The Roy family re-convenes once again to throw their first ‘tailgate party’ since Logan Roy’s (Brian Cox) death in the new episode of HBO’s Succession.
The new episode – entitled Tailgate Party – the seventh episode of the final season – follows last week’s Investor Day episode where Waystar Royco announces the acquisition of Living Plus.
The acquisition didn’t sit well with Lukas Matsson (Alexander Skarsgard), as both sides try to finalize the massive merger of Matsson’s GoJo and the Roy Family’s Waystar Royco.
This week’s episode seemingly takes place at what Kendall (Jeremy Strong) calls a ‘tailgate party,’ an annual tradition that will be the first Logan is not present for.
The family is given quite the surprise when Matsson shows up to the party, as it’s revealed Logan himself invited Matsson before he died… with the siblings learning a surprising secret about Matsson that could threaten the Gojo/Waystar Royco merger.
Kendall: The Roy family re-convenes once again to throw their first ‘tailgate party’ since Logan Roy’s (Brian Cox) death in the new episode of HBO’s Succession
Surprise: The family is given quite the surprise when Matsson shows up to the party, as it’s revealed Logan himself invited Matsson before he died
The episode begins with Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) bringing breakfast to Shiv, as he reveals it’s ‘Election eve,’ as he brings her the latest polling results.
Shiv gets a text from Matsson, saying that the buzz is dying down on the Living Plus deal and he wants to know what her brothers, ‘have cooking.’
He asks if Matsson is coming to the party and she says he doesn’t want to, quoting from Matsson’s text, ‘Swim around my dad’s bulls**t, pre-election, brain-dead, AOL-era, legacy media, putrid, stuffed-mushroom f***fest.’
Tom gets Shiv a present, thanking her for letting them host this party together, revealing they will tell the guests that they took a ‘break’ but now they’re back.
He gives her a gift of a scorpion, which Tom thinks is funny because they both try to ‘kill’ each other, before Tom goes to work.
Meanwhile, Kendall gets a visit from his ex Rava (Natalie Gold) who tells him that their daughter Sophie doesn’t want to go to school anymore.
‘Some kids have started this whole anti-atn thing, which is actually very supportive, but, you know, it’s… complex for her,’ adding someone ‘pushed’ her in the street.
An incredulous Kendall asks why she was ‘on the street’ as Rava says she was with her friends as they start fighting.
Tom and Shiv: The episode begins with Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) bringing breakfast to Shiv, as he reveals it’s ‘Election eve,’ as he brings her the latest polling results
Text: The episode begins with Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) bringing breakfast to Shiv, as he reveals it’s ‘Election eve,’ as he brings her the latest polling results
Matsson: He asks if Matsson is coming to the party and she says he doesn’t want to, quoting from Matsson’s text, ‘ Swim around my dad’s bulls**t, pre-election, brain-dead, AOL-era, legacy media, putrid, stuffed-mushroom f***fest’
Gift: Tom gets Shiv a present, thanking her for letting them host this party together, revealing they will tell the guests that they took a ‘break’ but now they’re back
Scorpion: He gives her a gift of a scorpion, which Tom thinks is funny because they both try to ‘kill’ each other, before Tom goes to work
Kendall and Rava: Meanwhile, Kendall gets a visit from his ex Rava (Natalie Gold) who tells him that their daughter Sophie doesn’t want to go to school anymore
‘I’m not blaming you. I’m just– I’m trying to get all the information before I make a decision on our course of action,’ Kendall says.
‘You need to make a decision if you’re gonna call your daughter,’ Rava says as the credit sequence begins.
Kendall, Shiv, Roman (Kieran Culkin) and Connor (Alan Ruck) all meet to discuss how to handle the funeral of their father.
They want to finalize plans at the tailgate party before Connor leaves, as Kendall wonders if they should invite Nate Sofrelli (Ashley Zukerman), a political strategist working for Presidential candidate Daniel Jimenez.
They are still trying tank the deal with Matsson as they try to keep their options open, revealing they want to ‘go regulatory’ to try and stop the deal.
Shiv reluctantly agrees to have Nate at the party, but when Kendall and Roman leave, Shiv immediately calls Matsson and tells him they are going regulatory and he needs to be at the party,’ to counter.’
Meanwhile, Tom gets in on a video conference with several people before handing it over to Greg, who ultimately fires them all due to restructuring ATN, on the grounds of ‘staffing redundancy.’
‘Going forward, we intend to operate Waystar Royco international news gathering operations utilizing third-party contract-based arrangements,’ Greg says before terminating the call.
No blame: ‘ I’m not blaming you. I’m just– I’m trying to get all the information before I make a decision on our course of action,’ Kendall says
Call: ‘You need to make a decision if you’re gonna call your daughter,’ Rava says as the credit sequence begins
Go regulatory: They are still trying tank the deal with Matsson as they try to keep their options open, revealing they want to ‘go regulatory’ to try and stop the deal
Shiv calls: Shiv reluctantly agrees to have Nate at the party, but when Kendall and Roman leave, Shiv immediately calls Matsson and tells him they are going regulatory and he needs to be at the party,’ to counter’
Tom: Meanwhile, Tom gets in on a video conference with several people before handing it over to Greg, who ultimately fires them all due to restructuring ATN, on the grounds of ‘staffing redundancy’
Third party: ‘ Going forward, we intend to operate Waystar Royco international news gathering operations utilizing third-party contract-based arrangements,’ Greg says before terminating the call
Fired: Some of the fired ATN employees axed by Greg
Back at Tom and Shiv’s house, Tom is getting ready for the party, telling Shiv he’s tired, as Shiv reveals Matsson is coming to the party.
Tom is excited because it’s his time to shine for Matsson, but he gets angry when Shiv tells him she invited Nate.
Guests start arriving at the party, many of whom are checking the latest polling results on their phones.
Roman gets a call and heads out to take the call on the balcony, while Tom tells Greg (Nicholas Braun) that Matsson is coming.
Greg says that Matsson hates him so he thinks he’s ‘Team Ken-Ro,’ as Tom leaves.
Roman returns to Kendall, saying the call was from Mencken’s team, saying their polling is even worse than the public numbers.
Roman reveals that Mencken’s team wants them to try and coerce Connor to drop out of the race now.
Roman tells Connor what Mencken’s team wants him to drop out, as Connor thinks he’s joking.
Ready: Back at Tom and Shiv’s house, Tom is getting ready for the party, telling Shiv he’s tired, as Shiv reveals Matsson is coming to the party.
Shine: Back at Tom and Shiv’s house, Tom is getting ready for the party, telling Shiv he’s tired, as Shiv reveals Matsson is coming to the party
Guests: Guests start arriving at the party, many of whom are checking the latest polling results on their phones
Ken-Ro: Greg says that Matsson hates him so he thinks he’s ‘Team Ken-Ro,’ as Tom leaves
Drop out: Roman tells Connor what Mencken’s team wants him to drop out, as Connor thinks he’s joking
Offer: Roman says he was authorized to offer another option, revealing they want him for an ambassador in Modadishu, Somalia, as Roman says he’ll report back
Roman says he was authorized to offer another option, revealing they want him for an ambassador in Modadishu, Somalia, as Roman says he’ll report back.
Kendall gets the party started, going around the room to see who is all there, but during his ‘moment of silence’ for his father Logan, Matsson shows up.
‘My dad loved you all, we love you all, so let’s have some fun. Let the games begin,’ Kendall concludes.
Kendall asks Shiv what Matsson is doing here and Roman says Logan invited him and he replied ‘yes’ just four minutes before arriving.
Shiv asks how they want to play it and Kendall asks her to stick close to Matsson, guiding him away from ‘high value targets’ at the party.
She agrees and goes to find Matsson, who is talking with Tom, as Matsson asks if he’s more hands-on or an ‘overview guy.’
‘I’d like to think I can do both,’ Tom says, as Lukas says, ‘You’re kissing my a**,’ as Shiv arrives.
He tells them it’s a ‘really nice place,’ and asks who will ‘keep it in the divorce,’ which cause them all to disperse.
Matsson: Kendall gets the party started, going around the room to see who is all there, but during his ‘moment of silence’ for his father Logan, Matsson shows up
Games: ‘My dad loved you all, we love you all, so let’s have some fun. Let the games begin,’ Kendall concludes
Minutes: Kendall asks Shiv what Matsson is doing here and Roman says Logan invited him and he replied ‘yes’ just four minutes before arriving
Stick close: Shiv asks how they want to play it and Kendall asks her to stick close to Matsson, guiding him away from ‘high value targets’ at the party
Shiv tells them what people to ‘hit’ – Nate, Carly, but Valerie first,’ adding, ‘I need to keep an eye out for my brothers.
She asks him to don’t, and he interrupts, ‘Don’t scream “People are data” and stick my d**k in the guac?’
She adds, ‘Yeah, you’re about to purchase one of the most prized cultural assets and political communication channels in America, and you need to prepare the ground because otherwise, your many f***ing enemies will portray you as some jerk-off coder from Gothenburg. ‘
Roman meets with Connor and his strategist, but Connor is not a fan of going to Somalia.
They start throwing out more countries he could possibly be an ambassador for, but Roman insists they wouldn’t send him to a country that has nukes.
They ask about the possibility of Oman, as Connor ponders and says he has to check with his wife.
Meanwhile, Lukas chats with Nate and Lukas says he plans on making some major changes at ATN when the deal goes through.
Nate catches up with Kendall, with Kendall saying he’s ‘throwing out some kingmaker vibes.’
Eye: Shiv tells them what people to ‘hit’ – Nate, Carly, but Valerie first,’ adding, ‘I need to keep an eye out for my brothers
Data: She asks him to don’t, and he interrupts, ‘Don’t scream “People are data” and stick my d**k in the guac?’
Prized: She adds, ‘Yeah, you’re about to purchase one of the most prized cultural assets and political communication channels in America, and you need to prepare the ground because otherwise, your many f***ing enemies will portray you as some jerk-off coder from Gothenburg’
No fan: Roman meets with Connor and his strategist, but Connor is not a fan of going to Somalia
Ambassador: They start throwing out more countries he could possibly be an ambassador for, but Roman insists they wouldn’t send him to a country that has nukes
Oman: They ask about the possibility of Oman, as Connor ponders and says he has to check with his wife
Changes: Meanwhile, Lukas chats with Nate and Lukas says he plans on making some major changes at ATN when the deal goes through
Nate and Kendall: They ask about the possibility of Oman, as Connor ponders and says he has to check with his wife
‘I think we could be really good for you guys. Like, I’m talking major reset of the dialogue, which I am personally invested in. But that only happens if this deal goes away,’ Kendall tells Nate.
‘Gojo has had incredible growth. He’s a charismatic figure, but he’s gonna get wrung out. And, you know, there is really legitimate concern here. DOJ or FTC balking at the sports overlap? The FCC over foreign ownership of…
