Roys Battle for Succession: Who Emerges Victorious?

SPOILER ALERT: If you haven't watched season 4 of Succession, beware of spoilers ahead. The highly acclaimed HBO drama has come to an end, and the fate of Waystar Royco has finally been decided. Since its debut in 2018, Succession has amassed an impressive 45 Primetime Emmy nominations over the course of its four seasons. The show revolves around a family's cutthroat struggle for control of their media empire, with siblings and their father vying for power. With the conclusion of season 4, the long-standing question of who will emerge victorious has been answered. But did any of the Roys actually come out on top?

Connor Roy

Succession centers around Logan Roy, an abusive and eccentric patriarch, and his children Connor, Kendall, Roman, and Shiv, who have all vied for the position of his successor. However, the finale of the show surprisingly revealed that none of them would be taking over the company. As a result, it begs the question of whether any of them truly came out on top.

Connor's infectious optimism sets him apart from the rest of the Roy family. While his bid for presidency didn't exactly go as planned, he managed to secure international power through a clever deal. However, in the finale of Succession, Shiv's revelation about Jeryd Mencken's troubles in Wisconsin threatens to upend Connor's arrangement. Despite this potential setback, Connor's past seclusion has proven that he is capable of adapting to any situation.

Connor's memorable line about his ability to live without love was delivered prior to his wedding earlier in the season. Unlike his siblings, he doesn't rely on approval from others in order to be happy. His relationship with Willa, which eventually leads to marriage, is a prime example of this. Despite being taken advantage of often, Connor has always been in a better place compared to the other Roys.

Kendall Roy

Kendall's ambition to take over Waystar Royco was evident from the beginning of Succession. He constantly plotted ways to overthrow his father and claim the throne for himself. In season 4, he teamed up with Roman and Shiv to pursue an independent venture, but after Logan's death, Kendall reverted to his old ways and fought for the company he was groomed to lead.

Kendall's hopes of leading the company were dashed once again when he lost the board vote, with even his youngest sister refusing to support him. The final scene of Succession shows Kendall standing alone, staring out at the water, having alienated his ex-wife and children in his pursuit of power. With his family's actions and his own mistakes leading to his isolation and defeat, Kendall is left without the coveted leadership of Waystar Royco that he had been groomed for his whole life.

Roman Roy

Roman stands out as the most malevolent among the Roy siblings. Unlike his siblings, who possess some empathy and consideration for others, Roman lacks these qualities. At the beginning of season 4, he appears satisfied with the business venture that he and his siblings have established without the involvement of their father. He displays clarity of thought and emerges as a competent leader, which is a rare sight. However, Roman's mental state takes a severe blow after his father's death, and he fails to recover from it for the rest of the season.

Roman's approach to inheriting the seat of power differed from that of Kendall and Shiv, as he often appealed to emotion instead of resorting to backhanded tactics. He yearned for his father's approval and believed that leadership would earn him that recognition. Despite this desire, Roman was also a skilled businessman who had a talent for connecting with others. At the beginning of the season, he seemed content to break away from Waystar and start anew. Ultimately, Roman succeeded in freeing himself from the constraints of Waystar. Moreover, he helped those he cared for secure favorable positions while simultaneously ousting those he disliked.

Shiv's ambition knows no bounds, excelling in both politics and business with unparalleled drive. Despite her impressive track record, she finds herself struggling to cope with Tom's recent betrayal and the loss of her father. This leads to resentment towards her brothers, prompting her to team up with Lukas Matsson, who seeks to acquire their family's business. However, Shiv ultimately finds herself betrayed by Matsson and forced to choose between her loyalty to her family and her own personal ambitions.

Shiv's actions in the finale ensure that she stays close to the center of power. Tom will be the public face of the new company, but Shiv will maintain the Roy bloodline within the company through the birth of their child. However, her role is not limited to that. Shiv now finds herself embodying the very thing she always swore she wouldn't become: her mother. She's trapped in an unhappy marriage and about to give birth to a child she's been told she may not have the ability to care for.

In the End, Who Won?

None of the Roys fully achieved their desired outcome, but Roman came closest to his goal. While Connor had little to gain or lose, Kendall and Shiv both gambled and lost. Although neither Kendall nor Shiv sees their current situation as a win, they have both been given a gift without the looming shadow of Waystar. Throughout Succession, Roman was the chameleon of the four siblings. While Connor would be forgotten, Roman could command the room's presence or blend into the wallpaper and absorb everything around him. With GoJo's acquisition of Waystar, Roman is free from the business that damaged his family and relationship with his father. He did not lose out to any of his siblings and is no longer living in their shadow or his father's. At the end of "With Open Eyes," Roman is the only Roy sibling who appears at ease with what has transpired.

Succession is now streaming on Max.