Celebration

Celebration
Season	1
Episode	1
Overall	1
Release date	June 3, 2018
Length	65 minutes
Director(s)	Adam McKay
Writer(s)	Jesse Armstrong
Next	"Sh*t Show at the F**k Factory"
[Source]

"Celebration" is the first episode of the first season of Succession and first of the series overall. It premiered on June 3, 2018 on HBO. It was written by Jesse Armstrong and directed by Adam McKay.

Premise

On his 80th birthday, media magnate Logan Roy, whose imminent retirement was thought to be a given, shocks his family by announcing he's staying on indefinitely as CEO of Waystar/Royco. The news shatters his son Kendall, the heir apparent who's in the midst of negotiating the purchase of a digital-media venture founded by a slick operator named Lawrence.

Plot synopsis

Logan Roy (the aging founder and CEO of the media conglomerate Waystar Royco) wakes sometime during the night and, disoriented, stumbles out of bed and urinates in the corner of the room. Realizing his mistake, he allows his wife, Marcia, to take him back to bed.

Kendall Roy (the second-eldest son of Logan) arrives at Waystar to finalize his deal with Lawrence Yee, allowing the company to acquire Lawrence's media startup, Vaulter. Lawrence, however, suddenly backs out and admits that he personally despises Kendall and his family and has no interest in selling to them. Kendall remains unconvinced and decides to increase the offer. Logan confirms that Kendall will be announced as his successor later that day despite having fumbled the deal.

At one of the company's amusement parks, Greg Hirsch is fired from his job as a mascot after smoking marijuana on he job and vomiting inside the suit. Over the phone, his mother suggests that he fly to New York and ask his uncle Logan, who will be celebrating his birthday later that day, for his job back face-to-face. Logan convinces Kendall to sign some "housekeeping," ostensibly pertaining to his takeover. Meanwhile, "Shiv" (the youngest child and only daughter of Logan) assists her rather submissive boyfriend, Tom Wambsgans, in shopping for the "perfect" gift for Logan, ultimately deciding on an expensive watch.

Logan arrives at his apartment and is met by Greg, who attempts to hand him a gift before being promptly constrained by his bodyguard, Colin. Greg explains who he is and Logan allows Colin to release him. They then head up to Logan's apartment where the rest of the family, along with his closest associates, have been awaiting his arrival. Logan seems rather unimpressed, but greets everyone and thanks them for their being there. Connor (the eldest son of Logan and half-brother to the other Roy children) gifts him with a container of sourdough bread, used in traditional bread-making, but Logan remains unmoored. Greg explains his reason for coming, and Logan agrees to give him a job if he has his grandfather, Ewan Roy, intercede with Logan first. Kendall attempts to reconcile with his estranged wife Rava, but she politely declines.

Logan pulls his children aside to inform them that Marcia has been added to the family trust and asks that they sign the documents, revealing that, to his surprise, Kendall has already done so. Just before leaving the room, he also announces that he will not be stepping down from his position as CEO despite having promised to Kendall that he would be stepping down. Kendall angrily confronts his father, who admits that he doesn't believe Kendall is ready to take his place. Devastated, he goes into the bathroom and begins destroying things, before quickly trying to repair them himself. Roman (the third-eldest son of Logan) agrees to sign the trust papers if he is appointed COO.

Million-dollar home run

After lunch, the family and company associates head to a field for their traditional game of softball. Kendall proposes to Shiv and Roman that they block the trust and allow him to become CEO, with the two of them as co-presidents, but they immediately decline. Kendall then leaves the game for business. Down a player, Roman replaces him with the groundskeeper's son. He offers the boy a million dollar check if he can hit a home run, only to tear it up in the boy's face once he gets tagged out by Tom. Colin discreetly has the boy's family sign a non-disclosure agreement and gives them the watch that Tom had gifted Logan moments before. Logan also fires Frank, the current COO and his longtime friend. Tom introduces himself to Greg and promises to be of help with his career.

On their flight back to New York, the remaining Roy children reveal to their father that they've decided not to sign the trust papers. Logan then begins mumbling incoherently before slumping over into Connor's lap, and the helicopter immediately reroutes to the hospital. Back in New York, Lawrence Yee hears the news of Logan's condition and agrees to take Kendall's offer, then threatens to destroy his family in Logan's absence. Kendall receives a call from Shiv, confirming that their father is in the hospital, and rushes off.

Cast

Starring Brian Cox as Logan Roy Hiam Abbass as Marcia Roy Nicholas Braun as Greg Hirsch Kieran Culkin as Roman Roy Peter Friedman as Frank Vernon Natalie Gold as Rava Roy Matthew Macfadyen as Tom Wambsgans Alan Ruck as Connor Roy Sarah Snook as Shiv Roy Jeremy Strong as Kendall Roy Rob Yang as Lawrence Yee

Recurring Mary Birdsong as Marianne Hirsch Molly Briggs as Grace Roy Justine Lupe as Willa Ferreyra Swayam Bhatia as Sophie Roy Quentin Morales as Iverson Roy Guest Parker Sawyers as Alessandro Daniels

Quotes

• Alessandro Daniels: Do you wanna call your dad?
  Kendall Roy: Do I wanna call my dad? No, I don't wanna call my dad. Do you wanna call your dad?

Trivia

• The scene in which Kendall has a breakdown in the bathroom was shot in only one take.
• Every conversation during the birthday lunch was improvised.
• The episode won a Directors Guild of America award, as well as was nominated for a Primetime Emmy award for its direction.

Gallery

❝ Logan’s camera-ed up the wazoo... and he watches it back every night with a scotch. ❞ Click here for Celebration's photo gallery.