Succession

★★★★☆ 8.8/10
📅 2018 📺 39 episodes ✅ Completed 👁️ 13 views

Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama Succession, which absolutely dominated television from 2018 to 2023 and became one of HBO’s most acclaimed series ever created.

Succession aired for four seasons on HBO from June 3, 2018, to May 28, 2023, delivering 39 episodes of pure television excellence. Each episode runs approximately 60 minutes, giving viewers plenty of time to dive deep into the twisted world of the Roy family. Created by Jesse Armstrong, this satirical black comedy-drama centers on a global media conglomerate and the vicious power struggle within the family that controls it.

The series masterfully blends dark comedy with intense drama, creating a viewing experience that’s both hilarious and deeply unsettling. Winner of 19 Emmy Awards, Succession has been praised for its sharp writing, incredible performances, and ruthless portrayal of wealth and power in modern America. The show doesn’t just entertain; it holds up a mirror to contemporary media culture and political influence.

The Roy Empire Crumbles: A Dynasty’s Final Days

The series focuses on the Roy family, whose aging patriarch, Logan Roy, owns the entertainment and media conglomerate Waystar Royco, one of the last surviving legacy media concerns, and struggles to pick a successor from among his power-hungry children, advisers, and investors. Logan Roy, brilliantly portrayed by Brian Cox, is a media mogul whose health is declining, forcing him to consider who will inherit his empire. What follows is a brutal game of manipulation, betrayal, and corporate warfare that makes Game of Thrones look like a family reunion.

The central plot revolves around Logan’s three adult children, each desperately vying for daddy’s approval and the keys to the kingdom. Connor, the eldest and most delusional, believes he’s destined for greatness despite being utterly incompetent. Kendall starts as the apparent heir but becomes increasingly unstable as his father’s manipulations take their toll. Siobhan, the only daughter, initially works in politics but gets drawn into the family business when she sees an opportunity for real power.

Kendall Roy: The Broken Prince’s Tragic Arc

Jeremy Strong delivers a career-defining performance as Kendall Roy, the second eldest son who begins the series as Logan’s chosen successor. Kendall’s journey is perhaps the most heartbreaking in the entire show, as we watch a man slowly destroyed by his father’s psychological abuse and his own desperate need for approval. His evolution from confident executive to broken shell of a man is masterfully portrayed across all four seasons.

Kendall’s relationship with his father forms the emotional core of the series. Every time he thinks he’s finally won Logan’s respect, his father pulls the rug out from under him. Strong’s performance captures every nuance of this toxic dynamic, from Kendall’s manic highs when he believes he’s succeeded to his devastating lows when reality crashes down around him.

Logan Roy: The Ruthless Patriarch’s Iron Grip

Brian Cox’s Logan Roy is one of television’s greatest villains, a character so compelling that you almost forget how truly terrible he is. Cox brings decades of acting experience to create a patriarch who is simultaneously pathetic and terrifying. Logan’s genius lies in his ability to manipulate his children’s love for him into a weapon he can use against them whenever convenient.

The chemistry between Cox and the actors playing his children is electric. Logan knows exactly which buttons to push with each of his kids, and Cox delivers these psychological attacks with the precision of a surgeon. His performance makes Logan feel like a real person rather than a cartoon villain, which makes his cruelty even more impactful.

The Final Succession: Power Changes Everything

The series builds to an explosive climax in its final season, where Logan’s death forces his children to finally face the reality of their situation. Without their father’s manipulative presence holding them together, the Roy siblings turn on each other with a viciousness that’s both shocking and inevitable. The final episodes deliver emotional payoffs that feel both surprising and completely earned.

The succession question that drives the entire series gets answered in ways that no one expects. Jesse Armstrong’s writing team crafts a conclusion that satisfies the story’s thematic concerns while delivering genuine surprises. The final season proves that sometimes the most devastating endings are the ones where everyone gets exactly what they deserve.

The Enablers and Survivors

Other starring cast members include Matthew Macfadyen as Tom Wambsgans, Shiv’s husband and Waystar executive; Nicholas Braun as Greg Hirsch, Logan’s grandnephew also employed by the company; and Hiam Abbass as Marcia, Logan’s third wife. Each supporting character brings their own unique energy to this dysfunctional world.

Tom Wambsgans, played by Matthew Macfadyen, serves as both comic relief and tragic figure as he desperately tries to climb the corporate ladder through his marriage to Shiv. Nicholas Braun’s Greg provides some of the show’s funniest moments as the bumbling cousin who somehow manages to survive every corporate purge through sheer luck and cowardice.

Success on HBO: A Critical and Cultural Phenomenon

This provocative and bitingly funny HBO Original drama became a cultural touchstone that defined prestige television in the late 2010s and early 2020s. The series attracted both critical acclaim and passionate fan discussion, with each episode generating countless think pieces and social media debates. Succession’s 60-minute format allowed for deep character development and complex plotting that kept viewers engaged throughout its entire run. The show’s influence extends far beyond entertainment, with real-world media figures often compared to its fictional characters.

FiThe Ultimate Power Play Drama

If you love stories about family dysfunction, corporate intrigue, and the corrupting influence of power, Succession is the perfect series to binge on HBO Max. This isn’t just television; it’s a masterclass in storytelling that will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about success and family loyalty.

Why You Need to Watch This Masterpiece

Succession stands as a towering achievement in television drama that captures the zeitgeist of our current political and media landscape with surgical precision. The series offers a perfect blend of dark comedy and intense drama, delivered by some of the finest actors working today in roles that will define their careers forever.

Series Details

Number of Episodes: 39

Platform: HBO/HBO Max

Release/End Year: 2018-2023

Rating (IMDb): 8.8/10

Genre: Dark Comedy-Drama/Political Satire

Status: Completed

Main Characters: Jeremy Strong (Kendall Roy), Brian Cox (Logan Roy), Sarah Snook (Siobhan Roy), Kieran Culkin (Roman Roy)

Antagonist: Logan Roy (though all characters serve as antagonists to each other)