It was the kiss of death when Kendall Roy kissed his father Logan Roy on the cheek in the second season finale of Succession.
SPOILER ALERT!
Everyone was trapped with Logan Roy (Brian Cox) property, tensely waiting for him to decide which of them is worthy (or not) of leading his company and who was going to be the scapegoat.
So who got to head the company and who got sacrificed? Roman Roy (Kieran Culkin) is now was named chief operating officer and Kendall Roy (Jeremy Strong) was named the blood sacrifice.
After plenty of debate over who should be sacrificed, Logan, with Shiv’s (Sarah Snook) critical input, figured that Kendall would make for the perfect fall guy. Not to mention, unlike Tom (Matthew Macfadyen), he is blood.
Titled “This Is Not For Tears,” the finale held many references echoing back to this season’s premiere, as well as season one’s finale. Kendall and Logan's tumultuous relationship is put to the test and ultimately redefined in the episode's final moments.
Unbeknownst to anyone except Cousin Greg (Nicholas Braun), Kendall hangs Logan out to dry during a live press conference which was set up so he could take the blame for the company's cruise fiasco.
A puppet no more, Kendall throws his dad under the bus. And it's clear Logan can’t help but be a little bit proud of his son for finally be a “killer.”
The final seconds of the episode are foreshadowed a bit during the final conversation between Logan and Kendall. Kendall finally asks the question that’s been on his mind since the beginning of the series.
“Did you ever think I could do it?,” he asks his dad about his chances at being CEO.
“You’re smart, you’re good, but I just don’t know…,” Logan responds, adding: “You’re not a killer. You have to be a killer. But nowadays, maybe you don’t. I don’t know. Okay. Are we good? Are you good?”
There were so many amazing moments in this episode — Tom unraveling and revealing he is unhappy in his marriage to Shiv, finding out just how stupid Connor Roy (Alan Ruck) is, cousin Greg choosing to get behind Kendall and then, of course, the final twist when Kendall reveals that he can actually be a killer.
Did that smile from Logan Roy at the end of the episode mean that Logan was finally proud of Kendall, or that he is happy he has a new adversary to potentially destroy?
Season 3 better get here ASAP!
