Succession - How Sarah Snook Perfected Shiv Roy

This video essay analyzes Sarah Snook's performance as Shiv Roy in HBO's Succession. There are many keys to the character of Shiv Roy and this video lays out how actor Sarah Snook subtly conveys the character's emotionally guarded nature. Succession is available to watch and stream on HBO Max.

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Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
1:59 Physicality
5:15 Lies and Manipulation
9:50 Emotional Vulnerability

Music used:
Moldau by Human Symphony Orchestra (Shutterstock)
Some Distant Lights by Big Score Audio (Shutterstock)
&
(Vivaldi) Winter mvt 1 Allegro non molto
(Vivaldi) Summer mvt 3 Presto
(Vivaldi) Summer mvt 1 Allegro non molto
by John Harrison with the Wichita State University Chamber Players
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
*The original work has been modified with basic fades, cuts and loops*

#successionseason4 #succession #shivroy

[AA-qbni]

Everyone was incredible in 4x03, but Sarah's acting when she found out about Logan was phenomenal. She deserves to win her long awaited Emmy!!!

[ce]

its interesting how all the characters are nasty and vicious at various points in the show, but shiv is the one that seems to get the least empathy from the general audience- many seem to find her much more reprehensible than her brothers and the same kind of deep analysis think-pieces that have been written about them don't seem as common for her. it's a shame bc she's so fascinating and it's still rare to get to see complicated and morally grey female characters on screen

[qjames]

Still in shock from the last episode
But I must say, Shiv's character by far had the most sincerely, relatable response to everything that happened at Connor's Wedding

[mosesotieno]

At This point it is not just an observation.. this is detailed analysis

[LeVidocq]

Shiv has a Dismissive Avoidant attachment style, and has lived and now worked in environments so hostile to vulnerability, that she probably doesn't even realize how often she ices out her emotions and takes opportunities to establish distance from Tom, who loves her in a way she's never gotten from her family.

[normalizenatalie]

she has some of the best acting for me, she can convey like 10 different emotions in 3 seconds and you understand each one. and she always stutters when she talks which just makes it feel more real to me lol

[ComfortableTool]

I love that you pointed to that hug between Kendall and Shiv. We as the audience know that Kendall really means it, but Shiv initially doesn't, but her face is so telling as she realizes and it's a rare vulnerable moment between main characters.

[chipmunkpark]

Yes...out of all the siblings Shiv is the most emotionally guarded (maybe this is why she is the most "stable"of the Roy siblings) I think this is why she chose Tom as her partner because of her fear of abandonment and betrayal (Logan called her out for it)BUT he ended up betraying her too, since she never really "let him in" and recognized him as a person with his own ambitions (Tom isn't a saint either because part of him was there for the money and status of his wife...he chose power over her). I think her character is very sad but there is still hope...in season 4 I think we are seeing a more vulnerable Shiv

[davidwalsh]

Shiv and Toms relationship is so brilliantly acted. The point where she found out Tom had boxed off all the divorce lawyers from her and she was started to be outdone by someone she thought was below her 👌 pissed but also half crying 😢

[AnastasiiaPankina]

I wonder how the casting process went with this role and who else was considered. For me, Sarah seems like a dark horse, and I'm constantly amazed by the depth she brings to the character in different scenarios. Anyone knows anything about her method? Man, I hope we'll be able to witness her range in many projects after Succession.

[JoJoThmonkey]

Making her voice deeper and hitting a low register is also a very Elizabeth Holmes-girl bossy detail that I love.

[slayerduval]

Sarah Snook is incredible. Shiv's reaction to her father's death gutted me the most, and that's saying a lot.

[krustomer]

"Every other character tends to lie for business reasons; but with Shiv, we get to see her lie in her personal life, too" 9:37 Actually, we also see Roman and Kendall lie in their personal relationships as well. It's just not as expected of a woman to do so.

[tisfaction]

"Shiv" is of course a nickname for Siobhan, but everyone essentially names her by an improvised prison knife... These characters are all beautifully written and acted, me having tears in my eyes when their hurt and grief occationally manifests itself.

[nevm]

i’ve always found her character to be the most interesting, compelling and nuanced, from episode one of the first season. i grew up in manhattan “high society” in the 00’s and 10’s and her character is a very familiar and realistic archetype of that world. the conflict between the social/cultural progressivist tendencies of manhattan rich kids and their ruthlessly elitist and entitled worldview overall is very prevalent irl and perfectly encapsulated by shiv. sarah’s acting is just incredible too, she really brings the character to life and makes her a full person who’s genuinely authentic to that world.

[thandondlovu]

Agreed I bounce back and forth between empathy for Shiv because she definitely faces sexism by her father and her world at large on top of the emotional abuse that she faced at the hands of her parents like her siblings however she's still just a selfish and cruel as the rest of them. Honestly I think she mirrors her father more so than her brothers.

[emmathompson]

I love how the actor conveys her smugness, her entitlement and how she overestimates herself as she tries to match the men around her. It is an astonishing achievement to make these things visible but also truthfull. She is such an amazing avatar for women in these spaces. The actor is a genius and your analysis is very enjoyable to listen to as well 😺

[danielplastrik]

Please do Matthew Macfadyen! There is so much nuance to unpack in such a multi-layered performance.

[brandonwhite]

Shiv is tied with Logan and Kendall as my favorite characters.

She really is a tragic figure. We see the downfall of her relationship with her father, because to me it always seemed like before Shiv got into the family business her relationship with Logan was good at least on the surface, which looking back is quite devastating to see.

[himurahaibara]

The first thing i noticed about Shiv was her cold tone. Out of all people in the Roy family i felt most hurt when Shiv insults someone, her tone really sticks it to you.