There were three speeches at Logan’s funeral in Succession episode nine, and it was probably the eulogy given by his brother Ewan (James Cromwell) that got the most attention, given what it revealed about Logan’s past and his character. Kendall’s (Jeremy Strong’s), with some powerful words about the “vitality” of his dad and the things he built, came a close second.
But even though the final eulogy from Shiv (Sarah Snook) was shorter, it still contained some crucial lines — including a throwback to one particular scene in Season 2 that you might have missed.
So what exactly did Shiv say, and how did it tie in with an earlier conversation she had with her dad?
What does Shiv say in her eulogy?
After sharing an anecdote about how the Roy kids used to play outside their father’s office when they were younger, and how awed they were by the importance of the work he was doing, Shiv went on to explain that he often kept them out.
“He kept us outside,” she says in the episode. “But he kept everyone outside. When he let you in – when the sun shone – it was warm. Yeah, it was warm in the light.”
It’s a powerful moment, because it gets to the heart of the complex feelings the Roy kids have for their father. He was abusive, but he was also manipulative, which meant he sometimes used his love and affection – his “light” – as a means of controlling them.
There’s a very clear example of this dynamic playing out between Logan (Brian Cox) and Shiv back in Season 2, and it links directly to what Shiv says in her eulogy.
Logan offers Shiv the CEO role in Season 2.
Credit: Peter Kramer/HBO
How does Shiv’s eulogy link back to Season 2?
In Season 2, episode one, there’s a scene in Logan’s office where he actually offers Shiv the CEO position as a way of bringing her back under his control. Shiv doesn’t believe him at first, but when Logan insists she can’t hide her desire to take on the job.
Here’s a snippet from the end of the exchange, after Shiv gives in and accepts:
Shiv: “Yes, of course, dad, I can do it. I could…I would…Why did you never ask me, huh? I would kill this, I’d fucking destroy it. Yes.”
Logan: “This is wonderful, Siobhan.”
Shiv: “This is real?”
Logan: “This is real. Remember this. This slant of light. Remember this. This is it.”
That final line from Logan, where he mentions the “slant of light” in the room and asks her to remember the moment, strikes a huge chord in light of Shiv’s eulogy. Clearly, Shiv did remember it. It’s likely one of the moments she’s thinking back to when she gives her speech.
But the cruel irony is, Logan never actually gave her the CEO role. It was just another tactic to manipulate her. And even though she still remembers the times when he let her in, the reality is that most of those moments were likely nothing more than Logan turning on the charm for his own nefarious means.
The series finale of Succession airs May 28 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.(opens in a new tab)
