WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Succession season 4, episode 7.
Succession’s Nate, played by Ashley Zukerman, returned to the show for the first time since season 2 in a key role. Succession season 4, episode 7, “Tailgate Party” set the stage for election night, an event that will surely impact each of the main characters. Nate’s return in Succession was surprising, but it made a lot of sense in the context of Tom and Shiv’s story as well as for the GoJo plotline.
Kendall and Roman planned to use ATN’s pre-election party as a way to lobby for regulation against the GoJo deal. Their plan became trickier once Lukas Matsson joined the party. ATN’s pre-election party also saw a heated argument between Shiv and Tom, which directly ties into Nate’s return.
Nate & Shiv Had An Affair In Succession Season 1 (Which Tom Find Out About)
Nate Sofrelli was introduced in Succession season 1, episode 3, as Shiv’s ex-boyfriend and Kendall’s long-time friend. Shiv needed Nate’s help to run a background check on Marcia, who would not let Shiv visit Logan following his stroke in Succession season 1, episode 1. Nate and Shiv’s first interactions in Succession established that they still had feelings for each other, which only became more complicated after Shiv joined Gil Eavis’ campaign. Now working for the same candidate, Nate and Shiv began to spend hours together. Although both Shiv and Nate were engaged by that point, they began to have an affair.
Tom was aware that Nate was Shiv’s ex-boyfriend, but he only learned that they were having an affair during Succession season 1’s wedding episode. Greg noticed that something was happening between Nate and Shiv, although Tom didn’t want to believe it. However, despite attacking Greg after learning the news, Tom eventually accepted that he was being cheated on. Shiv suggested an open relationship on their wedding night, which Tom agreed to. Still, Tom kicked Nate out of the wedding, not before trying to humiliate him by asking Shiv’s ex-boyfriend to return the wine he was drinking. That is why Nate joked about the wine during Succession season 4, episode 7.
Nate Is A Key Political Strategist: Why Kendall Needs His Help
Kendall wants to tank the GoJo deal somehow, and his best strategy at the beginning of Succession season 4, episode 7 was going for regulation. If the regulatory agencies were to be against GoJo acquiring Waystar Roco in the current model, the deal would surely collapse, as Lukas wants it to happen fast. Nate, who originally worked for Gil, is now working for Daniel Jimenez, the favorite to win the election. Kendall tried to use his friendship with Nate to lobby for regulation against the GoJo deal, offering 100 days of friendly coverage on Jimenez’s potential government at ATN. However, Nate did not accept the offer.
During Succession season 1, Logan Roy managed to find common ground with Gil, even though Gil’s platform was about reducing Waystar Roco’s influence on U.S. media. Logan offered Gil less aggressive coverage on ATN, as long as Gil would reduce his attacks, at least during the primaries. Kendall tried a similar strategy with Jimenez, but Nate was not on board. According to Nate, Kendall is not Logan, and he is not Gil, which is good for both of them. Nate joins the list of Succession characters who have told Kendal that he is not his father, even though he often tries to be.
New episodes of Succession air Sundays on HBO.