Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your accountsSaved for Latersection.
The savviest, smartest businessperson in HBOsSuccessionis not Logan Roy, and its not any of his kids.
It very well may be Stewy Hosseini, the deft negotiator, friend (sort of?
The way they greet each other we did a bunch of takes of that.
I think seeing the two of them aligned is threatening to Kendall after he has just met with Josh.
Hes so desperate to be loved and thought of as a big deal.
That is understandable in this kind of world, but its also his downfall.
All thats of interest is that I am going to make more money than your team.
And not even that much more, just a little bit more.
All the stuff he does, even in this last shareholders meeting its all so cringey.
Stewy is allergic to all that.
Thats what makes him so likable and hateable at the same time: He tells you the truth.
Hes like, Im not dealing with any of that shit, dude.
Kendalls screwed Stewy over two or three times now.
It really doesnt feel like thats a relationship thats going to be fruitful.
Hes deeply in it now.
He is your partner with a lot of stakes and four board seats.
There was such confidence.
Put yourself in Stewys shoes.
They were hat in hand.
We werent hat in hand.
At the end of the day,what do Stewy and Sandy and Sandi have to lose?
Also in that episode, you, Sandy, and Sandi are negotiating with the Roys.
Am I overthinking?No, I could see that.
I mean, I dont know the answer to your question, but I could totally see that.
There is a real deep understanding that this is not just a merger but a power grab.
I can imagine that both sides are kind of like, Lets fucking end this and move forward.
I feel like there isnt a truesuccessor.
You want Roman to run this thing?
Connors obviously a no, and Logans a dinosaur.
I think thats why he does the PR campaigns.
Stewy definitely wants to be on the more hidden view of it all.
But do you think Stewy would still be interested in winning with Kendall as a partner?It depends.
Stewy wants to win.
That being said, I think he is emotionally and physically and mentally and spiritually for anyone who wins.
Where are you gonna go with this?[Laughs.]
Some of the names of the threads are Stewy is kind of a badass, Stewy is great.
Why do you think people respond so positively to him?
Hes a person of color, even though its not deeply investigated in the show, which I love.
Its like, thats a person of color telling these guys to go fuck themselves.
Hes not scared of Logan.
Hes not scared of Kendall.
Hes just not scared of any of these guys.
For example, in episode two of season two: Vaulter is bullshit.
He says it on the news or whatever, and they get rid of Vaulter.
Theres something refreshing about that.
It takes all of their family drama and says, None of this shit matters.
None of your shit matters.
Im talking about this from a capitalistic point of view.
I think theres something really sexy for people about that.
Also, youre saying all the nice, calm things that people say about Stewy.
There are people that fucking hate Stewy, too.
Hes not defined by him being Iranian.
Hes defined by being a great businessman.
Its hard for me to parse that out right now.
I think Jesse understands that better than anybody.
People dont know that.
They dont need to know that.
They just know that they are amazing businessmen.
Being Iranian is a part of who they are, obviously, but it doesnt define them.
Thats what I think is kind of powerful about this guy.
I wanted to ask you aboutLove Life, which I really enjoyed.
I also think it shows how desperate he might have been.
How in that episode prior, he basically is like, No one loves me.
I want people to love me.
Dont love me for my money.
Now Im like, Fine, love me for my money.
Love me for anything.
I think its such great writing.
I know people like that in my life, and Im sure that you do, too.
And youre kind of like, I dont know if this is a match for you guys.
But youre so desperate.
I could see that theres something really earnest about him thats like, I really love her, man.
What do you want me to fucking do?
Love Lifefocuses on a different character and different relationships every season.
Assuming theres a third season, is it possible Kian could be the focus?I have no idea.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
