Succession is not a TV show that’s reliant on twists and shocking reveals. It’s more of a slow burn in terms of the relationships between the Roy siblings, and the way these relationships drive the plot. That being said, the series finale did reveal some new information about Kendall Roy (Jeremy Strong) that was pretty devastating. It not only led to a physical confrontation, but it recontextualized Kendall’s lifelong scramble to become CEO of his father’s company.
The information was about Kendall’s children: Sophie (Swayam Bhatia) and Iverson (Quentin Morales). They played supporting roles during the first three seasons of Succession, but were notably absent from the fourth season as a result of Kendall’s self-destructive lifestyle. It was always assumed that they were the biological children of Kendall and his ex-wife, Rava (Natalie Gold), but a comment made by Roman Roy (Kieran Culkin) made us step back and reconsider.
Succession saves the worst Roy fight for last. Hours after the siblings agree to push Kendall for CEO, Shiv Roy (Sarah Snook) gets cold feet and rushes out of the board meeting. When confronted with the possibility of not getting his dream position, Kendall lashes out, proclaiming that he is the eldest boy and that he wants to maintain power of Waystar Royco to preserve the family bloodline. The first point is false (Conheads unite) and the second point also turns out to be false… technically.
Roman interjects, explaining that the pregnant Shiv is the real bloodline because Kendall’s children aren’t biologically his. “Dad’s view was yours weren’t real,” he says. “They are a pair of randos: one is a buy-in, the other is half Rava and half some filing cabinet guy.” Before Roman can finish, Kendall slams him up against the wall and presses down on his open head wound. It’s a shocking moment, not only for its brutality but for what it tells the viewer about Kendall.
Is Kendall Roy infertile on Succession?
There are a couple different interpretations one could have with this information. One is that Rava slept with someone, perhaps during a period of separation from Kendall, and two is that Kendall is infertile and therefore had to rely on a sperm donor. The second is the more likely of these options, given the fact that their other child is adopted.
The fact that Kendall does not have a biological heir not only informs the desperation he has to make something of his own life, and his own legacy, but it’s a final, heartbreaking insult from his late father. Logan (Brian Cox) constantly made Kendall feel lesser-than, and his refusal to connect with Kendall’s children was an additional source of frustration. Logan’s dismissal of what he considered to be “randos” makes even more sense when you rewatch the season 3 episode “Italian Ice”, and he urges Iverson to taste food that he suspects Kendall to have poisoned.
In the end, Kendall is stripped of his CEO title, his relationship with his siblings, and perhaps, most painfully, his kids. Whether or not they are biologically his, they brought out a side of him that suggests he could have led a different, and altogether happier life. It’s heartbreaking to watch, but it’s also what makes the character (and the show) so entrancing.