Retired Janitors of Idaho

"**Retired Janitors of Idaho**" is the fifth episode of the third season of *Succession* and twenty-fifth of the series overall. It premiered on November 14, 2021 on HBO. It was written by Tony Roche and Susan Soon He Stanton, and directed by Kevin Bray.

## Premise

Kendall and the Waystar team find themselves working together at the annual shareholders' meeting, where Logan's health takes a turn.

## Plot synopsis

Logan arrives at the annual shareholder meeting, where Kendall and Logan are each separately trying to reach a settlement with Sandy and Stewy. Logan wishes for the question of ownership to be left up to a vote, which would most likely leave the Roy family no longer in control of the company. Roman jokes to leave it to the "retired janitors of Idaho." The others decide to stall the vote until an agreement can successfully be reached. Sandy and Stewy are asking for four board seats, and are not yet willing to settle for any less. Kendall then convinces Stewy to continue negotiating with Waystar.

Gerri, Shiv, Roman, and Karl meet with Stewy, Sandi, and Sandy, whose health condition has worsened and is now in a wheelchair, barely able to speak. Tensions rise when Sandy requests for veto power over any Roy family member being named CEO. Gerri convinces the other side to reconsider, and to once again think over the terms.

Connor approaches Logan with a request to be named head of one of Waystar's European cable divisions. Logan, struggling to speak and repeatedly needing to urinate, does not give Connor a proper answer. He also expresses being displeased with having to navigate Sandy's terms on the settlement. Meanwhile, Kendall warns Greg that he may give him up to the DOJ if he does not back out of his agreement with Waystar. Greg attempts to negotiate with Ewan and Pugh, but Ewan, disappointed in his grandson's undying loyalty to Logan and his company, informs Greg that he will be donating his part of inheritance.

Sandi, Sandy's daughter who has been negotiating in his place, calls Gerri to relay a request: the Roys reduce their use of private jets. The family scoffs, and Logan orders that they refuse the terms, leaving the company's ownership to the shareholders' vote. Logan has Tom escort him to the restroom when Logan's assistant, Kerry, informs Shiv that he has a UTI that he wished to be kept secret. The others realize that Logan, becoming increasingly incoherent, has forgotten to take his medication and is in need of medical attention. The others must even pretend to remove a "dead cat" under his chair that he's hallucinated. Kendall then storms in and demands that the settlement be renegotiated, being angry about the vote.

Gerri takes over for Frank, who had been giving a lengthy speech to the shareholders and stalling the vote. Logan, now unconscious, is ushered into another room to be looked after by his personal doctor. Shiv decides to attempt renegotiating with Sandi and Stewy without Logan's input. The President suddenly calls and asks to speak with Logan, but Roman takes the call. He learns that the President will not try for a second term, mostly due to blowback from ATN's vicious attacks, doing so per Logan's orders.

Shiv meets with Sandi and evokes empathy from her, as the two are both women in male-dominant families. She promises Sandi, Sandy, and Stewy the board seats they requested, as well as an end to their use of private jets. In the meantime, she also secures another seat for herself. Shiv calls Tom to inform him of the news, and has him relay word to the company's senior management, who agree to sign the deal without Logan's approval. While celebrating, Shiv is disturbed to learn that Tom has been tracking her fertility, hoping to impregnate her before potentially going to prison.

Gerri brings Karl onstage to announce the settle to please shareholders. Kendall, however, upset at being left out of the spotlight, interrupts Karl's speech to give an impromptu statement in support of the cruise-line scandal victims. This frustrates the audience and confuses the company management. Greg informs Tom that he intends to sue Greenpeace, in hopes to get his inheritance back. Meanwhile, Kerry is tracked down and gives Logan his medication. He says that Waystar got "the shitty end of a deal", snaps at Shiv for going behind his back, and praises Roman for his phone call with the President. Logan, however, informs Gerri that the president's disinterest in being reelected jeopardizes Waystar's political and legal survival.

Following his PR stunt, Kendall is informed that Logan requests a private meeting with him, but upon arriving, learns that Logan has already left. He attempts to call Logan, only to learn that Logan has blocked Kendall's number.

## 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
* J. Smith-Cameron as Gerri Kellman
* Fisher Stevens as Hugo Baker
* Sarah Snook as Shiv Roy
* Jeremy Strong as Kendall Roy
* James Cromwell as Ewan Roy
* Jeannie Berlin as Cyd Peach
* Hope Davis as Sandi Furness
* Scott Nicholson as Colin
* Zoë Winters as Kerry
* Larry Pine as Sandy Furness
* Juliana Canfield as Jess Jordan
* Jihae as Berry Schneider
* Dasha Nekrasova as Comfry
* Swayam Bhatia as Sophie Roy (voice only)
* Patch Darragh as Ray
* KeiLyn Durrel Jones as Remi

Guest* Peter Riegert as Roger Pugh
* Adrien Brody as Josh Aaronson

## Quotes

* **Kendall Roy:** What the f\*\*k is going on?
**Roman Roy:** It's fine, it's alright.
**Kendall:** What is that?
**Roman:** That is an imaginary cat. Now could you please fuck off?
* **Connor Roy:** Roman's a knucklehead, Shiv's a fake, Kenny is screwy. Why can't I get a shot?
* **Tom Wambsgans:** You're going to sue Greenpeace? I like your style, Greg. Who do you think you are going to go after next? Save the Children?

## Trivia

* The episode was nominated at both the Directors and Writers Guild of America Awards and won at the latter.
* Nicholas Braun submitted the episode to support his nomination at the Primetime Emmy Awards.
* James Cromwell, Arian Moayed, and Hope Davis all submitted the episode to support their nominations at the Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Succession Ep 5: Retired Janitors of Idaho | 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 3, Episode 5: "**Retired Janitors of Idaho**"
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. ↑ DGA Awards 2022 Winners List: Jane Campion Gets Top Prize For ‘Power of The Dog’ – Deadline
7. ↑ 2022 Writers Guild Awards Winners List — Best WGA Movies & TV Series – Deadline
8. ↑ Nicholas Braun (‘Succession’): Emmys 2022 episode submission - GoldDerby
9. ↑ Emmy nominee profile: James Cromwell (Succession) - GoldDerby
10. ↑ Emmy nominee profile: Arian Moayed (Succession) - GoldDerby
11. ↑ 2022 Emmy nomine profile: Hope Davis (Succession) - GoldDerby