The ‘Succession’ Season 3 Premiere Kept the Roman/Gerri Shippers Fed

Succession Season 3 took us right into the bitter aftermath of Kendall Roy’s (Jeremy Strong) shocking declaration at the end of Season 2 and the scramble for power in the vacuum created by his statement. With all eyes on Logan Roy (Brian Cox), someone else has to assume leadership of Waystar RoyCo and the three finalists are Shiv (Sarah Snook), Roman (Kieran Culkin), and Gerri (J. Smith-Cameron). While Shiv ruins her chances by whiffing on recruiting a fierce feminist lawyer for her father, Roman seemingly falls on his sword talking Gerri up for the job. The Succession Season 3 premiere was full of the wicked barbs and vicious backstabbing that’s made the HBO show a hit, but mostly it was full of winks and treats for the Gerri/Roman fans amongst us. (Including yours truly.)

When Succession first premiered, it was set up as an inside look at the toxic familial relationship within a major media conglomerate. And while the show still is just that — an impassioned war between siblings for the love and respect of their tyrannical father — Succession‘s fans have latched on to the show’s few true relationships of love and respect. Namely, the unlikely romance/friendship/alliance between the company’s older general counsel Gerri and erratic youngest son Roman. The chemistry between J. Smith-Cameron and Kieran Culkin bloomed into a weirdly kinky set up in Succession Season 2 with Gerri emerging as the one person who could not only turn Roman on, but put him in his place, inspire him, and give him sage advice.

In the Succession Season 2 finale, Gerri and Roman’s alliance threatened to awkwardly broach into public, with the two pairing up for giggles on Logan’s yacht and Roman steadfastly defending Gerri when her name was floated as the company’s “blood sacrifice.” However in Succession Season 3, Gerri and Roman’s friendship gets locked down even more. As Logan stews over who to anoint as the interim CEO, Roman makes a Hail Mary call for himself that winds up being a better pitch for Gerri (and for him to learn under her “wing”).

However Roman’s latest moment of selflessness on Gerri’s part is nothing compared to the steam of the scene where the two are sequestered in the same hotel room awaiting the news. Roman literally makes multiple attempts to cheekily seduce Gerri into bed and she resists, explaining she’s gotten to be as successful as she is by avoiding “mess.” Kieran Culkin’s body language throughout this is maybe the most randy its been throughout Succession‘s run, while Smith-Cameron shields herself in a coy way…teasing that maybe — just maybe — Gerri wants it, too.

Roman and Gerri’s simmering chemistry is just one of the many delights to be found in HBO’s Succession, but it’s honestly become one of the show’s main events through virtue of it being one of the few alliances that feels rooted in real emotion. Roman clearly is smitten with Gerri. So much so, he would defend her in a way that could torpedo his own chances of success. Gerri, on the other hand, seems to enjoy her power over Roman. The question remains: does Gerri also like and trust Roman? Or are we setting ourselves up for yet another relationship doomed to end with someone backstabbing the other?

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