Warning: the following article contains spoilers for season four of Succession.
Anyone who’s seen the unforgettable, soul-wrenching episode of Succession that just aired would remember the myriad emotions and drama that Logan Roy’s (Brian Cox) death managed to capture. Besides the family’s emotional outbursts at this tragic event, the eulogy has unraveled a significant mystery that the audience has been eagerly waiting for.
Turns out that Logan’s older brother, Ewan Roy (James Cromwell) disclosed their sister, Rose’s fate. Barely did we hear the patriarch mention his sister, except for that one time when he exclaimed himself as responsible for her death in season two’s eighth episode, “Dundee.” Ever since, the confession sparked curiosities as to how Logan factors in Rose’s death.
In his eulogy, Ewan implied how it was guilt that led Logan to deem himself the perpetrator. It so happened that the brothers were sent to Canada from Scotland during the Second World War, where they lived with their abusive uncle, Noah.
After a while, his uncle – with the “little money” they possessed – shipped Logan off to a boarding school. As per Ewan, Logan hated his new environment and fell ill, after which he was allowed to return to his uncle’s place. On coming back, his little sister – who now resided with their uncle and aunt – got infected by polio and died.
Since then, Logan held himself responsible for bringing the disease with him and passing it on to his sister. Worse, their uncle and aunt made no efforts to convince him otherwise. “He always believed that he brought home polio with him which took her. I don’t even know if that’s true, but our aunt and uncle certainly did nothing to disabuse him of that notion,” revealed Ewan to the shocked funeral attendees.
The circumstances surrounding Rose’s death also addressed many unanswered questions regarding Logan’s cold demeanor and sporadic displays of abusive behavior, which he most probably inherited from his “evil uncle Noah.”
