Rhea Jarrell

**Rhea Jarrell** is the former CEO of PGM and briefly of Waystar Royco, being the secondary antagonist of Season 2 of *Succession*. She was portrayed by Holly Hunter.

## Personality

Rhea comes across as superficially warm and inviting as a person, but it's only a guise in order to pursue her personal business and career interests. She is willing to converse with Logan Roy behind her employer Nan Pierce's back in order to play both sides of a potential merger, and when her loyalty sways deeper into Logan's grip, she eventually manipulates him into offering her the position of CEO. She does seem to have some genuine affection for Logan however, as his wife Marcia came to threaten her about getting tested for STD's, implying the two were having an affair (which was never confirmed or denied). When placed in the line of fire, Rhea tends to step back or walk away to avoid controversy.

## History

### Early life

Much of Rhea's life is unknown prior to the series, but she became friends with Frank Vernon and presumably climbed her way up working for Nan Pierce at PGM.

### Season 2

Logan Roy then informs everyone, their company, Waystar Royco will be taking over media-giant PGM. He decides to bring Frank Vernon back on the team for how close he is with Nan Pierce. Days later, Frank informed Logan that Pierce's CEO, Rhea, emailed him and is interested in meeting.

Kendall Roy arrives early to Waystar Royco where he makes his first contact with Rhea. He calls her on her personal number, he received from their mutual family-friend Frank Vernon.

Logan arrives to the board meeting where they start discussing *Pierce Media* merger. They also talk about *Mark Ravenhead*, and what they should do about his situation. As he recently got married at *Eagle Nest*, Hitler's retreat in Bavaria. Wanting to make sure they don't have a Nazi supporter on their hands.

Ken meets Rhea in private. They make their way upstairs to have a private meeting with just the two of them and Logan. She informs them that the *Pierce Family* is not interested in selling their company to him.

Upon hearing gunshot sounds, Logan is immediately whisked away to the safe room. Soon Rhea is ushered in with Logan and Shiv. Ken is eventually ushered into the private room. Rhea exclaimed she is finding it harder and harder to explain why she has to keep canceling appointments and meetings that she has been MIA for hours. Ken, Ray, and Logan all get into the real reason why PMG won't sell their company. Ken begins to sweeten the deal with more money before an unofficial deal is made and confirmed.

Logan's sees Rhea off to her car, and she suggests a peace offering, like firing Mark Ravenhead for personally offending Nan Pierce. Logan agrees.

The Roy Family fly company helicopters to meet the Pierce family. The entire family is waiting for them, and Frank Vernon greets Nan Pierce. She clearly has some disdain about the whole thing and the two laugh about it. Rhea Jarrell greets Logan and gives him the family's interpretation of how they hope the weekend to go. They are surprised to see Naomi Pierce who flew in from Marin County, who has made a special trip just for this weekend. But she doesn't think it a good sign. Once inside the Pierce family mansion the two families start to mingle more.

That night at dinner everyone is having rather cordial conversations. The topic of Tom's work at ATN comes up, and everyone begins to insult him. He smiles and takes it like a champ. The question of who will succeed Logan also comes up, but he declines to answer. He is continuously pressured until Shiv announces she will be taking over the company. Her brothers are all rather surprised, and her father in a spout of anger quickly shuts-down the conversation. An awkward silence ensues, so the head of the household Nan suggests everyone go for a walk as Mark points out the constellations. Once outside everyone is stargazing, but Ken and Naomi sneak off.

At breakfast, Rhea announces that Pierce family all had a private meeting earlier and will be having another private meeting between Nan and Naomi and they want Logan, Shiv, and Ken to meet them after breakfast. After the meeting, Logan disagrees and says the deal is off. The family leaves soon after by helicopters. However, once they land home, Logan gets a phone call, the Pierce family has changed their mind.

in Argestes, Logan wants to sign The Pierce Family agreement and asks Rhea Jarrell what's taking so long. She assures him that Nam is flying in for them to have private conversations with. They are both aware of the cruise ship scandal and want to get the deal over and done with.

Nan and Rhea finally arrives and have breakfast with Logan and Ken. They are trying to subtly rush the agreement and even inform the ladies they have papers to sign in the other room, but Nan declines to have breakfast first. Unfortunately, Ken finds out the story has broken, and the two quickly make their exits to do re-con.

Shiv reluctantly meets with Rhea to discuss what's going on with the Pierce family. She admits she wants the deal to go through because it would make for a good paycheque. Rhea also convinces Shiv she'd be good to be on the panel, and Shiv agrees.

They finish off the weekend at a comedy roast special. The comedienne sees Logan's family enter, and lays into them about the sexual assault allegations on the cruise-line. Nan Pierce is at the back of the room and immediately leaves. Logan follows her out with Rhea. He asks if everything is all great and if the deal is still good to go. She says it's not and fires Rhea. Nan accuses Rhea of working against her and she no longer wants any part of it. Logan loses his temper and followed her out to her car yelling at her to come back.

Logan and Roman share a car to the airport. Once onboard, they find Ken and Rhea. Logan decided to invite her since she was already going to London to see theater. Also confirming he could use her strategic mind.

Shiv has dinner with Rhea who offers her, her old job with The Pierce family. A trap she had laid out for the young woman, with the permission of her father. Shiv weighs her options.

Rhea decides to throw Logan at lavish 50th anniversary of being a businessman in his hometown of Dundee, Scotland. She arranges for all his family to give him video recorded messages. Once at the hotel Shiv confronts Rhea about her power move to try and take the company.

Before making their way to another meeting, Colin interrupts Logan wishing to talk to him in private. Marcia takes this opportunity to corner Rhea and confronts her about her affair with Logan. She denies it, Marcia insists on her being safe and wanting to know if she has any STDs because she and Logan still sleep together. Upon Logan's return, Marcia makes her exit, while Logan and Rhea talk more business.

The family is gathered for a small meeting over drinks Rhea was talking with Roman, telling him how she always thought he was the most intelligent, with so much potential, before Tom interrupts them, with his awkward flirting. While everyone is gathered around drinking champagne, Shiv motions for the waiter to poor up Rhea's drink, only to verbally stop him, saying out loud “no she doesn't drink” knowing this would stir up more drama, accompanied by her remark that she is also a liberal. Knowing both these things would upset her father. This along with her speech that bringing up his mother and their dead sister, something Kendall had advocated for her to do, further upset Logan.

While on a tour of Logan's print building, with all its state-of-the-art technology for newsprint. Rhea asks why Ken threw her under the bus, and he confirms he's just along for the ride. She tells him she believes when things are over, Logan will give Kendall the company.

Rhea gathers everyone to be quiet as Logan is arriving, they all shout surprise, and Logan immediately does a 180 outside. He is surprised to find around 200 people when he was only expecting 20 - 30. He returns and everyone again shouts out 'Surprise'. Having gathered himself, Logan thanks everyone and begins shaking hands.

Everyone is seated and gathered for speeches. Ken surprises everyone with a rap, showing off his jersey underneath his dress jacket, much to the surprise and enthusiasm of the crowd. Afterwards, Logan makes his way to the stage and announces Rhea as his new successor, much to the shock and surprise of everyone.

After news breaks of the cruise-line scandal, **Rhea** joins the party rather late; after a quick appearance in a feeble attempt to rally the troops, she departs again.

Rhea joins the team again later in the day, where fully realizes the severity of the worsening situation. While Logan is being prepped to go before Congress, he sends Shiv and Rhea go to talk to the witness, *Kira.* However, once they arrive, Rhea refuses to get out of the car, claiming the moral high ground and stating she doesn't feel right about trying to coerce a victim of sexual assault. Shiv goes alone and greets Kira. After Logan wins the case and everyone celebrates, Rhea takes Logan aside. She informs him she no longer wants to be part of a business like his, saying she has her limits by acknowledging it is simply too toxic and being kept out of the dark did not fare too well for her. Despite Logan's retorts, Rhea turns him down, as she no longer wants to be CEO and walks away.

## Notes

* Personal friends with Frank Vernon.
* Logan named *Rhea Jarrell* as his successor to Waystar Royco.
* In an interview, actor Brian Cox confirmed Logan and Rhea did not have an affair, they simply had a professional relationship shrouded in rumor.

## References

1. ↑ Hunting.
2. ↑ Safe Room.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Tern Haven.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Argestes.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Return.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Dundee.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 DC.
8. ↑ Hunting.