On his 80th birthday, media magnate Logan Roy – whose imminent retirement was thought to be a given – shocks his family by announcing he’s staying on indefinitely as CEO of Waystar Royco. The news shatters his son, Kendall, the heir apparent, who’s in the midst of negotiating the purchase of a digital-media venture founded by a slick operator. After an impromptu softball game, tempers flare as Logan’s other children – Roman, Shiv and Connor – raise objections over Logan’s intentions, including his desire to change the way his eventual successor will be chosen.

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. Greg is tasked with retrieving important items from the Roy apartment. Kendall makes an impassioned final plea to keep Waystar Royco in the family, and receives sobering news from longtime general counsel Gerri Kellman that dampens a moment of vindication.

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. Kendall, Roman, Tom and Greg attend their first big meeting in their new roles. Kendall tries to convince Rava to give their marriage a second chance, and gets an unexpected reaction from his father to his handling of Waystar.

With the company’s annual foundation gala fundraiser approaching, and his dad out of the picture, Kendall polishes up his speech while enlisting an on-air personality from the Waystar’s ATV Networks to accompany him. Shiv tries to minimize damage from a sordid photo that threatens a client’s political future. Tom inherits a “virus” from his predecessor in the parks and cruises division, and shares a disturbing file with Greg. Logan makes a mark on his return to the office. At the benefit, Connor shows why he’s better off avoiding stressful situations.

After hearing Logan's plan to expand to local TV, Kendall begins to plot 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 increasingly concerned about the terms of his prenuptial agreement with Shiv, and recruits Greg for a clandestine task. The family is surprised by Connor's choice of date at Thanksgiving dinner.

With the vote of no confidence against Logan approaching, Roman attempts to sway a neutral board member, while Kendall frantically 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. After successfully thwarting a potential scandal, Tom introduces Greg to fine dining. Shiv explores her options in D.C.

In an effort to fix his public image, Logan agrees to a family therapy session at Connor's New Mexico ranch, intending it to double as a publicity stunt. Lying low, Kendall spends time with the locals and finds his sobriety tested. Shiv considers putting herself in a precarious situation when Nate pushes her to join the team of Gil Eavis, a potential presidential candidate who goes against everything her father stands for. As Willa spends more time with his family, Connor makes a hard-to-refuse proposal.

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 longtime nemesis. Logan tasks Greg with acting as Kendall’s babysitter during Tom’s party. 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. The children reunite with their mother, Caroline, who is every bit as acerbic as Logan. 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's siblings are not happy when they find out about the takeover. Kendall turns to drugs to help him escape, with tragic consequences.