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Her father has no moral compass.
Her brothers are, respectively, an addict, a slimeball, and a nincompoop.
(The fact that she can rock a backless dress doesnt hurt either.)
I mean, when you take a WhichSuccessioncharacter are you?
quiz, you want to get Shiv as your result, right?
(I got Tom Wambsgans.
I think its because I chose Fozzie Bear as my favorite Muppet.)
Against her better judgment, Rhea decides to handle it with Shiv.
This doesnt feel right, Rhea says as they head to a city playground where Kira agreed to meet.
No, Shiv says, completely missing the point.
Its lady duty, soft skills shit work.
When they arrive at the playground, Rhea changes her mind about meeting Kira.
So, yeah, I do have to.
Shivs manipulation of Kira is unsubtle but masterful.
She starts out by trying to seem like shes on Kiras side.
(Shiv Roy: Shes just like you.
Their clothes are a reminder that theyre both women, but otherwise live in different worlds.
When Kira responds skeptically, Shiv makes a point of noting that she doesnt trust her dad.
But the move that ultimately proves to be most effective is brutal honesty.
People will call her a slut.
Theyll never see her for who she is without thinking first of what she said before Congress.
Whats interesting about Shivs faux honesty is that it really is honest.
If Kira goes public, theres a distinct chance that no significant change will come of it.
Its easy for us watching at home to believe, too.
she told theWashingtonPostat the time.
The difference is that a friend would genuinely be trying to protect her.
Its disturbing how similar those efforts can sound, even when the motivations behind them are so opposed.
Successionis a dark show, obviously.
But theres something about this moment that is extra-dark.
There is zero comedy in it, not even a wry remark to put a button on the scene.
Its after her father congratulates her.
The camera holds on her face for a moment after Logan walks away.
She is smiling, but then her face straightens up for a moment.
The smile fades and she seems to be contemplating something, but snap!
in a millisecond its gone.
Shiv did what she needed to do.
She made her daddy proud.
I wonder, though, if she should be worried?
Well see what happens in the finale.
Its easy to stop one lady from blowing a whistle.
But Shiv hasnt considered that there are always more ladies and, potentially, more whistles.
