Succession season four

This is it. It has all come down to this.

The premise of who will inherit “the company” that surrounded Succession season one and intoxicated viewers has long been gone, instead wrapping us all up in a whirlwind of relationships and entertaining scenarios, with each and every character leading the narrative into exciting pastures new. Some time has passed since the climactic conclusion to season three that saw the Roy children cut off from their father’s business and finances, and they have since fuelled their ambition and revenge into challenging Waystar Royco from the outside. With an election coming up, each side has skin in the game and neither is prepared to lose, especially when revenge is brought into play. All of the bumper cast return for one last outing, including Brian Cox, Sarah Snook, Jeremy Strong, Kieran Culkin, Matthew Macfadyen, Nicholas Braun and Alexander Skarsgård. Just sit back and enjoy the ride. 

The truth is, while we do still care who will succeed Logan as CEO of Waystar Royco, the series has grown far beyond that, and ultimately the thirst for blood has transformed into a craving for character interactions and familial battles. The anticipation for this season has been palpable, made more so by the announcement it shall be the grand finale, and it delivers exactly what we want. Like famished vultures, fans will gobble up everything presented before them. It is always a bold and admirable decision to call an end to a series earlier than expected, but it often pays dividends. Succession will no doubt secure its legacy by closing the book before the cow begins getting milked to exhaustion, eventually causing damage.

The writers know their audience too well, securing viewers in a vice grip with all the familiar tenets within the opening episode, promising even more to come. Succession is and always has been an ensemble project that benefits from its cast as much as its writing. Tom (Macfadyen) and Shiv (Snook) will once again have one of the more moving and engaging story arcs of the season, as they navigate past their rocky marriage into the choppier waters of divorce, and both actors give powerhouse presentations. The sink-or-swim struggle between their ambitions to achieve status and maintaining their relationship is one of the more relatable elements of the entire franchise, and one in which, once again, Macfadyen delivers a performance for the ages.

If Succession has taught us anything, there is still a place for realism in television series. Not every show needs to involve fictitious creatures, explosions and war. When written and executed correctly, the only battle required is around the boardroom table, where the stakes are just as high.

Guy Lambert

Succession season four is released on Sky on 27^th March 2023.

Watch the trailer for Succession season four here: