Succession creators, or as they should be dubbed, geniuses, have once again floored us with that season three cliff-hanger finale.
WATCH: Succession season 3 finale teaser
Just when we thought they couldn’t top the jaw-dropping end in season two, which saw Logan Roy’s (Brian Cox) most subservient child, Kendall Roy (Jeremy Strong), turn against him in a shocking and very public twist, the HBO-made series dropped the season three finale (available to watch on BINGE), and we are REELING.
Let’s recap, shall we?
Succession season three ending explained
After a season of well-intentioned albeit cringe-worthy attempts to take his father down, Kendall Roy finally broke. An almost fatal drunken dip in the pool and a gut-wrenching confession to killing the waiter at Shiv’s (Sarah Snook) wedding, led to a scene we never thought we’d witness: the Roy siblings uniting against their dad.
Instead of fighting one another to get into Logan’s good-graces and be dubbed his primary predecessor, Kendall, Shiv and Roman (Kieran Culkin) realised they’re stronger together and hatched a seemingly well-laid plan to take over Waystar Royco before Logan sold off the company – and their inheritance – to Lukas Matsson (Alexander Skarsgard).
Only, the Roy siblings (or at least the ones that matter, sorry, Conor) weren’t stronger together thanks to a blinding betrayal by Shiv’s husband, Tom (Matthew Macfadyen).
It appears that in learning of Shiv’s plans, Tom (most likely fed up of being treated terribly by Shiv and realising she doesn’t *really* love him) decided to put his own interests ahead of his questionable marriage and tip Logan off.
The shock twist came in the final moments of the finale – after Kendall, Shiv and Roman discovered their plans had been ruined by their mother agreeing to give up a clause in her divorce agreement which gave the trio the power to out vote Logan – as Tom arrived at the make-shift office, greeted by a knowing squeeze on the shoulder by Logan.
The blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment was seen only by Shiv who didn’t let on that she’d knowingly been betrayed, but it was enough to leave us begging to know how it will all play out in season four.
The Succession bombshell clues you missed
When we called the creators of Succession geniuses, we didn’t do so lightly. Tom’s betrayal had been building all season, and the clues are blindingly obvious in hindsight.
In episode four, Tom tells the tale of Roman Emperor Nero, who killed his wife and married his eunuch slave, Sporus. In the final episode Tom asks Greg if he wants to make a deal with the devil before calling by the same name, Sporus.
We also see Tom scoring another get-out-of-jail-free card while playing Monopoly in the finale, alluding to his committment to Logan earlier in the season whereby he offered himself up as a scapegoat and narrowly avoided prison.
When does Succession season 4 return?
Foxtel has confirmed Succession would be renewed for a fourth season. However, further details including a premiere date are yet to be revealed.
Which cast return for Succession season 4?
Based off of the season three finale, it’s safe to say the entirety of the Succession cast will return for the fourth season. Kendall, Roman, Shiv, Tom, Logan and even cousin Greg (Nicholas Braun) are pivotal to the power-moves that will play out next.
Stream seasons 1 to 3 of Succession now on BINGE.
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