*Warning: This contains spoilers for Succession season 4 episode 3*
Although the third episode of Succession season 4 may have just dealt Waystar Royco an unexpected and startling blow, fans have been been planning for it in the manner of the show and Logan Roy (Brian Cox).
In a shocking turn of events, the newest episode of the popular HBO drama saw Conor (Con O’Neill) and Willa’s (Justine Lupe) extravagant but maybe poorly planned marriage descended into chaos.
Conor’s siblings attended the party while Logan, who appeared to skip his own son’s wedding, travelled to Sweden to negotiate a deal with Lukas Matsson (Alexander Skarsgrd). All of the siblings wore dark and subdued colours.
However, the patriarch never arrived at his destination after falling in the private jet’s bathroom, which prompted Tom Wambsgans (Matthew Macfayden) to summon Kendall (Jeremy Strong), Shiv (Sarah Snook), and Roman immediately. (Kieran Culkin).
Logan is declared dead as the plane arrives, despite the crew’s hasty efforts to perform CPR on him. The three siblings immediately set up a press conference to reveal the tragic news.
What does this mean, though, for Waystar Royco and the rest of the Roy family? Fans have a few hypotheses.
Tom is the endgame villain
In the season 3 finale, Tom turned against his wife and her siblings, so it’s not a leap to say that he may go even farther and claim Waystar Royco as his own.
Fans have noted that the fact that he uses an Android phone rather than an iPhone lends more credence to this hypothesis.
Rian Johnson, the director of Knives Out, recently told Vanity Fair that Steve Jobs’ computer behemoth forbade the evil characters from using their smartphones on screen.
‘This is very pivotal, if you’re ever watching a mystery movie, bad guys cannot have iPhones on camera,’ he explained.
As a Succession viewer wrote on Twitter: ‘Anyone else notice Tom doesn’t have an iPhone? iykyk #Succession #SuccessionHBO.’
Kerry’s pregnant
Logan (Zoe Winters) has relied on Kerry (Zoe Winters) as his devoted assistant, special advisor, and “special friend” throughout his family’s difficult times.
Given her hilariously unusual response to learning of Logan’s passing, many viewers have hypothesised that Kerry could be carrying Logan’s kid.
As one fan said: ‘I’m calling it from now. Kerry is pregnant with Logan’s baby. #LoganRoy #Logan #SuccessionHBO #Succession.’
Could this sprog be in fact the future CEO of Waystar Royco?
Kendall returns to, well, being Kendall
Throughout Succession, Kendall has faced many challenges, including unintentionally murdering a waiter, struggling with addiction, and being determined to take over the family business.
Before he reconnected with Shiv and Roman in an unsuccessful attempt to remove Logan at the conclusion of season 3, his activities had caused him to be shunned by both his father and his siblings.
Kendall could go back to his old ways and go it alone now that the firm is up for grabs.
Even the season 4 promotional poster, which is standing away from Roman and Shiv and, as we all know, includes easter eggs concerning future surprises, suggests a rift between Kendall and his brothers.
‘Kendall gets ousted and immediately starts turning into his father #Succession,’ one fan theorised.
Logan isn’t actually dead
Undoubtedly the craziest of all the theories, some viewers believe that Logan’s demise was staged and that the patriarch is still alive.
One person on social media pointed out that neither his demise nor the CPR performed on his body were ever shown on video.
‘My theory is he is still alive and will direct from the sidelines – LOGAN WILL BE BACK!’ they summarised.
In contrast, Brian has been quite clear about Logan’s passing in interviews, revealing that he stayed behind while the rest of the group recorded his funeral as a ruse and that he will only be returning for “flashbacks.”
Succession continues on Monday on and Now in the UK and on Sunday on HBO in the US.