‘Succession’ Series Finale: Roman's moment of clarity outshines every other moment from the last episode
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Since his nervous breakdown in the penultimate episode of the final season of ‘Succession,’ it was clear that Roman Roy will not inherit the Waystar throne until all the Roy’s are dead or the board is at gunpoint by hired help from Roman’s supporters. During the finale, Roman flies to his mother’s house in Monaco to hide from the vote that will seal the fate of the company. He’s inconsolable but Kendall and Shiv arrive at a moment’s notice because they know that Roman’s vote is valuable to their motive. Roman and Kendall have been together, trying to kill Lukas Matsson’s deal but now, Roman doesn’t feel the need to support Kendall.
After a long and winded discussion between the three siblings, Kendall comes out on top and is agreed upon as the successor for Logan’s position. Shiv and Roman agree to it but after learning that Tom will be Matsson’s new CEO for Waystar, they are extremely hellbent to help Kendall keep the company. In an ideal world, this would have been ‘Succession’s’ ending but Shiv went against the grain, supported Matsson and Tom, and rebelled against Kendall. When Roman tried to stop Kendall from letting Shiv walk away from the room to vote, Kendall pushes him against the glass and hurts him. But post that encounter, Roman realizes the underlying truth that was hidden under all the overt drama of the show.
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'That’s bulls**t. We’re bulls**t'
Roman was always controlled by Logan through pain and fear. Kendall realized it in the finale and used it against his brother. At one time, when Kendall asked Roman whether he would like to be the CEO, Roman said, “I don’t want it but I would like to be asked.” Kendall knew that Roman never intended to become the top man of Waystar. He just wanted to kick around and see what falls from the tree. But the acquisition of Waystar was no joke.
Logan’s demise and then Gerri walking out with a threat, pulled the plug for Roman who lost all sense of objectivity. He was abandoned, and at that moment he stopped caring at all. In an immense moment of clarity, after Shiv walked away to vote ‘No’ to Kendall taking over, Roman said, “That’s bulls**t. We’re bulls**t.” He knew that Logan never wanted any of his children to run the company and so if they sell it to Lukas Matsson, nothing would change except they will all be extremely rich.
Roman was never promised the throne
We have seen Kendall fight Logan for his right to the Waystar throne. He even went against his father multiple times but Roman never did until his back was truly against the wall and the support of his siblings was ensured. Kendall and Shiv had the gall to plot against Logan but Roman was scared to his bones. He didn’t want to be abandoned by his father. Logan may have flirted with the idea of appointing Roman as CEO but he knew that Roman would run the company to the ground, laughing while he does it.