The beloved HBO show Succession has come to a bittersweet end. According to Deadline, Director Mark Mylod (The Menu, What’s Your Number?) and Creator Jesse Armstrong (Peep Show, Fresh Meat) reveal how the ending of Succession makes for a tragic future for the iconic Roy family.

In the segment after the credits rolled on the Succession finale of season 4, episode 10 titled “With Open Eyes,” Armstrong explained, “Tom being the eventual successor, that has been something that I thought was the right ending for quite a while.” Based on the finale, we know Armstrong was compelled to exemplify if this truly was the right ending. 

Director Mylod explains that his “understanding of the show has always been that it’s a tragedy. Therefore, every moment of hope is so cruel, because we’re waiting for their essential nature to be exposed. To break your heart again.” If you ask fans of Succession, this is exactly what the show accomplished throughout its four season run. 

In the last couple minutes of the Succession finale, we see Kendall (Jeremy Strong, Armageddon Time, The Gentleman), Shiv (Sarah Snook, The Glass Castle, Jessabelle), and Roman (Kieran Culkin, Home Alone, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World) sitting in the board room where it all began four seasons ago in Waystar Royco. This is where all hope is lost for the immediate descendants of late creator of Waystar Royco, Logan Roy (Brian Cox, Troy, Braveheart).

The final position to take over Waystar Royco is offered to Tom Wambsgans (Matthew Macfadyen, Pride and Prejudice, Stonehouse). Wambsgans is Shiv Roy’s power hungry husband, and Shiv has been gunning for the CEO position herself. When Tom accepts and is made CEO, Shiv is shattered, everything she’s worked for handed to her husband. 

Mylod and Armstrong make it very clear regarding their sadness to Succession ending. In lieu of Armstrong’s success within the hit show Succession, he states “I don’t feel like I’ll be able to write anything as good as this again, because I just feel like it’s an arena that I’m so interested in, and the group of people who’ve made it have been so talented.” 

Regardless, the masses are excited to see what Armstrong does next. HBO’s Succession has been a true fan favorite that many are sad to see come to such a tragic and unexpected end.