Rehearsal

"**Rehearsal**" is the second episode of the fourth season of *Succession* and thirty-first of the series overall. It premiered on April 2, 2023 on HBO and Max. It was written by Tony Roche and Susan Soon He Stanton, and directed by Becky Martin.

## Premise

After Shiv discovers that Tom is following Logan's playbook, she, Kendall, and Roman consider backing Sandi and Stewy's aggressive play on the Matsson deal. Meanwhile, Logan gives an impromptu pep talk to the ATN newsroom… and outsources a tricky conversation with Kerry. Later, Connor tries to make the most of his rehearsal dinner when Willa goes AWOL.

## Plot synopsis

Logan visits the ATN newsroom where he delivers a powerful speech about his plans to reinvent the brand, while standing on a few boxes. Kerry wishes to become an anchor, but her audition tape is mocked across the company, as well as by the siblings. Kendall, Roman, and Shiv are in Albany strategizing, following their acquisition of PGM. Shiv is upset to learn that Tom has met with most of New York's best divorce attorneys, thus disqualifying them from representing her.

The siblings then arrive at Connor and Willa's wedding rehearsal dinner late, due to their father revoking their access to the helicopter initially planned to take them there. They meet with Stewy and Sandi outside, who propose vetoing the GoJo acquisition at Waystar's board meeting the next day in support of a price increase. Shiv supports the idea while her brothers, especially Roman, do not. The siblings run into Willa and her friends leaving the dinner before going in, where Connor confides that she's having doubts about marrying him.

Connor suggests he and his siblings go for drinks in attempt to loosen up, and they agree. Kendall discretely takes a call from Matsson, who threatens to cancel the Waystar acquisition if the board pressures him about the price. Kendall is suddenly interested in Stewy and Sandi's offer, but doesn't inform his siblings of the call from Matsson. Roman and Connor both scold Kendall and Shiv for considering the offer, which if accepted, jeopardizes their inheritance solely in favor of spiting Logan. Kendall and Shiv then discover that Roman texted their father on his birthday, and the two question him. He reassures his loyalty to the alliance, and accuses them of projecting. He's convinced to take Stewy and Sandi's offer, which upsets Connor and the siblings apologize. Connor asks if they can at least go to karaoke, and although reluctant, his siblings compromise. On the way, Connor tracks Willa's location.

Meanwhile, Tom admits to Logan that Kerry is not fit to be an anchor, and Logan has Tom discreetly reject her audition. Tom, however, passes the task onto Greg. Logan learns of the partnership between his children and Stewy and Sandi, and decides to meet them at the karaoke bar to convince them to reconsider. He enters the room with Kerry, who refuses to leave. He claims that he's sorry but cannot tell the children exactly what for. Kendall and Shiv then call out Logan's abuse, citing certain instances dating back to childhood, but Logan remains mostly quiet. Roman and Connor, however, defend him in their own rights. They continue discussing the deal, and Kendall and Shiv remain unconvinced. Before storming out, Logan tells his children that he loves them, but that they are not "serious people." Outside, he asks Kerry to arrange a meeting with himself, Matsson, and the rest of Waystar's executives, excluding Gerri.

Back in the karaoke room, Connor refers to his siblings as "needy love sponges" and blames them for his ability to survive without it, implying that they never loved him. He then thanks them for the party and leaves. When he arrives home, he finds Willa in their bed and lays down beside her. Roman visits Logan at his apartment and Logan asks for his hand in negotiating with Matsson, offering the position of head of ATN in return.

### Notes

1. ↑ Kendall mentions Logan ignoring Connor for his entire life and isolating him from his mother by having her locked up. Connor defends Logan by saying these accusations are a "bit much." Kendall then brings up Logan hitting Roman when he was a kid, to which Roman says "everyone hit me, I'm f\*\*king annoying."

## 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
* Arian Moayed as Stewy Hosseini
* David Rasche as Karl (credit only)
* Alan Ruck as Connor Roy
* J. Smith-Cameron as Gerri Kellman
* Sarah Snook as Shiv Roy
* Jeremy Strong as Kendall Roy
* Fisher Stevens as Hugo Baker (credit only)
* Alexander Skarsgård as Lukas Matsson
* Jeannie Berlin as Cyd Peach
* Justin Kirk as Jeryd Mencken (photograph)
* Zoë Winters as Kerry
* Scott Nicholson as Colin
* Juliana Canfield as Jess Jordan
* Kevin Changaris as Tellis
* Cynthia Mace as Sylvia
* Sydney Lemmon as Jennifer
* Elliot Villar as Daniel Jiménez (photograph)

## Quotes

* **Logan Roy (to his children):** I love you... but you are not... serious people.
* **Connor Roy:** The good thing about having a family that doesn't love you is you learn to live without it.
**Shiv Roy:** What? Con...
**Connor:** You're all chasing after Dad, saying, "Love me, please love me. I need love. I need attention." You're needy love sponges. And I'm a plant that grows on rocks and lives off insects that die inside of me.
**Shiv:** Jesus Christ, Con.
**Connor:** If Willa doesn't come back, that's fine. Because I don't need love. It's like a superpower. And if she comes back and doesn't love me, that's okay, too, 'cause I don't need it.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Succession Ep 2: Rehearsal | 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 2: "**Rehearsal**"
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