Siobhan Roy and Connor Roy
Shiv and her seemingly witless half-brother Connor (Alan Ruck) are such an unlikely pairing. She’s intelligent,astute,but troubled by the occasional debilitating bout of ethics;he’s the opposite on all fronts. But if Shiv accepts that the patriarchy demands she can only ever be the power behind the throne,an alliance is just about conceivable.
Siobhan (Sarah Snook) and Connor (Alan Ruck) RoyCredit:HBO/Foxtel
Sure,her liberal political leanings are at odds with Connor’s let’s-abolish-tax-altogether libertarian lunacy,but she’s a spin doctor by training and has put her skills at the service of empty vessels before,so why not? And if they don’t land Waystar,they could always get serious about Connor’s presidential ambitions. He wouldn’t be the first rich-kid buffoon in the White House,after all.
The way she’s in the background here suggests she might have made a deal with this dimwitted devil. But the way she’s leaning over him,and the fact you can’t see her hands,suggests she’s the one pulling the strings far from prying eyes.
Tom Wambsgans and Gregory Hirsch
The pairing of Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) and cousin Greg – sorry,Gregory (Nicholas Braun) – makes perfect narrative sense. Shiv’s cuckolded husband is a perennial patsy in the company (albeit a very well-paid patsy),but he’s been Greg’s mentor (and tormentor) since the beginning.
But Greg has the sort of cunning and think-on-your-feet adaptability blueblood Tom could only dream of,and the image is perfect,hinting that Tom has realised Greg is now more threat than protege. Is Tom planning to massage Greg’s shoulders here,or trying to pin him down? I’m going for the latter.
Tom Wambsgans (Matthew Macfadyen) and Gregory Hirsch (Nicholas Braun)Credit:HBO/Foxtel
For what it’s worth,I’ve always thought Greg was the most likely heir to the throne. He’s family,but not immediate. He’s from an impoverished background,which makes him hungry. He’s ethically,er,“flexible” and politically astute. And while he looks naive and bumbling,he’s actually a quick learner. If it’s a killer Logan wants,this baby-faced assassin could be just the man-child for the job.
Gerri Kellman and Roman Roy
Finally,there’s Gerri (J. Smith-Cameron),Logan’s general counsel and the closest thing to an independent voice he can and will (occasionally) trust,and Logan’s younger son Roman (Kieran Culkin).
Gerri (J. Smith-Cameron) with Roman (Kieran Culkin)Credit:HBO/Foxtel
The way she’s fingering his top button recalls the perverse sexual spark that flared between them the moment she started humiliating him;their mutual deadpan expressions say “whaaat? You’re imagining it,there’s nothing going on”.
Oh,how I want to see these two take a mad,impulsive,instantly doomed tilt at power. They’d get nowhere,but it would be such fun to see them try.