Kill List

"**Kill List**" is the fifth episode of the fourth season of *Succession* and thirty-fourth of the series overall. It premiered on April 23, 2023 on HBO and Max. It was written by Jon Brown and Ted Cohen, and directed by Andrij Parekh.

## Premise

After being summoned to Norway for a GoJo team-building retreat, Waystar's old guard grows increasingly concerned over the trip's true purpose. Later, when Matsson makes a play for ATN, Shiv, Kendall, and Roman consider whether to fight for Logan's crown jewel.

## Plot synopsis

Kendall arrives at Waystar Royco for a brief meeting with his team. GoJo has requested that Waystar's entire executive team, rather than just the co-CEOs, attend the corporate retreat in Norway. They claim it's to discuss their "cultural compatibility", which the senior executives interpret as GoJo being interested in the acquisition. The siblings, however, insist that it may be a ploy given the recent death of their father.

In Norway, Matsson surprises Kendall and Roman with an offer of $187 million per share, well over their predetermined $144 million minimum. However, the offer includes the acquisition of ATN, which was not in the original terms. Kendall and Roman are uncomfortable at the thought of selling ATN, considered to be their father's prized possession, while the senior executives encourage them to take the offer. Shiv informs her brothers that ATN is colluding with Jeryd Mencken's presidential campaign, and she is therefore willing to abandon the company. If news of the collusion were to leak, it could potentially cause a major scandal.

Later that day, both members of Waystar and GoJo sit down for dinner. Tom and Greg attempt to ingratiate themselves with the GoJo team, while other executives take more abrasive approaches. The siblings attempt to renegotiate with Matsson on account of keeping ATN, arguing that he's misunderstanding its value, but he persistently declines. Roman agrees to Matsson's offer, but Kendall later tells him that he wishes to abandon the deal entirely so he and Roman can continue running Waystar together. Roman initially declines, as the offer was his father's dying wish, but eventually agrees. Neither of the boys inform Shiv of their plan. Kendall and Roman realize they must manipulate Matsson into backing out of the deal himself so as not to violate their fiduciary duties. Kendall later tasks Greg with leaking news that Waystar and GoJo are in disagreement, hoping to place pressure on Matsson to back out.

Meanwhile, Shiv meets privately with Matsson. He reveals to her that he was previously in a relationship with Ebba, his head of PR, and sent her liters of his own blood after their falling out. Shiv, both disturbed and amused at having private information, advises him on how to avoid controversy and recommends that he speak to Gerri. Matsson tells Shiv that he enjoys talking to her and that she reminds him of Logan.

The next morning, Kendall and Roman ride a cable to meet Matsson atop a mountain. Connor, who's been tasked with planning Logan's funeral, sends Roman a picture of their father's corpse unexpectedly. Roman is unsettled. Matsson confronts the brothers about their attempt to fumble the deal, calling them incompetent and threatening to finalize the deal without their approval. Roman snaps and berates Matsson for using the death of their father to his advantage, while also blaming Matsson for having killed him. He then announces that they will not be selling to GoJo. Matsson, amused, claims that Roman has just played into hand.

While on their flight home, Waystar's team learns that Matsson, who refuses to speak to Kendall and Roman, has raised the offer to $192 million per share. The senior executives immediately pass the offer onto the board, unaware that Kendall and Roman had attempted to destroy the deal. However, they learn that Matsson plans to retain most of his own executive board, with everyone but Tom, Gerri, and Karolina being fired. Matsson calls Shiv and asks for a picture of her brothers' dismayed faces, and she complies. Shiv then tasks Tom with firing Cyd for conspiring with Mencken and invites him to dinner upon returning home.

## Cast

* Nicholas Braun as Greg Hirsch
* Kieran Culkin as Roman Roy
* Dagmara Domińczyk as Karolina Novotney
* Peter Friedman as Frank Vernon
* Justine Lupe as Willa Ferreyra
* Matthew Macfadyen as Tom Wambsgans
* David Rasche as Karl
* Alan Ruck as Connor Roy
* Alexander Skarsgard as Lukas Matsson
* J. Smith-Cameron as Gerri Kellman
* Sarah Snook as Shiv Roy
* Fisher Stevens as Hugo Baker
* Jeremy Strong as Kendall Roy
* Eili Harboe as Ebba
* Juliana Canfield as Jess Jordan
* Patch Darragh as Ray Kennedy
* Scott Nicholson as Colin
* Christian Rubeck as Andreas Bloc
* Kristofer Kamiyasu as Rasmus
* KeiLyn Durrel Jones as Remi
* Brian Hotaling as Mark Rosenstock

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Succession Ep 5: Kill List | Official Website for the HBO Series | HBO.com
2. ↑ Shows A-Z - succession on hbo | TheFutonCritic.com
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 *Succession*: Season 4, Episode 5: "**Kill List**"
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Succession | Official Website for the HBO Series | HBO.com
5. ↑ Shows A-Z - succession on hbo | TheFutonCritic.com