Succession Season 4: Unpacking the Devastating Fallout of Tom’s Betrayal on Shiv and Their Fractured Marriage

The relationship between Shiv Roy and Tom Wambsgans has always been a delicate dance on the precipice, fraught with power imbalances, unspoken resentments, and a veneer of affection that often cracked under pressure. However, in the explosive climax of Succession season 3, their already strained marriage plunged into irretrievable depths. Tom (Matthew Macfadyen), in a shocking move of self-preservation and calculated ambition, betrayed his wife Shiv (Sarah Snook) and her brothers, Kendall and Roman, by tipping off Logan Roy (Brian Cox) about their plan to stop the GoJo deal. This pivotal act cemented Tom’s loyalty to the patriarch, but shattered any remaining trust within his marriage. The season 4 premiere picks up in the immediate, agonizing aftermath, revealing a Shiv and Tom barely able to sustain a conversation, their connection reduced to a thin, brittle thread.

The tension between the couple is palpable as Shiv returns to their shared home, not for reconciliation, but merely to retrieve some of her belongings. This mundane act is charged with immense emotional weight, forcing a confrontation neither truly desires but cannot avoid. Shiv, her anger barely concealed beneath a façade of weary resignation, directly addresses Tom regarding his recent activities. She brings up his alleged escapades with Greg, a casual yet pointed remark designed to inflict pain and highlight Tom’s perceived shift in allegiances and character. The implication of Tom allegedly dating models, whether true or not, serves as another barb, showcasing Shiv’s deep-seated hurt manifesting as passive aggression. Tom, attempting to navigate this minefield, reminds her of their prior agreement to “test the waters” during their separation, an attempt to rationalize his actions and perhaps find common ground for an honest discussion.

Tom, ever the more outwardly emotional and yearning for clarity in their complicated bond, expresses a desire for a genuine dialogue. He had hoped that they would eventually confront the painful realities of their current situation, openly discussing the betrayal and what little future, if any, their marriage held. However, Shiv, visibly distressed and emotionally guarded, swiftly shuts down any such possibility. Her curt response, “I don’t want to bring up a lot of bullshit for no profit,” encapsulates her pragmatic, often cynical view of relationships. For Shiv, dredging up old wounds and debating the intricacies of their shared pain is unproductive if it doesn’t lead to a tangible, beneficial outcome. This statement reveals her inability to engage with emotional messiness without a clear path to resolution, a characteristic that has always defined her interactions, especially with Tom.

Despite Shiv’s resistance, Tom persists, trying to break through her emotional barriers. He yearns for a real conversation, a chance to explain or at least acknowledge the chasm that has opened between them. But Shiv remains unyielding. “I don’t think it’s good for me to hear all that. I think it might be time for you and I to move on,” she confesses, her words carrying the heavy implication of a looming divorce. Her desire to avoid the “nitty-gritty” of their marital problems isn’t just about pragmatism; it’s a defense mechanism. She believes that dissecting their issues now would be futile, a painful exercise that wouldn’t alter the inevitable outcome. This avoidance is deeply ingrained in Shiv’s character, her discomfort with vulnerability preventing her from truly confronting the raw emotion of their unraveling marriage.

Tom, in contrast to Shiv, is more than willing to confront his feelings and the painful reality of their fractured relationship. He has always been the one to wear his heart, however imperfectly, on his sleeve, often for Shiv’s casual dismissal. Yet, it is precisely at this point of emotional confrontation where Shiv falters. She articulates a desire to “walk away with our heads held high and say good luck,” presenting a veneer of dignified detachment. However, her eyes betray her. The glistening tears, held back with fierce determination, reveal the profound sadness she struggles to hide from Tom, and indeed, from herself. Shiv has historically been uncomfortable displaying genuine emotion, especially vulnerability, to Tom or to anyone in her cutthroat world. This moment is a stark illustration of her lifelong struggle with emotional intimacy, even when facing the potential end of her marriage.

In a heartbreaking attempt to bridge the divide, Tom tentatively offers, “I could see if I could make love to you.” It’s an impulsive, desperate plea for connection, a last-ditch effort to find solace or perhaps even rekindle something in the physical realm when words have failed. Shiv, however, gently but firmly declines, her emotional walls still firmly in place. The interaction continues to be a negotiation of space and emotional boundaries. She then asks if he’s staying or going, a question that feels loaded with the weight of their entire future. Tom, seeking some direction, simply awaits her response. Shiv, perhaps out of habit, lingering affection, or sheer exhaustion, says she is tired and will stay the night, granting him permission to stay as well. It’s a temporary reprieve, a pause in the inevitable, rather than a sign of genuine reconciliation.

“So this is it, huh?” Tom’s voice is laced with resignation, a recognition that despite all the faults and failings of their marriage, the thought of its definitive end is deeply saddening for him. He had invested himself, however imperfectly, in their union, viewing Shiv as his ultimate prize and connection to the powerful Roy family. Now, that prize is slipping away. As they lie down on the bed, a familiar space that once represented intimacy, they position themselves at different angles, a physical manifestation of their emotional distance. Their faces, etched with unspoken heartbreak, tell a story of profound grief, a silent testament to the pain they both feel but cannot fully express to each other.

“We gave it a go,” a tearful Shiv finally admits, her voice cracking with raw emotion. It’s a rare moment of vulnerability from her, acknowledging the effort, however flawed, they put into their relationship. Tom instinctively reaches for her hand, offering a silent gesture of comfort and shared sorrow. “Yeah, we gave it a go,” he replies, his voice equally heavy with regret. Despite Shiv’s long history of dismissing Tom’s feelings, taking him for granted, and even engaging in infidelity, the ultimate blow that she struggles to overcome is Tom’s calculated betrayal. His decision to tip off Logan about her, Kendall, and Roman’s plan to prevent their father from securing a supermajority and pushing through the GoJo deal was a fundamental breach of trust, a move that placed his ambition and loyalty to Logan above his loyalty to his wife. This act, more than any prior marital strife, appears to be the unforgivable sin, sealing the fate of their once-turbulent, now-shattered marriage.

The potential divorce between Shiv and Tom, if it comes to pass, will carry significant and far-reaching implications, extending beyond their personal lives into the cutthroat world of corporate power. Earlier in the premiere episode, Shiv, ever the strategist, swiftly informed Nan Pierce that she was divorcing Tom after Nan expressed concern about Tom’s current status as one of Logan’s closest allies. This move highlights Shiv’s political acumen, leveraging her marital status to project a desired image and perhaps distance herself from any perceived association with Logan’s inner circle in the eyes of a potential business partner. It’s a subtle but potent reminder that even in her deepest personal pain, Shiv’s mind remains attuned to the corporate game.

From Tom’s perspective, the looming divorce is undoubtedly a source of intense anxiety regarding his standing with Logan. His entire strategic move in the season 3 finale was designed to secure his position within Waystar RoyCo by aligning himself unequivocally with Logan. But what happens to that carefully constructed alliance once his link to Logan’s daughter is severed? Tom attempted to broach this sensitive subject with Logan at his birthday party, seeking reassurance or a clear indication of his future. However, Logan, ever the inscrutable patriarch, offered no definitive answer, leaving Tom in a state of agonizing uncertainty. Despite Tom’s recent loyalty, Shiv remains Logan’s daughter, a bond that, however dysfunctional, is blood-deep. Logan may ultimately decide that Tom, without his marital connection to Shiv, has served his purpose and is no longer essential. Such a dismissal would leave Tom utterly bereft, stripped of both his marriage and his carefully cultivated corporate power. In this bleak scenario, the only constant companion remaining for Tom would be Greg, a comedic but increasingly significant dynamic that might offer him some semblance of continued relevance, albeit in a vastly diminished capacity. The unraveling of Shiv and Tom’s marriage is not merely a personal tragedy but a seismic event set to reverberate throughout the power structures of Succession, reshaping alliances and determining individual fates within the brutal Roy empire.