As Succession approaches its highly anticipated series finale, lead Kieran Culkin has finally addressed a glaring plot hole regarding his character going back to the pilot episode. Culkin stars on the hit HBO satire as Roman Roy, the snarky youngest son of the central antagonist, media mogul Logan Roy. Considering that much of the black comedy explores Roman's uniquely complicated romantic entanglements and relationship hangups, it is hard to believe that the masochistic character was first introduced as a husband and father only for his wife and child to effectively disappear from the show after the pilot.
As the critically acclaimed fourth and final season of Succession continues airing weekly, Kieran Culkin has cleared up viewers' long-standing confusion over the early plot inconsistency. Speaking to Variety about his character's most memorable moments from the show, Culkin explained that once Succession was picked up for a full season after the pilot was filmed, creator Jesse Armstrong decided to give the distinct character more room to explore his complex sexuality by making him single and child-free. Check out what the actor had to say below:
"[It's] not [Roman's] kid. Not his wife, either. It was in the pilot, and after it was picked up, it was his girlfriend, and she had a child. I’m wearing my real wedding band in the episode. I was excited about the idea of having a kid, and the kid was like 7 or 8. It was a little disappointing, but I think the idea was that it would just give them more freedom to play with the character... They had mentioned to me, even before we shot the pilot, about questioning what Roman’s sexuality is — and we don’t know what it is. But it put something in my brain, and I was like, “OK, but I’m married and have kids?” They were toying with the idea that she’s aware that you have sort of hangups sexually when it comes to monogamy, and might be more fluid, but we don’t know what that is yet."
How Roman Became an Unlikely Fan-Favorite Succession Character
Despite the initial confusion caused by the removal of Roman's wife and child from Succession, the decision paved the way for a character arc that has unexpectedly endeared the youngest Roy son to viewers. Although Roman seems to take pride in his emotional unavailability and patent contempt for those around him, it is this self-awareness that makes him so appealing among a cast of characters who are ultimately just as unpleasant but unwilling to it their faults. From casually condoning Kendall's accidental killing of a young caterer to engaging in a comically confounding relationship with his father's general counsel, Roman has become one of the most dynamic and entertaining characters of the lauded series.
Roman has remained a fascinating figure throughout Succession's four-season run, due in large part to Culkin's nuanced and Emmy-winning performance in the role. As the series has progressed, the character has undergone immense personal changes, recently culminating in the death of Logan Roy and his subsequent ascension to the position of co-CEO of the family company. While his penchant for unusual sexual escapades and sarcastic insults is as strong as ever, the series has forced Roman to reconcile his conflicted persona as he navigates a drastic career transition while simultaneously grieving his father and unpacking their convoluted relationship.
With the final season of Succession now at its halfway point, the series has many lingering questions about Roman left to answer. In the next five episodes, viewers hope to learn whether Roman will betray his brother Kendall, or him in permanently taking over the company, how his nebulous relationship with Gerri will conclude, and whether his unspoken sexuality will finally be explained.
Source: Variety