Succession is a series that is constantly in flux. Whether it’s the latest deal or political contest, Kendall’s moods or Shiv and Tom’s relationship, everything is always in motion. Highs collapse into sudden lows. The waves crest and break and dissolve into spray.

So it is in ‘Tailgate Party’, the seventh episode of the HBO hit drama’s final season. After this, we have just three episodes left, and there’s really no predicting what will happen. By the time the credits roll, all we know for certain is that everything is falling apart.

The GoJo deal is about to collapse now that Kendall and Roman have found their bombshell: Lukas Mattson’s subscriber numbers in India are wildly inflated. “If there were two Indias it would make sense,” the Swedish tech-bro confides in Shiv when she confronts him. This is great news for the Roy Boys, but bad news for Shiv, who’s hitched her wagon to the Swede.

When she complains about this to Tom, he loses his temper. He’s upset because she’s spent all night walking around with Mattson nodding along with his declarations that a “radical” overhaul in ATN management is one the way once he takes over. Tom was pretty sure he’d survive the acquisition by playing nice with Shiv, and now he feels hung out to dry.

Things had been looking up for these two (they’re even sexting) though Tom’s gift, of a scorpion in a glass brick, seemed to suggest that not all hard feelings had been smoothed over. But now they “clear the air” out on the patio during the big pre-election party they’re hosting. It’s their biggest fight yet, no holds barred, and they leave the confrontation with blood on their hands and in their mouths, bruised and beaten. “I don’t even like you,” Shiv says in the end, after Tom tells her she’s unfit to have children. It’s brutal. Perhaps the most brutal moment in this show’s entire run.

Sarah Snook and Matthew Macfadyen are brilliant as they rattle off hard truth after hard truth to one another, like two boxers in the final round, going for the fences.

There’s something karmic about Tom’s realization that no matter what he does, he’s out at ATN. Deal or no deal, his days are numbered. Earlier, when he entrusted Greg with the unpleasant task of laying off ATN employees, he made a “boohoo” face, mocking the employees who were about to lose their jobs and livelihoods. It’s all fun and games until you’re on the chopping block yourself.

For his part, Greg brags about his firing skills to Mattson and his entourage, telling them that he’s perfect for the job because he looks like someone who cares, “But I don’t.”

Roman seeks out Gerri to make amends and ask for advice, but after his attempt to fire her, she’s done. No more Mrs. Nice Gal. She’s out, she’s going to demand the shiniest golden parachute Waystar RoyCo can afford, and if anyone even so much as thinks about throwing her under the bus, she’ll whip out all the dick pics that Roman has sent her and use those in her lawsuit against the company.

Roman, realizing how stupid and careless he’s been, rushes off to find Connor, who he’s attempting to get to drop out of the presidential race in order to help boost the Republican frontrunner’s chances. Connor has already turned down various locations for an ambassadorship post, but when Roman demands that he make up his mind then and there, Connor and Willa basically tell him to pound dirt. Roman loses his temper, lobbing insults at his older brother, telling him he’s a joke. “There’s only one person at this party who doesn’t think I’m a joke,” Connor says calmly. “And I’ll listen to her.”

They leave, content to lose and cut their losses and not get in bed with the enemy. I suppose that’s something. One couple that isn’t falling apart this episode.

Scattered thoughts:

In the end, we see Shiv and Tom in their separate beds. The camera focuses on Tom’s face as he lays there contemplating a grim future. Though grim for someone as wealthy and connected as Tom is not grim by anyone else’s standards.