History Headscratchers / Succession

* The implication is that either Iverson is actually Rava's child from a previous relationship, or he was conceived as a result of Rava cheating on Ken, or they were unable to conceive a child due to Ken having a low sperm count and so used a sperm donor. Since Rava (from what we see of her) doesn't seem like the cheating type, the latter is more likely (maybe they adopted Sophie after a failed round of IVF, then tried again later and it worked). Which makes Roman's comment a ''very'' low blow; even Shiv, usually the first to hit below the belt, [[EveryoneHasStandards seems disgusted]] that he brings that up. Especially given that when Sophie and Iverson appeared in the show, they were both treated as though they ''were'' Ken's kids — although Logan evidently thought differently in private.
* Assuming, of course, that it's true; Logan could have just made it up. It would be entirely in keeping for [[AbusiveParents a man]] [[{{Jerkass}} like Logan]] to be disgusted with the idea of having a grandson with developmental issues (it's even hinted at in his [[IWantGrandkids conversation with Tom]] in "Hunting"), and to try and distance himself from the boy by claiming that they're not biologically related -- which simultaneously serves to undermine his "number one boy" behind his back by calling his manhood into question (be it via being a cuckold or being infertile; it would work either way).

* The implication is that either Iverson is actually Rava's child from a previous relationship, or he was conceived as a result of Rava cheating on Ken, or they were unable to conceive a child due to Ken having a low sperm count and so used a sperm donor. Since Rava (from what we see of her) doesn't seem like the cheating type, the latter is more likely (maybe they adopted Sophie after a failed round of IVF, then tried again later and it worked). Which makes Roman's comment a ''very'' low blow; even Shiv, usually the first to hit below the belt, [[EveryoneHasStandards seems disgusted]] that he brought that up. Especially given that when Sophie and Iverson appeared in the show, they were both treated as though they ''were'' Ken's kids — although Logan evidently thought differently in private.

* The implication is that either Iverson is actually Rava's child from a previous relationship, or he was conceived as a result of Rava cheating on Ken, or they were unable to conceive a child due to Ken having a low sperm count and so used a sperm donor. Which makes Roman's comment a ''very'' low blow; even Shiv, usually the first to hit below the belt, [[EveryoneHasStandards seems disgusted]] that he brought that up. Especially given that when Sophie and Iverson appeared in the show, they were both treated as though they ''were'' Ken's kids — although Logan evidently thought differently in private.

In the finale, Roman tells an increasingly unstable Kendall that neither of his children are "bloodline" Roys -- [[AdoptionDiss Sophie was adopted]], while [[MamasBabyPapasMaybe Iverson isn't his (Ken's) biological son]]. He adds that Logan told him that, and this revelation well and truly pushes Ken's last BerserkButton, ruining for good his chances of taking over the company. While it's pretty clear that he's right about Sophie (who's of a different ethnicity to her parents), what about Iverson?

* The retro home movies of the Roy children shown in the opening credits have a 70's or 80's vibe in terms of the cinematography and fashions. But the Roys are (Connor excepted) in their late 30s or early 40s in the present day, implying that they were teenagers in the late 90s or early 2000s. Is this anachronism intentional?
** It's not specific home movies, it's to set a vibe. Biggest example being Logan's face never shown but always a looming presence.


* This is probably more of a "theory" question than "headscratcher", but what's the deal with Tom's black eye in Season 1? He tells Kendall and Roman he got it during sex with Shiv, but his sex life with Shiv seems very dry in general. Proof of CasualKink hidden depths, and is that why she rejected Nate when she met up with him again that night? The whole way Tom says it seems so overcompensating that I thought Shiv might've hit him.
** It's an AmbiguousSituation at this point. It might have originally connected to something that was later edited out or got abandoned before it ever paid off. It definitely seems like he's trying to cover something up, whether it's Shiv abusing him or him getting into some sort of sordid misadventure.
** It's totally possible the actor had a black eye in real life, and it either wasn't covering up well, or they decided to ThrowItIn for some background story texture.

* In the finale, Roman tells an increasingly unstable Kendall that neither of his children are "bloodline" Roys -- [[AdoptionDiss Sophie was adopted]], while [[MamasBabyPapasMaybe Iverson isn't his (Ken's) biological son]]. He adds that Logan told him that, and this revelation well and truly pushes Ken's last BerserkButton, ruining for good his chances of taking over the company. While it's pretty clear that he's right about Sophie (who's of a different ethnicity to her parents), what about Iverson?
** The implication is that either Iverson is actually Rava's child from a previous relationship, or he was conceived as a result of Rava cheating on Ken, or they were unable to conceive a child due to Ken having a low sperm count and so used a sperm donor. Which makes Roman's comment a ''very'' low blow; even Shiv, usually the first to hit below the belt, [[EveryoneHasStandards seems disgusted]] that he brought that up. Especially given that when Sophie and Iverson appeared in the show, they were both treated as though they ''were'' Ken's kids — although Logan evidently thought differently in private.
** Assuming, of course, that it's true; Logan could have just made it up. It would be entirely in keeping for [[AbusiveParents a man]] [[{{Jerkass}} like Logan]] to be disgusted with the idea of having a grandson with developmental issues (it's even hinted at in his [[IWantGrandkids conversation with Tom]] in "Hunting"), and to try and distance himself from the boy by claiming that they're not biologically related -- which simultaneously serves to undermine his "number one boy" behind his back by calling his manhood into question (be it via being a cuckold or being infertile; it would work either way).

** The implication is that either Iverson is actually Rava's child from a previous relationship, or he was conceived as a result of Rava cheating on Ken, or they were unable to conceive a child due to Ken having a low sperm count and so used a sperm donor. Either way, Iverson has throughout the series been treated as and referred to as Kendall's son, so the last one is the most likely. Which makes Roman's comment a ''very'' low blow; even Shiv, usually the first to hit below the belt, [[EveryoneHasStandards seems disgusted]] that he brought that up. Especially given that when Sophie and Iverson appeared in the show, they were both treated as though they ''were'' Ken's kids — although Logan evidently thought differently in private.

** The implication is that either Iverson is actually Rava's child from a previous relationship, or he was conceived as a result of Rava cheating on Ken, or they were unable to conceive a child due to Ken having a low sperm count and so used a sperm donor. Either way, Iverson has throughout the series been treated as and referred to as Kendall's son, so the last one is the most likely. Which makes Roman's comment a ''very'' low blow; even Shiv, usually the first to hit below the belt, [[EveryoneHasStandards seems disgusted]] that he brought that up.
** Or maybe Logan made that up. It would be entirely in keeping for [[AbusiveParents a man]] [[{{Jerkass}} like Logan]] to be disgusted with the idea of having a grandson with developmental issues (it's even hinted at in his [[IWantGrandkids conversation with Tom]] in "Hunting"), and to try and distance himself from the boy by claiming that they're not biologically related -- which simultaneously serves to undermine his "number one boy" behind his back by calling his manhood into question (be it via being a cuckold or being infertile; it would work either way).

** It's totally possible the actor had a black eye in real life, and it either wasn't covering up well, or they decided to ThrowItIn for some background story texture.

** It's an AmbiguousSituation at this point. It might have originally connected to something that was later edited out or got abandoned before it ever paid off. It definitely seems like he's trying to cover something up, whether it's Shiv abusing him or him getting into some sort of sordid misadventure.

* This is probably more of a "theory" question than "headscratcher", but what's the deal with Tom's black eye in Season 1? He tells Kendall and Roman he got it during sex with Shiv, but his sex life with Shiv seems very dry in general. Proof of CasualKink hidden depths, and is that why she rejected Nate when she met up with him again that night? The whole way Tom says it seems so overcompensating that I thought Shiv might've hit him.