The closing moments of Succession brought together the family drama, business betrayal, and power struggles that the show had been building across all four seasons. The Roy siblings—Kendall, Shiv, and Roman—were placed under heavy emotional pressure, with everything pointing to who would control Waystar Royco.
Throughout the show, viewers had been watching how the children of Logan Roy competed to prove they could step into their father’s shoes. Each season raised the stakes, and by the time the final episode arrived, the power dynamics inside the Roy family had grown even more tense.
Ambition broke what blood couldn’t hold together (Photo: Succession Series Finale/HBO)Their bond had been tested by money, media influence, and betrayal from both inside and outside their circle. Logan Roy’s absence after his death created an even deeper rift between his children, as their ambitions clashed more openly.
Shiv’s alignment with Matsson shook things up, Roman appeared confused about his priorities, and Kendall could not hide his desperation to lead. The company’s future was hanging by a thread, and viewers were left wondering who would emerge on top. With loyalties shifting and motives becoming harder to read, the tension inside the final episode never took a break.
Sibling Rivalry Reaches a Breaking Point
From the early minutes of the finale, it was obvious that none of the Roy children were thinking clearly. Emotions mixed with ego caused constant friction. While Shiv seemed to have found new confidence from her deal with Lukas Matsson, her brothers had their eyes set on taking the company into their own hands.
Kendall was clearly determined to be named CEO, and he pushed harder than ever, clinging to the idea that he was the rightful heir. Roman, though caught between both sides, could not completely make up his mind. He had started showing signs of stress and emotional fatigue.
A major turning point came when Shiv and Roman agreed to support Kendall’s bid to block the GoJo deal. Their moment of unity gave Kendall the belief that he could finally take charge. The three siblings even shared a rare moment of playfulness, appearing to reconnect as a family.
That light-hearted interaction at their mother’s house, where they made Kendall “fit to rule” by playfully dunking his head into a mix of food, offered a rare pause from the constant plotting. But beneath their laughter, there was still doubt and distrust.
As the board meeting to decide the future of Waystar approached, each character moved with increasing anxiety. Shiv, who had been confident about betraying Matsson earlier, began to second-guess herself. Roman, although physically bruised and emotionally battered, continued to act like he had everything under control.
Kendall, on the other hand, seemed to believe that becoming CEO was not just a business decision but something tied to his entire identity.
Shiv’s Final Decision Changes Everything
The moment of truth came during the boardroom vote. With the result tied, Shiv became the person whose decision would determine what happened next. Just when Kendall believed he had the win in his hands, Shiv walked out of the room. That unexpected move sent shockwaves through both the room and viewers.
Kendall followed her, and their argument outside the boardroom turned personal quickly. Shiv challenged Kendall’s ability to lead, and what had started as a business matter turned into a bitter exchange filled with years of frustration and pain.
During that confrontation, Shiv brought up a past tragedy involving Kendall, accusing him of something that made his leadership unacceptable in her eyes. Kendall, cornered and emotionally exhausted, tried to deny it but only made the situation worse.
Roman, watching the breakdown occur, looked too broken to interfere. Shiv’s final vote allowed the deal with Matsson to go through, which meant GoJo would take control of Waystar Royco, and Tom Wambsgans would become the new CEO.
Tom’s rise to the top came as a surprise to many. Throughout the series, he had always tried to prove himself, often looking like a weak figure who depended on Shiv’s backing. But in the final episode, he made himself useful to Matsson and became the practical choice for the company’s new direction.
While he might not have the same bold presence as Logan Roy, Tom represented a different kind of leadership—someone who knew how to survive and stay relevant even when stronger personalities fell apart.
Succession ended with no clear crown just casualties (Photo: Succession Series Finale/HBO)Kendall Walks Away with Nothing
After everything he had done and sacrificed, Kendall found himself completely alone. His dream of leading the company was crushed. His emotional collapse after Shiv’s decision showed that he had tied his entire sense of purpose to Waystar.
His quiet walk near the water at the end of the episode left many viewers with mixed feelings—some felt sympathy for his loss, while others believed he had brought it on himself. That silent ending, with his bodyguard watching closely in the background, carried a heavy emotional weight.
Roman’s final scene showed him sitting at a bar with a faint smile, sipping a drink. It was hard to tell whether he had given up, accepted things as they were, or simply found peace in not pretending anymore. Shiv, now sitting in a car with Tom, looked emotionally distant.
Her hand rested awkwardly in his, as if accepting a life that she knew came with compromise. The power change had occurred, but it didn’t bring peace. Every character seemed to have paid a personal price, no matter their position.
This closing episode did not attempt to tie everything neatly. Instead, it presented each character exactly where they stood emotionally and mentally. The family business may have moved on to a new era, but the Roy family’s personal struggles remained unresolved. Their story ended not with triumph or closure but with quiet moments filled with tension, regret, and loss.
The creative direction behind this final episode made it clear that the story was never really about who won or lost. It focused more on what these characters had become in the process.
Their relationships were too damaged to be repaired, and their ambitions too strong to allow space for unity. The final choices made by Shiv, Kendall, and Roman reflected their true selves—conflicted, broken, and unsure of where to go from here.
Succession closed its story without giving a perfect resolution. Instead, it offered something more grounded. Each sibling reached a point of truth, whether they accepted it or not.
The company moved on without them, and they were left to figure out who they were without power to chase. That ending left a lasting impression because it stayed true to the tone the show had set from the beginning.
The full Succession series is available for streaming online. Those who want to watch or revisit the entire story can find it on HBO Max.
