Succession

Jesse Armstrong created this HBO drama-comedy that follows the Roy family, owners of a global media empire. The show stars Jeremy Strong as Kendall Roy, Kieran Culkin as Roman Roy, Sarah Snook as Shiv Roy, Brian Cox as patriarch Logan Roy, Matthew Macfadyen as Tom Wambsgans, and Alan Ruck as Connor Roy. Airing from 2018 to 2023, it ran for four seasons and 39 episodes. The tone blends sharp satire with Shakespearean family tragedy. Critics praised its writing and performances, earning numerous Emmy awards. It's a tense, funny look at power and dysfunction among the ultra-wealthy.

Armstrong drew inspiration from real media dynasties like the Murdochs and Redstones. The show's theme music by Nicholas Britell uses a harpsichord and cello to evoke 'the sound of money.' Filmed mostly in New York City, the series became a cultural touchstone, spawning catchphrases like 'You are not serious people' and the 'quiet luxury' fashion trend. The finale drew 2.9 million viewers on premiere night, a series high.[edit]

Logan Roy built Waystar RoyCo from nothing into a media and entertainment titan. As the series opens, his health is failing and investors are circling. Logan's four adult children each want the throne. Kendall, the eldest son and presumed heir, is a recovering addict desperate for his father's approval but also eager to prove his own competence. Roman, the sarcastic younger son, wields his sharp tongue as both a weapon and a shield. Shiv, the only daughter, is a political strategist who believes she's the smartest in the room but struggles to be taken seriously. Connor, the half-brother, lives in a fantasy world of presidential ambitions and historical reenactments, largely disconnected from the corporate fray.

Season 1 kicks off with Logan's surprise announcement that he's considering retirement, triggering a ferocious power struggle. Kendall attempts a boardroom coup that fails spectacularly. By the finale, he's involved in a fatal car accident, a secret that will haunt him. Season 2 brings external threats: a sexual misconduct scandal on the company's cruise lines and a hostile takeover bid from a rival. Logan tests his children's loyalty with brutal games, forcing Kendall to become the 'blood sacrifice' at a press conference, only for Kendall to betray his father live on air.

Season 3 erupts into open warfare. Kendall launches a public campaign against Logan, leaking damaging documents and trying to rally shareholders. The family fractures: Shiv and Roman side with Logan, while Kendall struggles to hold together a fragile coalition. Legal battles, congressional hearings, and a shareholder vote push the Roys to their limits. Season 4 introduces a new variable: Lukas Matsson, a Swedish tech billionaire who wants to buy Waystar RoyCo. The siblings briefly unite to block the sale, then turn on each other again. As the deal moves closer, each Roy must confront what life looks like without the empire that defined them.

Throughout its run, Succession examines how immense wealth corrupts and isolates. The characters are simultaneously repulsive and tragically human, capable of both cruelty and vulnerability. The show's dialogue crackles with wit and venom, earning comparisons to Shakespeare and the Coen brothers. No one is a hero; everyone is compromised. The series avoids easy answers, leaving viewers to sit with the discomfort of rooting for people who are, by most measures, terrible.[edit]