After the rollercoaster ride that season 3 brought, it might be best for Shiv Roy to leave Waystar Royco in Succession season 4. The third season of the HBO show was a power struggle, with various characters coming out on top week after week. However, one of the most disregarded characters was Shiv (Sarah Snook), to the point where many viewers may question why she’s even still at Waystar.
Shiv spends Succession‘s third season trying to impress her father and make a name for herself at Waystar Royco. Shiv chooses not to betray Logan by defecting to Kendall’s (Jeremy Strong) side and going along with his plan to take Logan down. However, Shiv’s story arc sees her somewhat in over her head when it comes to the family business due to her lack of experience. By the end of the season, Shiv has been betrayed both by her husband and father, and her future seems very unclear.
Leaving Waystar in Succession season 4 would be beneficial for Shiv for a few reasons. Firstly, Shiv doesn’t get any respect at Waystar, whether it’s from employees or family members, especially Logan (Brian Cox) and Roman (Kieran Culkin) who’s having his year in season 3 up until his relationship with Gerri is exposed. In Succession season 1 (and for the first two episodes of season 2) Shiv worked for a Democratic political candidate, Gil Eavis, so she has less business experience than her brothers. Because of this, it’s difficult for anyone at the company to take her seriously. In Succession season 3, episode 4, “Lion in the Meadow,” Shiv tries to assert herself when talking to Karl, Waystar’s Chief Financial Officer, but is shut down. Later that episode, Logan chastises Shiv for overstepping.
Logan also shows a lack of respect for Shiv by favoring Roman over her. Logan doesn’t take the advice of Shiv (who has worked in politics) when it comes to selecting a Republican presidential candidate to endorse. Instead, Logan goes with a more fascist, far-right choice that Roman likes. Logan also tasks Roman with convincing a new Succession cast addition, tech CEO Lukas Matsson (Alexander Skarsgård), to let Waystar acquire his tech company, GoJo. Roman is allowed to make major business moves, while Shiv gets the vague title of “President of Domestic Operations.” Though her lack of business experience does hinder her, Shiv deserves to work somewhere where she can be respected and have actual responsibilities to tend to.
Another reason why it might be a good call for Shiv to leave Waystar in Succession season 4 is because of how fractured the family dynamics will be at work following the season 3 finale. Shiv’s husband, Tom (Matthew Macfadyen), betrayed her by ratting out the Roys’ plan to best their father, and Logan reacted by giving up the children’s shares to their mother and his ex-wife, Caroline (Harriet Walter). After all of that, it might be too awkward to work in the same environment as Tom, who broke Shiv’s trust, and Logan, who proved how little he loves his children. It would be nice to see Shiv get a fresh start in a workplace free of the familial and marital strife that defines her time at Waystar.
There are a number of directions that Succession season 4 could go in. One path the show could take is having Shiv choose to leave Waystar. The writers could still find ways to utilize Shiv in the show, but departing Waystar could be beneficial for her as a character. Shiv has been disrespected and disregarded while at the company, and Tom and Logan’s recent betrayals would just cause her added stress and awkward feelings at work. However, maybe letting Shiv stay at Waystar could work. The Roy children will probably wage war against their father, and it’s possible for Logan to lose in season 4. Still, it might be better emotionally for Shiv’s character to leave. Time will tell, and the Succession writers probably have something interesting lined up for Shiv either way.
