Tom and Greg's relationship is a rocky one. It is born of Tom's fixation on Greg in the face of his frustration and anxiety surrounding his marriage. Greg serves as a sort of stand-in for his wife. Greg is like a Roy, but is easily controlled and lead by Tom, unlike the real deal. Greg brings Tom affirmation in his masculinity, importance, and personhood. At a point, Greg overwhelms the need to be a sub-in for Shiv, and instead becomes an object of Tom's love and desire on his own merits. He becomes "Nero's favorite", and replaces the wife. Even after a huge betrayal, Tom claims Greg as his, marking him with a sticker which declares Greg, for the first time, "coveted".
For Greg, Tom is his protection. From his first day in New York, Tom swears he'll "keep an eye" on Greg. Whilst Tom delivers professionally, carrying Greg throughout their business, Greg is able to see past his emotional shell, and identify his vulnerability. He swears on Tom being a good guy once you get to know him, and admits: "He's actually pretty lonely and afraid, I guess. Like we all are." Regardless of his understanding of Tom's weakness, instability, and the mistreatment he's subject to, Greg stays anyway. In eachother, they find comfort and kinship.
The duel-nature of their relationship is what appeals to me so much. There are indeed themes of ownership, power dynamic, and projection... but it goes deeper than the abuse. Tom and Greg are also beacons of safety and comfort in eachother's lives. They understand and see eachother in ways no one else in their lives do. Tom dominates Greg, but he also protects him. Greg exploits Tom, but he also comforts him. The softness of their insanity is what keeps me so invested. There's a semblance that if they were in some other situation, an enviornment less competitive and strained, you could imagine them being normal and conventionally caring towards eachother. In terms of Succession, it's incredibly sweet.
