roman (Kieran Culkin) out in the cold.
So, will Logan seal the deal?
“I think the point is, he’s been looking for the successor,” explained Cox, 76, of the motivation behind his foul-mouthed character.
“And he’s been looking (to his children), he’s really wanted his own family (to take over). I mean, that’s his Achilles heel. He loves his children.
“If he didn’t love his children he’d be a much freer man. But he loves his kids. And they’re just constantly, avariciously, restlessly disappointing because of their own sense of avarice.”
Created by Peep Show writer Jesse Armstrong, the power grabs made by the Roy children make Machiavelli look like a Good Samaritan but the manoeuvring from son-in-law (and general comic relief) Tom Wambsgans in the final episode of series three went one step further.
Having turned on his own wife, Shiv, Matthew Macfadyen’s character could turn out to be the dark horse everyone thought was a lap dog.
Cox said: “Tom was a country boy, a simple lad from Minnesota, who came over (to New York and the company), was a bit tiresome…
“But also there were elements, a few moments, when Tom stepped up to the plate to take care of Logan.
“Nobody’s ever taken care of Logan. But he did. Tom showed that care and attention.
“In a sense, Logan’s seen Tom has a possible future but has also been wanting to give him the credence he deserves. It’s been a long journey for that. But finally the penny’s dropped. And when the children are behaving the way they do, he needs an ally within the family.”
Succession, Sky Atlantic, tonight, 9pm
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