Why did Logan Roy smile at the end of season 2?

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Let's indulge in a bit of dynasty talk, shall we? To the uninitiated, the story of Succession may appear as a modern corporate Game of Thrones, a ruthless tug-of-war for control of the grand empire of Waystar Royco. But at its heart, it's a tale of family dynamics, of the fraught relationship between a domineering father and his conflicted son. At the eye of this storm are the unforgettable Logan Roy, the grizzled patriarch, and Kendall Roy, the heir apparent who is as endearing as he is exasperating. The saga reached a crescendo at a press conference that felt like Kendall's own Red Wedding, where he spun a narrative web that ensnared his father in the most public way possible. Now let's delve into the details.

I. Overview of the Scandal and Kendall's Accusation

Picture this: Waystar Royco, a global entertainment conglomerate, is grappling with an unseemly scandal that's threatening to blow the lid off their carefully constructed façade of respectability. This is no minor mishap, no – it’s a full-blown cruise ship scandal, replete with a cover-up of misconduct allegations that have the potential to sink the company faster than the Titanic. Logan Roy, the old lion at the helm, and Kendall, his prodigal son, are at the heart of this storm.

Fast forward to a press conference, one that was supposed to showcase Kendall dutifully playing the role of the sacrificial lamb. Instead, our tragic hero decides to go off-script in a move that would make any Shakespearean character proud. He points the finger squarely at Logan, accusing him of orchestrating the cover-up. Now, this is not your everyday boardroom betrayal; this is Kendall on a live platform, laying bare the sins of the father for the world to see. It was a real "Et tu, Brute?" moment, but in the context of a scandal-ridden media conglomerate, which somehow makes it even more deliciously dramatic.

II. Logan's Reaction

Ah, but here's the twist in the tale: Logan's reaction. In the face of public humiliation, one would expect rage, shock, perhaps even despair. Instead, Logan Roy – that old fox – reacts with a smile. Yes, an enigmatic, almost amused little smile that seems as perplexing as it is fascinating. It's as if he had just watched a particularly entertaining performance at the theater rather than his own son throwing him under the proverbial bus.

Now, this wasn't some improvised smirk by actor Brian Cox. No, this was a scripted move, a part of showrunner Jesse Armstrong's grand narrative arc for the Roys. According to Cox, this moment was a reflection of a "certain inevitability" to the sequence of events. It's as if Logan had been waiting for this moment, expecting Kendall to finally step up and show some teeth. But was this a moment of pride, or a realization of his son's potential to be the successor he always wanted him to be? Ah, therein lies the rub.

We'll venture to say that Logan's smile was not a sign of defeat, but a tacit acknowledgment of Kendall's audacity, his willingness to pull the trigger when it mattered the most. The smile was, in essence, a nod to Kendall finally proving himself to be the "killer" that Logan always wanted him to be. A bit twisted, yes, but then again, we're talking about the Roys, where familial love and corporate ruthlessness share the same dinner table.

III. Father-Son Dynamics: Logan and Kendall

Buckle up, folks, because we're about to embark on a Freudian field trip into the heart of the Roy family dynamics. The relationship between Logan and Kendall is a masterclass in tension, a mélange of idolization, rebellion, and the occasional dash of patricide. Kendall has always been caught between a rock and a hard place, or more precisely, between an iron-fisted father and his own ambition.

Logan, ever the king in his corporate castle, once told Kendall that to sit on the throne, one had to be a 'killer'. Ah, the casual brutality of it all. This wasn't a friendly father-son chat over a pint of beer; this was Logan laying out the law of the jungle. And yet, this very comment seemed to ignite a spark in Kendall. The underdog, the beaten pup, finally showing some bite.

Then came the conversation, the defining moment when Kendall agrees to be the 'blood sacrifice' for the company. It's like watching a lamb willingly walk into the slaughterhouse, except the lamb here is a billionaire media scion, and the slaughterhouse is a corporate scandal. But did this decision sow the seeds of Kendall's audacious move at the press conference? Ah, the plot thickens.

IV. Kendall's Transformation and Logan's Pride

In the grand narrative of Succession, Kendall's transformation is nothing short of remarkable. He begins as a 'beaten dog', a man almost broken by his personal demons and the weight of his father's expectations. But then, like a phoenix rising from the ashes (or a corporate shark smelling blood in the water), Kendall does the unthinkable. He makes a power move against his father, showing the world, and more importantly, Logan, that he has the mettle to fight.

And how does Logan respond to this act of rebellion? Not with anger, not with disappointment, but with a certain pride, a grudging respect for his son's audacity. There's something almost touching about this twisted show of parental pride. It's as if Logan, amidst the shock of Kendall's betrayal, is silently applauding his son's transformation into a 'killer'.

V. Implications for the Future

But as the dust settles, the question remains: what next? There's a shareholder meeting looming on the horizon, and Kendall's explosive revelation promises to make it a session worth watching. The shareholders, once clamoring for Logan's blood, have just been served a feast by Kendall. Will they devour it, or choke on the unexpected offering?

In the aftermath of Kendall's press conference, the Roy family finds itself in uncharted waters. Their personal and professional lives are tangled in a Gordian knot that neither a father's authority nor a son's rebellion can easily untangle. But then again, it's the Roys we're talking about – a family that thrives in chaos, that sees upheaval as just another opportunity to seize control. So, will Kendall's gambit pay off? Will Logan regain his footing? Only time will tell.

Meanwhile, we can sit back and watch this corporate soap opera unfold, as the Roys continue to redefine family dynamics in the most unexpected ways. After all, in the ruthless world of Succession, every crisis is a plot twist, every betrayal a stepping stone, and every smile a silent declaration of war.