Succession Succeeds as a Modern King Lear

I’m always a person who’s down for a new show to watch… When I have the time for it. I have to make the time for it which I have to be economical about how to spend my time; it’s a valuable resource! My philosophy then follows that if I don’t watch new and exciting shows or films, then I’m not stretching those writing muscles. So, for shows I tend to wait a couple seasons in so that a critical census reaches a point as to whether or not it’s God’s gift to the world or is a Sucksandwhich. I wish that weren’t the case, but the blog ain’t paying the bills (yet, anyways…).

Then the fourth season of Succession on Max was announced… 

Succession was a show that circled around my recommendation list from time to time. I didn’t have Max at the time, so it fell under the radar for a bit. It was around the same time I renewed my Max subscription for the then-new show The Last of Us came out. Then I finished that show and found Succession on the top of the Top Series consistently with The Last of Us. The fourth season was announced as also the last season and the reviews of it were still great. Why the hell not? I had the time then. 

Lemme tell you, I binged at least the first three seasons in about a week. Then I stopped. It happens, don’t judge me. I’ve got to say though, that first inhale I devoured that show. The dialogue is just so finely tuned and as sharp as the insults thrown around by Brian Cox. I’m usually a writer that follows the plot of a show. It’s just the way I roll, and I follow the narrative that way. However, the dialogue of Succession really, really had me invested in these characters. Which is a relief. 

The show follows an international media conglomerate and family patriarch, Logan Roy (Brian Cox), and the trials he puts his children through so that only one may inherit his company, Waystar Royco, may succeed him as his health continues to decline. I know jackshit about companies, stocks, or financials, but the writing helps carry the concepts around these fields so the viewer doesn’t feel left behind. Instead, we focus more on the power dynamics within the Roy family and the relationship Roy has to his adult children. Then things get interesting when his children (Jeremy Strong, Kieran Culkin, and Sarah Snook) attempt to usurp their father from his position as President of his company, but the thing is… 

That’s what he wants, but he isn’t giving it up willingly. 

I nearly can describe the show as a thriller in a way. There isn’t any murders, or detective work going on here, but the mind games played by all the characters play out like a chess game with a bunch of pawns believing that they are Kings. People are demoted, fired, rehired, and promoted throughout the series and it’s so devilishly fun how Machiavellian the plotting goes. That’s a huge compliment that I pay this show: Despite all the characters being objectively horrible, horrible people, I cannot stop watching just to see the next chess move. 

Another thing on the writing is that it’s hilarious. Every word out of each character’s mouth is so sharp, clever, and hateful, that I can’t help but to laugh at the absurdity sometimes. One of my favorite lines being, “If your hands are clean, it’s only because your whorehouse also does manicures.” Savage. So good. 

The comedy also acts as a sort of frosting of the Succession cake underneath. The foundation of the show is truly its drama and devastating gut punches it delivers. Then it got me thinking by the end of the series that the show was a modern take on Shakespear’s King Lear the whole time. Which is fitting because Brian Cox had played King Lear in his illustrious career. A tragedy that couldn’t have been avoided, yet the characters try and fight their fates all the same. Truly some fantastic stuff there. I just finished the last season a couple days ago, and I’m still recovering from the final blow inflicted. 

If you have the time, you should definitely go check the show out. If you don’t, then I’ll redirect you to Logan Roy’s catch phrase; “Fuck off!”