In Succession Season 4 Episode 2, Tom Wambsgans Borrows A Move From Tony Soprano
This episode contains major spoilers for "Succession" season 4 episode 2.
In the latest episode of "Succession" season 4, "The Rehearsal," love was not in the air. Connor (Alan Ruck) and Willa's (Justine Lupe) rehearsal ended with the premature departure of the bride-to-be. Shiv (Sarah Snook) and Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) are still on the road to divorce too.
Shiv made it official in the season 4 premiere, "The Munsters," but divorce was the only way the Roy-Wambsgans marriage was ever going to end. Back in season 1, Shiv tried to pressure Tom into an open marriage. In the season 2 finale, "This Is Not For Tears," Tom pondered to Shiv, "I wonder if the sad I'd be without you would be less than the sad I get from being with you." Season 3 was all about their relationship falling apart — neither partner was able to meet the other's emotional needs — and Tom ultimately betrayed Shiv to Logan (Brian Cox). The season ended with Tom embracing Shiv, while she kept her back turned to him with a look of realization — and disgust — across her face.
However, "Succession" is a show about how resistant the status quo is to change. Tom is trying to maintain it by sabotaging Shiv's efforts at divorcing him. In "The Rehearsal," Shiv discovers that Tom has retained or consulted every high-profile divorce attorney in Manhattan. Due to the resultant conflict of interest, none of them can represent Shiv now.
A frustrated Shiv believes that Tom got this trick from Logan, who's looking for ways to f*** his kids after they f***ed him in "The Munsters." The Roy patriarch later confirms he did indeed give Tom some "advice." However, Tom's underhanded legal strategy echoes another HBO antihero entirely. Which one? Tony Soprano.
Trapped in a marriage
Season 4 of "The Sopranos" is driven by the gradual dissolution of Tony (James Gandolfini) and Carmela's (Edie Falco) marriage. Carmela is so burned by Tony's adultery and inattention that she considers an affair of her own with mob enforcer Furio (Federico Castelluccio). It doesn't happen but in the season finale "Whitecaps" (named for a beach house the Sopranos consider buying), the camel's back still breaks.
Tony's ex-mistress Irina (Oksana Lada) calls the Soprano house and talks with Carmela. Enraged and humiliated, Carmela throws Tony out of the house. He crashes at Whitecaps, where the owner Alan Sapinsly (Bruce Altman) finds him the next morning. Once appraised of the situation, Sapinsly, a lawyer himself, advises Tony to visit every divorce attorney in New Jersey to create a conflict of interest for Carmela. We don't see Tony do so, but it turns out in season 5, episode 9, "Unidentified Black Males," he took Sapinsly's advice.
Tony and Carmela spend season 5 separated, but the season is about Carmela realizing she's trapped in her marriage. Her attempt at a new relationship with her son's guidance counselor Robert Wegler (David Strathairn) fails. When she tries to hire an attorney in the aforementioned episode, she learns she has no options thanks to Tony's conflict of interest trick. Plus, no lawyer is willing to take a mob boss to court. So, season 5 ends with Carmela welcoming her husband back into her home.
This underscores a difference between the two marriages: the power dynamics are different. Whereas Tony holds all the cards against Carmela, Shiv comes from much greater wealth than Tom does. Despite the setback Tom has inflicted, she won't be taking his resistance lying down.
"Succession" airs on HBO and streams on HBO Max every Sunday at 9 PM EST.