Kieran Culkin still hasn’t figured out what was going on between Roman and Gerri

One of the most popular (and woefully unresolved) storylines in “Succession” was Roman Roy and Gerri Kellman’s tendency to mix corporate mentorship and Machiavellian intrigue with perverted, degrading phone sex. The uneasy partnership between Kieran Culkin’s traumatized nepochild and J. Smith-Cameron’s hyper-competent general counsel has been the subject of endless speculation during the show’s run — and the actors still aren’t quite sure what went down. .

In a new conversation with Claire Danes as part of Of variety In the series “Actors on Actors” Culkin was asked about the ever-confused relationship between Roman and Gerri. Apparently, he was just as confused as the rest of us while they were shooting.

“I never did,” Culkin said when asked if he understood what was going on between Roman and Gerri. “But I knew it made sense. Something in my belly said, ‘Yes. Works. I don’t know what it is or why’ And if I tried to identify it, I feel like Roman wouldn’t be able to identify it. So I tried to stay in the dark. I kind of thought, ‘When the show is over, I can figure that out’ — and I still haven’t.

Culkin’s comments echo similar remarks Smith-Cameron made to IndieWire in 2020. The actress explained that she was never entirely sure where the line between affairs and sex was drawn between the two characters, which only added to the excitement.

“To be honest, it’s very tough. Why do you want it to ring true, and, I don’t know. I think she’s too experienced to do something so messy. I think she is too careful a person,” Cameron said. “But on the other hand, you’re a good protégé. Right? Perhaps. I do not know. I’m just thinking about it in the back of my mind, she’s like, ‘This is a diamond in the rough. Maybe this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship, if only I could handle her kinky fun sex.” But I do not know. How long can you keep it in ice? I don’t know what they’re writing and I’m a little afraid to find out.”