Succession fans go wild over viral iPhone theory
As the fourth and final season of Succession nears its end, a viral theory about the importance of having an iPhone in the HBO series has set the internet ablaze.
TikTok user @iwannabeonline went viral this month after pointing out that Kendall (Jeremy Strong), Roman (Kieran Culkin) and cousin Greg (Nicholas Braun) all have iPhones, while Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) uses a Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
Not everyone uses Apple phones [except] Tom. IYKYK,” he captioned the video, which features images of the characters on their respective cell phones in the third episode of the season, Connor’s Wedding.
The content creator referenced the claim that Apple doesn’t allow rogues to use iPhones – insinuating that this small detail is a sign that Tom is one of the bad guys.
Follow-up fans think they can tell who the real villains are in the HBO show’s fourth and final season based on who uses and who doesn’t use an iPhone
Apple reportedly doesn’t allow villains to use iPhones, and many eagle-eyed viewers noticed in the third episode of the season that Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) has a Samsung Galaxy phone
“Apple, they let you use iPhones in movies, but – and this is very crucial when you’re watching a mystery movie – bad guys aren’t allowed to have iPhones on camera,” Knives Out director Rian Johnson told me. Vanity purse in 2020.
TikTok user @hunterdeutsch elaborated on the iPhone theory in his own video posted after the episode aired.
Apple has some rules when it comes to who can use its phones in shows. First and foremost, they can never have a case against them. Second, it can never be with the bad guy. The villain can never use an iPhone, which is very interesting when it comes to succession,” he explained.
Because, as we saw in this most recent episode, which was filled with phone calls, one character didn’t have an iPhone, and that character was Tom. So what does this mean?
“It can’t mean anything,” he continued. It could just be a production design choice to give him another phone. No problem. But if it follows the Apple rule, that could mean a lot.”
He noted that Tom has joined the “old guard” rather than the Roy kids, including his estranged wife Shiv (Sarah Snook), who also notably has an iPhone.
TikTok user @hunterdeutsch shared his take on the iPhone succession theory in a video posted after the episode aired, noting it could be a red herring
TikTok user @iwannabeonline also went viral this month after pointing out that Tom has an Android and not an iPhone
“That clearly puts him in opposition to succeed or do something even worse to move forward and make him the real villain of this show,” he said. “I’m very excited to see this. I don’t know if this is true, but it’s a strong theory moving forward.”
Fans had a mixed reaction to the theory, with some believing it and others insisting it was just a distraction for eagle-eyed viewers.
“Tom’s phone really caught my eye. And I was actually shocked that the kids had them,” one person commented.
“Tom is in his rogue era and he has all the rights,” someone else commented.
“I think this could be a diversionary tactic. They know people know Apple’s rules, so they give Tom a non-iPhone to fool people,” another user weighed in.
What’s interesting about the theory is that Kendall and Roman had used Androids in previous seasons before moving to iPhones.
As some fans pointed out, their villainous father, Logan (Brian Cox), also used an android before his death. So does Gerri (J. Smith-Cameron).
TikTok user @gigiontherun previously drew attention to the iPhone theory in 2021 – when Roman was still using an Android
She pointed out that Kendall and Shiv (Sarah Snook) both had iPhones in the third season
Kendall previously had an Android (left) before switching to an iPhone (right)
As some fans pointed out, their villainous father, Logan (Brian Cox), also used an android before his death
TikTok user @gigiontherun previously drew attention to the iPhone theory in 2021 – when Roman was still using an Android.
So as many of us know, Rian Johnson spilled the beans a few years ago saying that Apple doesn’t allow bad guys to have on-camera iPhones. I’m an avid watcher of succession, so of course I had to apply that theory,” she said.
“Logan Roy, no iPhone. Tom, no iPhone. Roman, no iPhone. Gerri, no iPhone. But do you want to know who does have an iPhone? Kendall and Shiv. Kendall and Shiv both have iPhones.”
In a follow-up video, she noted that cousin Greg also has an iPhone much to the delight of his fans who are keeping their fingers crossed for him.
If the iPhone theory is correct, the Roy kids and Greg are the ones looking to root this season, while Tom and Gerri will be the villains.