Summary
Succession’s future gets a candid update from Emmy-winning actor Jeremy Strong, who starred as Kendall Roy. The celebrated HBO dramedy accomplished a relatively rare distinction, bowing out at a time when both audiences and critics would likely have embraced another round of Roy family squabbles. The decision toendSuccessionbefore season 5came from series creator Jesse Armstrong despite reluctance from HBO executives, as he felt like the story had arrived at a natural end.
In recent comments toPEOPLE, Strong talked about how Kendall “reached his terminal point” in theSuccessionseason 4 finale. Even though Strong mentioned that the decision ultimately goes back to Armstong, he concedes:“For me, that’s something that is very happily put to rest.”
“I’m sure there’s a desire for more [Succession]. I would really pass that buck to [creator] Jesse Armstrong. But I think in terms of the role that I played, he came to his terminal point. So for me, that’s something that is very happily put to rest.”
Succession’s Lack Of Sentimentality Is What Makes It Great
The Show Knew When To End
The brilliance of the season 4 ending is that the show is not overly sentimental aboutSuccession’s cast of characters. There is a lovely section where the Roy siblings genuinely, but otherwise, the episode doesn’t deviate from an established formula that informs the show’s world. Waystar Royco isn’t demolished, no one is killed, and no one goes to prison. In some ways, it’s a very typical big episode ofSuccession.
The show will be remembered most fondly for knowing when to end. That’s a particular virtue at a time when anything remotely successful faces pressure to become a franchise.
Alliances are made, and others are broken. InSuccessionseason 4’s ending, Kendall looks lost and without purpose. It makes the finality all the more stark, suggesting that the Roy siblings are caught in a cycle they can’t break free of.Successioncould have continuedafter season 4, but the Roys' battles and their variations had begun to wear thin. The show will be remembered most fondly for knowing when to end. That’s a particular virtue at a time when anything remotely successful faces pressure to become a franchise.
1 Year Later, I’m Still Worried About What Happens To Kendall Roy After Succession’s Finale
Succession season 4, episode 10, “With Open Eyes” premiered a year ago, and I can’t help but wonder what happened to Kendall after the credits rolled.
There’s a lack of sentimentality, as well, in choosing to walk away from the story rather than extend it just for the sake of its popularity. It’s even more impressive becauseSuccessionhas potential spinoff avenues, whether a separate show that centers around Kendall’s assistant Jess, played by Juliana Canfield, or a prequel of some kind. Armstrong, however, has remained consistent about the fact that it was better to leave the Roy family behind than to turn their story into something that it’s not for the sake of prolonging its popularity.
Succession
Cast
Succession is a Black Comedy and Satire television show created by Jesse Armstrong. It stars Hiam Abbass, Nicholas Braun, Brian Cox, and Kieran Culkin and follows the story of an aging conglomerate owner as he deals with his declining health and the sudden realization that one of his children will soon inherit his position and run his company.
