Secession

"**Secession**" is the first episode of the third season of *Succession* and twenty-first of the series overall. It premiered on October 17, 2021 on HBO and HBO Max. It was written by Jesse Armstrong and directed by Mark Mylod.

## Premise

Following his bombshell presser, a righteous Kendall scrambles to find a base of operations, while Logan's team searches for safe harbor.

## Plot synopsis

Following his public exposé of his father, a manic Kendall prepares for the company's upcoming shareholder meeting. He attempts to garner support from Greg and Karolina, the latter of which warns Kendall that he has put himself and the rest of the company at risk of major legal action and declines further supporting him. Kendall then verbally forces her out of the vehicle where she is swarmed by reporters. On the way to Waystar's offices, Kendall learns that his security clearance has been revoked and decides to set a base of operations at his ex-wife Rava's apartment. There, he meets with leading public relations strategist Berry Schneider and her assistant Comfry in hopes they will help repair his public image.

Meanwhile in Europe, Logan and the rest of his children plus his senior management are taken to an airfield where they must strategize. Logan calls Kendall and gives him a chance to recant his statement but Kendall refuses. In response, Logan begins to amass support from his allies to rival against his son. When Gerri attempts to contact the White House, she's informed by a senior aide that the DOJ cannot afford Waystar any favors. Logan decides to split his inner circle into two camps: he, Tom, Karl, Frank and Hugo, who will depart for Sarajevo while Roman, Gerri and Shiv are sent back to New York.

While on the plane, Logan states that he plans to temporarily step down from his position as CEO and debates whether Shiv, Roman or Gerri would be a suitable replacement. Tom discreetly calls Shiv to inform her of Logan's statement and has her confirm that she is still interested in leading the company. However, Shiv soon learns that Kendall and Roman have also been informed of these plans. Kendall, meanwhile, calls most of Waystar's senior management, hoping to recruit more members to his side; Frank, feeling indifferent, listens to his offer while Shiv hangs up on him.

Logan and his team arrive in Sarajevo. Roman calls Logan in a bid to forward himself as CEO, while also advocating for Gerri if he is unsuccessful. Logan immediately responds by telling his team that Roman is out of the question.

In New York, Shiv meets with Lisa Arthur, a high-profile attorney and personal friend, with the intention of hiring her to represent Waystar, which Lisa previously declined. Shiv confides in Lisa about her conflicting loyalties between Logan, Kendall, and her own personal ambitions, and asks that Lisa act as her legal advisor; when Lisa refuses, Shiv realizes Kendall has already spoken to her and storms out. On her way to Waystar, Roman, via phone call, informs Shiv that Gerri has been named Waystar's interim CEO, apparently due to Shiv's failure with Lisa. Shiv hastily decides to reroute her vehicle and take another course of action.

Lisa then meets with Kendall at Rava's apartment to receive background on his case, prior to being formally hired as his attorney. Naomi Pierce arrives as well, causing tension with Rava. Upon hearing from Kendall that he has hired Lisa, Logan has his team hire rival lawyer Layo Upton, opting for a more aggressive approach against Kendall.

## 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
* J. Smith-Cameron as Gerri Kellman
* Fisher Stevens as Hugo Baker
* Sarah Snook as Shiv Roy
* Jeremy Strong as Kendall Roy
* Sanaa Lathan as Lisa Arthur
* Linda Emond (voice) as Michelle-Anne Vanderhoven
* Scott Nicholson as Colin
* Juliana Canfield as Jess Jordan
* Annabelle Dexter-Jones as Naomi Pierce
* Jihae as Berry Schneider
* Dasha Nekrasova as Comfry
* Jordan Lage as Keith

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Succession Ep 1: Secession | Official Website for the HBO Series | HBO.com
2. ↑ Shows A-Z - succession on hbo | TheFutonCritic.com
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 *Succession*: Season 3, Episode 1: "**Secession**"
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