This might be one of my favorite finales ever! 

I have to say- I was a little nervous going in. The final CEO had been spoiled for me, and I was worried I wasn’t going to be that affected- but honestly, my viewing experience was barely scratched by that piece of info. Because there was still so much left, about that plot point and about every point. 

While yes, Tom being CEO was spoiled for me, the scene where Mattson offered it still hit hard. And it’s such a complicated place to leave his character- he’s on the top like he always wanted, after all the humiliation and shit eating, and he had to work his way up being the outsider, but in the end, he’s still a puppet like always. I think there was no true way for him to really “win”- and I think that goes for all of them. 

Greg, too. While he’s in a better place than most, and again, he really worked his way up from being a mascot to being relatively important- he’s still just the assistant. Tom putting that sticker on his forehead and saying “I got you” solidified it.

Shiv is also in a complicated place. In order to gain more power, she opts to choose Mattson and Tom, two men who have seriously pissed her off, over her own brother. And it’s tragic, she’s now tied herself to this company, this evil company that’s never done anything for her, that will probably make her miserable. She’s confined to wife of the CEO now. And I really do wonder what’ll happen between them. Shiv seemed like she was willing to rebuild something, but the final shot in the car said so much. Their roles have really flipped.

Roman was kind of over it this whole ep, and he seems to be the only sibling (besides Connor) to finally let go. He looked so free in the final shot. I think this episode might be the least tragic for him. 

And now Kendall. UGHHH Kendall! He’s been ready to be in charge since he was just 7, and this day was genuinely, from his POV, the defining moment of his life. But once again, personal conflicts get in the way of huge business decisions. The scene with he, Shiv, and Roman, fighting in the glass room, is so incredible. My heart was pounding. Everything he said about the kid who died- all the progress he made with his grief, and his confession to his siblings, all gone, from this moment. And you can see he’s gone to such a dark place. He can never fill his fathers’ shoes, nor leave his shadow, and we see that with Colin walking behind him in the park. And of course, the shot of him sitting by the water is THE perfect shot to end the show. You hear the beautiful score, and then it cuts out, and you hear nothing but the wind. It’s so chilling. 

But then again, if he had been declared CEO, would he truly be satisfied? Or would he be miserable? He said it himself, the job is rough. This is why I think there was no way for any of them to really win. 

This is SO LONG omg but if you read all this, thanks for listening to my ramble. TV truly means a lot to me, and this show in particular really affected me. It was dramatic, funny, twisted, disturbing, so tightly written, and had me counting down the minutes every day to watch the next one. Everyone involved did an incredible job and I’m so glad I watched this. I’m sure it will linger with me for a long time. 