On Sunday night, the beginning of the end of Succession will commence. The single greatest achievement in the history of entertainment — that’s an objective take, by the way — will be closing the curtain after this, its fourth season.
And while we can’t legally wager on scripted entertainment (at least not yet, hello, WWE!) at America’s sportsbooks, it’s not stopping us now — or ever — from coming up with some fictional odds for the show.
Of course, because this is the final go-round, the expectation is there will be fireworks, and two huge questions are looming: Will anyone die, and, most importantly, who will be the “successor” on Succession?
The Final Season.#Succession premieres March 26 on @hbomax. pic.twitter.com/l8uBG0NDKl
— HBO (@HBO) March 2, 2023
Let’s start at the top, shall we?
Waystar Royco CEO?
Lukas Mattson +125: The favorite, as the GoJo founder played by Alexander Skarsgard is currently finishing up a deal with Logan Roy to buy the company. Could be a red herring, but he has to start with the shortest odds.
Logan Roy +175: Wouldn’t it just be fitting if Logan manages to hold everyone off and we fade to black with the old lion still in charge?
Tom Wambsgans +250: Oh, Tommy. Tommy Tommy Tommy. How the worm turns. Could easily slide in as Logan’s replacement or as Mattson’s whipping boy.
matthew macfayden arrives at every red carpet looking like he just witnessed a horse being shot out back seconds beforehand pic.twitter.com/jJl7qTnWKF
— meg succession text posts (@successtextpost) March 21, 2023
Kendall Roy +500: Can the boy wonder complete what he started, somehow? Fits the Shakespearean motif — especially if he has to slay Logan — and a final shot of a happy Kendall giving way to a very nervous Kendall would be swell. But we’re starting to get into longshot territory.
Cousin Greg +600: If, in the end, Jesse Armstrong and company decide this was more of a comedy than a drama, then who else could it be but Cousin Greg?
Roman Roy +800: He just doesn’t seem to have the chops for the top job, but that might be the point.
Shiv Roy +1000: Daddy’s little girl. Ruthless enough, clearly. But a tough sell all around.
Unnamed possible love child between Logan and Kerry +1200: Are they going to have a baby? Connor thinks so. And what if Logan dies and leaves the company in care of his unborn fifth child, with Gerri or someone as a caretaker? Twist of the knife.
Gerri Kellman +2000: If the company stays in the family, no way she’s tapped. If Mattson takes it, no way she’s tapped. Have a hard time seeing this.
Stewy Hosseini and company +3000: Too anticlimactic.
Frank and Karl +5000: Too much comedy here.
Nan Pierce and family +10000: Yeah, not happening.
The field +800: Who the heck knows?
Death becomes him?
There has to be a funeral at some point, right? Someone has to die, right? The original plan in the show was for Logan to die in those first few so episodes, so …
Logan Roy -125: He’s old, he has health problems, and it would set off an insane, Cannonball Run-esque race to the finish line to see who gets the company. (Speaking of Cannonball Run: Can we please get a Succession blooper reel?)
Kendall Roy +120: They teased his death last season in the pool, they’ve teased him leaning over the edges of tall buildings, they’ve shown him having a breakdown or two. The guy is not right.
it’s literally impossible to pick a single line cause jeremy strong is insane so i’m gonna do a thread of my favorite kendall roy line deliveries starting with the classic pic.twitter.com/Trc7QAFj9Y https://t.co/2KCePtbHjr
— jay (@kendallhosseini) March 21, 2023
The field +150: Yep, going right to “the field” here. For this to cash, it has to be someone whose name is in the opening credits. Can’t really think of a narrative reason to kill off anyone besides Logan or Kendall, but who knows?
Odds, ends, and Greenpeace
Over/under of 28.5 on number of times someone says, “F*** off”: There’s science behind this, as a Redditor claims there have been 82 instances of it over the series’ 29 episodes thus far. Simple math here for the 10 that remain, folks.
Will Connor Roy be elected president? Yes +2500: Seems incredibly unlikely, and a jump-the-shark kind of moment, but you have to think if Logan thinks it’s a good idea, it will happen.
Will Shiv and Tom get divorced? Yes +500 No -600: Divorce at this level is messy. Both probably are better off — business-wise — in the long run by staying together.
Will Logan and Kerry have a baby? Yes -250 No +300: This seems like a great narrative wedge for the other siblings to consider. Rooting for it.
i don’t care for kerry succession pic.twitter.com/KdBxclU1h5
— uncle june (@catholicguilter) February 9, 2023
Dead waiter reveal? Yes -500 No +600: This has been the Chekhov’s gun since the end of season 1. It has to come out to the world. Whom it helps/hurts is open to discussion.
Will Roman and Gerri do it? No -300 Yes +400: We can dream, though.
And finally …
Will the Greg/Greenpeace storyline have a conclusion? Yes +1000 No -2000: Greg will drop the case after his ascension to Waystar Royco CEO.
Photo: Getty Images
