Succession is a show about power, family, and the terrible things people do when they think nobody is watching. It premiered in 2018 on HBO and follows the Roy family, owners of the fictional media conglomerate Waystar Royco. The show is a satire, a drama, and a study in corporate ruthlessness, all wrapped in a glossy package that occasionally feels too polished to be truly terrifying.
The Roy family is led by Logan Roy, played by Brian Cox, a man who built his fortune through ruthless acquisitions and political connections. His children — Kendall, Shiv, Roman, and Connor — are each fighting to inherit the company, but none of them are particularly likable. That is the point. Succession is not interested in heroes. It is interested in how power corrupts, and how the people closest to it are the ones who suffer the most.
Trailer, via HBO.
Brian Cox’s Performance
Brian Cox delivers the standout performance of the series. He plays Logan as a man who is both brilliant and monstrous, capable of charming a room one minute and destroying it the next. His speeches are sharp, funny, and terrifying in equal measure. Cox carries the show with a presence that is almost physical, and he makes Logan Roy a character you can’t look away from.
The supporting cast is strong across the board. Jeremy Strong plays Kendall, the eldest son who wants to run the company but lacks the ruthlessness required. Keri Russell plays Shiv, the daughter who is smarter than everyone else but willing to do anything to get ahead. Nicholas Braun plays Greg, the assistant who becomes a kind of tragicomic sidekick, and Alan Ruck plays Gerri, the chief operating officer who is the moral center of the show — though she is hardly a saint.
Comedy and Drama
Succession is often described as a comedy, and it is funny in moments, but it is more accurately a black comedy with dramatic undertones. The show’s humor comes from the absurdity of the situation. The Roy family is so rich that they have become detached from reality. They talk about “war” and “peace” in terms of mergers and acquisitions, and they treat human beings as assets.
The show also has a dark streak. There are scenes of violence, betrayal, and cruelty that are genuinely disturbing. One episode features a character being tortured, and another involves a public humiliation that is both hilarious and deeply uncomfortable. Succession is not for the faint of heart, but it is effective in its portrayal of the ugliness of power.
Structure and Pacing
The show is structured around seasons of change. Each season introduces a new threat to the family’s control of Waystar Royco, and the Roy children maneuver to position themselves as the successor. The show moves at a deliberate pace, with long stretches of dialogue that feel like a business meeting gone wrong. This can be exhausting, especially in the later seasons, where the plot becomes increasingly convoluted.
The show also has a habit of introducing subplots that are left unresolved. Some characters disappear for entire episodes, only to return at the end of the season. This can feel frustrating, but it also mirrors the chaotic nature of the Roy family’s world. Nothing is ever resolved cleanly in Succession. People are used, discarded, and sometimes destroyed.
Final Season and Legacy
The final season of Succession was released in 2025, and it concluded the main storyline of the show. The show ended with a cliffhanger that suggested there might be more to come, but for now, the story of the Roy family is over. The final season brought together all the threads of the previous four years, and it delivered a satisfying conclusion for some characters while leaving others hanging.
The show has had a significant cultural impact. Its language and style have entered the mainstream, with phrases like “stolen thunder” becoming part of common parlance. The show has also been praised for its writing, which is sharp and often poetic. The dialogue is filled with metaphors and analogies that make the corporate world feel like a battleground.
“There is no war. There is only war.”
Critical Reception
Succession has been widely acclaimed since its debut. It won multiple Emmy Awards and received positive reviews from critics. The show has a Metacritic score of 7.0 out of 10, which reflects its consistent quality without reaching the heights of its best episodes. The show has also been criticized for its lack of diversity, as the Roy family is overwhelmingly white and wealthy.
| Season | Premiere Date |
|---|---|
| Season 1 | August 12, 2018 |
| Season 2 | January 13, 2019 |
| Season 3 | October 17, 2020 |
| Season 4 | May 31, 2022 |
| Season 5 | April 17, 2024 |
| Final Season | October 1, 2025 |
The Verdict
Succession is a bold and ambitious show that rewards patience. It is not for everyone, and its bleak worldview may not sit comfortably with viewers who want a more hopeful ending. But for those who are willing to engage with its themes, the show offers a masterclass in writing, acting, and direction.
The show is at its best when it is focused on the relationships between its characters. The tension between Kendall and Shiv, the dynamic between Logan and his children, and the quiet strength of characters like Gerri and Kayce all make the show worth watching. The show’s flaws — its pacing, its unresolved subplots, and its occasional excess — are forgivable in light of its strengths.
Succession is a show that will be remembered for its performances and its willingness to confront difficult truths. It is a flawed masterpiece that deserves its reputation. For anyone who has not seen it, the answer is simple: start at the beginning and prepare to be disturbed. The show is not comfortable, but it is compelling.
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