Succession Season 4, Episode 8: Elections Unveil 6 Nightly Twists

Summary

Succession season 4, episode 8 reveals the truth about Shiv's secret deal with Matsson, causing Kendall and Roman to react with shock and betrayal.

The Mencken vs. Jiménez presidential race takes center stage, as ATN ultimately declares Mencken as the winner, despite the burnt ballots in Wisconsin.

Roman backs Mencken due to his commitment to blocking the GoJo deal, while Kendall, torn but swayed by Shiv's deceit, also aligns with Mencken. Connor withdraws from the race, hoping for recognition from Roman and Mencken.

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Succession season 4, episode 8! Succession's eighth episode of season 4 builds towards the highly anticipated climax of the show. This pivotal episode is filled with six major twists and reveals, all unfolding during the tense storyline of election night. As the explosive final season of Succession progresses, episode 8 takes on a significant role, propelling the narratives forward and setting the stage for the conclusion.

In this final season, Succession wraps up various storylines in its beloved HBO comedy-drama series. Episode 8 of season 4 finally provides answers to some of the show's biggest questions. Throughout this rollercoaster ride of a season, viewers have witnessed the ups and downs of Shiv and Tom's relationship, delved into the intricate details of the GoJo deal, and were even shocked by the death of Succession's antagonist, Logan Roy. Taking place on the eve of Logan's funeral, which coincides with the presidential election, episode 8 intensifies due to conflicting opinions and diverse interests, maintaining the characteristic tension the show is known for.

6. Kendall & Roman Learn The Truth About Shiv & Matsson

In Succession season 4, the GoJo deal became a major storyline. The death of Logan Roy during Lukas Matsson's buyout of Waystar Royco added to the tension. While Kendall and Roman Roy opposed the deal, Shiv secretly supported it. Throughout the season, Shiv leaked confidential information about Waystar Royco to Lukas Matsson, hoping for a favorable position at GoJo. Despite her attempts to cover her tracks, the truth is finally revealed in episode 8.

In episode 7, Greg spends a night out with Lukas Matsson and learns about Shiv's deceit. He decides to use this information as leverage. However, he ultimately tells Kendall about Shiv's deal with Matsson towards the end of episode 8. This revelation further adds to Kendall's frustration as he discovers another one of Shiv's lies. Both Kendall and Roman react strongly to this betrayal, displaying genuine hurt. This cliffhanger highlights how Shiv's world is falling apart.

5. Mencken Is Declared President By ATN (& Tom Makes The Call)

In season 4, episode 8, the presidential race between Republican Jeryd Mencken and Democrat Daniel Jiménez takes center stage, with a close competition. However, a crucial twist occurs when a fire breaks out at a polling center in Wisconsin, resulting in the destruction of an unknown number of ballots. Despite Mencken having a slight advantage in the pre-fire results, it is believed that the burnt ballots would have shifted the state's outcome in favor of Jiménez, potentially awarding him the presidency.

Meanwhile, at ATN, the Roy siblings and Tom face a significant decision. Shiv advocates for waiting to declare the race, given the potential impact of the Wisconsin votes. On the other hand, Roman's political inclinations lead him to argue that ATN should declare Mencken as the winner. Ultimately, the responsibility of making the decision falls on Tom, who ultimately chooses to call the race in favor of Mencken.

4. Roman Helps Mencken Become President Because He'll Kill The GoJo Deal

Each Roy sibling holds their own perspectives on the election, and the conservative Roman strongly favors the Republican candidate, Jeryd Mencken. Prior to the election, Roman and Mencken had established a connection and maintained communication throughout season 4. However, Roman's primary motivation for endorsing Mencken is his commitment to thwart the GoJo deal if elected president. In previous episodes, Roman's overarching objective has been to prevent Matsson from acquiring Waystar Royco, and he has come to realize that employing Mencken is the most effective approach to accomplish this.

3. Kendall Is Conflicted Over The Presidential Race... But Sides With Roman

Contrary to Roman's support for Mencken, and Shiv's support for Jiménez, Kendall has been torn. On one hand, he acknowledges that Mencken's opposition to the GoJo deal would allow him to retain his position as the CEO of Waystar Royco. On the other hand, Kendall views Mencken as a fascist and worries about the potential harm his victory could bring to his daughter. However, Kendall reaches a decision after the discovery of Shiv's deceit, leading him to align himself with Roman and Mencken. This pivotal moment unveils Kendall's choice based on financial considerations instead of emotional ones, hinting at his behavior in the final outcome.

2. Connor Drops Out Of The Presidential Race (So He Can Be Rewarded)

Connor Roy, the libertarian presidential candidate throughout Season 4 of Succession, acknowledged his slim chances of winning but aimed to secure 1% of the vote. However, Connor's voter base began encroaching on Mencken's support, prompting Roman to urge Connor to withdraw from the race. Initially resistant, Connor eventually decided to concede on election night. As a reward for stepping down, Roman and Mencken promised Connor a potential government position in Slovenia. Nonetheless, Connor intends to stir his voter base to dangerous levels with his choice words during his concession speech.

1. Shiv Finally Tells Tom She's Pregnant With Their Baby

In Succession season 4, there was intense speculation among viewers about Shiv's possible pregnancy, suggesting that she could potentially have a baby with Tom before the season concludes. Surprisingly, it is revealed in episode 8 that Shiv is indeed pregnant. During a heated argument, Shiv intentionally discloses this significant piece of information to hurt Tom. This heart-wrenching moment exemplifies the drastic decline of their once happy relationship since the events of Succession season 1. However, Shiv fails to realize that this revelation will ultimately cause her more pain in the long term due to her lack of foresight.