#the idea that Roman has no clue what exactly he wants from Gerri but that he does know he wants something

[waystarresourceco]

Kieran Culkin on Roman's S2 proposal to Gerri. (x)

[hageny]

Succession Thoughts: Gerri x Roman

1. Humor.

There’s something that happens early in the series that is perhaps passed over as being noteworthy, but is an interesting glance in to why Roman and Gerri get on so well later on. When Tom is asking Gerri in Sad Sack Wasp Trap how she got the information that he was planning to go public with the cruise line allegations, Gerri very sarcastically tells Tom that she is sleeping with his mother, who has blurted the information out in her sleep. On the surface this is just a clever quip to break the tension between them, but it’s an unusual response from someone as aloof and quiet as Gerri. The flippancy of this moment recalls much of what comes out of Roman’s mouth, his habit of using sexual innuendo to ratchet up the tension, his delight in making others uncomfortable; there’s an interesting parallel between this moment and the moment a few episodes later when Roman tells Ken that Lawrence likes him more because, “I look like a matador and everyone wants to fuck me.” Humor of a sexual nature is an interesting fallback for both Gerri and Roman.

2. Dirty work.

In the Dundee episode, when the children are scheming about how to get rid of Rhea and diffuse the hold she has over Logan, Roman says something intriguing that he delivers in such an off-hand, low key way that it almost is easy to overlook. He tells Shiv--who later tells Tom--to have Rhea mention Rose in her toast to Logan. Rose is Logan’s sister, and what her fate/relationship to him is is unknown to us at this time, but from his reaction and the general information we derive from his childhood, one can deduce it is not good. This moment highlights another bit of Roman’s brilliance. He pawns the task of mentioning Rose to Rhea--knowing she has no clue the importance of Rose, or that mentioning her at all is a terrible idea--to his sibling, who then passes the torch to her husband. This is brilliant because had Roman said something to Rhea himself, the information might’ve gotten back to Logan, so he wisely uses Shiv, whose husband is under her thumb most of the time, to do the dirty work for him, likely knowing that Tom won’t mention the idea was Roman’s, and if he does no one would pay any attention anyway. Though he tells Shiv this, when we see Roman with Rhea, he is just charming enough not to arouse her suspicions, and pliant enough to keep her guessing as to what he truly thinks. Is he truly as charmed by her as he pretends to be, or is he simply mimicking Gerri in doing this? It’s hard to say, but like the later scene with Laird, Roman exhibits a level of cunning that is important to take note of, his emotional intelligence once again at play and helping to keep his hands clean.

3. Wife and Mother.

A curiosity I’ve taken note of in reading some fanfiction is that many fans seem to believe--and then depict--the marriage between Baird and Gerri as fairly idealistic, and her role as a mother as distant--to varying degrees--but ultimately loving. My opinion is quite different. The basis for this is the scene above the night before Shiv’s wedding when Shiv asks her godmother for advice and Gerri simply replies, “Oh I don’t know, I was never very good at that. My husband died. Don’t let him die?” . Her response is so curiously cold and flippant, especially considering Baird has passed on, that I think it needs dissecting. This is only the second time Baird is ever mentioned, and her daughters are only brought up once, at the very end of Season 2. We don’t know exactly what role Baird might have played in Waystar or how important he was, and much of his character is shrouded in mystery, but Gerri’s reaction in the above scene perhaps provides a clue. The fact that the first thing that Gerri thinks to say is, “I was never very good at that” is very telling, and allows some insight into her ability to self-reflect and report honestly on her own shortcomings. Given that the relationship between Shiv and Gerri seems almost non-existent, it’s even more unusual that Gerri would think to be so bracingly honest when lying would have been more comfortable. Even Shiv, by no means the softest, most emotional person, seems taken aback by Gerri’s coldness. Does Gerri’s saying, “My husband died” just after that indicate that on some level she blames herself for his death, feels that maybe she was not present enough in her marriage and not there enough for him when he ultimately did pass? It’s possible. It’s worth noting also that she never makes an effort to speak warmly of him. She mentions that he’s dead twice, but that is all she says about him, as though the whole of his character is wrapped up in a dead corpse. Is her silence ultimately more telling, revealing a darker truth that existed and impacted her in her union, turning her into what she is? My belief is that their marriage was quite far from comfortable and ideal, and that, while Gerri loved her children, she was not maternal enough to provide for them in the capacity they needed, and that Karl’s remark about her boarding them in first class on the company plane could have been a way of assuaging her guilt over failing them. This also allows us another peek into her bond with Roman, who is part lover to her and part son, of sorts. He is young enough and clumsy enough to be influenced and to need guiding, but strong and sure enough to take hold of her when she needs it and make her feel wanted. Perhaps the best of Gerri’s character traits--her kindness, her thoughtfulness, her generosity--finally find their home in her relationship with him, allowed to flourish in ways they couldn’t before. While she manipulates not only Kendall but her own goddaughter, she extends to Roman a level of love she possibly failed to provide even her own family.