Succession director teases Shiv and Tom are ‘back together’

Director Lorene Scafaria has teased Tom Wambsgans (played by Matthew Macfadyen) and Shiv Roy (Sarah Snook) may have completely reconciled after the latest episode of Succession.

In the sixth outing of season four, Living+, tensions are still high between the couple after their devastating break-up at the end of the premiere.

However, Waystar RoyCo’s complex new deal with Lukas Matsson (Alexander Skarsgård) seems to have reignited the sparks of passion between them and they’ve returned to their flirtatious habits.

“I think they feel like their roles have returned in a way, and they’re happy to play the part of husband and wife in that moment,” Scafaria explained.

“There’s an indignity to being separated, and there’s a comfort in finding their footing again and finding their roles. So I can’t help but think that.”

READ MORE: Succession’s Kieran Culkin on meaning behind Matsson row

“This feels like everyone’s therapy. Maybe it’s as good as it gets when you’re used to a certain kind of love.”

In the world of Succession, powerful couples like Shiv and Tom are desperate to keep up appearances and a divorce could be the last thing they need during their deal with Matsson.

Moreover, Shiv is even more vulnerable this season following the death of her father Logan Roy (Brian Cox) plus the startling revelation she’s expecting a baby.

At one point in the episode, the couple finds themselves at a Hollywood party, where they have a flirty conversation about which one of them damaged the other more in their relationship.

They then engage in a game of ‘bitey’, which involves them lacing their arms together and biting each other until one of them loses the game by being the first one to stop.

The next scene reveals their public foreplay quickly escalated and they slept together, possibly for the first time since their break-up.

“Of course, their expression of love can’t help but have some violence in it, or Shiv’s anyway,” Scafaria told Variety.

“In the scene with Matthew making that speech, it’s so honest, because money is the last taboo.

“They have it in common, it does bring them together — and in a way, it sort of does make him the right man for her.”

The director revealed Tom is still suspicious of Shiv and is unsure if their relationship is truly in the best place.

Even so, their flirty reunion in this week’s episode could be a good sign for the remainder of the season.

With a baby on the way, will Shiv finally confess the news to Tom and try to make their marriage work for the sake of the next generation of Roys?

Succession season 4 continues Sundays on HBO in the USA and the following Monday on Sky Witness in the UK.