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| Succession's "power" couple |
In the first episode we are introduced to Siobhan Roy, "Shiv" as the youngest child and only daughter of media tycoon, Logan Roy (Brian Cox), who is helping her boyfriend, Tom, shop for the "best" present for her father's 80th birthday, though Shiv warns that her father doesn't like gifts. As we come to see over the first hour, Tom couldn't be more of doormat trying to whoo Shiv's father with a ridiculously expensive watch he bought, despite Logan's lack of interest once he shows it to him and later gives away as a constellation to a local family involved in an incident at the Family's softball game.
The following episode takes place during the aftermath of Logan's near-fatal brain aneurysm. In spite of the Roy family crisis at hand, Tom impulsively proposes to Shiv while her father's in a coma in order to, in his words, "make all of this go away." The timing could not be more terribly off. Shiv, however reluctantly accepts after giving the matter short thought. We also get a glimpse of Tom turning the other way when he walks in on Shiv and Roman having a physical confrontation. Ouch.
The rest of the season follows their engagement plans (Tom even gladly signs a prenup for Shiv) mostly on the sidelines as we get to know more about the two along with the other main characters. Through Tom we mostly see his interactions with Greg Hirsch (Nicholas Braun), Logan's great-nephew, whom Tom bullies through psychological and verbal mind games as he views Cousin Greg as an inferior target compared to himself. Ironically, Tom is usually treated as an easy target in the Roy family clan. Shiv's story shows her doing her job as a political strategist and has many interactions with a former beau/colleague, Nate, with whom she has an affair with behind Tom's back.
In episode 7, Logan (furious with his daughter's latest political pursuit), bluntly calls her out for being a coward by marrying the type of man who, in his words, "fathoms beneath [her]" due to not only her fear of commitment but also the thought of being betrayed or even stood up to by someone with integrity. Tom, as we've gotten to know him better, is the type of lover Shiv can easily keep under her thumb and could likely throw away if something better were to come along.
As we get closer to the big wedding at the end of the first season, Shiv and Tom have separate bachelor/bachelorette parties. Before arriving at the cool underground club to which Roman escorts Tom and the rest of the male characters, Tom checks in with Shiv re strippers, Shiv gives him the green light to do whatever he chooses to do without any clues of her own indiscretions with Nate.
The unbalanced couple tie the knot at the end of the first season. However, right before the big day Tom finally picks up on Shiv's indiscretions with Nate. In a vulnerable, dramatic scene, Tom confronts Shiv in a private room asking her if the rumors about her and Nate are true, and whether she actually wants to go through with their wedding or not. Despite giving her a way out, Shiv denies having an affair and reassures Tom that she wants to get married. However, Greg later spots Nate with Shiv and tries to warn Tom the morning of his wedding day while jogging. Tom chooses to deny the truth, beats up Greg, and then literally and theoretically runs away from his problems. Once Tom and Shiv are married and have made their speeches for everyone, we come to another pivotal and heartbreaking scene. Before consummating their marriage Shiv
The tragedy of Tom is that he claims to love the woman he's married to, but he also resents for how much power she has over him.
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