Succession viewers uncover the REAL meaning behind the scorpion Tom gives Shiv
Follow-up fans witnessed the awkward moment when Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) presented his wife Shiv (Sarah Snook) with a scorpion gift when they reconciled on Monday.
When opening a big red box, her confusion was evident in season four episode seven when she took out the insect encased in resin.
Tom insisted, “It’s just a joke, you know…” Leaving Shiv stumbling over her words.
He says he thinks the gift is funny because they both try to “kill” each other before going to work.
But fans have realized that the scorpion actually symbolizes both the nature of their relationship and how we as a couple are told they are doomed for good.
‘This scene broke me’: Follow-up viewers have discovered the REAL meaning behind the scorpion Tom Shiv gave in Monday night’s episode and what it means for their future
Scorpio: He gives her a scorpion as a gift, which Tom finds funny after they reconcile, as they both try to ‘kill’ each other, but Shiv isn’t so sure she’s a fan of the gift
Nothing good can come of this: the scorpion symbolizes the ruin of their relationship – The parable of the scorpion and the frog is an animal fable that teaches that cruel people cannot resist hurting others, even when it is not in their best interest
The parable of the Scorpio and the Frog is an animal fable that teaches that cruel people cannot resist hurting others, even when it is not in their best interest.
This fable seems to have originated in Russia in the early 20th century.
According to Wikipedia: ‘A scorpion wants to cross a river but can’t swim, so it asks a frog to hand it over.
The frog hesitates, afraid the scorpion might sting him, but the scorpion promises not to, pointing out that if he killed the frog in the middle of the river, he would drown.
The frog considers this argument and agrees to transport the scorpion. Halfway across the river, the scorpion stings the frog anyway, killing them both.
“The dying frog asks the scorpion why it stung despite knowing the consequence, to which the scorpion replies, “I’m sorry, but I couldn’t resist the urge. It’s in my nature.”
Moreover, the episode ends with an almighty argument where he tells the pregnant Shiv that she shouldn’t be a mother – unaware that she is already pregnant.
Shiv tells Tom she’s afraid she’s nailed herself to the Matsson cross, “and he might turn out to be bulls***.” You know, he’s erratic and… And… And… And… You know, maybe he’s not real.’
Tom adds, “Shiv, he’s real. He’s the future’, but shiv adds, ‘there’s a time bomb in his numbers and I might get blown up.
Tom insists, “It’ll be okay. -You’ll always be fine,’ but Shiv is on the brink of collapse and adds, ‘No. No, I’m fucking my family for this.’
Falling Apart: Moreover, the episode ends with an almighty argument in which he tells the pregnant Shiv that she shouldn’t be a mother – unaware that she is already pregnant
Tom asks why Shiv ever accepted his proposal, she replies ‘What the real f**k? You asked me to marry you. You proposed to me at my lowest point. My father was dying. What was I supposed to say?’
She says she has “serious problems,” but he insists, “You’ll be fine because you’re a tough bastard who will always survive because you do what you need.” You’ll do what you need’
“You’re a hyena. You’re a… You’re a street rat. Not really. You’re a goddamned snake. ‘Here’s a dead snake to wear as a tie, Tom. Why aren’t you smiling?’ she said
Tom adds, “This party here is probably 40 of the most important people in America, and you’ve been walking around all night telling them all I’m going to get fired.”
Shiv replies, “No, it was lightly implied as a little…part of a tactical joke,” though Tom says he doesn’t, “get the joke.”
She says she has “serious problems,” but he insists, “You’ll be fine because you’re a tough bastard who will always survive because you do what you need.” You will do what you need.’
She fires back at his “scorpion joke,” but Tom insists, “That was a friendly thing.”
“You’re a hyena. You’re a… You’re a street rat. Not really. You’re a goddamned snake. “Here’s a dead snake to wear as a tie, Tom. Why aren’t you smiling?” she says.
Tom lets it all out and adds, “I think you can be a very selfish person, and I think you find it very hard to think about me. And I actually think you shouldn’t have even married me.’
Shiv replies, ‘What the f**k? What’s actually going on? You asked me to marry you. You proposed to me at my lowest point. My father was dying. What was I supposed to say?’
This is genius! Fans have referenced the famous parable in post-show tweets
“Maybe, “No”?” Tom adds, but Shiv insists, “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
‘Oh thanks! Thanks for that! Yeah, you really kept me safe while you ran off to fuck the phone book,” says Tom, adding, “you hid it because you were so scared of how awful you are.”
Shiv replies, ‘You were only with me to rise to power. Well, you got it now, Tom. You’ve got it!’ though Tom insists, “I’m with you because I love you!”
Shiv adds, “Bull****. You fuck me for my DNA. You were fucking me for crossing a ladder because your whole family is ambitious and narrow-minded.”
Tom adds, “That’s not a fair characterization,” but Shiv adds, “Well, your mom loves me more than you because she’s cracked.”
Tom adds, “You betrayed me. You’d see me sent to goddamn jail, Shiv! And then you fobbed me off with that goddamn undrinkable wine, and you’re not going to have my baby because you never thought, honestly, you’d be with me more than four goddamn years.
Shiv adds, “You offered to go to jail, Tom! You offered it because you are a slave! You’re just… You’re slavish!’
Tom says, “You are unable to think of anyone but yourself because your sense of who you are, Shiv, is so f***in’ thin!”
Shiv asks if he read that in a book and he says, “You’re too damn transparent to be found in a book!”
Tom adds: ‘I think you are incapable of love. And I think you may not be a good person to have children!’
Shiv says, “Well, that’s not a very nice thing to say, is it?” as Tom adds, “You hurt me more than you can imagine,” but Shiv says, “you took away the last six months I could have had with my father. You sucked at him and you threw me out!’
“It’s not my fault you didn’t get his approval. I’ve given you infinite approval, and it doesn’t fill you because you’re broken,” says Tom.
‘You don’t deserve me. And you never did. And everything came out of that,’ says Shiv before he leaves.
The lights finally go out in Tom and Shiv’s house, as they both move to separate beds… and despite being exhausted, Tom can’t sleep as the episode comes to a close.