Tom talks with Logan about sacrificing himself | Succession Season 3, Episode 3

[@luc-rikardofils6673]

When Logan said “it won’t come to that” he and Gerri really did work to make sure that he kept his word and saved Tom! I just realized that.

[@JamesWick99]

Maybe that's also why Tom kept Gerri and decided to let go of the other old guys

[@ColombianThunder]

​@@JamesWick99 also keep in mind, he testified alongside Gerri during the hearing, meanwhile he was hounded on by Gill when Hugo said that wouldn't happen. Hugo "advised" him on what to say and I don't think Tom has trusted him ever since.

[@vladimirhorowitz]

@@JamesWick99 Gerri is also one of the few who's actually good at her job, and Karl called him a "clumsy interloper" who was only around because he was married to the boss's daughter.

[@Mikeagainagain]

Logan doesn’t keep his word. He manipulates his son into volunteering to go to prison (he thinks) so that he doesn’t have to go himself. Remember that the senior shareholders tell Logan directly they think he should be the one to step up and go down. Just when you think you’ve found a character to rally behind, each reveals themself to be more self-serving than they had previously been. It’s true about Logan more than any of them. Compelling stuff.

[@124soyeon]

Tom wants to be needed and appreciated. Strangely, he’s received more of that from Logan than from Shiv. Here, Logan expressed gratitude after Tom showed willingness to sacrifice himself, whereas virtually all of Tom’s actions go unnoticed and unacknowledged by Shiv. Crazy to think how far a “thank you” can go.

[@00st307-m]

Yes well said!

[@mrprimeconsigliere]

Shiv used him in every which way. And then treated him like a discarded piece of shit. She totally deserved that knife in the back.

[@mmclaurin8035]

Logan wasn't thanking him for being willing to make that sacrifice. He was thanking him for giving him a nice card to play. Nothing more. There's no actual affection in 99% of the family. They're all broken, borderline sociopathic monsters.

[@thamayor6324]

@M mclaurin80 a good card to play but it landed with Logan too. Once they get news no one goes to jail the secretary gives everyone wine Logan pours and hands Tom his. Also once they were in the clear he kept Tom around.

[@KingMinosxxvi]

Tom is a serious person and Logan realizes that...when you watch the last video of them laughing..logan reciting thee president and the loosers..geri telling a lymeric and carl sing a song you realizes that these are serious hard working people with a horrible jobs but they are still people...shiv, roman and kendall on the other hand..they are all cuckooooo;s...did logan makem that way...probably but still

[@willmccormick8916]

Tom is over here playing all his cards.

[@patrick4662]

When I first saw this I was like.... why? Why would he do that? Guess its part of a longer play? Can't wait to find out!

[@willmccormick8916]

@@patrick4662 Clearly testing the waters to see how Logan will react. He's getting his own representation immediately after this scene. Tom is making moves.

[@Jennyfisch]

I think Logan appreciated that as much as the sacrifice itself. He can respect someone who makes a risky move that will pay off big.

[@JoeDurp]

Logan didn’t forget that

[@Unclejack328]

Tom was the MVP!!!

[@citrusforce]

"I'll step up and go down" is a great line.

[@cosmoinstant]

It's really difficult for Logan (who's wielding a lot of power ) to find a genuinely loyal person in his surrounding. Tom is aware of that so he decides that the risk of going to jail is high enough to bet everything on Logan's affection by exploiting his weakness of not having anyone loyal around.

[@arealperson641]

though if you think about it why would anyone be genuinely loyal to Logan? Difficult to think of anything Logan did to others that deserves other people's loyalty

[@QuinnMiller]

@@arealperson641 Toms seen Kendall (and the other kids) get fucked a lot. He's never seen Logan get fucked. Not once

[@lfcambotta]

​@@arealperson641 I guess it's not about deserving, but earning (with the power he's got).

[@rogerfricke1785]

Well said

[@walker6168]

Reminds me of the scene in S2 when Logan talks to the family of the dead kid and realizes they don't want money, they're just upset about their child. Everyone in his life wants something from him, so he respects when somebody doesn't.

[@yunjingf]

this makes so much sense now after watching the finale...

[@KingMinosxxvi]

made sense at the time yo!

[@sara_mlm152]

Riiiight

[@innerDialectic]

@@KingMinosxxvi nah it was kept ambiguous considering he immediately calls a new independent lawyer after this scene.

[@KingMinosxxvi]

@@innerDialectic No but telling Logan he will go down makes total sense regardless of who calls afterwards.

[@innerDialectic]

@@KingMinosxxvi seemed like he was testing Logan (and shiv, earlier) on whether they'd actually be willing to protect him, and when neither give strong enough assurances he calls an independent lawyer. That's how I potentially interpreted it at least. But yeah that last look definitely indicated a lot more.

[@colechapman6976]

The most genuine Logan has ever been. All his children want something from him, his friends want something from him, his multiple wives all wanted something from him. Here is someone willing to sacrifice himself for him and expect nothing in return. This is an awesome moment for Tom. He shows genuine loyalty to Logan even after he made him do boar on the floor. It also makes sense from this scene why he did what he did in the finally

[@athas12]

Except Tom wanted something in return, to be Roy, to stay in the family. Tom wanted this life to last, and that is why he wanted to have a kid with Shiv. They all want something. The only difference is Tom didn't want the seat, he just wanted to be beneath Logan, which is where Logan wants everyone to be.

[@damianmedina07]

@@athas12 true that

[@trentp1993]

I believe Tom see that Logan is old school and respects loyalty above all else, and since Shiv doesn’t want Toms undying loyalty he is desperate to give it to someone who values him.

[@thuglifebear5256]

I call BS on the genuine part. Logan knows how to lie with a straight face.

[@ScottyGG]

Dialog aside, the scene gave me the same feeling as when Tom congratulated Greg for blackmailing him. Sortof a 'thanks for stepping up and elevating your game. You did good' thing.

[@papl20]

Not only this sacrifice, I think something finally clicked in Logan that Tom has also been one of the only ones who has "cared for him" in convalescence.

[@MARCOTODD]

what an arc holy fuck

[@Unclejack328]

Tom!!!!

[@sonchik6324]

And it’s just the beginning!

[@RocketRaccoon-o2l]

Tom outplayed the siblings twice at the end of season 3 and 4. He deserved it.

[@freetheplay3448]

This was the moment. Great series!!

[@alexandriadanyelle5406]

Tom is doing something for Logan his son wouldn’t do. He wants to be a Roy, by any means necessary

[@Jon.A.Scholt]

True, but his son shouldn't have had to in the first place. As Tom said of Logan, "He never gets f***ed" but that's only true because he's willing to use those close to him, including his children as human shields.

[@anchitkumar8963]

@@Jon.A.Scholt it was a test. You really think he would have let Kendall, his son, go to jail.

[@Jon.A.Scholt]

@@anchitkumar8963 You think he wouldn't?

[@anchitkumar8963]

@@Jon.A.Scholt absolutely. There's no way he'd have let it happen. Look how it turned out eventually. Nobody had to go.

[@ParasiteEvel]

@@anchitkumar8963 yeah because its a scripted tv show, where they would need to either leave tom out of the show (or anyone who ends up in jail) risk ratings in case the dynamics of the show and characters change or add a whole new part to the show with whoever is in jail, and make it a bit of a "surviving jail" bs where the only contact the characters get with the one who goes to jail is talking through a glass window or through an attorney. If Logan was real, and it didnt count on TVshow stuff he'd throw his kids under the bus in seconds, probably Kendall first since Logan thinks he's trash and below everyone "a nobody". He'd probably throw in some "Kendall youre a fucking drug addict lowlife, youll make it in prison more than anyone else." Plus its obvious that they didnt know where the hell to go with the jail plotline or what they really wanted to do, because the whole premise fell apart after this episode and youre right, nobody had to go, nothing happened.

[@ironsideeve2955]

And this is the master move that got him on top

[@akshaychaurasiya1309]

He's gonn get screwed in the next season

[@ColombianThunder]

​@@akshaychaurasiya1309 man

[@Pulang_Diwa]

​@@akshaychaurasiya1309 Bruh.

[@MrDanteHunter]

@@akshaychaurasiya1309 dude.

[@avatarmikephantom153]

I really think at this moment Logan wanted Tom as a son and as CEO. So glad Tom won. 😊

[@gavbag1234]

Wow... you really didn't get the show at all. First off... When Logan tells Kendall he needs to go down for the cruise scandal... Kendall asks his dad "did you ever think I could do it" (the "top job") Logan's reply is "you're not a killer". He believed Kendall lacked the ferocity the CEO position would take. /watch?v=KE5ug_uoeRg Then, when Kendall decides to burn Logan... the last thing we see... is not Logan losing it, in fear or anger... he smiles... with pride... /watch?v=jQh0_CzjKko This pervades the entire show... Logan is never unclear, he lists Kendall in his will, he tells Josh "it'll be okay, maybe it'll be him oneday, it's in his blood, he learned it from me... maybe he's the best of all of them". Shiv and Tom chose to Ally themselves to someone who was using them... they chose to sacrafice real control of the company for petty feelings towards Kendall... Shiv made her decision based on Kendall putting his feet on her Dad's desk... They got into a car at the end and the fool is given cause to think "oh wow, they won"... really they won nothing... Matsson is a scumbag who will dispense with them the moment they're no longer useful... their only use is to placate a xenophobic president who would otherwise block him obtaining the company... Tom won absolutely nothing. Tom has been in jail since this scene... maybe before. Remember what he said about Rasputin "taking a dose of arsenic each morning to build up his tolerance"... yeah... Tom's story is one of eating so much shit, you eventually can't tell the difference anymore.

[@evanfaust8672]

@@gavbag1234I agree with what you said about Logan and Kendall. But considering Tom was CEO in the end, and now had complete leverage and power over all the people that fucked him over for years, I’d say he won.

[@iam18haha1]

Thank you Tom....

[@trentp1993]

…Thank you

[@iam18haha1]

@@trentp1993 !!!

[@eatthebiscuits389]

This play might’ve fucked the siblings forever

[@rsalese44]

He deserved the CEO spot

[@Nighthawk-8050]

Tom was actually willing to fall on the sword 🗡️ with nothing in return. Logan really appreciate it that. I'm glad he won the prize. But his soul belongs to Mattson.

[@NickWalkerWilliamson]

What am I gonna do with a soul anyways? Souls are boring. Boo souls!

[@TheAngryAustrian]

I wonder if this convo is also the reason Tom won at the end, because Logan might have told mattson about Tom's loyalty

[@JohnSmithPlaysGames]

He would have fallen on the sword and held the scepter

[@eddiekaspbrak4624]

@@JohnSmithPlaysGameshe ain’t holding shit lmao he’s literally a human piece of furniture for lukas. he’s an spineless loser

[@sophieamandaleitontoomey9343]

Tom knew how to play the game.

[@hunter999888]

Coming back to this scene now after the finale. Logan really wanted Tom in this moment to he the successor.

[@frederickgriefer4079]

I dont think he ever saw Tom has his successor, but he probably would have wanted him as CEO working under a visionary like Mattson. Mattson is Logan's true successor and someone who Logan saw as close to an equal. Logan never saw Tom as an equal but did recognize him as a loyal deputy who could handle the busy work and execute

[@ndantona92]

reach

[@Unclejack328]

Logan never forgot……

[@endlessfreedomful]

i recon Logan has never said Thank you to anyone in that sincere way ever. Tom is such a brilliant

[@steverichardson5051]

What Tom wanted, but didn't need to spell out, was for Logan to value him, for Logan to see him as loyal. That is as much currency as you need with Logan and he would look after him even if he did go to jail and after.

[@freetheplay3448]

Well put!

[@AC-oz9gr]

And yet another reason why Tom became CEO. Maybe not directly, but this kind of sacrificial attitude for the sake of the company set him on course.

[@ivermektin6874]

It made him inner circle. He was the only "family" there when Logan died acting as a mediary as always. Kendall wouldn't take one for the team ever.

[@gnosticcinema9596]

That look he gives at the end. Tom gambled and played the long game. But he hasn't won yet. Now Shiv will be looking to neutralize him. Perhaps use her political connects to get the DOJ back in play? Damn this show is good.

[@JamesWick99]

Oh do we have a surprise for you:)

[@eliuryes2778]

How Tom last looks at Logan tells everything! From the side and without him noticing. He called the FBI. What set him off was his talk with Shiv on the couch when he was "drunk". Tom is finally realizing that the family really doesn't give a rat's ass about him and he needs to save his own ass and possibly take Greg with him since Greg has been the only one from the Roy family to not think any less of him. Or maybe he needs someone to pelt with water bottles again.

[@billybatts8283]

I think Kens offer was legit or maybe I'd just like to think that.

[@CT-yz9nx]

Tom fought so hard to be in the family and climb the Waystar ladder he kinda deserves to be in this spot right along with the Roy’s. I always questioned why he married Shiv especially proposing to her randomly while Logan was on what they thought was his death bed. I don’t get why Shiv married him. No real benefits in it for her

[@colechapman6976]

@@CT-yz9nx The benefit for her was that she would get a person who would simply act as her plaything. She needed stability and a person who wouldn't be stronger than her. Tom was exactly the person she would've logically chosen. Just smart enough to be acceptable for her but not conniving enough or manipulative enough to really pose any threat. Shiv has all the power and Tom is just another person for her to use for personal gain. That's why she wanted an open relationship too since it shows Tom that she has the ultimate power in the relationship and can tell him what the marriage will be like, instead of what usually happens where the man has all the say.

[@CT-yz9nx]

@@colechapman6976 I agree on the plaything aspect, she’s got major self esteem issues to be with a “Tom” who himself is a bully (remember using people as furniture?) but why “marry” him? Why not keep dating him as a plaything? If they divorce, by today’s family court standards, he can take *her* money because she’s by far wealthier plus his mom is an attorney. He can also very easily “upgrade” and marry a more docile attractive model type because he’s been married to Shiv Roy. He has a high level spot in Waystar. He could get another high level spot anywhere because of his time at Waystar. I mean, it’s a win for Tom. Even if he does do jail time, I doubt he does much time and he comes out a rich man and has Logan’s perceived trust. He has a lot of cards he can play. Shiv will forever be her Dads puppet because as Rhea says “she’s not as smart as she thinks she is”.

[@CT-yz9nx]

@@colechapman6976 I also don’t think she’s sexually attracted to Tom hence the open relationship. It’s very hard for us ladies to be sexually attracted to men we don’t respect. Tom doesn’t present himself as a respectable man and was emasculated long before he met Shiv. This is in part, why Logan made the comment to Shiv that he was “fathoms beneath her”. That scoundrel, Nate, that she likes to play with at least is not one of the many men *not* groveling at her fathers feet all the time. He seems to be his own man and making his own decisions - that sort of strength likely scares someone like Shiv. But still why on earth *marry* him?

[@burgerdaveee]

the start of toms ascent

[@EXCLMaker]

Tom understands at this point that Shiv does not have any special reach within Logan's inner circle. She can't protect him and repeatedly admonishes him for expecting empathy from his goddamn wife. Since his own wife considers him disposable, his only hope is to ingratiate himself to Logan. Logan almost always gets what he wants (not 100% of the time though like shown with the Pierce deal falling apart), and Logan at least will be more honest with than Shiv because Logan doesn't even consider Tom important enough yet to try and manipulate or coerce into anything. Meanwhile being straight-up lied to, manipulated, coerced, and literally cucked is how his relationship with Shiv is 90% of the time.

[@mr.thunder1219]

I'll step up and go down. Even when it's simple I love the writing on this show.

[@margarethmichelina5146]

Tom is playing chess while the siblings are playing checkers, no wonder he won in the end

[@monke777]

Tom: "woof woof"

[@Whoopsydayzee]

Just.... clunk the trout over the head, and put it in your pouch

[@Herbert2892]

Nice. But how the fuck i stop the series theme to play in my head all day?

[@adlwas8176]

You don't, its part of your life now

[@thrillamoe50]

It’s really a great fucking song, sounds elegant, def a song i want to hear when i get me some big B’s in the bank like bossman Logan. 😎😈

[@TheLastLoad]

Crazy, Tom is willing to do whatever for whoever, no matter what.

[@robertbowser1846]

Tom is my guy. Knew I liked him from the start

[@ohh2752]

u mean when he just starts verbally abusing someone he doesnt know?

[@gordongekko9742]

@@ohh2752 He was a pretty shity character at the beginning wasnt he

[@AA-qb7ni]

I love Tom's storyline. I really can't wait for season 4!!

[@michaeld614]

In the end loyalty makes you king 👑😊

[@GlassesAndCoffeeMugs]

What's so impressive is Tom DID have an angle but successfully convinced Logan he didn't. Insane power move.

[@rashadginn8768]

This Must be The Mother Of Hail Mary's move 🤣

[@hasibrahman8972]

Tom punched the golden ticket at that moment

[@Keeg64]

Logan realizes that Tom is the son he’s always wanted.

[@Bob-fj7lr]

Tbh this is why Tom won. He was going to go to jail for this solely to preserve the companies existence in Logan's name.

[@nevyn1221]

The actual first moment Tom starting winning, although it only came clear much later, in retrospect.

[@supernaturalawesome1]

As Rick Sanchez once said, "You act like prey but you're a predator. You use pity to lure in your victims. It's how you survive".

[@ChicoSuave23612]

tom played chess in this scene. He was power player after this

[@dimitrimachadodasilva6048]

I should have seen it that he was going to become the CEO at the end. Tom did everything right on Logan's eye

[@LectroBer]

I'll step up and go down.

[@Angelo-ve6vb]

If just Tom were able to sacrifice himself at the end of season 2, nothing of it wouldn't be happening.

[@anatolianlofi]

“That’s it?” Pure disbelief from Logan. Yes Tom may have all his own psych and reasons to go all in but he still could have done it in other ways. Yet, here he says, when even his silence is utmost precious on the matter, he will own the problem. Jail time, not a joke. Tom might not show it but it was indeed stressful for him - his prestigious life would be over. Logan sees that and “really?” Yeah. Really. Because Tom. Trusting the huge safety net that’s Logan. Tom sees the part of people in need at the worst moments in their life and tries to fill it. Maybe for a benefit, maybe not. He has this need, this is what he is.

[@SmokeDog1871]

Its interesting to rewatch everything after the finale, remember thinking Tom was being an idiot here but it turns out this is what it takes

[@alifasaurus4521]

well.....

[@Unclejack328]

#neverforgot #loyalty

[@Gogettor]

TOM WINS!

[@LeoFazio]

Most ardently

[@Nationlivid]

With the new trailer this is funny

[@d8kproductions804]

So real question? You think Logan would have liked Tom being the successor ?

[@AREA-jp8vb]

I Feel like from this moment on Logan wasn’t sure if Tom was a pushover or someone who is extremely loyal. Which is why I think Logan picked Kendall over him. And Tom continue to prove loyalty, to him until the very end. I honestly think that if Logan didn’t die he would have passed the company down to Tom. Not only to spite his children, but for the same reason, Matson named him, CEO.

[@BREAKocean]

I think both saw different things in them. Matson knew Tom was a cuck and would be more easily controlled than any of the siblings.

[@jackashmore]

Yo as shitty as Tom is to Greg sometime, Tom is the most caring of the family. He was Oriya really good guy before started dating shiv, that family made him wild.

[@TheGreen0arrow]

Tom seems super earnest here. Why people want to fantasise about him ratting the Rpys out beats me.

[@BatmanHQYT]

They think they're watching Billions.

[@ionthegreat13]

Did you not see the scene right after this where he calls up a lawyer?

[@procrastinationvacation7163]

@@BatmanHQYT because plot twists can only happen in billions

[@TheGreen0arrow]

@@procrastinationvacation7163 Because it sounds like a only in Billions soap opera Anime plot twist and that doesn’t sound like this show.

[@jackdriscoll8387]

@@ionthegreat13 he calls a lawyer not the fbi😂

[@aap2310]

Rich people don't usually go to jail it's very rare. All they did was pay a fine just like in reality.

[@morpheusdorpheusorpheus]

Didn't really realize it till now but it feels like Tom is forcing Greg to be to him what Tom is trying to be for Logan. He won't become a loyal slave without a loyal slave of his own.

[@jamesmansbridge5330]

It was at that moment,Tom has decided to push his wife down the stairs and have Greg castrated and marry him instead,it is that twisted of the plot made me thinking he is an extremely calculating person,a true successor

[@TMichelle555]

Even though Tom said he didn’t want anything in return for possibly going down for Logan - wouldn’t Logan be weary of Tom actually wanting something in return? Or maybe he can see that Tom genuinely means it.. idk Logan’s a shark but I guess even a shark had to put their faith in people around them sometimes

[@daftie-]

so suppose tom does want something, how does he hold that over logan? he already gave him the knife to get stabbed with.

[@yinghanfu9047]

Logan Roy loves Tom more than Shiv...

[@robotkiller99]

Lot of bad reads about this move "paying off", as if this was some grand strategy that worked in the end. Mattson made Tom CEO because he wanted a competent, malleable and ego-less American to front the operation and take the hits. Logan had no love for self sacrifice - he admired killers not pawns.

[@atharva7723]

Well...fuck

[@aikonoklas]

So logan appreciates a loyal fool better than his own kids that although treacherous, somewhat smarter and able?

[@whitketchum]

They aren't able, they give in and completely fold the second a slightly good offer comes.

[@IwinMahWay]

Except he isn't a loyal fool. He's a nobody who worked his way to the top, and knows who to pick at the peak time.

[@nickbooze9766]

None of the Roy children are smarter and more capable than Tom. Even before the finale.

[@helenakulczycka4901]

Czego chcesz

[@amberstarr2667]

Why did Tom volunteer to do something so stupid?

[@OVOgooner]

Probably because he thinks that he's finished either way so he tries to make the most of it

[@maxbolton5227]

Think we all know why now

[@cr-it5lh]

@@maxbolton5227 lol

[@beattodeath]

Because he Knows who is really going to win in the end. He told Ken exactly that when he said he knew Ken was going to get F'd again and had yet to see Logan get F'd even once. Add to that Shiv telling him she cheated on him on their wedding day etc. Tom knew exactly where the bread was buttered

[@Qtrademark]

Tom went “all in” with Logan. What Tom told Kendall when Kendall tried to get him to turn-Tom said he expects in the end that Kendall will be f**ked and that he’s never seen Logan get f**ked. Plus, Tom is seeing Shiv in a different light-she’s narcissistic and she doesn’t really seem to care if he goes to prison (although she did ask Logan to spare him earlier). Tom is putting all his chips on Logan. Tom really does prefer Greg to Shiv (not in a literal gay sense) Greg tried to warn him at the wedding that he Shiv was cheating on him. Tom sees Greg as having a better heart than Shiv, Roman, or Kendall.

[@mns2137]

He really said “not a problem” after volunteering to go to prison 🥲