A hallmark of excellent television, Succession took its final bow with its series finale, With Open Eyes. The final episode of the fourth and last season crowned a new leader to the Roy empire, and boy, was it full of twists and turns.
As soon as the episode aired, Twitter was flooded with memes and fan reactions to the shocking farewell that left audiences struggling with a plethora of emotions. Without further ado, here are the best reactions to the Succession series finale.
SPOILER ALERT: Tweets contain spoilers
One Twitter user combined one of the most iconic dialogues from Game of Thrones and juxtaposed it with Tom Wambsgans' (Matthew Macfayden) eventual fate in the show (if you know, you know)
“Tell Cersei I want her to know it was me.” #SuccessionHBO pic.twitter.com/TU8c7EuDMa
— Jacque Schrag (@jnschrag) May 29, 2023
Interestingly, one Twitter user drew yet another parallel between the two shows, with Tom and Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) rising to the top as unexpected victors. "HBO has done it again," they tweeted.
HBO has done it again #Succession pic.twitter.com/jfzN0DKgqK
— acaciasurescha (@acaciasurescha) May 29, 2023
Parallels between Kendall Roy (Jeremy Strong) and Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) were also drawn, with HBO being blamed for robbing the apparent heirs with a delightful twist.
HBO i can’t believe you did this to me TWICE #Succession #SuccessionHBO pic.twitter.com/CFS427ys42
— maria olívia (@mariaxolivia) May 29, 2023
One Twitter user summed up Kendall's protests in the finale.
Kendall Roy in the series finale of #Succession. pic.twitter.com/dYVJ9PYL4c
— Shannon O'Connor (@ShannonOConnor0) May 29, 2023
HBO itself chose to pay homage to the one-of-a-kind show. "Affix your stickers to objects you covet," read the tweet, which was accompanied by a pivotal point in the show. Tom can be seen placing a sticker on Gregory Hirsch's (Nicholas Braun) head.
The scene paid tribute to the tumultuous friendship shared between Tom and Greg, but it also further highlighted the newly established power dynamic, which placed Tom leagues ahead of Greg, thereby also making Greg a perpetual target.
Affix your stickers to objects you covet. #succession pic.twitter.com/5pyFDViEr1
— HBO (@HBO) May 29, 2023
Twitter users also paid tribute to Gerri Kellman (J. Smith Cameron), who always came out on top, despite all hardships. "I’m so pleased she came out on top. You can’t keep her knocked down for long. She’ll always claw her way back up. She knows how to play the game," wrote the fan.
Gerri’s first and last scenes. 💔
— Sare 💘 (@RoseNyborg) May 30, 2023
I’m SO pleased she came out on top. You can’t keep her knocked down for long. She’ll always claw her way back up. She knows how to play the game.#Succession #SuccessionHBO pic.twitter.com/EqyIyOCyOO
Some moments from the show were immortalised. For instance, Twitter users could not get over Kendall yelling, "I am the eldest boy!"
“I AM THE ELDEST BOY” is an all-timer
— Chris Evangelista (@cevangelista413) May 29, 2023
“Im the eldest boy!” #Succession #SuccessionHBO pic.twitter.com/F9ip5d4FcE
— Auntie Rach (@raegay218) May 29, 2023
One particularly gut-punching tweet highlighted Siobhan Roy's (Sarah Snook) arc, where she eventually turns into the mother she resents. A quote by author and scholar Bonnie Burstow accompanied an image of Tom and Shiv.
It read, "Often father and daughter look down on mother (woman) together. They exchange meaningful glances when she misses a point. They agree that she is not bright as they are, cannot reason as they do. This collusion does not save the daughter from the mother’s fate."
"Often father and daughter look down on mother (woman) together. They exchange meaningful glances when she misses a point. They agree that she is not bright as they are, cannot reason as they do. This collusion does not save the daughter from the mother’s fate" #SuccessionHBO pic.twitter.com/RCFlpP8Yac
— Jocelyn (IWTV era)🫀 (Taika's #369 fan) (@saiphetbet) May 29, 2023
Another Twitter user utilised images from the title song and stills from the show to highlight how Shiv was always overshadowed by the very men she sought to uplift.
always an angel, never a god #Succession pic.twitter.com/K7JFO1ejnN
— َ (@cuntgates) May 29, 2023
One user of the microblogging site simply made fun of the Roy siblings, stating, "How to lose a company in 10 days starring Kendall, Roman, and Shiv." (Roman Roy is played by Kieran Culkin).
how to lose a company in 10 days starring kendall, roman, and shiv
— meg succession text posts (@successtextpost) May 29, 2023
Another user highlighted the sheer brilliance of this Shakespearean show, quoting the example of William Adolf Wambsganss, who is best remembered for making one of the most spectacular defensive plays in World Series history, an unassisted triple play. Is it a coincidence that Tom shares the same surname?
Pulled off the ultimate triple play. pic.twitter.com/78FeGo9bxc
— Tom Danks (@TomDankinson) May 29, 2023
People also couldn't get over how the audience was 'Wambsgansed,' calling the finale a 'tragic ending but brilliantly made.'
we've been wambsgansed. a tragic ending but brilliantly made.#Succession #SuccessionHBO pic.twitter.com/4yN0XbzeRR
— loose juice (@greenlife497) May 29, 2023
Users of the site also highlighted the many spoilers a particular photoshoot contained. "The Shiv poster with Tom reflected in her back being the biggest spoiler of the finale," they penned.
the shiv poster with tom reflect in her back being the biggest spoiler of the finale #SuccessionHBO #Succession pic.twitter.com/MEmMDCQOLG
— lin (@lisaIaoshi) May 29, 2023
Roman's 'fragile' state at his mom's house after his breakdown at Logan Roy's (Brian Cox) funeral and the attack by protestors was also made into a meme. His casual, beaten-down look was juxtaposed with Michael Yagoobian from Meet The Robinsons.
Roman at his mom’s house
— Kenny (@kennysroys) May 29, 2023
#SuccessionHBO #Succession pic.twitter.com/XJ29sCcLRU
Shiv changing her mind at the most pivotal moment was also turned into a meme. A clip of Michael Scott (Steve Carell) from The Office repeatedly threatening to end his life was turned into Kendall's response to Shiv second-guessing her vote.
shiv: “i changed my mind”
— kathleen (@kathleen_hanley) May 29, 2023
kendall: #Succession #SuccessionHBO pic.twitter.com/u6NB42nbDi
One Twitter user summed up the fates of one of the Roy siblings, with Roman potentially coming out on top - mentally, that is. "It's easy to say that everybody lost, but when the dust settles, Roman will be the most fine. Kendall had it right: he didn't want it; he only wanted it because his father set that expectation in his abuse cycle. That smile is the tell. He is free (and filthy rich)," they wrote.
It's easy to say that everybody lost, but when the dust settles, Roman will be the most fine. Kendall had it right: he didn't want it; he only wanted it because his father set that expectation in his abuse cycle. That smile is the tell. He is free (and filthy rich). #Succession pic.twitter.com/JzZBF2jU57
— Brandon Lewis (@blewis1103) May 29, 2023
Finally, this user perfectly summed up the fates of all three siblings. "Shiv having to re-live her mother’s life. Roman's melancholic smile because he was free from all of that. The last shot with Ken and the bodyguard: the two men who lived for Logan, wandering around and having nothing lined up. Wow. Succession, I will miss you," they stated.
Shiv having to re-live her mother’s life.
— Bea (@beajeweled1408) May 29, 2023
Roman melancholic Smile because he was free from all of that.
The last shot with Ken and the bodyguard : the two men who lived *for* Logan, wandering around and having nothing lined up…
wow#SuccessionHBO I will miss u
Truly, there will never be another show like Succession. We tip our hats and bid farewell to one of television's finest offerings.
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