Succession Season 4, Episode 9 Recap: Church and State

The latest episode of Succession revolves around Logan’s funeral, with all sorts of drama and revelations. From Kendall’s parenting struggles to the Roys’ maneuvering in private, protests in the streets, and Uncle Ewan unloading some heavy truths, ‘Church and State’ delivers on all fronts, setting up the final episodes of the season.

Funeral Planning

The episode opens with Shiv and Roman preparing for Logan’s funeral and strategizing with Matsson while Roman practices his eulogy. Meanwhile, Kendall is on his way to the church when Rava calls to tell him that the unrest in the city over the election has her nervous, and she’s taking the kids out of town.

The Milling Around

At Logan’s funeral, everyone is in attendance, including four of Logan’s past lovers, Caroline, Kerry, Sally Ann, and Marcia. As Shiv tries to get the GoJo deal through, Mencken and Matsson arrive, and Shiv has an idea to ease concerns about foreign ownership. All the while, protests in the streets erupt over the contested election.

The Speeches

As Roman and Greg try to prevent Uncle Ewan from giving any fiery progressive speeches at the funeral, Ewan takes the opportunity to share some heavy truths about Logan’s difficult childhood, blaming himself for the polio death of his baby sister, and becoming a dynamic but ruthless power broker who has “wrought the most terrible things.”

Tom’s Gift

In the meantime, Tom’s unwanted gift to Shiv, a scorpion paperweight, makes an appearance, and the post-coital couple prepares to co-host ATN’s traditional pre-election party.

Regulate This, Warren G

The Roys continue to work on the GoJo deal, with plan B to tie up the takeover in regulatory knots if they can’t price Matsson out of the sale. Shiv reluctantly agrees to invite old flame Nate Sofrelli to the party, hoping he can be a useful inside ally.

Ain’t No Party Like a Tailgate Party

The Roys continue their strategic mingling at the ATN party, where VIP guests, thought leaders, podcasters, op-ed narcissists, and beltway psychos abound. Roman gets into hot water with Gerri over his dick pics, while Shiv steers Matsson around, trying to help him learn more about the regulatory process.

Operation Nuke the Luke

With Matsson’s sudden arrival at the party, Kendall finds himself drawing up a new plan to keep him onside, while Shiv tries to position herself for a bigger role in the GoJo deal. However, Kendall’s efforts to persuade Nate to reset the dialogue don’t go as smoothly as he’d hoped.

More Drama

As the Roys continue their maneuvering, Kendall’s ex-wife hits back at his criticism of her parenting, and tensions rise between the siblings, with Shiv revealing that she’s pregnant and Kendall once again stealing the show with his eulogy.

The Fallout

The fallout from the party continues, with Gerri threatening to go public with Roman’s dick pics and Shiv realizing that her efforts to position herself for a bigger role in the GoJo deal may have backfired.

The Final Episodes

With only a few episodes left in the season, Succession is heating up, with the Roys’ maneuvering becoming more desperate and destructive than ever. As Logan’s funeral draws to a close, it’s clear that the family’s power struggles are far from over.

Conclusion

‘Church and State,’ the latest episode of Succession, delivers on all fronts, setting up the final episodes of the season with plenty of drama and revelations. With the Roys’ maneuvering becoming more desperate and destructive, it’s clear that the family’s power struggles are far from over.

FAQs

1. When does Succession season 4 end?

Succession season 4 is set to air its final episode on December 12, 2021.

2. Was Succession season 4 delayed due to COVID-19?

Yes, filming for season 4 of Succession was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a later premiere date than originally planned.

3. Who plays Kendall Roy in Succession?

Jeremy Strong plays Kendall Roy in Succession, and has received critical acclaim for his portrayal of the character.

4. Is Succession based on a true story?

No, Succession is a fictional TV series created by Jesse Armstrong, although it is inspired by real-life media moguls like Rupert Murdoch and Sumner Redstone.

5. How many seasons of Succession are there?

As of 2021, there are four seasons of Succession. A fifth season has been confirmed by HBO, but no premiere date has been announced yet.