Kieran Culkin plays Roman Roy in the hit HBO Max series Succession, and viewers feel he has delivered the performance necessary to earn the coveted Emmy.
Succession is no stranger to Emmy wins and nominations. The hit HBO Max series chronicling the ruthless Roy family — as they all vie for control of the mega media conglomerate founded by their father — has snagged 48 nominations and 13 wins since it first premiered in 2018.
Following Kieran Culkin’s performance from someone emotionally detached to a child struggling with sorrow in Season 4, Episode 9 titled “Church and State,” viewers agree that Culkin will be the next one to secure the coveted prize. Fans have taken to Twitter to praise the actor’s portrayal of grief.
Spoiler warning for Season 4, Episode 9 of Succession
1. Roman’s grief is all too palpable
DON'T YOU EVER MAKE ME SEE KIERAN CULKIN CRYING AGAIN. MY HEART 😭😭 #SuccessionHBO #Succession pic.twitter.com/Pdw9ITuNOU
— 🐉Erica⁵⁵🏎 | Roman Roy Era (@fcbformulaEri) May 22, 2023
I didn’t think he could surpass the scene with Mattson from Ep 5, but my God, Kieran Culkin was magnificent. One of the best television performances of the year. #Succession pic.twitter.com/NXKySK1KVC
— Brandon Lewis (@blewis1103) May 22, 2023
That episode was a pressure cooker of cynical, nihilist dread and perfectly encapsulates the ease of dereliction of duty when greed is on the table. Everyone was on fire tonight: Jeremy Strong and Sarah Snook broke me, and Kieran Culkin chilled me to the bone. #Succession pic.twitter.com/DNDUOremGS
— Brandon Lewis (@blewis1103) May 15, 2023
“Is he in there? Can we get him out???” Kieran Culkin is ACTING-acting.#Succession pic.twitter.com/JtS5BUL5aq
— Spencer Althouse (@SpencerAlthouse) May 22, 2023
kieran culkin’s performance is so devastatingly beautiful #succession pic.twitter.com/Z7L51ogx4j
— ivy (mourning succession) (@ohhhhherewego) May 22, 2023
2. Culkin is coming for the Emmy
romans funeral speech is gonna win kieran culkin that emmy i know it #Succession pic.twitter.com/QwQ0EoN9fz
— chloe (@thenightwindovv) May 20, 2023
roman saying ‘is he in there? get him out’ in the voice of a small child BROKE ME. give kieran culkin that emmy immediately !!!!!! #succession pic.twitter.com/Sx5FHtMTuL
— shauna (@wednesdaysadums) May 22, 2023
“is he in there?” Roman’s grief finally showing… Kieran Culkin we will get you that Emmy too, my god this moment #succession pic.twitter.com/Vz5AuOptDl
— Nora Dominick (@noradominick) May 22, 2023
Me if Kieran Culkin doesn’t win that Emmy #succession pic.twitter.com/aU6zqyjt8p
— BLACK LIVES MATTER (@willowhalliwell) May 22, 2023
Well I said Roman would shatter and it would bring the Roys together or tear them apart. Of course, it ended up being both bc Jesse Armstrong is elite. Jeremy Strong was riveting in that speech, but Kieran Culkin clinched his Emmy tonight. A stunning performance. #Succession pic.twitter.com/i51clvZW3J
— Brandon Lewis (@blewis1103) May 22, 2023
OH KIERAN CULKIN THAT EMMY IS ALREADY WITH YOUR NAME #Succession pic.twitter.com/KKVve1uTWG
— kendall roy 1# public enemy (@SUFJANSTUVENS) May 22, 2023
"Is he in there?"
"Can we get him out?"
The exact moment Kieran Culkin won the Emmy. #Succession pic.twitter.com/aIPksQr8gO
— Avery Thompson (@avery__thompson) May 22, 2023
Kieran Culkin is giving such a strong performance in season four of Succession that IndieWire predicts he will join co-stars Jeremy Strong and Brian Cox in the 2023 Emmy Race for Best Actor in a Drama Series. Yet, according to fans of the former child star, he has already secured the statuette. That funeral moment — when he finally breaks down, as his facade of impermeability crumbles (after prepping and prepping — with notecards at the ready) will be impossible to top. The Emmys aren’t until September, so until then, fingers crossed for Kieran.
