Succession (Season 4), Episode 3 Recap and Ending Explained: Yes, you read that right. Succession has given us our first telling blow in its swansong season with no prior notice. The jarring revelation came out of nowhere and had everyone, including those in the show, unprepared. Brian Cox will no longer be a part of the main cast. So this is goodbye for now. We unpack episode 3 of Succession season 4, “Connor’s Wedding,” for you. Below is a recap of episode 3 and an explanation of the foreboding ending that cannot lead to anything cheery for now.
Succession (Season 4), Episode 3 Recap:
Connor’s Wedding
This episode of Succession opens with a telephone conversation between Roy and Romulus. It seems like the son has accepted his father’s offer to betray his siblings and join him. Roy invites Romulus to Sweden. But he declines. Actually, it is the day of Connor and Willa’s wedding. The two have indeed sorted things out and are having a cruise party to celebrate their union. Romulus is heading for the party, but Roy says he won’t be able to make it as Carrie and he are going to a Napoleon play.
A father not coming to his own son’s wedding speaks volumes about their dynamics. And what kind of character the father really is. But the most shocking thing Roy says on the phone to Romulus is that they have to let Gerri go. Worse still, Romulus has to be the one to tell Gerri. Tom calls Greg “visually aggravating” for Roy and Carrie at the moment when he calls Tom asking about the Sweden trip. Just a reminder for the readers. Roy has scheduled another meeting with Matheson for the GoJo deal, which is threatened right now because of Kendall and Shiv’s insistence on getting a fairer deal.
Willa’s mother is appreciative of Connor’s wealth and his efforts to make Willa a special bride. She is impressed by the cruise and the grandiosity of the celebrations. Tom updates Roy on the developments of the deal. He says Matheson might push back hard, but there remains some upside for him. Roy also informs Tom and Karolina about kicking Gerri out of the company. Roy also talks about getting aggressive and pushing Cyd out of the company on the same day as well to make room for Romulus.
Shiv is weirded out by Romulus’ quieter-than-normal disposition. Romulus is dreading talking to Gerri and telling her she is fired. He walks up to her, and even Gerri finds his serious-minded and mysterious demeanor strange. In the most awkward of ways, Romulus relays Gerri the news. She takes it stoutly and presents a stoic expression. But Gerri is not alright as the boarding process for the cruise begins. Romulus calls Roy and asks him to call back. He is not happy that Roy has just waded past the fact that he is not attending his own son‘s wedding.
Willa tells Kendall and Roy about Connor’s problems with the “loony cake.” Kendall explains that when Connor’s mother was being taken to the mental institution, Roy and the others gave him sponge cake that he ate for an entire week. Those feelings of trauma are resurfacing. The siblings discuss the deal and the aftermath if it is canceled. Tom keeps calling Shiv, but she does not pick up. Connor does not know Roy is not coming to the cruise and has already made plans to have him involved in the wedding.
But none of the siblings is willing to take on the mantle of telling Connor. Shiv is the chosen one. Tom calls Romulus and informs him that Roy is “sick.” But the connection is bad. Roy had breathing problems and fainted. Medics are now doing chest compressions on him. Wait, what? Is Tom playing the brothers? It does not seem like it, as Frank and Karl seem concerned too. “This might be your last chance to talk to him,” Frank says. Things are getting abnormally serious right now. Is Roy Logan dead? Are we getting this craziness this early in the season?
Roy had a breathing incident in season three when he went to Josh Aaronson’s house in episode four, titled “Lion in the Meadow.” But it was deemed heat exhaustion and nothing serious. Kendall is too shocked to say anything, and Romulus awkwardly puts some words together. Finally, Kendall blurts the words “I love you” as the others on the plane intently listen in. Kendall gets emotional and says he is incapable of forgiving Roy.
Tom keeps asking for Shiv, and Kendall goes to get her. Shiv breaks down, thinking about the anticipation of what might have happened. She takes over the phone but is confused about what is going on. We see an actual image of Roy lying down and the attendant giving him chest compressions. Things are actually very serious here. Roy is then given charges to get his heart back up. Tom tells them that Roy’s heart and breathing have been still for a while. Meanwhile, Kendall calls Jess and asks her to get Kendall’s doctor and other professionals on the plane.
He then asks Frank to put the pilot on. But Frank explains that they are mid-air. They are turning the plane around. Kendall breaks down when Frank tells him Roy is gone. Kendall tries to hold himself and comes back to comfort Shiv and Romulus. He is the big brother and understands his responsibilities at that moment. Kendall and Shiv gather courage and walk up to Connor to break the news to him. Connor and the other siblings go into a private room. He, too, is falling to pieces, but the siblings are having trouble putting the story to pieces and explaining exactly what happened.
Romulus is not ready to accept that Roy is dead, as they don’t have clarity about the situation. Karl, Karolina, Tom, and Frank sit together. Unlike the siblings, they have a more practical and unemotional response to Roy’s death. Karl is preparing to toast to Roy, while Karolina says they should start preparing a contact list to inform everyone. Carrie walks in, all shaking. She is incredulous and cannot process what just happened. Karolina politely asks Carrie to step out, but she is too traumatized to understand or respond intelligibly. Karolina draws up the list, and they divide the names among them.
Tom calls Greg with the news. He sends Greg to the ATN office and asks him to stick to Cyd. More importantly, Tom asks Greg to delete a folder titled “Logistics” on his computer. It seems like Tom is spiraling too, and calls the situation grim. If the news leaks prematurely, the stock prices will collapse. In fact, Greg has to be careful here. Hugo comes to the siblings as a liaison. Tom finally calls Kendall with the news that the CPR has stopped and Roy is officially declared dead. Hugo tells the children that the executives are drafting a public statement.
The cruise has started moving, and Hugo goes to enquire. Romulus calls Karolina, and the siblings ask for explanations. Frank says they need to reassure the market with a statement and think about the business position. Kendall awkwardly starts resisting the characterization that the children were estranged from Roy. Gerri walks in and expresses her condolences. Her reaction is the perfect mix of personal and business. Romulus has started spiraling and is still not convinced Roy is dead. “What we do today will always be what we did when our father died,” says Kendall, trying to rationalize their response and balance grieving and how this day will be recorded.
Succession (Season 4), Episode 3 Ending Explained:
What is next for the kids after Roy’s death?
Kendall’s response is unique and mature. He truly shows his heady business cleverness. Connor and Willa decide that the wedding is canceled. The former still wants to do it deep inside and is insecure that Willa will walk away from him. Connor finally asks Willa the question we all have wanted him to: is she with him just for money? Willa acknowledges that money is a concern but is content and will not abandon Connor. They have a laugh about it.
Shiv confides that she would have wanted the news to be about their mother rather than Roy. Karolina calls the siblings and tells them that a reporter has caught wind of the rumors. Gerri and Karolina take the mantle of telling the world that Roy Logan is dead. The kids agree. They reconvene on the deck and discuss the deal. Shiv clearly puts it down that they should not let the executives take over the narrative, although they should let them handle the initial response. Kendall tells Hugo that they will draft the statement, which will have to be vetted by one of the execs.
The three siblings and Hugo get off the cruise and get into a chopper. It seems Connor’s wedding is going on as planned. The plane carrying Logan’s remains lands on the ground. The kids reach the spot as well. The execs meet with Hugo and tell him to include their name in the statement for market confidence. We see a few paps lining up near the fence to get exclusive photos when Logan is brought out. A press conference is arranged to inform the press about what is going on. Shiv leads the siblings. She reads out the statement.
The stock prices collapsed as expected. The siblings joke around about seeing Roy and the fact he might not get angry at them this time. They all share a big, sincere hug. Shiv is the first to walk away and asks Tom to narrate the events. Romulus goes to see his father in the flesh while Kendall hangs back. Connor’s wedding happens with a handful of guests, but the bride and groom seem happy.
What does it mean for the siblings now? Well, irrespective of whether they are ready, a shitstorm is coming their way. Despite how evil and overbearing their father was, he was the leader of the ship. He held the stronghold better than anyone else could. Roy Logan was a killer and a monster who would rather murder his enemy than to compromise and lose a few bucks. Brian Cox’s unceremonious departure from the show was not anticipated by anyone. His absence leaves a big void in Succession’s final season and changes the dynamics completely.
The Board will now meet in the cinematic universe and decide on the company’s future. “Who will take over from Roy?” will be the next burning question the show has to answer. The moment of reckoning is nigh. But it could get a little complicated as well, given we also need answers on the GoJo deal. Will the siblings still sell Waystar Royco, their father’s final standing legacy? Succession’s season 4 has just been thrown wide open with no clear answers. HBO has once again proven itself the undisputed king of television.
![Akaler Sandhane [1980] Review: A famine from the past and its echoes into the future](https://www.highonfilms.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Akaler-Sandhane-768x384.jpg)