Trying to figure out what exactly is Shiv RoySara Snook) is trying to do at any given moment, it’s a bit like playing tail peg on a donkey, i.e. if both tails And both donkeys were constantly moving targets.

season 4 Jesse ArmstrongX succession brought Shiv to us in the most indecisive state - well, or so we think. It’s entirely possible that her apparent hesitation is actually one big ploy to distract her enemies, whoever they may be at any given time. But then again, maybe Shiv just doesn’t know what she really wants, and that stretches from her career to her relationship with Tom (Matthew Macfadyen). Now that we’re halfway through the final season successionit’s officially time to turn things up a bit and ask a question that gets more and more relevant with each episode: what is Shiv’s ultimate goal for all of this?

Roy or not Roy

Alexander Skarsgård as Lukas Matsson in Legacies Season 4
Image via HBO

In the years we’ve known Shiv, we’ve gotten pretty used to her going back and forth when it comes to being part of the family business at Waystar Royco, but since season 3 it’s become more apparent that she actually quite serious. about playing an important role in the company. In Season 4, she was genuinely hurt and insulted (and rightly so) after being completely eliminated from discussion for consideration by the CEO, but now with her strange, blossoming friendship with GoJo CEO Lukas Matsson (Alexander Skarsgard), which makes us wonder if she even cares about what’s going on with Waystar.

It’s clear that Matsson has some controversial intentions when it comes to his GoJo deal with Kendall (Jeremy Strong) and Roman (Kieran Culkin), and Shiv has definitely used those intentions to her advantage lately. Whether or not her newfound flirting with Matsson actually gets in the way of the deal is another matter, but it’s definitely starting to get into her brothers’ heads, which may actually be the true intention of the whole thing.

If even one of her two CEO brothers finds herself in a rut, this could create the potential for a coup for Shiv, and given Kendall and Roman’s recent outbursts in Season 4 Episode 6, this could be the perfect time for Shiv. to make her move.

Tom and Shiv problem

Sarah Snook as Shiv and Matthew Macfadyen as Tom in Succession.
Image via HBO

Bye We might have known that Shiv and Tom’s relationship was doomed even before they said yes, Tom was definitely not as skeptical about their relationship as we are. While he has largely come to grips with the painful realities of his marriage to Shiv over the course of these four seasons, there has never been a more confusing time for their relationship than this fourth season.

First, it turned out that Shiv was pregnant, and although we never found out who the father was, a significant proportion of people simply assume that it is Tom. Given the couple’s recent reunion in Episode 6 of Season 4, it’s pretty clear there’s unfinished business between the two of them, but the intentions behind it might be slightly different.

Both Tom and Shiv seemed to be getting divorced, but one day LoganBrian Cox) died suddenly in the third episode of the 4th season, the relationship between them softened a bit. At first, it could just be Shiv’s need to have someone close to her during this period of her life, but given her track record of cheating, it really doesn’t look like something that will last much longer. Perhaps Shiv’s decision to keep Tom close is another power play on her part: keeping your enemies close is an old adage for a reason.

Shiv can now use Tom in several ways: firstly, as a person who has more influence when it comes to older, older members of the Waystar gang, and secondly, as a person who - through her own fault - will always be loyal to her. no matter how badly she treated him. Because, let’s be honest, Tom can’t help but be heartbroken after their recent reunion.

Low level

Shiv from Legacy looks at Roman with a dirty smile.
Image courtesy of HBO and Peter Kramer.

With all this said is The ultimate goal of Shiva? Logically speaking, it could be one of two things: Shiv is really just an extremely indecisive person who really can’t make up her mind when it comes to decisions, which means she doesn’t really have an end goal - she just staggers around. On the other hand, each of these seemingly universal solutions may actually be part of a larger game aimed at taking over Waystar. Realistically speaking, however, it will most likely be a mixture of the two.

Whether it’s ending up pursuing his longtime political ambitions or just wanting to be the CEO of Waystar, Shiv is definitely power hungry and both of those moves are directly tied to that. This interest in becoming a CEO may be a ploy to solidify herself more generally for what she wants to do. after become CEO, but then again, that might just be because she just wants to get the all-powerful power of being the head of a major media company. Either way, she’s definitely gotten into the mix enough that her aspirations are taken seriously as a real threat to both Kendall and Roman. Shiv has been working behind the scenes for quite some time now to make something happen for her, but what exactly that something is has yet to be revealed.

With only a few episodes of the series left, it’s long overdue. succession to play her own power: is Shiv capable of outsmarting her brothers in exchange for the throne? The short answer to this question is a resounding yes. But will will she be able to make a decision and actually do it? Well, that’s another story.