As I binged watch this, I realized HBO packaged this as their answer to Billions. However, this show is not about the business of industry; it's about the business of family. The characters become more likeable as season progresses. This is a great show and I bet the final episode is going to be a jaw dropper.
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amrouten3 July 2018
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I didn't know what to expect from this show but I'm hooked. It's uncomfortable to watch and hilariously sad. Greg the outsider nephew is perfect and I do love Tom, Shiv and Roman but it's Kendall who is the tragically watchable.
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cynthiacaton5 July 2018It is true that most - if not all - of the characters are unlikeable but I think that is part of Succession's charm! The casting is spot on and the dialog is tight. It is well nuanced and I'm looking forward to where the plot is going.
Highly recommended! -
Neardark196917 December 2023I Loved this show, there not a likable character in it, but you'll still find yourself rooting for them. Cousin Greg is hilarious and it's a fantastic insight into a world you expect does exist for a certain privelaged few, where an old school Patriarch has built an empire and now has to bequeath it to his selfish, narcissistic, and none to bright lazy heirs, none of which is worthy and so let the backstabbing begin!
The only negative point was the ending (no spoilers) but after investing in the characters and seeing their motivations I didn't find the final episode true to them.
Not a Game of Thrones ending disaster but a medium end to an otherwise great series. -
alicepepperpot25 August 2019I'm surprised there isn't more positive reviews.
Its well written, nice amount of dark humour. The characters are mostly horrible people you'd never want to meet in your life.
I love it. -
m-abtahi28 January 2024I recently watched the long-running series "Succession." It unravels the intricate web of a family dynasty led by billionaires who amass their wealth through a powerful media empire. As the aging patriarch grapples with his twilight years, his children engage in cutthroat competition, revealing that immense wealth cannot shield them from the destructive forces of rivalry.
In this family, the corporate boardroom becomes an arena for modern betrayal and crime, all for the pursuit of a larger share of the family fortune. Unlike other shows where such power dynamics are veiled behind the facade of royalty, "Succession" boldly exposes the moral crisis within the affluent, where abundant riches fail to prevent the ethical decay among siblings.
This four-season series lays bare the moral crisis of the wealthy, unveiling the manipulative media strategies and unethical dealings while challenging the notion that superior genes are a divine gift. -
whatgift18 April 2024This is undoubtedly impeccably produced, acted and directed, it's not hard to see why it is acclaimed in that regard.
The problem is that every character is a truly despicable human being, and I cannot fathom how watching these people abuse everyone around them is at all entertaining. I managed to get through 4 episodes before bailing on this perverse spectacle, and have zero interest in finding out how it turns out.
There's certainly some intrigue involved in the machinations in what seems to be a clever satire on media organisations and big business, it just didn't work for me, and surprised it reached such a wide audience. -
jeroen-10621 June 2018Characters are actually not one-dimensional as some people state here. Everyone is imperfect in this show. And even if they all seem greedy, they all have their weaknesses and their motivation is rooted deep in their personalities. For example the son who is temp CEO only wants his father's approval and pride, but gets rejected time after time. He plays the character very well.
It's a healthy dose of drama and humor. I'm not sure yet about The Office - ish camerawork (sudden zooms) because it gives the impression of a mockumentary, as if the cameraman is there and just recording what is happening in real-time. It clashes a bit with the overall style of the show. Same for some of The Office style humor they brought to this show. But these are minor things that don't get in the way of the story.
Definitely recommended. Give it a few episodes! -
jeroen-10615 August 2018Early on this show is trying to find its tone. Too many weird zooms imply a mockumentary style and the humor clashes with drama early on. This show is at its best when it resolves around the sadness of each character, all trying to earn dads love, who just might not be capable of giving it. The acting is phenomenal, especially after the first couple of episodes. In some instances it reminded me of Festen (Thomas Vinterberg).
I strongly disagree with some reviews here stating that the characters are two dimensional. On the contrary! It just takes a while before things come together. I highly recommend this show and I hope you do too. -
Why I was attracted to watching Succession in the first place was because I had heard that it had no likeable characters. Coupled with a backdrop of corporate America, it seemed like a show right up my alley. I had absolutely no idea that the show would exceed my expectations by a large mile.
Not since The Sopranos have I seen an interplay of character dynamics this good, especially the toxic traits of those characters. Every little interaction is important, and affects another character on some or the other level significantly. Succession makes sure that behind the gaudy, showy nature of the Roy family, the ugliness of their existence is visible to you, even in the most subtle ways. The show both revels in and critiques the world it bases itself in. And I don't remember a character-driven drama being this thrilling. Hostile takeovers are usually not exciting to people uninterested in the financial world, but this show makes sure you understand the stakes involved. Like, Breaking Bad-level of tense.
Of course, much of this is possible because of the phenomenal cast. I want Jeremy Strong to win an Emmy this year so badly. Kendall Roy is one of the most brilliant (and surprisingly sympathetic) characters I've seen, a mixture of Christopher Moltisanti and Jesse Pinkman, with a slice of your average venture capitalist. I just hope it doesn't typecast him as a Wall Street-type, although I love him in The Big Short too. I want him to win more than Brian Cox, who scares the living daylights out of me as Logan Roy when he merely enters a room. Then there's Sarah Snook as the prideful Shiv, an excellent, pitch-perfect arc like no other. And my man Kieran Culkin as the foul-mouthed-but-concerned Roman, another truly surprising sympathetic turn. And of course, when I talk about Roman, I will talk about Gerri, a role that actress J Smith Cameron absolutely kills, and should have received an Emmy nomination for. And this paragraph is incomplete without my love for Matthew McFadyen and Nicholas Braun in the most hilariously paired people that are Tom and (cousin) Greg since Chris and Paulie Walnuts.
Succession doesn't mince words (or chicken hahahaha). Nothing on the script feels wasted. And the insults are ingenious. As long as Jesse Armstrong remains showrunner, this show will surprise us in the most insane of ways. The research shows (the writers' room is apparently asked to read the Financial Times everyday), and it adds to the authenticity of the show, one which I appreciate. I would also be stupid not to talk about the best original opening theme I have ever heard in any TV show. Nicholas Britell has made a masterful score which does not sound excessive at all. Much like in Mr Robot, the score amplifies the mood.
If you're watching Succession, don't be thrown off by the first 2 episodes of the show (I actually like them). Give it time, because by the 6th episode you'll probably fall off your bed. And come season 2 (which I consider one of the greatest executions of anything in television history because it's flawless), you'll drop your jaw every 25-30 minutes of screentime, which is basically every halftime moment of an episode.
Succession deserves every honor coming its way. HBO has landed another absolute winner in its roster, one that will likely age extremely well with a season or two and be compared to the other Golden Age dramas of this generation. Yes, by that, I mean shows like Mad Men, Breaking Bad, The Leftovers, and maybe, just maybe, The Wire and The Sopranos. Good call on ditching Westworld for marketing this, HBO. This is arguably going to be my favorite deconstruction of capitalism right now.
I can't wait for season 3 at all. I'm just going to rewatch season 2 till then. All the white kids fight for a kiss from daddy, and that might not sell the show a lot. But the fight spins into so many nuances it's hard to look away and just dismiss them as that. -
sarahwilliams-034274 February 2024One of the best shows I've ever watched. More similar to their golden age 2000s shows than anything they've put out since besides The Leftovers, The Deuce and Treme.
HBO PLEASE keep making more shows like this. I don't mean that in terms of subject matter. I'm begging you. You, AMC and FX are the only networks I trust to do that since Apple makes sanitized, inoffensive shows meant for young audiences. I want shows not based on pre-existing intellectual property, 10+ episodes per season, no episodes shorter than 60 minutes, multiple seasons, releasing seasons with mostly no larger than an 18-month gap between them, serialized storylines from season-to-season, no SFX, cast not filled with A-listers, filmed on location, made exclusively for grown adults, and character-driven. Just eliciting excitement from the audience due to people talking. All qualities of Succession, and of its HBO predecessors like Six Feet Under, The Wire, Treme, The Deuce, The Sopranos, Oz and Boardwalk Empire.
We don't need another 7-episode limited series based on a book or historical figure that people will forget a month after it ends, or another GOT spinoff. There is a reason why Succession was a breath of fresh air and so relentlessly dominant in terms of awards and among critics. -
katlynnhahn15 August 2018I could not stop watching this show and certainly hope there will be a season 2. The entire cast was fabulous but Matthew Macfadyen's character Tom was my favorite. Macfadyen had me laughing, cringing and cheering throughout the series. Can't wait to see what happens next!
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Greetings from Lithuania.
After watching the entire series of "Succession", i can say that i enjoyed the series overall. This is not an "action" series in any sense - its a drama from start till finish. And its being unique on its subject and life it showed - basically of those at the very top of our food chain so to speak. I liked the overall idea of it, and ending was basically a perfect. "Succession" is one of those lucky shows that got the perfect ending.
Overall, acting, writing and script were driving force of "Succession". Some of the episodes especially in first two season weren't that good because show started to repeat itself - for some time they were going round in circles. Yet every time it started to feel repetitive something unexpected happened and it was on again.
At the end of the day, "Succession" showed me life of those i haven't seen before, and it did it on the highest note possible. The ending was flawless. -
robs-1163417 February 2024I don't even know how to describe how much I loved this show. I loved it so much I've watched it all the way through several times and will again. It's definitely one of the best shows I've ever seen. This show takes you into the world of very top 1%. There aren't many likable characters on the show, it's actually the opposite, all the characters are very unlikeable but they're fun to watch. I understand that not everyone liked it though. You have to really appreciate good acting and writing to love this show. HBO has made some of the best shows of all time and Succession is definitely one of those.
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I'm intrigued by this patriarchy, a blending of familial story lines that segue from one dysfunctional atrocity to the next. Like witnessing a torturous train wreck that reveals one train car to hold more carnage than the one previously revealed; we're carried along to decide for ourselves which of these halfwits is even remotely capable of stepping out from under their fathers expansive wing span. I'm completely taken aback by previous reviews that dispel the notion that this is compelling viewing, and find myself drawn into the plots and devices. I've long considered myself a fan of Adam McKay's story telling, and I'm afraid I must disagree with those who've pronounced this as 'unwatchable'. From one sibling to the next, theirs is a cautionary tale of raising your children to be loathsome human beings, that attributable wealth can breed contentious offspring that will feast on the flesh of others while laughing at the horror left in their wake. That a spine isn't inherited, and weakness isn't easily overcome. In this world, we witness the sowing of what they willfully reap- with repercussions meted out on a slow burn that may or may not bring casualties. I'm intrigued and can say without pause that this is a triumphant return to the greatness that once was HBO, and hopefully more to come, after the lackluster choices we've been witness to in the last decade or so from the likes of Girls, Vinyl, Rome, etc and more in keeping with some of the best television has to offer in Sopranos, 6FU, etc. Count me in on this one. For now at least.
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MadamWarden23 October 2019I really enjoyed this epic insight into the family life of the super powerful. I have had the opportunity over the years to witness first hand the shenanigans of families like this and it really struck a chord.
This is a powerful series. Unlike Crazy Rich Asians, this really hits home. The deeply flawed and overtly ridiculous relationships within patriarchal or matriarchal dynastic families are exposed in their raw and nauseating honesty.
The sad fact is that this series truly reflects the reality of wealthy families that seemingly seem so perfect to the gawking masses. It has been said that this is based on the lives of the Murdoch's but I can definitely say that it could be based upon many many wealthy dynasties.
A superbly written, directed and acted masterpiece of TV theatre.
A must watch! -
It's bad enough I wasted my time watching this show for four seasons, but the series finale is what really angered me, as it was the most ridiculous, underwhelming and laziest writing I have ever seen. All four seasons combined would barely make an enjoyable two-hour film, never mind the useless ending, that well, wasn't even an ending.
You have characters that started off interesting and engaging, but with the exception of Logan's character - which was played brilliantly by Cox, the rest became annoying and unrealistic very fast. There's no corporate world where Roman Roy would last as a low-level executive, let alone consideration for the top job, especially with his narcissistic and sadistic personality. Shiv's constant flip-flopping and bipolar character got tiring and annoying very fast, and would barely survive in a political environment let alone a corporate one. Ken was the only possibility to take the top job, but of course he had issues and couldn't decide if he could handle the heat and the power amidst his passive-aggressive behavior. But even with Ken as the most qualified, far be it for the writers to conclude the series that way. And there's no world - corporate or family, that would put up with Greg's annoying and infantile nerdy behavior. That kid, even to consider nepotism, would've been thrown in the basement mail room and forgotten.
Creating a bunch of clown-like characters who are privileged deranged sociopaths and inserting them in a dysfunctional corporate and family dynamic may be entertaining in the short term, but the constant revolving door of repetitive sibling backstabbing got tiring in the first season, let alone repeating the cycle constantly in every other season and dragging out the same merry-go-round narrative.
The first half of the first season was a great build-up to what could've been a very powerful and engaging series, but it fell flat with excessive repetitiveness, absurd dialogue being passed off as dark comedy, and plot holes galore within the lazy and underwhelming writing. The second season showed promise to begin with, but just ended up with the same repetitive nonsense narrative, which of Logan's kids should and would get the torch. Ken's power play move was the only defining suspense that was intriguing leading up to season three. But in season three, Ken's play was dismissed as a red herring to further an already exhausting narrative, and it was the same merry-go-round story and perceived passing of the torch, but in more scenic destinations, with the exact same usual suspects and agendas. The final season added another new (albeit refreshing) character with Alexander Skarsgard as Lukas Matsson, but that was just another red herring to stretch out the already exhausting narrative, plus they also threw in a boring political landscape just to stretch-out the rubber-band basic plot of this show to the max. This show should've just ended with Logan's death, and the reading of an actual will to his estate and named successor(s) to finally answer the four-season long awaited question, but HBO in typical fashion just kept milking a dry cow in what I feel is the most overrated show in TV/streaming history.
When you can summarize each season in one sentence or less, the multitude of episodes are all just filler. Sure there are some taboo eccentrics and dialogue, but that's not enough to justify the ridiculous high praise this show received. It's boring and tedious seeing the same characters rotating at each others throats within the same narrative, then riddle it with plot holes and useless red herrings, change up the landscapes, and call it a season.
Add to the pain that I had to put up with the amateur-hour constant annoying fast zoom-ins that are has-been camerawork from The Office era that became unbearable quickly. The only redeeming factors this show had was the incredible casting and performances (albeit mostly annoying and unbelievable characters), a great score, and some spot-on cinematography and beautiful landscapes. I'm glad this series is over, and regret ever watching it. It's a generous 5/10 for the entire series, only for the few redeeming qualities. -
thaddeuscharles1 December 2023Modern day masterpiece that magnificently captures the power and personal perspectives in family dynamics, social relationships, morals, ethics, politics, and finances. We are all selfish, thusly the main question always is, What's in it for me?
Lost a point due to convenient timing and character placement. Prime example: Mattson leaking he's shiving Shiv the night before the board vote and Greg's google translation. Also, minor issue is the repetitive rise and fall of the siblings. It actually became expected, but due to my emotional attachment great acting, directing, dialogue and camera work it hurt regardless.
I highly recommend watching! -
shikharsrivastava-342534 December 2023When I had finished watching Breaking Bad it was hard to imagine i would come across something better.
After watching all seasons for me this one is better. The First Season is slightly slow but once it really picks on starting from the Second Season this show is unstopable.
It's Epic in terms of acting and casting. Perfection in terms of character development and writing.
I cant remember the last time i enjoyed the show so much and which I can watch again and again that deals simply with interaction and dialogues between different characters.
HBO delivers again. This one will remain in the memories for a long time. -
alepinvestimenti10 January 2024Literally my favourite drama show. I am into business so I absolutely adored all the family business dinamics. The dialogues are out of this world, I can see it's the same writer as Peep Show (my favourite comedy of all time).
This is a must must watch, plot, characters are incredible. A mention to the soundtrack, the music, absolute masterclass. Maybe the best intro song in a show I've ever heard. Soooo solemn, engaging.
It sets the mood so perfectly, you're instantly hooked. It's like a magnet pulling you into the whole vibe of the show. Total masterclass!
If you've not watched it yet, do yourself a favour and go for it. -
halcyonedit26 December 2023The best thing about Succession is its amazing ensemble cast. Each character is so well written and acted, you end up both rooting for the Roys and wishing they failed at the same time. In the world of thus cutthroat family, where power is a currency and every decision can make or break them, they stop at nothing in their relentless pursuit of dominance. The show really makes you question where your own moral compass lies and how far you would go to protect your own interests. What's also amazing about Succession is how it mixes intense drama with biting humor. The witty dialogues and clever writing always catch you by surprise, jumping between shocking moments and dark humor.
The first season might have been a bit slow, but once the story takes off the tension just keeps building and building with each episode. I'm really glad they decided to wrap the show up at its peak instead of dragging out the story for the sake of ratings. -
nicokautto23 March 2024Wow! Just wow! This is the best series that I have watched since game of thrones even though we all know how that ended. This was a masterful family drama throughout the whole show and even though at first it felt slow. When the family drama begins it definitely shines bright.
Succesion as a series is also a comedy which is really funny, but it never makes it so the viewer can't take it seriously. Since the series is written masterfully and the actors do an outstanding job giving justice to the amazing script. Truly great performances throughout. With alot of standout performances. No bad performances to be found.
The ending though divisive is a great ending for the characters I have learned to care for. Great television and the pinnacle of prestige tv. -
sotopsu1 July 2018I disagree with the negative reviews. It is entertaining
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thebrain5818 August 2023I did mostly enjoy this show, although I can't honestly say I ever thought it was really anything special.
For the most part the acting, direction, technical aspects, etc were all good enough but again never struck me as anything special. Nothing particularly groundbreaking or new. Plus I was consistently annoyed by the music, especially the big dramatic build-up type scenes.
One hundred percent certain I will never re-watch this show but might recommend it for viewing to someone if they understand the premise going in and are still interested.
Ultimately when the final episode ended and the credits rolled my overall feeling was - so what, who cares. -
shanayneigh7 June 2023It looks good and is very well made, but my God is it repetitive. The central conflict is established immediately, and doesn't change throughout the series.
Every scene is a variation of the ones that came before it. Seriously, you could lift entire dialogues from season 4 and insert them as is into season 1, and vice versa, without it having any real effect. Even after Logan dies. Because it is always about the same thing. "I want to be boss!" "No *I* want to be boss!" "Dad said I should take over!" "No dad said *I* should take over!" "Dad, aren't I the best suited to take over?"
After a while this show felt almost like a postmodern experiment, because just about every episode is the same. Sure, some extraneous things change - they go to Italy, they go to Norway etc. - but it's always about the same thing.
There's really no character development to speak of, they all end up where they started. Sure, Culkin has a crying scene and mopes around in the last couple of episodes, but it's a stretch to call that character development.
The acting is good for the most part, but they lean too heavily on Culkin and the mentally challenged country bumpkin cousin as comic reliefs. The problem is that neither character is as funny as the writers and producers want us to believe. I don't know whether to blame the writers - who have obviously binged Veep - or Culkin's delivery, but his supposedly snappy one-liners soar as lead balloons. I'm certainly not offended by them, but they simply don't work.
The problem with this is that the constant - and failed - attempts at comedy effectively undercuts the drama.
How this show lasted more than one season is beyond me.