'Succession' Season 4 Episode 9: Kieran Culkin's Roman SHATTERS viewers after devastating funeral sequence

Roman Roy finds himself in a peculiar position as he realizes the mistakes he has made over the years
PUBLISHED MAY 22, 2023
Kieran Culkin as Roman Roy in 'Succession' Season 4 Episode 9 (HBO)
Kieran Culkin as Roman Roy in 'Succession' Season 4 Episode 9 (HBO)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: HBO’s blockbuster hit series ‘Succession’ has the power of wrecking viewers with emotional sequences and powerful speeches. Without any guesses, the penultimate episode of Season 4 had both and it made viewers realize how easily the show manages to make their hearts beat faster. One of the most powerful moments in the ongoing season occurred when Roman decided to take the stage during his father Logan Roy’s (Brian Cox) funeral. The promo for the penultimate episode confirmed that Roman will be giving a eulogy to his father and is ready to take everyone by the story. However, things didn’t work out as he would have expected it to be.

Roman (Kieran Culkin) was going to represent the Roy family at the funeral and was ready to give a fiery speech. But things went downhill when Logan’s brother, Ewan, took the stand first and delivered an emotional speech. Roman was totally shaken up and somehow managed to take the sand, but as soon as he reached it, he exploded. Roman breaks down and was unable to deliver the speech. As a result, Kendall (Jeremy Strong) and Shiv (Sarah Snook) had to come to his aid and take him away before giving their respective speeches. While his siblings were delivering emotionally charged-up speeches, Roman was sobbing.

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Roman cries hysterically at Logan's funeral

Also, he has put his relationship with Mencken in jeopardy as well and it gives Shiv a chance to become the CEO of the company. Roman realizes that he has messed it up, so he decides to take the dangerous route.

A still from 'Succession' Season 4 Episode 9 (HBO)
A still from 'Succession' Season 4 Episode 9 (HBO)

On one side, there was a funeral, and on the other, a protest. Seeing people protesting on the streets, Roman gets flashbacks of things he has done and how he disappointed his father. Feeling like a failure, Roman runs outside and becomes a part of the protest. The episode ends on a dangerous note for Roman as he gets knocked to the ground and lies there as people run over him.]

'Emmy' loading for Kieran Culkin, as per fans

Social media went berserk after seeing what Kieran Culkin did during the episode. Viewers are already asking the EMMYs to close the ‘Lead Actor’ category because Culkin just knocked it out of the park. One of the fans wrote, “Oh so Kieran Culkin just won the Emmy.” Another social media user tweeted, “Kieran Culkin’s grief coming out at the funeral was devastating. Trying to deliver your parent’s eulogy is the most heartbreaking thing to do. He nailed it and beyond. Engrave his name on that Emmy.” Another social media user wrote, “Well I said Roman would shatter and it would bring the Roys together or tear them apart. Of course, it ended up being both bc Jesse Armstrong is elite. Jeremy Strong was riveting in that speech, but Kieran Culkin clinched his Emmy tonight. A stunning performance.”



 



 



 

Meanwhile, there were some who were shattered by Roman's actions. One of the fans wrote, “Dear Lord this is why I can never hate Roman Roy even though he literally caused me war flashbacks last episode.” Another social media user noted, “Wow Roman picked a hell of a moment for his Dad's death to finally hit him. Ouch, rough eulogy attempt.” Another fan wrote, “Roman Roy you cannot be serious. This eulogy is going to send THE AUDIENCE to their graves.”



 



 



 

With Roman lying on the street and the other two Roy siblings making it clear that they will do anything to be the next CEO of the company, the series finale of ‘Succession’ is undoubtedly going to give viewers a proper closure on several stories. Will it be worth the wait? Let’s keep our fingers crossed.

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