It was rumored that succession patriarch Logan Roy would pass on this current season of the show, but fans were shocked to learn that Waystar RoyCo founder had not met his creator until episode three.
Speak with the New York TimesBrian Cox, the actor who plays the media mogul, shared the moment he learned his character was going to die.
Cox, 76, envisioned his character disappearing later in the season, and was surprised to learn it would only appear in three episodes.
‘[The show’s creator Jesse Armstrong,] He called me and said, “Logan is dying.” And I thought, “Oh, that’s fine.” I thought he was going to die in about episode 7 or 8, but episode 3, I thought… “Well, that’s a little early,” he admitted. “Not that it bothered me.”
Speaking of the sudden death of one of the most pivotal characters on the show, he said, “Well, they had to end it somehow, and it was Jesse’s choice. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, the problem with a lot of television, especially American television, is that it’s past its sell-by date.
‘Well, that’s a little early’: Succession patriarch Logan Roy was rumored to be passing on this current season of the show, but fans were shocked to learn Waystar Royco’s founder didn’t meet his creator until episode three
And the great thing about Jesse and the writers is that they wouldn’t. It was hard for them because it wasn’t easy to end this. And I think Jesse thought it was sad – at the premiere someone yelled, “Well, if it was so sad, why did you do it?”
“But I think there are a lot of reasons why Jesse finished it. And I applaud that he did. It was brave because everyone loves the show. Always leave the party when it’s at its peak, not when it’s going down.”
Cox believes the death changes the dynamic for the remainder of the season.
“It changes the stakes. The main character is gone. And the kids have to deal with it, or not. I think next week is going to be tough for a lot of the audience because they’re going to miss Logan. And I don’t think that’s a bad thing — I think that’s actually quite a good thing.”
“Logan came to a rest point anyway,” he explained. He realized his kids would never be — he has that great line when he says, “I love you, but you guys aren’t serious people.” And I think that’s so fundamental.
“The whole premise is really about rights and the rich and the fact that he plowed these particular furrows. And the consequences of that plowing are these kids and how [expletive] up they are, not necessarily because of him, but because of the wealth. They all suffer from rights in one form or another. And they often act like legitimate spoiled brats.”
The third episode of Succession’s final season proved to be the most explosive yet, with Logan’s shock death just before a family wedding.
The family was on a trip to watch Connor Roy (Alan Ruck) tie the knot with fiancé Willa (Justine Lupe) before receiving the shocking news about the family’s patriarch.
Patriarch of the family: Cox pictured at the premiere of Succession last month in Madrid
‘It changes the stakes’: Cox believes death changes the dynamic for the rest of the season
In the run-up to the big day, Willa seemed hesitant to tie the knot with the eccentric Connor, the eldest of Logan Roy’s (Brian Cox) children.
Connor was nervous that his father wouldn’t come to the wedding, but he couldn’t have imagined how things would turn out.
Viewers watched the media mogul take his last breath on a flight, while the Roy kids told their dad they loved him in an emotional phone call.
This final season of Succession marks the show’s fourth and final season, which originally debuted in 2018.
Hit series: This final season of Succession marks the show’s fourth and final season, which originally debuted in 2018