On his 80th birthday, media magnate Logan Roy shocks his family by announcing he's staying on indefinitely as CEO of Waystar Royco. The news shatters son Kendall, the heir apparent, while tempers flare as Logan's other children raise objections over Logan's intentions.

Logan's incapacitation sets off a heated succession debate among his children, as the board rushes to inform the media about leadership contingencies before the stock market opens. Kendall makes an impassioned final plea to keep Waystar Royco in the family.

With Waystar's stock plunging to dangerous lows, Kendall is confronted with a major crisis involving a secret bank debt. Upset with Marcia for pulling rank in the Roy apartment, Shiv decides to enlist an old paramour to conduct a background check on Logan's third wife.

With the company's annual foundation gala approaching, Kendall polishes up his speech while enlisting an on-air personality from the Waystar's ATV Networks to accompany him. Shiv tries to minimise damage from a sordid photo that threatens a client's political future.

After hearing Logan's plan to expand to local TV, Kendall plots a vote of no confidence against his father. Greg drives his ornery grandfather from Canada to New York for a Thanksgiving reunion with Logan. Tom grows concerned about the terms of his prenup with Shiv.

With the vote of no confidence against Logan approaching, Roman attempts to sway a neutral board member, while Kendall shores up his "yea" votes. Logan arrives in Washington to meet with the president, but worries he's been snubbed following a last-minute cancellation.

In an effort to fix his public image, Logan agrees to a family therapy session at Connor's ranch, intending it to double as a publicity stunt. Shiv considers putting herself in a precarious situation when Nate pushes her to join the team of a presidential candidate.

Tom has a bachelor party to remember; Kendall eyes a new business opportunity with a pair of idealistic entrepreneurs; Roman looks to land a deal for local TV stations with his father's nemesis; Shiv and Gil get ambushed during a TV interview on a Waystar network.

The Roys assemble at Eastnor Castle in England to prepare for Shiv and Tom's wedding. As guests mingle and clash, Kendall learns from Stewy and Sandy that their plot for a hostile takeover of Waystar has been fast-tracked in order to catch Logan off-guard.

Logan finds himself in crisis mode as news of a hostile takeover breaks; Kendall eyes an escape outlet.