Succession (Season 4), Episode 2: HBO’s hit series is back for its final season. The curtains were raised in a tense opening episode last week which saw an instant rivalry emerge between Logan and his three kids. Episode 2 of Succession season 4 further intensifies the tussle as Shiv takes Logan’s actions as a personal vendetta, and Kendall’s ambition from season 1 is reignited.
This episode was almost like the springboard for the season. Armstrong and the writers must get credit for doing it so early and without forcing it down our throats. Emotional clarity is something the Roys have never had, and this might be their final chance to make things right, although the chances of that are dwindling.
Some fundamental developments showed the genuineness of the family’s inner turmoil. Logan’s puzzling final confrontation with his kids was a checkmate move but might not have been intentional, given his reaction to it. We unpack episode 2 of Succession season 4, “Rehearsal,” for you. Below is a recap of episode 2 and an explanation of the foreboding ending that cannot lead to anything cheery for now.
Succession (Season 4), Episode 2 Recap:
“Rehearsal”
The episode starts off quite grumpy for the Roy family. Logan makes his way to the ATN offices, still rueful over the lackluster and half-hearted effort. He is going to rile things up in the office to make the most of what he spends. The siblings also have a tough time accepting PGM’s current workforce and style of working.
They are depressed at how dated the news presentation is and how old all the anchors are. Romulus is chief at making salty comments on the screen and making us giggle like school-going girls. Kendall is his own unique brand giving the appearance of joining in without actually doing much.
Shiv takes a call from her assistant. She is shocked to learn that Tom has booked most of the premier divorce lawyers in the city, including Gretchen (). Tom is about to leave the office before even the day begins and gets a call from Greg, his man on the ground. Greg calls Roy’s mood and demeanor on the floor “Santa Claus if he was a hitman” to get Tom to scamper back right from his car to the office.
Shiv angrily calls Tom and expresses her frustration at Tom going along with Roy’s intimidatory tactics. Even though he asserts that he wants the divorce to be amicable, Shiv announces to him that she knows what Roy is up to.
“Roy is like Jaws if everyone in the office works for Jaws,” quips Greg as Tom comes by his side and prepares himself to meet the boss man. Roy is unimpressed with how inefficient the workforce is.
He thinks too less of them to give them any chance of succeeding. Cyd joins them on the floor, and Roy brings up Carrie’s audition tape, which neither of them got around to watching. Tom pretends to like it, and Roy makes it official. He also asks to give a speech to everyone on the floor on a makeshift stage of paper boxes.
Romulus and Kendall are in splits watching Carrie’s tape, which they ask Tilly to put on repeat. Shiv calls Sandy (played by Hope Davis, fresh from her stint as Gina on Showtime’s Your Honor). Sandy is surprised, but Shiv asks her to make wiggle room for discussions since she might have changed her mind.
Shiv says there is an opportunity to make more money, even though the Board meeting is the next day. Roy gets up and gives a rousing speech. He shows in his words why he is a media mogul and always beats his competition.
It is reminiscent of the old fighting spirit of the yesteryear generation, something that the current lot does not have. Roy is direct, clear, and healthily insulting to pump up and motivate the workforce, saying that they should work so hard that the competition does not even have a chance to react. Since revenues are only 15% up and cost 40%, they should match the deficit. He promises to build something bigger, leaner, modern, and wilder to take down the competition.
Roy blocks the siblings’ helicopter ride to go to Connor’s wedding reception out of spite. Shiv tries to casually and unpretentiously slip in the news that Sandy and Stewie want to meet in town. The brothers are confused and figure it is about the upcoming board meeting, not nearly knowing what their sister has been scheming behind their backs to get back at her father.
Roy meets with his executive team to discuss the post-Board meeting obligations. Before Roy comes in, Hugo and Gerri make fun of Carrie’s audition video, which has now been circulated everywhere. He is able to close his laptop just in time.
Matheson wants to do a photo op, but Roy is reluctant, given how much the GoJo founder made the deal difficult for them. Hugo asks Karolina to do the option deck on her laptop, but she does not get his point. Roy sees the tape and instantly becomes acrimonious, defensive, and petulant about it.
The siblings are intercepted by another sibling pair, Sandy and Stewie, as they go to meet Connor. Sandy makes it clear that they are prepared to vote “no” on the deal in the meeting as they think they can make more money. Kendall and Romulus are not in favor, but Shiv discreetly tries to push it.
If they ask nicely enough, they can get Roy to agree to ask Matheson for more. Something strange is going on the eve as the siblings meet Willa on their way up. She seems flustered and out of place and heads out for a drink.
Connor isn’t doing too well either and feels that the siblings did not come because they are getting competitive with Roy. What actually happened at the reception was that when Willa got up to do her speech, she couldn’t go through with it. She went to the bathroom for forty minutes with her friends (given her state, presumably to do drugs) and never came back. Shiv keeps pushing the brothers to abandon Connor and discuss Sandy’s offer. But they are reluctant. Connor invites them to drinks as Willa, too, is partying, and the siblings agree.
Roy confronts Tom face to face with his growing suspicion Carrie is not ready to anchor. He is obviously afraid of the old man and goes along with the “saying yes” plan. But once he gauges that Roy won’t blast if he tells the truth, Tom gives critical insight. Roy is only concerned that his name does not come up when Tom tells Carrie. The siblings go out to a bar. Connor is anxious and is tracking Willa through location share. Kendall receives a video call from Matheson and takes it privately.
The GoJo founder has not been sleeping well. He is concerned about the rumors flying around about pushback on the price of the deal. He makes it clear to Kendall that if there is more pushback, he will not be going ahead with the deal, and the supposed money that the siblings would have gotten from the deal to buy PGM would be gone. It is a warning from Matheson, and he sounds serious. Kendall is stunned, but perhaps not.
He is internalizing his options. Is he gaslighting himself again? What is Kendall Roy up to?
He asks Stewie to send him the comparables for the peers in the market, indicating he might be alright with botching the deal. Tom and Greg are shocked when they actually watch Carrie’s tape, as she is woeful.
To further deflect like he usually does, Tom passes over the baton to tell Carrie on to Greg. He is always the first scapegoat for everything, and there is not much he can do here. Tom tells him about a possible plan that he can follow. Even though it is good, Tom is really setting him up to fail. Kendall prints the comparables and shows them to Shiv and Romulus.
We are in for a shock when Kendall does not tell them about Matheson’s warning that the deal would be positively over and sides with Shiv to push back on the price. Shiv does not know it either. Would she have acted differently if she did? We will see it in the upcoming episodes. Romulus, too is harboring secrets as the siblings see Roy messaging him. They get on his back when they see the actual “texts” between them. Shiv also opens up that Roy is following the same tactic with Shiv’s divorce as he did with their mother.
Succession (Season 4), Episode 2 Ending, Explained:
Why does Roman meet Logan after the meeting alone?
Romulus suggests the possibility Matheson would walk if they push back more, but Shiv and Kendall put up a united front. Greg talks to Carrie and ushers in his awkwardness. Carrie is quick to catch on that Tom has put Greg up to this. As he gets more nervous, he starts spinning an impenetrable web of lies for himself that involves focusing on grouping Carrie’s tape and whatnot. Carrie ends the meeting with a ferocious warning. If the focus group is not real, Greg is done for.
Logan gets news of the pushback on the deal, and he is greatly concerned. As the siblings prepare to sing Karaoke, Connor discovers that Willa’s phone is switched off. Roy is coming to the bar for a meeting with the children. The siblings start panicking a little. Before Roy gets into explaining his rationale, he expresses his personal feelings of wanting to see the children at his birthday party. They think it is a charade. But Roy seems genuine in his expression.
He then says that even though they are right to ask for more money, Matheson won’t accept the pushback. If they finish the deal, the siblings and Roy can go their separate ways and make fresh starts with PGM and ATN, respectively. They insult Carrie about how she will not be on TV and that this is just the start. Logan takes offense to it but, more importantly, apologizes to the kids. It is uncharacteristic of him, but Logan understands the dire circumstances. Shiv and Kendall want more.
They do not think it is genuine, and Logan does not even know what he is sorry for. He has mistreated and neglected his children as a father all his life. Shiv projects her personal issues when Logan reasserts the bottom line: any more pushback and Matheson walks. Logan maintains his logical point, which stems from his experience and knowledge of business and, more importantly, as a man who makes decisions.
Matheson will walk – which is true – but the kids are not ready to take the business side of it seriously. They cannot separate emotion and personal unresolved issues from their decision-making, once again showing why Logan is such a wily fox.
Logan departs, saying he “loves them,” but they are not “serious people.” He ventures out, and this is perhaps one of those rare occasions we see Logan being vulnerable and actually frustrated to a level about the deal not going through. He decides to make one final stretch by meeting Matheson personally with some of the other executives. Connor insultingly calls the other siblings “love sponges” and says he himself does not need it from anyone before leaving.
There is a serious lack of conviction in Shiv and Kendall’s tones as they celebrate their “victory” over their father. Shiv is actually having second thoughts as she thinks about what Logan said. Colin goes back and finds Willa in bed. Romulus goes to meet Logan alone. He informs him of the Board meeting being postponed and asks him to come with him the next morning to meet Matheson. Logan sends Tom away and offers Romulus the chance to run ATN instead of Cyd.
