Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Succession season 4, episode 4!Succession season 4, episode 4 “Honeymoon States” is out now, and here’s how the ending will affect the rest of the series going forward, explained. Succession season 4 will conclude the beloved HBO comedy-drama series, and with the show nearing its season 4 midpoint, things are starting to heat up in the Roy family. Succession season 4, episode 4 has some massive reveals, with the episode finally revealing who Waystar Royco’s next CEO will be after all these years of waiting.
Succession season 4, episode 4 follows up on the previous episode, which featured a bombshell twist: Logan Roy’s death. Logan Roy has been the main antagonist and CEO of Waystar Royco throughout Succession so far, with his death changing everything. While Succession, season 4, episode 3 explored the immediate aftermath of Logan’s death, including the emotional reactions from his children, episode 4 expands beyond this, showing the next steps for Waystar Royco. The emotionally charged episode does continue to show how Succession‘s various characters continue to cope with the loss of Logan Roy, though, giving a complex thematic overtone to the typical cynical business practices of the Roy family.
Succession Power Rankings: Winners & Losers After Season 4 Episode 4’s Ending
The events of Succession season 4 have caused the power rankings to change more rapidly than ever before, with the various characters’ standing at Waystar Royco shifting from episode to episode. Several factors in Succession season 4, episode 4, greatly changed the power rankings, including the discovery of Logan Roy’s final wish list, Waystar Royco’s new vote distribution, and the new positions of the company’s board members. In addition, the new CEOs have been named, but that doesn’t mean that the race for the heart of Waystar Royco is over. So, here are the current Succession power rankings, from least powerful to most powerful.
7. Greg – Greg has always been at the bottom of Waystar Royco’s corporate ladder, and while his name does appear in Logan Roy’s final wishes, he still doesn’t hold much power.
6. Shiv – Shiv has always been at the top of the power ranking until season 4, episode 4. Now that her siblings are co-CEOs and Shiv has been left out in the dust, she no longer holds much sway at Waystar Royco.
5. Tom – Tom is pretty low out of the possible contenders for the next CEO. However, season 4, episode 3 hints that Tom has a plan going on in the background, and it may be successful enough to bring him back to the top.
4. Karl – As Karl explains in episode 4, the CFO is often first in line for the CEO position. So while Karl didn’t become the interim CEO, his CFO position and good standing with the board give him a shot at taking over the company in the future.
3. Gerri – Although Logan planned on firing Gerri in episode 3, his death has boosted Gerri’s confidence, with her back in the big league. Since Gerri has served as interim CEO, she has good standing with the board.
2. Roman – Roman was named as one of the two co-CEOs of Waystar Royco, filling the interim position until the board decides on an official replacement. This gives Roman a lot of power, but not as much as Kendall.
1. Kendall – After several seasons of living in his father’s shadow, Kendall has come out on top, with him being one of Waystar Royco’s new co-CEOs. While he shares this responsibility with his brother, Kendall was specifically named in Logan’s final wishes, giving him much more pull at the company.
Why Kendall Works With Hugo To Smear Logan’s Name
The final scene of Succession season 4, episode 4, sees Kendall approaching Hugo and asking him to smear Logan’s name. Hugo is in charge of the Parks and Cruises division of Waystar Royco, which has already been under fire due to some of Logan Roy’s past controversies. Although Hugo seems hesitant to be part of this scheme, Kendall finds out about Hugo’s insider trading earlier in the episode, with the new CEO using this to blackmail Hugo. Kendall has always hated his father, and while he is finally CEO, Kendall is using his newfound power to ruin Logan’s reputation one final time.
Kendall & Roman’s CEO Positions Risk Tearing The Roys Apart
Kendall and Roman Roy were appointed interim co-CEOS in Succession season 4, episode 4. While this answered the series-long question of who would succeed Logan Roy, this resolution also risks tearing the Roys apart. While Kendall and Roman are happy working together now, the two powerful figures equipped with their massive egos will surely come to blows eventually. On top of that, it is doubtful that the Waystar Royco board would appoint two CEOs permanently, meaning that one of them will most likely have to step down – and neither wants to do it.
On top of the inevitable conflict between Kendall and Roman, there is also a third factor: Shiv. Throughout Succession, Shiv seemed more eager to run the company than her siblings, with the decision to leave her out of the co-CEO arrangement being a big blow. She was pretty upset by this, and this decision may continue to develop a rift between Shiv and her brothers. Shiv was easily the most qualified to run the company out of the three Roy siblings, making the choice to leave her out even more heated.
Logan Roy’s Final Wishes Could Destroy Waystar
In Succession season 4, episode 4, Gerri, Frank, and Karl discover a list of final wishes that Logan Roy wrote at an unspecified time in the past. This list leads to Kendall Roy being appointed as CEO, but some other parts of the list could have a severe impact on Waystar Royco. The suggestions on this list may not hold up any more, and the decision to follow it could lead the company down a dangerous path. For example, one penciled-in addendum features “Greg” with a question mark. Although the list’s contents haven’t been fully explained, it could be bad news.
Succession Hints At 2 Pregnancy Storylines That Could Change Everything
Succession season 4, episode 4 also hints at two major pregnancy storylines that could seriously change the show’s direction. The first of these revolves around Shiv. Succession season 4 has been heavily indicating that Shiv is pregnant, with one sign being her lack of alcohol consumption throughout the season. Season 4, episode 4, supports this even more, with Shiv receiving a phone call from a doctor early in the episode that heavily hints at her pregnancy. In addition, Shiv actress Sarah Snook is pregnant in real life, so it would make sense to work that into the series.
The second pregnancy storyline in Succession season 4, episode 4, revolves around Logan’s assistant, Karolina. There have been rumors of Karolina sleeping with Logan throughout her time in Succession, and it seems as if that storyline may have come to a head. In Succession season 4, episode 4, Karolina shows up at Logan’s former home to pick up various medications that she had stored in Logan’s room. Karolina then mentions some arrangements Logan had prepared for Karolina, although this conversation with Roman is mostly drowned out. While nothing is confirmed, Karolina’s pregnancy seems pretty likely.
What’s Happening With GoJo’s Acquisition Of Waystar?
Although GoJo’s acquisition of Waystar Royco has been the show’s main overarching storyline since season 3, it has taken a sideline in previous episodes. The acquisition was delayed after Logan Roy’s death, but the Roy siblings are already attempting to kick the deal back into high gear. The three siblings attempt to call Lukas Matsson to make sure the deal is still on, but they are left hanging. Waystar Royco is interested in the deal once again, but Logan’s death may have shaken GoJo’s trust in the company, potentially twisting Succession season 4’s main Waystar storyline.
New episodes of Succession season 4 air Sundays on HBO.
