A Personal Retrospective of The Captivating HBO Series Succession

The phrase “once in a generation” gets thrown around a bunch. While, yes, I am about to use it to describe the HBO hit series Succession, I really think it applies. Not since the days of a corrupt chemistry teacher has television been so captivating in its presentation of the primary characters unraveling their true selves like Succession has. 

The end of the final season of the HBO series is currently within eyesight. Although the conclusion is still unpredictable with only three episodes left, now feels like an appropriate time to do a little reflecting on what this show has meant. This whole article will be my own subjective experience with Succession rather than a full review of the series. 

For those who watch the show, hopefully my introspection will be a fulfilling one for you as well. For those not caught up, spoilers are definitely ahead.

HBO Series succession

Jeremy Strong as Kendall (Far Left), Kieran Culkin as Roman Roy (Center Left), Brian Cox as Logan Roy (Center), Sarah Snook as Shiv Roy (Center Right), and Alan Ruck as Connor Roy (Far Right) in the HBO series Succession. Image provided courtesy of HBO.

From the Beginning

My first interaction with Succession came in my sophomore year of college when my roommate chose it as our friend group’s group watch. In the first season the only thing that appealed to my small college brain were all the clever insults and cool helicopter shots. 

The show made me laugh, but nothing was grabbing my attention. As time passed and my exposure to the show grew, it became apparent to my brain that this is good.

Fast forward to season four in 2023 and I can firmly say that Succession is my favorite drama series ever made. Shows that carry themselves to a dangerously charismatic level are magnetic for me. You know what really makes me uncomfortable in tv shows? Unwavering belief in itself. 

Whether series creator Jesse Armstrong knew where this series would go from the beginning or not, there never feels like a second where the direction is unsure. Maybe the episode quality is not as strong but there’s never a doubt that this is what is supposed to happen.

HBO Series Succession

Kieran Culkin, Sarah Snook, and Matthew Macfayden in the HBO series Succession. Image provided courtesy of HBO.

Deal With it

To me a good show is something you should want to invest time into. Not everything will click immediately, which is almost always a given. Everything takes time to adjust and getting acquainted with the specific style can take a bit. With Succession, it is kind of hard for me to say when exactly is a good point to say it is not for you. 

Personally, I made it to the end of the first season before I realized I actually liked it. The moment it clicked that Succession was a show I needed in my veins was one of the most exciting moments as an entertainment consumer. In some capacity I always knew Succession was going to be a great show. However, I honestly did not think it would be on everyone’s lips at some point. Shame on me. The main attractions for me with this series are quite simple.

Succession’s Source of Successes

Throughout the series there have been about 50 moments per episode where I think I know what could come next. Maybe my brain is not built for the business world. Maybe I am just not smart enough to think of the solutions that actually happen. Who knows? Either way- Succession is genius. 

I don’t mean genius in the sense that you have to understand every word out of everyone’s mouth to get the plot. By genius, I mean the story never stops growing and developing. Words, story, plot, dialogue, progression, etc. all make sense to my brain. I think about what should come next but not what needs to come next. Although the former is the more entertaining route that allows for some later expansion, the path that is logically the only place to go is, in this case, more exciting.

Matthew Macfayden, Brian Cox, and Nicholas Braun in the HBO series Succession. Image provided courtesy of HBO.

Is your dad not giving you the multi-media empire that you were all but promised? Stage a coup at the shar-holders meeting to boot him out. Did that not work? Do hard drugs and spiral into a self-loathing depression that ultimately leads to the death of an innocent hotel worker. Build up courage to gather your siblings and put an end to the cold war between your siblings and your father? Oops, looks like your sister’s mooch of a husband sold his soul to the devil. 

Maybe not all of these are the best objective option, but what really allows these decisions to hold water is how no one will let anyone forget what happened. Because that is how life is- everything will always exist. Succession is about a family that controls the media. 

News cycles may not last much longer than my arm, but it is impossible to forget what recently just happened. Part of what makes Succession so great, to me at least, is how the show’s entirety is structured like a news cycle. While the plot runs like that of a television show, the structure of each season feels like one full week of broadcast reports. 

Convincing You with Words

Another giant factor in what makes Succession so great for me is the dialogue. It should not work the way it does. At least 70% of the dialogue has an expletive, 98% of everyone’s sentences are littered with umms, and sometimes there is no clear indication what anyone is talking about. Why is it so effective and entertaining then?

The actors saying these lines definitely helps and the specific speech habits each character has does something for me. I can’t explain it, but hearing Keiran Culkin struggle to say a basic “Hello” is so real to me. There are episodes that feel like everything is improvised like Curb Your Enthusiasm and other episodes feel like every stutter was a part of the script. It’s really hard to tell, but I love it.

Jeremy Strong as Kendall Roy in the HBO series Succession. Image provided courtesy of HBO.

The Successors

Continuing on this path of line delivery from each actor, every actor is perfect in their role. Nicholas Braun is so awkward, and the perfect amount of leech needed for cousin Greg. Matthew MacFayden as Tom Wambsgans is my favorite character in the show. He is, in my opinion, a slippery snake and a morally weak individual. Sure, he aligns with Logan later, but he has no grounds.

When the first season began, I noticed Alan Ruck‘s name in the credits. For those not familiar, he played Cameron in the iconic movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. At first, I was nervous that he would suck, but he is perfect. Although yes, he is a comedic relief character, he is still very important. Entire episodes revolve around events about him. I am a Con-Head and I hope Connor Roy wins the election for Presidency.

Sarah Snook as Shiv is the strongest character in this show, and I don’t want to hear otherwise. Even in the moments where everyone else is against her, Shiv still manages to remain composed and murder the situation with ease. My actual favorite character in the show is Keiran Culkin as the verbally venomous Roman Roy. Every word out of his mouth is pure vitriol. Never has a television character been so convincingly and fluently obnoxious like Roman is.

Successions Successors Continued

Jeremy Strong as Kendall Roy has gone on the most perfect character arc. The first time we see Kendall he is blasting Beastie Boys and rocking out with the future awaiting him. He’s arrogant and cocky and quickly becomes mopey and sad. It’s this vast array of emotion that is necessary to get him where he needs to be. Jeremy is killing it.

Succession would not be what it is without Brian Cox. Talk about a presence you can feel even if they are just sitting there. In my brain, Logan Roy did not go through a character arc through the show. He didn’t need to. A man close to the end of his life has gone through every story that he possibly could and now he has to put his children in their place. It’s beautiful. This cast is beautiful, and these characters are beautiful.

Nicholas Braun, Alan Ruck, Sarah Snook, Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong, Kieran Culkin, and Matthew Macfadyen in the HBO series Succession. Image provided courtesy of HBO.

Finalizing the Deals with a Handshake

Succession is a show that began writing its own importance and history from the jump. As soon as the pilot begins with Logan urinating in his corner, it is clear this show will be telling you something. Whatever the show is telling you is up to you, but as long as you are getting some fulfillment out of the series, then it is working. It hurts my heart a bit that this incredible piece of media has already reached its end. However, the journey has been one I am incredibly glad I have been able to experience. If you are not in on Succession, then I really think you should. Give it some love and some attention and I know it will be as good for you as it has been for me.

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