Tom's shocking confrontation with Shiv in Succession Season 4's opener leaves a lasting impact
Succession's fourth season delivers a somber, melancholic darkness, deviating from the profane wit and schadenfreude that often characterize the show. The focus shifts towards Shiv Roy (Sarah Snook) and her estranged husband, Tom Wambsgans (Matthew Macfadyen), as their turbulent marriage crumbles.
The evening following a contentious family power-struggle over acquiring Pierce Global Media, Shiv enters their chilly, modern home, awakening Tom. This emotional confrontation is devoid of direct discussion about Pierce, as both characters are poised to claim the media empire in the upcoming season. Instead, they remain silent on their rivaling loyalties and Tom's betrayal, hinted at in the final scenes of season 3.
Tom's desire to engage in an open talk about their marital future is met with Shiv's defensive ego, illustrated through her attempts to shift the blame onto him, belittling his camaraderie with Greg, and shutting down any opportunity for emotional discussion. In response, Tom exercises self-restraint, forgoing employing any zingers towards Shiv, instead reminding her of their promised freedom to explore their feelings.
When Tom proposes a heart-to-heart conversation, Shiv coldly asserts that she's not ready to hear all that. Reverting to the corporate jargon and cursing favored by the Roy family, she states that their errors and emotional outbursts won't lead to progress, insisting they should simply walk away, heads held high, and say "good luck."
Tom understands better than to create a spectacle or plead with Shiv. Instead, this intimate exchange in their darkened home shows Tom's sincerity, unafraid to react honestly to Shiv's emotionally stunted behavior, which seems beyond her. When she suggests it's time for them to move on, Tom simply states, "That makes me sad."
This quiet exchange sheds light on the couple's rocky history. We are reminded of their wedding night, when Shiv retreated from emotional intimacy by proposing an open marriage. Tom's betrayal at the end of season 3 begs for discussion, yet it's strikingly absent during this conversation, leaving their future unclear.
The Roys' unconventional love lives have long been a source of intrigue. Season 4 explores this intrigue with stories about sibling rivalries, uncommitted relationships, and transactional dating. From Kendall's complicated past with Naomi Pierce to Connor's impending wedding to an escort turned lover, each character grapples with intense power struggles and toxic relationships.
Shiv's background with Tom shows a mixture of emotional distance and dysfunctional undermining, complicated by the Roy family's ingrained way of treating other individuals as economic units. Raised with this mindset, Shiv chooses to minimize her losses with Tom rather than standing her ground, reflecting the destructive dynamics that plague the Roy family.
Despite its somber tone, season 4 of Succession promises to delve deeper into the lives of the Roy family, exploring relationships, power struggles, and the personal costs of their ceaseless pursuit of power.
Tom's proposal for a heart-to-heart conversation with Shiv coincides with the backdrop of a potential business merger, Pierce Global Media. However, their conversation veers away from the media empire, instead focusing on their troubled marriage and Tom's silent betrayal. Concurrently, the couple's predicament and the Roy family's unconventional love lives are intertwined with the theme of technology and modern entertainment, as they navigate through the complexities of their relationships and power struggles within the realm of movies, TV, and business.
