Succession – All the Bells Say

By: Kelly Kearney

In the world of high finance, mergers, and dick pics, timing is everything; and in All the Bells Say, sometimes you can come up a minute too late. The time has come for Shiv and Roman to learn the lesson Kendall had to face all season long; their father’s love, and all of its splintered bouts of trust and tragedies- simultaneously captivates and terrifies them into making the worst decisions of their lives. Love is complicated for most; but for the loveless Shiv, the neglected Connor, the spineless Roman, and the put-upon Kendall, it’s combined with power. And why wouldn’t it be? They were always a package deal; never offered to anyone lightly and without malicious strings dragging them by their throats. It was the ultimate brass ring- the one none of them can grasp. Not from their parents, not from their lovers, and certainly not from a world who views them as modern-day Kings has love and power been anything other than one more step in the long race to Daddy’s throne? Throughout this season nobody was put through those races more than Kendall. From his triumphant take down to last week’s tragic fall from grace to the bottom of a pool, he knows the price one pays for playing their father’s games, and by the end of the hour his siblings will too. The fall-out from Roman’s indiscretions has an unforeseen shift in loyalties that winds up rewriting history and robbing them all of their family’s legacy. Well…everyone but Logan, who just like Tom said to Kendall, never loses.

“Beef up or sell out.”

After last week’s dick pic gate and Ken’s (Jeremy Strong) potential pool disaster, things seem surprisingly back to normal. We spot Logan (Brian Cox) poolside, playing the doting grandpa reading Iverson a children’s book. He makes a point to tell both of Ken’s kids their father is going to be ok, and then steps away to take a call, but not before he warns them to be careful next to the pool. It’s the first time we’ve seen him show his paternal side and it would almost be beautiful if it wasn’t for him insulting Iverson’s favorite book. He barks for Gerri (J. Smith-Cameron) who comes running out of the family’s chateau (coincidently, the same one from the opening credits) like a vision in blue, ready to hop on whatever grenade Karl (David Rasche) called about. Roman (Kieran Culkin) jokes about his “pal” but the two avoid eye contact- no doubt knowing they’re being watched. The good news is it seems the same interim CEO is back in Logan’s good graces, and the humiliating photo debacle only hurt Roman’s image. Now everyone knows he’s a pervert and a joke; so really nothing much has changed.

Speaking of the Roy kids [sans Kendall], Shiv (Sarah Snook), Roman, and Connor (Alan Ruck) along with Greg (Nicholas Braun), Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) and Willa (Justine Lupe) fill their wedding downtime with a game of Monopoly and pass the insults. They discuss Kendall’s “accident” and none of them seem convinced it was, but the hospital released him so he must be ok. Ken, in his sunglasses and sporting the most kicked dog in the dumps look on his face, saunters in but is quick to leave, if only to get his kids away from their grandfather. He mentions getting a new lawyer and posting all Waystar’s cruise receipts on his Instagram, and Shiv just looks at him in pity and disbelief. Gerri interrupts them with news from her brief chat with news about the DOJ sticking them with a massive fine that’s far above the asking price GoJo was interested in covering. This puts the Matsson (Alexander Skarsgård) deal is in jeopardy, and now they have to give “Hans Christian Ander-f**k” a visit. Logan takes Lukkas’ pal Roman, (cue Shiv’s internal scream), along and the two embark on the most awkward voyage a father and son can go on. With Logan taunting his questionable turn-ons and telling him to “get straight,” but leave him out of it. It’s heavy-handed and full of coded bi and mommy-kink-phobia that certainly has the Slime Puppy squirming in his seat. When they dock on dry land, Matsson and Logan get right to business and it’s instantly clear they both see the youngest son as a useless tag along. For his part, Roman proves them right and watches the entire pitch like a tennis match from the nose-bleed seats. The point of this merger is the life raft it offers both companies. Waystar is a dinosaur in the streaming era and practically extinct. It has the content but no means to bring it to the masses; whereas GoJo has the tech and the public support to unite the two and give Zuckerberg a run for his money. The world is changing and if Logan doesn’t ride the wave he’ll drown in its wake; fitting considering his son’s flirtations with the big watery gulp. With the DOJ’s fine hanging over his head and his tarnished reputation, Matsson proposes a deal to protect both their interests. Logan retains control over whatever assets he chooses while Matsson steps up and takes the lead. He promises to curate a board to Logan’s liking and make Roman the family’s face inside this Go-Star, but Logan has to sell out and step down. Matsson isn’t into destroying the legend or the Roy name but Roman knows Lukkas is full of it. He hates his father, so he tries, badly, to interject his concerns but all he gets for it is a boat ride back to his mommy’s wedding. Logan might’ve said no to the offer, but his eyes are saying maybe. Especially after Lukkas signals towards Roman like he knows the two can’t get down to brass tacks with the kid sitting in the room watching his future go up in flames. The fact Roman misses these cues says he should’ve been using his phone to take notes on Gerri’s lessons and not to send her XXX-rated messages.

You Need An Intervention

When Roman arrives back in Tuscany, he tells his siblings about the merger but downplays the seriousness of the situation. Connor feels left out since this is the first time, he’s heard about this and lets both siblings know he wants in on these important decisions from now on. That’s when Ken walks up to the table and the dynamic changes. This not breakfast with the family it’s a sibling intervention. Shiv must’ve been bored when she felt kicked to the side of the GoJo deal because she created this whole “we love you. … get help” moment to make Ken (mostly her) feel loved. He’s not into it at all, in fact, with his shades on and his volume turned down to a monotoned whisper he tells them they’re the ones who need an intervention. Yes, they all have issues, but Roman reminds him that none of them are addicts taking drunken dives off their floaties into the deadly drink. He needs help, but who doesn’t in this family? Certainly not Connor who loses it when Ken refers to himself as “the eldest son.”  Just because Connor is left out of the loop doesn’t mean he’s been removed him from the birth order. He’s livid. Imagine the cold butter meltdown from season one and add some actual adult hurt feelings courtesy of the kids he basically raised. He storms out of the intervention after staking his rightful claim, whatever that is, and for his pain he’s granted Willa’s sympathy and an answer to his proposal. She calls him a nice man grimaces out a “f**k it. How bad can it be?” which for this show, is the most romantic declaration of love we’re ever going to get.

Mrs. Seat-Sniffer

A little while later at Caroline’s (Harriet Walters) wedding, Shiv notices Logan is MIA and tries to pump a dodgy Rome for intel, but he’s as much in the dark as she is; not that he would tell her that. He’s had a heavy upper hand over Daddy’s favorite girl all season and he’s not tipping it to give her the satisfaction of a “I told you so” dance. He switches the conversation to Mommy and her prenup, something that’s been worrying him about Peter (Pip Torrens) “The Seat-Sniffer” since he learned of their wedding. Shiv assures him Caroline had her people look it over when she reopened the divorce agreement for the sought-after London flat Logan promised her. The prenup is solid, like Peter, which Shiv assumes is the real reason for Roman’s bluster. It’s more of an Oedipal bedroom jealousy than a worry over Mommy’s well-being, she thinks, and she can’t pass up the chance to mock him for it. As for the wedding, it goes off without a hitch. The ex is too busy working to loom over the proceedings, and Peter, who isn’t happy about it has to make do with his blushing bride instead. Even Greg has a good time sandwiched between the wedding softie Contessa (Ella Rumpf) and Comfry (Dasha Nekrasova), his cynical PR crush. He’s playing the whole field and seeing which woman fits with his future, which seems crazy since Tom is sitting right there!

After a very cold and biting wedding speech from Shiv which has her wishing (cursing) her mother with the same happiness she’s found in Tom, Connor blows the siblings’ minds when he tells them Willa found out from Kerry (Zoë Winters) that their Dad’s new health kick is all about getting his sperm ready to make another heir! I guess the ones he has now are stale and disappointing so it’s on to the reboot generation with his assistant? On brand, Roman turns to Shiv with an “ok, well, we need a plan to kill this baby.” Fetal adversaries will always unite the Roy children in protection of their fortune. Enter Gerri, who breaks up the baby banter with news about new money landing at Matsson’s lake house. Someone is moving in to muddy up their merger, and for her part, she seems to be feeding them tips on how to stop what’s coming. She sends them on a hunting expedition to find out more details which takes Roman to Greg who has an in on the new money.

WATER PISTOLS AT HIGH NOON

After spoiling Greg’s good time with the Contessa, Roman learns C-Suite is up to something when he spots Kerry summoning Gerri away from the reception. When he questions Kerry about it, she doesn’t spill any of the merger tea, no matter how many insults he lobs her way. Then Shiv hears rumors about Karl and Frank landing in Europe prompting Roman to call the sausage thief to ask him what’s up, but Karl lies- saying he’s back at the offices in New York! Shiv panics because all of this secrecy can only mean one thing-Dad’s thinking of selling! It’s even worse when Roman comes clean and admits Lukkas offered to buy them out. Even though Logan said no, he stayed behind while ordering Roman back to Italy. Shiv has a visceral temperature-spiking reaction knowing Roman missed the biggest clue of their lives. She knows what Logan is up to and she won’t let it happen. It’s time to scramble the sibling troops and get a handle on this thing before they’re all out of the company and left without shares. There’s just one problem: Kendall is a mess and wants nothing to do with saving Waystar. He would rather it burn to the ground then listen to Pinkie and the No-Brain pitch him an idea. In a secluded dusty terrace, they explain what’s going on and Kendall can barely listen to Roman and Shiv’s banter. His hesitancy pushes Shiv to ask if he’s working with Matsson and Ken laughs and then squats down holding his head. He’s begging them to see his pain and all they can do is plot and scheme. Broken and on the ground, somehow Shiv still thinks he’s manipulating them; that’s how deeply obsessed she is with losing. She’s truly her father’s daughter. Kendall sobs, “there’s something really wrong with me, Shiv.”  That’s when he reveals his secret. “I’m not a good person,” he says, “I killed a guy.” The secret is out, not that his brother and sister believe him. Roman cracks a joke asking, “who hasn’t clipped the odd boy or two?’ The humor doesn’t help, and Kendall falls to pieces as the weight of his words, and theirs, sinks in. They handle it as they were trained to do; Shiv hops between an awkward hand on is shoulder and taking calls from Laird about the buyout. Roman, tries to lighten the mood (for his own sake) with inappropriate jokes and soothing head rubs. It’s an odd mix of care that falls to the wayside when Shiv says the deal is happening and they need to stop it. All Kendall wanted was an out, and as he’s lying in the dirt covered in snot and tears pleading a silent “no more” they hoist him up to get ready for the fight. Shiv is leading the line with talks of voting down this merger thanks to the holding deal their mother worked out for them in her divorce settlement. A nervous Roman can’t wrap his head around betraying their father but that doesn’t mean he isn’t interested. Likewise, the more they discuss the fall out, the more that killer spark in Kendall grows. It’s hope; albeit dulled and bruised, that together they can defeat their father and save the company. Before they get to Logan’s hide out, they call Connor and Tom to fill them in on the plan. Shiv promises her husband a large role in this coup, but Tom seems to have other plans and just casually agrees to whatever she says. The repeated kicks to the heart from his wife left Tom with no other option but to protect what matters to him most: Power and prestige. For that, he’s going to need his Sporus by his side. He asks Greg to join him in this unspoken plan and it doesn’t take much convincing to get the cousin on board.

Making their way to Logan’s room, Roman reminds Ken and Shiv of the time they tricked him into water gunning their father and he paid the price. He makes them promise this time their guns are loaded, and they won’t bail on him. When they break into the merger room they see Gerri, Karl, and Frank (Peter Friedman) on the couch crunching numbers and their father in the fray of figures and phone calls. They’re aimed and ready, until the floor drops out beneath them. Logan was tipped off and knew they were coming so he dangled the London flat in front of Caroline’s face with a proposal to cut the kids out of the holding company if he signed it over to her. She couldn’t resist and through the speaker phone tells them this quest for the throne isn’t healthy as if she ever cared about their well-being. The deal is happening, and they have no power to stop it. Their water pistols are empty. “Toy soldiers” Logan calls them, coming for a seasoned warrior with nothing but wins under his belt. Shiv quickly racks her brain trying to figure out who tipped him off while Roman tries talking sense into him. Logan offers him one last chance to join him and Matsson, but he has to toss Kendall out of the room and abandon his siblings. For the first time ever Roman stands up to Logan and refuses but it was the wrong move. Logan slaps back his offers of love and family loyalty because there is no such thing when it comes to business. As a last resort, Roman practically crawls on his knees begging Gerri to save them, but he’s “too late” says the poem the episode title nods too. Gerri’s hands are tied. She works for the shareholders and after he compromised her position with that photo, she’s barely holding on to her job. She is the Stone-Cold-Killer-Bitch, first and foremost. It’s how she’s avoiding a patriarchal kick off the business world’s glass cliff. He should’ve trusted and abided by her rules and maybe she would have some wiggle room to help. In what can only be described as subdued devastation mixed with restraint, Gerri reminds him of a lesson she taught him earlier, “How does this serve my interests? It doesn’t serve my interests.” At that moment, everyone Roman ever loved took turns kicking him in the heart. His mother, his father, Gerri, and the future he took for granted; all gone. He turns from her and falls to the ground with Ken grabbing his hand for support just as Shiv spots her father thanking Tom in the hallway. That’s when it clicks: Tom betrayed her to secure his own future. She never saw him coming. The episode ends with Tom trying to console Shiv while a simmering rage replaces her stunned face. Season three united the siblings but in the process, changed the course of their futures forever. Season four cannot get here soon enough!