Described by some critics as the “best series of the decade”, it regularly wins awards. Now the last season “Succession” has also started in Germany. Why is this series such a phenomenon?
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In recent years are big series phenomena became increasingly rare over the course of several seasons. Netflix lands some surprise hits with formats like “Squid Game” or more recently “The Night Agent”, but one thing Series a topic of conversation for years is, rarely occurs. Since the end of “Game of Thrones” in 2019, there would actually only be “Better Call Saul” and of course “Stranger Things” to name in this size dimension.
But at least in the USA there is another series that has been dominating leaderboards for years, breaks success and is regularly counted among the best series of all time: “Succession”. The big hype may not have materialized in Germany, but series fans in this country are still happy that since April 11, 2023, the fourth and final season the series has started synchronized – to stream at WOW and Sky. But why is “Succession” such a hit? What distinguishes the series that has received so many awards?
“Succession” shows family drama in high finance
One of the richest men in the world: Logan Roy (Brian Cox) is the strict patriarch of one of the most successful media and entertainment conglomerates in the world. But he has grown old and his health is failing. Breaks in quickly Power struggle among his four children over the succession out of. Eldest son Connor (Alan Ruck) is long estranged from the family, power-hungry Kendall (Jeremy Strong) struggles with his past addiction and is at odds with younger brother Roman (Kieran Culkin), while Siobhan (Sarah Snook), the youngest in the league, through her left-wing political work, often directly against her own family. Nevertheless, she also wants to help shape the impending future without her super-rich dad and relies on the help of her fiancé Tom (Matthew Macfadyen), who of course has long been pursuing his own ambitions.
“Succession” means “heritage” when translated into German – and that’s exactly what the hit series is about. Author Jesse Armstrong clearly borrowed media moguls like Rupert Murdoch and Robert Maxwell for the fictional Roy family, but at its core, “Succession” is them modern version of old plays by William Shakespeare, especially his “King Lear”. This is also about an old king and the question of which of his children will accept his inheritance. “King Lear” inspired some great stories in film and series history, such as the mafia film epic “The Godfather” or the 90s drama “A Thousand Acre”. “Succession” shares common ground with all of them, but replaces the royal court of Shakespeare with the world of high finance and punters. And that’s why “Succession” is not only a gripping family drama, but also biting social criticism.
“Succession” is a series that dominates its audience
HBO
The official poster for the HBO series “Succession” – in this country at WOW / Sky Germany.
Because of this mixture, “Succession” is probably one of the series that has won the most awards, and has long been considered one of the best series of all time. With this format, Jesse Armstrong holds the mirror up to an entire group of viewers. On the one hand, it is very entertaining to watch these super-rich attack and integrate one another for even more money and power. On the other hand, thanks to the emotional stories and the simply sensational actors (especially the multiple award-winning Brian Cox and Matthew Macfadyen), you regularly catch yourself rooting and feeling for these characters – even though their actions should actually exclude any sympathy. “Succession” takes you into a world where empathy has become a commodity and even manipulates its own viewers to develop sympathies for actual Umsympathen.
This is “Succession” a highly ambivalent viewing experience, in which the viewer constantly struggles with his own emotions. Thanks to excellent situation comedy, there is often roaring laughter, at other points tears suddenly spurt out. Sympathies and affections jump back and forth between the characters from scene to scene. Apparently Armstrong hit a nerve with this, because other US series are also celebrating success with similar approaches. The “Yellowstone” format takes place on a farm in the central states instead of in high finance, but is otherwise very similar. And the HBO production “The White Lotus” also shone with its use of cleverly arranged dramas to make viewers feel with characters who actually don’t deserve empathy.
For some US series critics, “Succession” is the perhaps the last major series of the so-called golden age of TV. Now the series just needs to make the landing. Season 4 has already started in the USA with a slight lead, since April 11th the last episodes have also been appearing on WOW / Sky in Germany on a weekly basis.
