Succession creator finally settles debate on 'underlined or crossed out' mystery

Succession creator Jesse Armstrong has finally set the record straight on a divisive scene that took place in the fourth and final season of the HBO show.

During an episode titled ‘Honeymoon States’, various friends and relatives close to the Roy family gathered in Logan’s (Brian Cox) house to mourn the patriarch’s death.

However, during the gathering, a typed document was found naming Roy’s eldest son, Kendall (Jeremy Strong), as the successor to the family's media empire.

HBO

And to make matters even more interesting, the document appeared to show a strike-through his name.

Upon second glance though, Succession fans were quick to speculate on whether Kendall’s name was actually crossed out in protest or whether it was just poorly underlined. If the latter - did it further cement the desire for him to eventually take over Waystar Royco?

After allowing fans to ponder for months on the hidden meaning, the showrunner has finally answered the question of whether or not Kendall’s name was crossed out or underlined.

HBO

Speaking about the satirical series at the Financial Times event in London this weekend (2 September), Armstrong revealed all.

“This is the sort of thing I would have hated to do while we were still doing the show. But if you were going to cross out, you wouldn’t start out underneath, would you?" he said.

Following the reveal, Succession fans have taken to social media to discuss the new information.

“Should have just left it for speculation,” said one X user.

A second added: “I feel like a clown.”

Another wrote: “The fact that Jesse Armstrong has to confirm the obvious because a part of the Succession fandom refuses to accept that it’s always been Kendall.”

HBO

Elsewhere, another X user posted their opinion on writers pandering towards their fans.

They commented: “I think writers are expected to explain everything too much now because why are you spelling out something that was intentionally ambiguous?”

While the news set the internet alight, it was not the only revelation that Armstrong made regarding the now-concluded HBO show.

During the conversation, the Succession creator discussed preparing Matthew Macfadyen for the outcome of the final season.

“Occasionally, I would remind him to do a take where it was like - do remember this was earlier on in the show - it could be you as well,” he said.

“Just to make sure he had that thing about [how he’s] a suck-up who also had some steel that could be activated at a certain point.”