Living+

"**Living+**" is the sixth episode of the fourth season of *Succession* and thirty-fifth of the series overall. It premiered on April 30, 2023 on HBO and Max. It was written by Georgia Pritchett and Will Arbery, and directed by Lorene Scafaria.

## Premise

Ahead of a crucial new product launch on Investor Day, Shiv weighs a business proposal from Matsson, while Kendall and Roman call an impromptu meeting to flip the script on their latest interaction with the tech billionaire. Later, the brothers each try to match Logan's tempestuous style, with varying results.

## Plot synopsis

The Roy family prepares for Waystar's Investor Day event in Los Angeles. Kendall and Roman plan to launch "Living+" (pronounced Living Plus), an idea for a luxury assisted living community that Logan had had before his death. Matsson dislikes the idea and asks Shiv to convince her brothers to drop the idea, but Shiv refuses. Matsson then informs her that the negotiation in Norway turned hostile at the fault of her brothers.

In Los Angeles, Kendall and Roman lie to Waystar's senior executives that Matsson is apprehensive about the deal and had behaved erratically. Gerri reassures them that the deal is still viable. After the others leave, Shiv confronts her brothers, who admit that they dislike the deal and apologize for not informing her. Shiv later cries alone in an empty boardroom, which she calls "scheduled grieving." Tom walks in and is shocked to see her, then comforts her. The two then kiss passionately.

Roman visits Waystar Studios to meet with its division head, Joy Palmer, after the disastrous production of their latest film. Roman promises them the funds to create profitable content, but Joy argues that ATN's affiliation with Jeryd Mencken has affected their success. Joy maintains that money isn't the solution, and Roman accuses her of not taking him seriously, then impulsively fires her. Kendall prepares for his speech regarding Living+, with plans to announce highly optimistic earnings projections and have many theatrics on stage.

Gerri takes Roman aside and scolds him for firing Joy without taking the proper precautions. She accuses him of being unfit to run the company, being that he isn't aggressive like his father. Roman, feeling hurt by her comment, fires Gerri as well. He immediately regrets his decision and confides in Kendall, who, albeit a bit shocked, approves of Roman's decision. Meanwhile, Tom and Shiv discuss possibly rekindling. Tom admits that he betrayed Shiv solely for his own benefit, having been caught between her and her father. Shiv is seemingly willing to put their dispute behind them.

Kendall tasks Greg with having a video of Logan discussing Living+ altered to include in his speech. Shiv worries that Kendall may be entering another manic spiral and suggests that Roman convince him not to give his speech. Roman decides to remove his own involvement with the speech instead, leaving Kendall to deliver it alone. Before he takes stage, Karl warns Kendall that he will "squeal" if Kendall promises numbers that the company cannot deliver.

Kendall successfully gives his speech, shocking his siblings and team with the altered video in which Logan now promises to double their park revenue. Matsson attempts to sabotage the speech by mocking the product in a Tweet alluding to the Holocaust. Kendall remains calm and averts the audience's attention away from the Tweet, while Shiv privately convinces Matsson to delete the post. Waystar's stock price increases following positive press response to Kendall's presentation. Later, Shiv and Tom plan a pre-election party at their home. Roman repeatedly listens to an edited video of Logan mocking him, which Kendall sent him as a joke. Kendall goes to the beach and has a cathartic swim, after drawing "#1" in the sand.

### Notes

1. ↑ As depicted in the previous episode, "Kill List".
2. ↑ Matsson's post reads "Doderick macht frei" in reference to the phrase "arbeit macht frei". The phrase, originally written on the entrance of Nazi concentration camps, translates to "work sets you free." However, Matsson has replaced "arbeit" with "Doderick", one of the characters at Brightstar Adventure Park.

## 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 (credit only)
* Matthew Macfadyen as Tom Wambsgans
* David Rasche as Karl
* Alan Ruck as Connor Roy (credit only)
* 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
* Scott Nicholson as Colin
* Juliana Canfield as Jess Jordan

## Quotes

* **Tom Wamsbgans:** Come and live with me in a trailer park, yeah? Are you coming?
**Shiv Roy:** Well, I'd follow you anywhere for love, Tom Wambsgans.
**[Both laugh.]**

## Trivia

* Critics have compared Living+ to Disney's Golden Oka and Storyliving ventures, both upscale residential communities that offer exclusive benefits to its members. The pitch has also been compared to that of Theranos, WeWork, The Villages, and Google's Calico.
* Jesse Armstrong confirmed that Waystar's Investor Day event was inspired by keynote events held by Apple and Microsoft.
* Scafaria shot the sequence of Waystar's Investor Day with seven cameras at once.
* Jeremy Strong himself proposed the idea that Kendall wear a flight suit jacket for the product launch. He worked with a Hollywood costume designer on its creation.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Succession Ep 6: Living+ | 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 6: "**Living+**"
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
6. ↑ 'Succession' Season 4, episode 6: What the hell is Living+? | Mashable
7. ↑ 'Succession' Just Dropped Its Most Terrifying Episode Yet - The Atlantic
8. ↑ ‘Succession’ Season 4, Episode 6 Recap: ‘Living+’ (vulture.com)
9. ↑ Succession | Inside the Episode: Season 4, Episode 6 | Max - YouTube
10. ↑ Succession Director Breaks Down Season 4 Episode 6 (thewrap.com)
11. ↑ Jeremy Strong Interview on ‘Succession’ Season 4, Episode 6 (vulture.com)
12. ↑ Kendall Roy’s Waystar CEO Flight Jacket on 'Succession' Was Jeremy Strong’s Idea | GQ