Kendall and Roman are already set up to fail as partners, with Succession season 4, episode 5 preparing them for a big break-up. The series has been known for its short-lived alliances, but seeing the Roy brothers fall apart after the death of their father may be a heartbreaker. In a time when the family should come together to grieve, the Roys are already re-engaged in the family business. Without Logan there to prevent any stealth takeover attempts, the only opposition the siblings have, to earn the top spot, is each other.
Following the death of Logan Roy, Kendall and Roman were brought in as interim CEOs of Waystar RoyCo. The partnership brought them to Norway in episode 5, where they faced off against GoJo founder Lukas Matsson in a battle to secure the merger deal that Logan had planned months before his passing. Kendall and Roman agree mid-way through the episode that they can’t allow the deal to go through, and while it seems like they’re on the same page, they both have different motivations. The rift is already between them, and it’s ready to blow them up before the season ends.
Kendall & Roman’s Different Motivations Prove They’ll Turn On Each Other
While Roman is a morally complex character, one of his most lovable qualities is that he’s one of the few Succession characters that seems to have genuine loyalty. He’s loyal to his family and also to his father, despite the terrible pain Logan inflicted on him. Because of this loyalty, Roman is willing to jump on board when Kendall proposes that Waystar RoyCo should stay in the family. Roman doesn’t want to see his father’s company and legacy destroyed by Matsson. Kendall knows this and utilizes it to bring Roman onto his side.
Kendall’s motivation has become that he wants to hold on to his CEO position. Kendall has been addicted to the idea of attaining this seat since the pilot episode of the show, and it being ripped away from him nearly brought him to his death. After finally reaching a better place mentally, Kendall relapses when seeing his name on the paper in Logan’s office. While he accepted an interim position, Kendall fully intends to stay on as CEO. If he continues to lie and manipulate Roman for this purpose, it will lead to a fallout between them.
Succession Season 4 Hints Roman Will Turn On Kendall For Betraying Logan
Manipulating Roman isn’t the only thing Kendall has done against his brother in recent Succession episodes. After Roman adamantly declined the suggestion that the Waystar public relations team should defame Logan in an effort to make Kendall and Roman seem more appealing, Kendall goes behind his brother’s back, blackmailing Hugo to follow through with it. Episode 5 saw Shiv already upset about the hit pieces being released about their father, reminding audiences that this issue isn’t going away. It will eventually come back to haunt Kendall.
