'It Broke My Heart': 'Succession' Fans Are Devastated By Shiv-Tom's Tragic Divorce Scene
While Tom and Shiv are "taking a break" at the beginning of Season 4 of Succession, it appears they have officially broken up in one of the premiere's final moments.
Season 4 opener "The Munsters" creates quite a stir in the Roy family. As Shiv (Sarah Snook), Kendall (Jeremy Strong), and Roman (Kieran Culkin) try to buy their father's liberal-leaning news network, Pierce, they fight head-to-head with Logan (Brian Cox), their estranged father.
Tom (Matthew MacFadyen) played the role of clumsy Roy middleman, and the kids ultimately won in a nail-biting game of chicken.
It appears that the previous season's events have ended Shiv and Tom's marriage for good, even though the recently created trio of Kendall, Roman, and Shiv could be capable of succeeding their dad in business.
While Tom and Shiv are "taking a break" at the beginning of Season 4 of Succession, it appears they have officially broken up in one of the premiere's final moments.
Does it imply Tom and Shiv can no longer be friends? Why is it logical that their marriage has collapsed under these latest severe complexities?
On the HBO show, Tom betrayed Shiv and her brothers in their plot to push their father out of power.
They were shocked to hear that Logan had made a deal with their mother, Caroline (Harriet Walter), turning her against Shiv, Kendall, and Roman when they approached to make the kill.
Even though Logan Roy was still in charge, his three most promising successors had been crushed, and Shiv had discovered that Tom was behind their failure.
A Still From Succession
To capture Shiv's horrifying epiphany, filmmaker Mark Mylod kept the cameras rolling in the closing scene of Season 3 of Succession.
Although Shiv is jealous of Tom's time with Naomi Pierce (Annabelle Dexter-Jones), and it's evident from the beginning of Season 4 Episode 1 of Succession that the couple is on a break, the marriage doesn't start to fall apart until much later in the episode.
Succession spoiler | Sarah Snook on the breakup scene: ¡°[Shiv is] wanting Tom to stop her¡ but he doesn¡¯t.¡± pic.twitter.com/bdcTkE1ivX
¡ª best of sarah snook (@bestofsnook) March 27, 2023
Decoding the 'Break up' scene:
Shiv heads back to her Manhattan apartment to grab some clothes after successfully wooing Nan Pierce (Cherry Jones) to sell her family's media company. We find out that she has been gone from the home where she lives with Tom for so long that even their dog, Mondale, has forgotten who she is.
the way shiv's talking about greg and making it sound like he's the one tom's fucking oh this is sick pic.twitter.com/VCER1loENq
¡ª #_# (@gaybakshi) March 27, 2023
Tom and Shiv both seem shocked to see each other inside the house.
Tom figured she was "hoteling" and had packed up her clothing in advance. This leads to an unpleasant exchange between two people whose relationship has ended.
Succession spoiler | Sarah Snook on the breakup scene: ¡°[Shiv is] wanting Tom to stop her¡ but he doesn¡¯t.¡± pic.twitter.com/bdcTkE1ivX
¡ª best of sarah snook (@bestofsnook) March 27, 2023
Shiv questions if they should make their split "official" or whether there is still hope for them. Tom is eager for a chat. Shiv does not, and she communicates this by stating, "To hear all that is not healthy for her."
Tom makes a final, weak attempt to woo Shiv, but she is clearly over him.
thefact that shiv sees being emotional and vulnerable as a weakness to the point where she can¡¯t even actually talk to tom but she still took his hand and didn¡¯t let go she just has to pic.twitter.com/Aefvuzseop
¡ª deb (@theymitri) March 27, 2023
Given that Tom's role in the relationship up to this point has been that of Shiv's faithful lapdog, his betrayal has thrown the dynamic of their partnership into disarray.
tomshiv edit fancam fc succession shiv roy tom wambsgans sarah snook matthew macfadyen pic.twitter.com/WA7M4SsgVM
¡ª wyattsbett films (@kimmywexIer) March 27, 2023
What went on behind Tom and Shiv's breakup scene that has broken the hearts of Succession fans?
starting my sarah snook and matthew macfadyen awards campaign early
¡ª ??????? (@KATEBlSCHOP) March 27, 2023
Sarah Snook and Matthew Macfadyen just secured those Emmys with this episode #Succession pic.twitter.com/d1reGXdFuT
¡ª iamtony (@antonyxab) March 27, 2023
one Succession episode and Sarah Snook (Shiv) and Matthew MacFadyen(Tom) already made a case for Emmys.
¡ª The Cunt of Monte Cristo (@timiretimzzy2) March 27, 2023
SARAH SNOOK AND MATTHEW MACFADYEN BETTER WIN THE TONS OF AWARDS BECAUSE THEY'RE TOO AMAZING THIS SEASON
¡ª rie | scream 6 spoilers (@7ringstarkey) March 27, 2023
Just from the first episode i can say that, GIVE SARAH SNOOK HER EMMY #Succession
¡ª BX (@Dlbix) March 27, 2023
pic.twitter.com/AZeCR7ukNP
Just give them the Emmy's already!
¡ª Akash Dey (@SkyDey13) March 27, 2023
Sarah Snook is bloody brilliant displaying the toxic and insecure Shiv. Mathew Macfayden brings in the much-needed nuance & tenderness to this exploitative power couple dynamic.
Shiv & Tom are the portrait of tragic love.#Succession pic.twitter.com/kpSFWmQZ5T
the way this is some of the most tender affection we¡¯ve ever seen between tom and shiv and it¡¯s only because they¡¯ve decided to split up and know they won¡¯t have to deal with the repercussions of it pic.twitter.com/VEcMTF7itK
¡ª grace (@amandayoungdyke) March 27, 2023
Shiv and Tom made me cry here.#Succession #SuccessionHBO pic.twitter.com/bNLtQdBPQH
¡ª Kevin Tarazi. | Succession era (@KevinTarazi) March 27, 2023
tomshiv laying on their bed at opposite angles holding hands and saying ¡°so this is it huh¡± and ¡°we gave it a go¡± ?? oh i feel sick what the fuck #Succession pic.twitter.com/Wh4PPZfcUu
¡ª succession lockdown (@JOELSMILLRR) March 27, 2023
¡°does shiv love tom? i think she does. i think in her own way, whatever level of messed-up that is, she does.i think, yes, she does love being loved by him. i think she needs him, and i think that scares her that she does.¡± pic.twitter.com/JS6Y9k1qzj
¡ª ?? (@judesrivers) March 27, 2023
Tom and Shiv holding each other¡¯s hand and saying ¡°well we made a go of it¡± I shed real tears #SuccessionHBO pic.twitter.com/wuQUUIgN9o
¡ª JB (@truerself) March 27, 2023
"I think in the intervening weeks and months he will have realized she knows", said Jesse Armstrong, the show's creator and executive producer, who elaborated on the idea that Tom and Shiv avoided facing these horrific events by dodging it between Seasons 3 and 4.
"I think it¡¯s too sensitive for her to admit that someone played her," Snook said, detailing Shiv¡¯s reaction. "She¡¯s always trying to escape any situation that means she has to be vulnerable."
Macfadyen feels compelled to bring it up to defend his behaviour toward Siobhan.
A Still from Season 3
"I guess there is a feeling from Tom that they need to discuss it at some point, if for no other reason than for him to sort of stick up for himself and explain why he did what he did," he said.
And yet, Shiv repeatedly shuts the conversation down.
A Still from Season 4
Armstrong explained that for Shiv to have that conversation would be reopening one of her life's most profound betrayals.
Shiv and Tom made me cry here.#Succession #SuccessionHBO pic.twitter.com/bNLtQdBPQH
¡ª Kevin Tarazi. | Succession era (@KevinTarazi) March 27, 2023
"People have their versions of her psychology. Still, I guess she can¡¯t quite stand to be so powerless when betrayed and doesn¡¯t want to go back to it even if it would involve hearing an apology or an explanation," the showrunner said.
Snook speculates that Shiv was drawn to Tom's risky move because she is a power player; however, for their marriage to be fruitful, Shiv must remain in the driver's seat.
A Still from Season 4
"In some ways, she finds it attractive, standing up for yourself and fighting back, but I think she needs Tom to be subordinate to her because it¡¯s safer that way."
The power dynamics influence Shiv's behaviour toward her siblings at home; she and her brothers and sister fight with their father to win the bid for Pierce.
"She has to feel just as powerful with something external from her father, from the family business," Snook said.
The whole making-of-the-breakup scene is available in the clip above.
The season 4 premiere of "Succession" is streaming on HBO Max.
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