Succession web series review dissects HBO’s savage satire of the ultra-wealthy Roy family battling for control of global media conglomerate Waystar Royco amid Logan’s health crisis and corporate takeovers. Brian Cox dominates as tyrannical patriarch Logan Roy, with Jeremy Strong’s Kendall, Sarah Snook’s Shiv, Kieran Culkin’s Roman, and Matthew Macfadyen’s Tom across 4 seasons (2018-2023, 39 episodes). Jesse Armstrong’s Shakespearean tragedy blends boardroom betrayals, private jet fiascos, and “ludicrously rich” one-liners.
Quick Stats Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Seasons | 4 (39 episodes) |
| Platform | Max |
| RT Score | 95% average |
| Emmy Wins | 19 (drama series) |
Detailed Plot Summary: Season-by-Season
Succession web series review chronicles Roy siblings’ failed coups from Logan’s birthday bombshell to final boardroom carnage.
Succession Season 1: Succession Panic Begins
Logan’s stroke triggers power vacuum. Kendall car crash coverup. Cousin Greg arrives. Shiv returns from politics. Roman slacker antics.
Short paragraph: Pilot birthday party sets betrayal tone as Kendall’s cruise scandal acquisition fails spectacularly, Shiv/Lucy wedding tensions rise, Roman/Tom humiliation peaks.
S1 Betrayals
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Kendall cruise coverup
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Shiv political pivot
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Roman satellite sabotage
Seasons 2-3: Sibling Alliances Fracture
Pierce acquisition war. Logan sells? GoJo takeover looms. Shiv White House dreams. Tom’s security clearance.
Short paragraph: Season 3 congressional hearings expose cruises, Roman/Kendall/Connor/Stewy coup spectacularly fails, Tom’s Shiv marriage strains amid Gerri flirtations.
Season 4: Endgame Boardroom
Logan dies mid-flight. Siblings unite briefly. Lukas Matsson GoJo deal twists. Final vote betrayal.
Short paragraph: Final season accelerates with living+ tech pitches, Shiv’s pregnancy, Tom’s CEO backstab, boardroom “who controls the room” climax.
Character Rankings: Best to Worst
Succession web series review Roys defined by monstrous ambition.
#1 Logan Roy (Brian Cox)
Media tyrant. Patriarch unbreakable.
Strengths
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Psychological warfare
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Deal-making genius
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Chicken sacrifice
Quotes: “You can’t make a hat out of shite.”
#2 Shiv Roy (Sarah Snook)
Political shark. Betrayal queen.
#3 Kendall Roy (Jeremy Strong)
Heir apparent tortured.
#4 Roman Roy (Kieran Culkin)
Dark humor chaos agent.
#5 Tom Wambsgans (Matthew Macfadyen)
Midwestern climber triumph.
Character Table
| Rank | Character | Actor | Roy Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Logan | Brian Cox | Empire founder |
| 2 | Shiv | Sarah Snook | Political heir |
| 3 | Kendall | Jeremy Strong | Tortured prince |
| 4 | Roman | Kieran Culkin | Chaos agent |
| 5 | Tom | Matthew Macfadyen | Ultimate winner |
Major Themes Breakdown
Succession HBO series skewers wealth’s emptiness.
Power Addiction
Roy children crave daddy approval.
Examples
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Kendall press conferences
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Shiv betrayals
Family as Business
Love weaponized for leverage.
Media Manipulation
Waystar controls narratives.
Themes Table
| Theme | Episode Peak | Symbol |
|---|---|---|
| Power | Boardroom votes | Signing bonuses |
| Family | Logan funeral | Private jet |
| Media | Cruise hearings | Living+ pitch |
Corporate King Lear.
Succession Viewership Success & Awards
HBO phenomenon. S4 finale 2.9M viewers. 75 Emmys noms.
Viewership Table
| Season | Episodes | Peak Viewers (M) | RT Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | 1.4 | 89% |
| 4 | 10 | 2.9 finale | 97% |
Emmy sweep.
Top 10 Shows Like Succession
Corporate dynasty cravings?
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Billions (Prime): Finance wars.
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Industry (Max): Banking youth.
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The White Lotus (Max): Wealth satire.
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Your Honor (Showtime): Legal corruption.
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Empire (Hulu): Music dynasty.
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Dynasty (Netflix): Soap reboot.
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Gossip Girl (Max): Elite schemes.
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Elite (Netflix): School power.
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Yellowstone (Peacock): Ranch empire.
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Dallas (streaming): Oil betrayals.
Comparison Table
| Show | Platform | Succession Vibe | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billions | Prime | Finance betrayals | 8.5/10 |
| Industry | Max | Youth ambition | 8.8/10 |
| White Lotus | Max | Wealth satire | 9.0/10 |
Why Watch Succession Web Series in 2025: 12 Reasons
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Logan Monologues: Cox terror.
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39 Ep Perfection: No filler.
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Tom Triumph: Macfadyen steals.
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Kendall Breakdowns: Strong intensity.
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Roman Quotes: Culkin comedy.
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Max Classic: 4K boardrooms.
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Shiv Betrayals: Snook complexity.
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Cruise Scandal: Moral horror.
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GoJo Deal: Tech twist.
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Chicken Game: Tense dinner.
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Final Vote: Shocking end.
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One-Liners: Cultural gold.
Dynasty essential.
Production Secrets & Easter Eggs
Improvised dialogue. Real billionaires consulted. Logan death reshot.
Short paragraph: Armstrong wrote finale years early, Strong method acted intensely, Cox ad-libbed iconic rants, boardroom scenes rehearsed theater-style for tension.
Secrets Table
| Secret | Episode | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Finale Planned | S1 | Endgame locked |
| Method Strong | Kendall arcs | Intensity extreme |
| Cox Improv | Logan speeches | Unscripted gold |
Succession Cultural Impact
“Ludicrously rich” lexicon. Emmy dominance. Wealth satire template.
Impact Stats
| Metric | Achievement |
|---|---|
| Emmys | 19 wins |
| RT Average | 95% |
| Finale | 2.9M viewers |
Final Verdict: Succession Web Series Review Score
Succession web series review: 9.9/10. TV masterpiece. Roy family immortal.
FAQs
Best season?
4 consensus finale peak.
Logan death impact?
Series best episode.
Tom winner justified?
Climber triumphs.
Kendall arc tragedy?
Press conference GOAT.
Shiv pregnancy twist?
Strategic weapon.
Roman growth?
Chaos to competence.
Real inspiration?
Murdoch/Redstone composite.
Rewatch value?
Dialogue endless.
Emmy sweep deserved?
Unanimous yes.
S5 chance?
Armstrong ended perfectly.