Episode 10 – ‘With Open Eyes’
If Matsson’s decision to name Tom CEO seemed sudden, Alexander Skarsgard has confirmed that it was subtly hinted at in ‘Church and State.’ In a conversation between Greg, Shiv, and Matsson, Greg mentions that Tom couldn’t attend the funeral due to work commitments. Skarsgard explains that Matsson was “registering that. Oh, he’s a hard worker. He’s not at the funeral of Logan Roy, the giant, because he’s at work. The fact that he’s incredibly loyal, as long as you’re the top dog, he’s loyal to you. And there’s something about that that makes him the perfect fit.” Furthermore, Matsson never wanted a CEO with their own ideas, he wanted an American “empty suit” who would facilitate a smooth transition of power. Tom’s willingness to let Matsson have sex with his wife if it meant he became CEO further solidified his position as the ultimate yes-man.
On the HBO podcast, Jeremy Strong revealed that the series was originally meant to end with that final confrontation between Roman and Kendall. However, Strong felt that Kendall had “something left in the tank,” and decided to walk back into the boardroom, with Mark Mylod and Jesse Armstrong following suit. Strong believes that Kendall finally realised, with Frank’s “You don’t have it” line, that “this entire thing was a fallacious thing and was a fantasy, and the whole thing deflates and he goes from the superbeing to the wraith.” In an unaired take, Strong attempted to climb over the barrier. In the HBO podcast, Strong explained “I didn’t really know what I planned to do and the actor playing Colin saw me and ran, and stopped me from doing it.” Jesse Armstrong also confirmed that this take wasn’t in the script, but that Strong felt it added depth to Kendall’s character.
Words by Emily Nutbean
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