Succession SERIES FINALE: Dr. Ramani Reacts **Spoiler Alert** 

When Shiv changed her mind I realized this really wasn't about winning, but making the others lose.

The moment when Tom struck Greg - and Greg struck back - that was a turning point; a clear indication that Greg has become aware of the power he holds.

Succession didn't end. It just stopped. And therein lies the tragedy.

“Chose proximity to power rather than no power at all” sooooo well said and spot on!!! 😢

One of my favorite moments towards the end was the mother’s comment about disliking eyes. It said so much about her. “Face eggs”. I felt I knew exactly what kind of mother she had been in that moment more than any other.

Tom and siobhan holding hands in the last scene but not really grasping each other was CHILLING. This show was just so dang good. I wish we got another season to see how those baby dynamics played out but glad it ended b4 the writers strike could ruin a great show.

I definitely think Kendall was the only one to actually think about running the company correctly. I understand that wasn’t his only motivation! Not at all, but he had plans, and the experience, and the education, and especially in season 1 really a passion for fixing the ship, and then we saw in season 2 the skills to do it. Roman & Shiv? They couldn’t care less how the company is ran they just wanted the power

Hahaha I've been refreshing RU-vid waiting for this!!!!!

Logan set them all up from the get go. He never thought nor intended for any of them to be in charge. He's been gaslighting them since childhood. Shiv like the definition of her nickname stuck it to everyone. She was also playing 3 dimensional chess from the beginning. She was working everyone who were working her. At first I thought she was unaware of Mattson playing her but she was not or at least she set up the plan B with Tom by calling him to see if he still was down with the marriage. Tom may think he's on top but Shiv will be in the back playing her position. She got the ultimate revenge on Roman and Kendall. They have continuously used her and tossed her aside and kept it moving never giving her her due. Now they have paid for it dearly especially Kendall. Kendall put all his eggs in one basket while Shiv had two baskets working at the same time. Tom may be on top but Shiv is next to him. However the way she is playing the game she will only be on the peripheral never publicly being acknowledged. At the end of the day what did any of the siblings really bring to the table other than entitlement? Their its mine you can't have it attitude is what destroyed their chances. When they were a team they were actually getting things done but they had no appreciation for being a unit. Everybody just wanted to be king. Now no one is. Wow what a show!

That kitchen scenario in retrospect was foreshadowing : Remember Shiv spitting in the drink she was making for Kendall ?! To me, that hazing incident reflected the amount of contempt and rage Shiv had for her brother. Also, I think Hugo is the one who is toast.

For a psychopath it’s about winning, but for the narcissistic Roy siblings it’s about not losing

The moment when Shiv reminds Kendall of the waiter felt like an opportunity for him to take some accountability. But when Kendall weighed the cost, he defaulted to compartmentalizing and saying "that's not an issue". When his siblings push back, Kendall has the temerity to try and withdraw his confession.

This show really is a masterpiece. You know what my favorite moment of this episode was? Roman's smile-frown-smile as he sat by himself at the bar when everything was over.

I've been bothered by people's comments all along on how "Kendall killed the waiter." They were both high and went to score drugs. Kendall was driving, but the waiter grabbed the wheel too hard to avoid a deer. The waiter caused the crash. Kendall dove 3 times in the dark to try to save the waiter, and couldn't get him out of the car. Idk laws in Britain, maybe that's manslaughter, but it seems like a terrible accident to me and I'm sick of hearing it. Was it cold for Kendall to walk back to the wedding venue, shower, get dressed, and back to the wedding? Yes. Does he feel guilt? Yes, the reason he confessed to Roman and Shiv in Season 3. But he's not a murderer. Just stop it!

I think Jess was quietly the only non snake on the show. I think the fact that she never cursed (even when relaying curse laden messages) and she never volleyed for her personal position. Jess was also the only character who seemed effected by Menchen being elected rather than moving onto machinations and chose to leave the narcissistic dumpster fire.

I thought it was interesting how the writers depicted an aspect of Logan’s brokenness in each child. Connor & Willa’s arrangement mirrors what Logan & Marsha had in the end-she was in France when he passed. Kendall represents his negligence towards his children. I.e election night vs Shiv’s pool party story Roman represents Logan’s childhood trauma. The disastrous family retreat at Connor’s compound Shiv represents his master manipulation skills & ruthlessness. Tom has wanted a child since season one & Shiv is going to continue to that leverage Even though Logan wasn’t there physically, he was very present via his children.

You explained Shiv's reasoning better than anybody else

Great analysis on the final episode. I feel Tom isn't as incompetent as you say, when he's comfortable in his position, he seems to perform just as well as the other competent players like Gerri or Karoline. Throughout the seasons, you catch glimpses of Tom doing things like hosting dinner parties with high level guests, etc. where he's very comfortable in his natural habitat. Tom has always just wanted to be the lap dog to a tyrannical top dog, and I think he's gotten what he's wanted. He's a low-key killer.

I'm surprised you didn't mention the moment when Greg slapped Tom! Great series finale! Great series!

Your take on Shiv staying close to power is exactly how I saw the finale. Many on other sites thought she was done and would play a subservient role to Tom. I truly believe if she had been a man she would have been groomed by Logan to be his WR heir. She was the most cunning and intelligent of her siblings. As you always say, “Shiv is the most like Logan” she’s also a survivor.

None of them tried to learn the company, the structure and business techniques. They were simply entitled. They couldn't get out of their own ways. That being said, I wasnt surprised that Shiv turned on them. They promised to bring her into the loop and never did. Roman was far too emotionally unstable for the job. And Ken has good moments, but is ridiculous and cringey too much of the time. They all overestimated their abilities. Good end to a great show. And great assessment Dr Ramani!

Yes! The kitchen moment - it’s that trauma bond set up- it’s only really real while that moment is happening- it’s a whole different reality, a different narrative the second it’s over.

When Shiv walked out of the room during the vote, I really thought her play was to call Matsson to tell him that she was the deciding vote and force him to make her CEO if he wanted the deal to go through. It's a bit out-of-character for her not to use that last bit of leverage.

I recommend the film Lion in Winter to help fill the void after this is over. I thought of the film when I watched the first episode of Succession. It involves Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine brutally battling over which of their three sons will succeed Henry. The dialogue is cutting, hilarious, and brilliant. It stars Peter O'toole, Kathryn Hephern, Timothy Dalton, and Anthony Hopkins in his very first movie appearance. You won't regret watching! It also reminded me of Arrested Development. Greg's character initially seemed implausible and more appropriate for the absurd tone of that show.

EXCELLENT ANALYSIS as always and the symbolism throughout - the way they tied it all together … even Roman calling their family scorpions was a nice touch, especially seeing how he didn’t know about the gift Tom gave Shiv. Nice touch. The producers also built some serious tension when Kendall took the elevator ride. Also symbolic - first episode he took the elevator to the top - this time to the bottom but the photoshoots focusing on the windows right after that scene was BRILLIANT.

11:03 “Even when there’s a moment of goodness, it has to be turned into a narcissistic parent being the victim.” You just summed up my mom

Was anyone else waiting for Kendall’s body to fall behind the glass during the last scenes by the windows? I thought he’d jump there or maybe die during the swim on the island.

Was waiting all night for this!! I’m so sad about the end of this series. It was brilliant

All three kids are fated to misery, honestly weirdly probably the best life awaits Connor who isolated himself far enough - tho his story also feels quite sad, but at least not tragic. I agree regarding Kendall and Roman, but....I do not have hope for Shiv. All her life she just wanted to be seen and validated, she wont be happy with pulling the strings from the shadows, it will eat her alive that a much less competent male will take all of the credit for her work and she will be a terrible mother - coz she never seen a good one. She is destined to never get the approval she wanted , always so close, but not close enough. In a way Kendall and Roman losing is at least a fast death of dreams, Shiv will sty keep fighting just to always hit the same wall...and once she is 50 she ll probs look into the mirror and see her own mother in it. The only perosn I have any hope for is Jess, coz she left in episode 9.

Carolina: "I seem to have landed myself in the only hell hole in paradise." I'm going to miss this show so much! I guess we can't pray for a knock-off...

I still think the best narcissistic example of the show is who Logan chose to marry. Not only was Marcia much younger than Logan, but English was her 2nd language. Those two things(age and a language barrier) would make it harder, and take longer, for a person married to a narcissist to catch on to the toxic dynamics of the narcissistic spouse. trump & Melania are a perfect example.

I tried to get into the show because I realized it was well written and acted but I couldn’t get past the fact that none of the characters had any redeeming qualities. I couldn’t handle it!! 😂😂😂

Lol! Your assessment of shiv is exactly what I thought. She actually won Succession in a back door kind of way. I don’t like her any more than her brothers but they cut her out. In fact, the whole world she’s in has cut her out because she’s female, something that comes up again and again throughout the series and especially since Logan died. It took me a little bit of time to figure out that she has won because on the surface it looks like she’s lost. But I guarantee that she’s never going to let any of them get away with anything again. She knew when she had real power and her brothers lost because they learned nothing. They all won gobs of money so we shouldn’t feel too sorry for any of them. But shiv did the Logan power play. The first of many to come in her life. Even the ending in the car said it all. Her hand rests *on top* of Tom’s. Very lightly. She anointed him by default and she knows exactly what she’s dealing with.

dr. Ramani thank you for your clever, insightful and informative analyses . I really enjoyed watching them all.

was waiting for this since the very second i finished the episode

I thought kendall was going to die. Theres one thing though, you can always trust shiv to betray you

Been watching podcasts and reactions all day, this is the most comprehensive and accurate assessment of the finale that I’ve seen.

Thank you so much for your analysis of narcissism among these characters!

This show was basically my husband's family. I was reminded of that on our recent very lavish vacation, paid for by my father in law. It was nice, but there's always this atmosphere of pleasing dad, seeking dad's approval, coming out as the "favorite" - I don't think my husband is a narcissist but he certainly has trauma and is the most vulnerable of the 3 siblings. He is waiting for the brief and rare moments when my father in law gives him a breadcrumb of approval. Hes the Roman. His older brother is the Kendall and is the most entitled and malignant. I would say the middle sibling is a mashup of Shiv and Tom. He's a kiss-up and comes off as wholesome, but he's the most backstabbing manipulative one, and also lives the closest to home so gets the "extras" like a free car. Anyway, I survived the trip but so glad I had watched Succession and saw your character breakdown video before I left. I try to remind myself that we don't have to participate in this family system all that often. We live far away and see them once or twice a year. We own a piece of the company and get dividends but as I always told my husband, that money is just a bonus and we should never rely on it. We say thank you, we accept it, we put it towards the kids college, but we never ever should count on it. Also my father in law looks Just like Logan. Reach out if you want to see a photo of all of us. You will find it hilariously similar.

Greetings from Toronto. Thank you Dr. Ramani for being along for the Succession ride. I followed you before but particularly enjoyed your season 4 episode analysis. Wished Gerri had more of a role in the final episodes. I really looked forward to this show each week.

another killer episode. i know what it feels like to be pushed around by brothers who want their own way. i know what it feels like to finally say no and it's the end of any future relationship....and realising that any prior relationship was truly bogus.....and it still hurts so much.

Remember when Gerri told Tom the story of the Sin Cake Eater? I think this was also what Lucas was telling Tom. ‘It’s not a bad job and you get a f**k load of cake”. Same thing.

One of the best analyses of Succession episodes and will miss this every week. You are on point with this finale as usual. Suggestion on next TV show to talk about relating to Narcissism is this comedy show called “The Righteous Gemstones” Also on Max. 😊

I thought the final episode was brilliantly written and executed. Shiv always thinking one step ahead of the game. Kendall believing he would get what was rightfully his and Roman still needing to be close to his father. When Kendall referenced Candy Kitchen at 7 and his father promising him the throne I couldn't believe it. A company that's been around since the 30's and still family owned!!! As anyone who's been in this world of the upside down knows that joyful happy moment in the kitchen is a momentary illusion. We know the other shoe is going to drop. Grateful you were here Doctor Ramini for helping me see things clearly and for giving me the tools I needed to see clearly once again.💖

Hey Doc! Just wanted to say how much I appreciate your videos. My wife recently "woke up" to the fact that her mom is a raging narcissist and your vids have been invaluable as she's started to unpack things and figure out how to set boundaries. I've also got my own perspective on narcissism which is... well, for a long time I was a raging narcissist myself. All the classic symptoms and the misery, insecurity and RAGE that went along with them. Turns out I had undiagnosed bi polar 2 for 39 years. Add in a bunch of professional success in my early thirties and profoundly low self esteem and... ugh. It was pretty ugly for a while there and I hurt a lot of people. I'm told this is weird for folks with BP2, but my wife eventually was able to get through to me that something was wrong and that I needed help. Switched to a new therapist who told me it sounded like BP2 on our very first session (after listening to my self-aggrandizing BS for an hour. He saw right through me and it was amazing.) Heh. At the time I thought that going on meds would be the end of my recovery, but it was just the beginning. It took a full 4 years to get truly stable and start acting like somebody I recognize as "me" again. That said, I'll tell you this: "Waking up" from my narcissistic delusion and realizing I was the VILLAIN in so many of the conflicts I'd had in my life was the most profoundly devastating, humbling and valuable thing I've ever been through. Anyway, thanks again for all the great work you do. It's appreciated.

Thank you so much Dr Ramani! This show was the most spectacular sublime masterpiece I've seen. The character development beyond all that's come before it. Now that the bar for television has been raised, I'm hoping for more from these writers.. (after MUCH discussion in our house, I picked it, none of the Roys, Tom as CEO, Shiv being more attracted to Tom now that he's taken Daddy's role..)

I would love your take on The Sopranos if you have ever watched it. The depth of how personality disorders ruin generations of families is astounding in it.

Both Shiv and Roman hated Kendall. The smile on Roman's face at the bar when he knew a huge burden had been lifted.

Thank you Dr. for the insights, they made Succession so much richer and interesting. I really thought that Ken was going to take his own life :o

Wow what a show…a truly Shakespearean tragedy 👏

I'm gonna miss your commentary as much as i'm gonna miss the show.

So thankful for these 10 reactions you've given us. Spot on, as always. Thank you ❤❤❤

It ended perfectly and the way every battle in the show did… even from the grave, Logan won.

I have enjoyed your comments along the way. I almost didn;t stick with the show at the beginning, but kept being sucked back in. I don;t know anyone, family or friends who watch it so am grateful to find intelligent commenters on line. I do believe the people who made it are geniuses.

The most subtle thing is how the mum serves them ‘salad’ and there’s nothing in the fridge. But that cheese. Which no one is allowed to touch. And the weird stuff about eyes. Of course there could be gendered stuff about how this is somehow about women not being sufficiently maternal etc. But I don’t think thats it. The genuinely strange meanness and lack of caring. This constant uncomfortable atmosphere. I think its done so wonderfully well in terms of a portrayal of narcissism. Like so much else on the show of course.

Shiv went from Cordelia to Lady Macbeth in the span of four seasons.

This show was so good at portraying these relationships it was so incredibly triggering for me but I understood every single person and why they were behaving that way. I hated this show but loved it at the same time because there aren't many programs that portray these types of people as accurately as this one. So yea I'm gonna miss this show.

Thank you for your work Dr Ramani! It’s been a pleasure watching your breakdown every week!

Thank you so much for your wonderful insights and explanations. So entertaining and helpful.

Thank you Dr Ramani. That was a great reaction series!

Just wanted to let you know this series was just as a staple for my sundays as watching succession itself. Hello from a long time fan and virtual student of yours!

Thanks so much, Dr. Romani! Your weekly videos were a staple for me this season, and I felt like they gave me a deeper insight and understanding not only of the characters but of the malignant personality styles they showcased

Great recap. Again, really appreciate your insight. Looking forward to what comes next.

To think that any of the siblings could have just decently take their billions, cruised through the deal peacefully and work at the top management of any company they wanted (if at all or just invest wisely or create a new albeit smaller but their very own brand) but no, instead they chose to cut throats, stab backs and slip over each other's blood onto the same metaphorical knife theh used on their sibling... It just amazes me. How un-simple life of a narc is.

Dr. Ramani I have so enjoyed tuning into your weekly analysis of the episodes. Your breakdown of the characters are spot on/insightful! I'm going to be in withdrawal every Sunday not only from not having Succession to watch but also you won't be giving me that laser focused analysis on all of the narcissism playing out in every scene! Thanks (and find another show you can comment on - it's great)!

Thank you Dr. Ramani - your videos are a master class in understanding narcissism. I always looked forward to your thoughts.

Thank you for your thoughtful observations and analyses on narcissism. I’m really grateful for your insight and it’s helped me to gain closure over certain people in my past. With gratitude 🙏🏽💕

This is the best spoiler review of succession I’ve seen. ❤

Wow! This has been so fun and interesting. The narcissistic family and workplace environments portrayed in television and film. Thanks Dr Ramani for these episode break-downs. Hope to see you do more for other television shows. 🙏🏽❤️

The only thing that really bothered me about how things ended is the lack of recognition from the other siblings that Kendall was the only one who might be qualified for the role. I doubt he would have been a great CEO, but he at least could have made a go of it. Shiv or Roman as CEO would be an unmitigated disaster.

Thank you so much for your videos and the channel in general. Your work is a masterpiece in narcissism! And this video is the cherry of the cake 😍👌👏👏👏

Astonishing in its breath and depth. Like a Shakespearian tragedy, you know these characters are doomed from the start, however Roman, in my opinion is the sibling with the best chance to achieve transformation. Unlike the others and despite his self- destructive impulses and self-loathing, Roman has more self-awareness and is able to see that they are all "bullshit and not serious people." His smile, in the bar, in the series finale said it all. Shiv and Tom, (I saw that coming) and am fascinated by the power and cruelty dynamic at the heart of this relationship. What I don't recognise is that this relationship is loveless. It is instead the definition of sadomasochism and a love -hate relationship, with Shiv incapable of commitment and always hedging her bets. Her tragedy is that she could have built for herself, a great career and life for herself and earned self respect and probably respect from her father, but choose instead to listen to the siren call of Waystar. She is now fated to be just like her mother, a cold person only capable of achieving power through being a wife and mother. Kendall in my opinion, has the most tragic arch of all the characters. Deluded and messianic, his narcissism and victimhood mentality is all consuming and inescapable. He is both childish and reckless and has nothing, except his deluded opinion that he could have been another Logan Roy.

Thanks for a great series Dr Ramani!!

Shiv knew she would not get it when Mattsson saw the magazine drawing. She knew, but could not accept it. She was the reason why Tom did not go to jail. She asked her father to keep him out. She was the reason why Tom got the job because she was the last vote. She was the Kingmaker. Her victory is the fact she did not lose. She chose. As any white feminist would, she chose proximity to power over no power at all. Roman stopped pretending to be a serious person and now embrances being a shithead. Connor gets his father´s house; Roman gets his father´s wisdom; Shiv gets to carry his father´s bloodline and Kendall...gets Colin.

Thank you so much for these breakdowns, so enjoyable and confirming ❤

I hope you find another show to review. I really love your channel and I enjoyed this series!

thank you for breaking the grand finale down and I hope the next comedy you find is a good one!

Shiv wasn't being cruel; she was having a rare moment of clarity.

Dr. Ramani, Thank you for the closure! :)

It's interesting that we're talking about Shiv as the cruel backstabber. (Is it because pregnant women are judged more harshly because they're supposed to be sweet?) As bad as she is, almost everyone in this plot had betrayed each other as cruelly or worse. In their most recent sucker punch, her brothers betrayed Shiv by promising to make Waystar a three-sibling-led empire, then immediately set about shutting her out. In Italy, Tom had betrayed the three siblings. He foiled their takeover plan by giving Logan a heads-up. Kendall betrayed his ex, children, siblings, investors and employees more times than we can count. Roman betrayed his promise to back Kendall when he voted no on one of Kendall's early attempts to push his father to the side. Tom, Greg, Marcia, Kerri, Caroline, Gerri, Karl, Frank, Hugo, Willa, Mattson...almost everybody had shivved other characters. Of course, nobody betrayed more people than Logan Roy.

Thanks for your service and thoughtfully exact thoughts. I subscribed because I am learning so much from your insights. You are like a Shakespearean literary teacher who studies Philip Rieff, Sherry Markle, and Charles Taylor. Brilliant! Thank you.

Incredible analysis. Thank you.

I think that Roman may reach out to Shiv after the birth, to be some version of an uncle

Thank goodness it’s over! I was hooked but felt joyful for the show to end. Reminds me of my family of origin except for the money.

Roman isn't soulless, he just wants to hurt Kendall as much as Kendall hurt him the previous day

Maybe I wasn’t supposed to root for him but I rooted for Kendall. I relate to constantly flying too close to the sun.

I'm surprised you didnt go more in depth about the abuse scene in the episode.

As always, all your notes were on the spot!

Thank you for all these Succession videos over the weeks, Dr Ramani! If you want to do a comedy with narcissistic character next, I’d recommend Veep. Same writer as Succession. So good!

I enjoyed this as much as the episode 😂 Thank you 🙏💐 I think Cate Blanchett in the movie Tár was fascinating, it’s very longwinded at times but a brilliant portrayal of a narcissist. She plays the role impeccably.

"Pain sponge" jumped out at me as well. Love hearing your take on this show!

I didn't like how Shiv had to be Lady MacBeth, the power behind a power. Lady MacBeth was a character written in the beginning of the 17th Century. Mediocre white man gets the overt power in 2023 but not the woman. Nothing ever changes.

Oh thank god. I needed someone to talk me down after that episode.

Will miss your great dissection of the characters of this masterpiece!

Love listening to you!

Having a narcissistic mother made me connect with kendall and how you’re always striving for that acceptance and hoping’this time is different’ but ultimately you’re stung again

The ending gave me the chills

You should analyze the other 3 seasons, Doc! I love your comments about the last one, I learned so much!

Dr Ramani is all I thought about while binging this show...I almost felt sorry for Roman, then remembered that scene of him ripping up that million dollar check

I thought "pain sponge" was a great way to describe what's done to the scapegoat