“Succession,” the brilliantly written, superbly acted HBO series comes to an end Sunday, with the series finale. It’s an event that feels especially significant, since the show easily ranks as one of the best in TV history. As with such classics as “The Sopranos,” “Mad Men” and “Breaking Bad,” the characters may have done terrible things, but the storytelling has generally been masterful.
(The 90-minute “Succession” series finale, “With Open Eyes,” airs at 9 p.m. Sunday, May 28 on HBO. You can stream it on Max, formerly known as HBO Max.)
The saga of a media and business empire created and ruthlessly ruled by Logan Roy (Brian Cox), “Succession” got off to a less-than-compelling start, but about halfway through Season 1, everything clicked. Since then, the show has only gotten stronger. This fourth and final season has included the darkly funny moments that make the show intensely enjoyable, while also delivering shatteringly emotional confrontations.
Created by the British-born Jesse Armstrong, “Succession” may not attract the sheer number of viewers that some shows on broadcast networks do. But it fits perfectly into the HBO brand, which has come to represent TV quality, in such genres as drama, comedy, documentary and original movies.
From the start, the looming question in “Succession” has been, who will follow in the footsteps of Logan Roy, and take control of his Waystar Royco empire? Though it’s hard to miss how the Roy family seems inspired by Rupert Murdoch, his offspring, and influential Murdoch media entities such as the Fox News Channel, the characters are utterly original creations.
In addition to Cox, the excellent cast includes Jeremy Strong as Kendall Roy; Sarah Snook as Siobhan “Shiv” Roy; Kieran Culkin as Roman Roy; Alan Ruck as Connor Roy; Nicholas Braun as cousin Greg; and Matthew Macfadyen as Tom Wambsgans, Shiv’s husband and chairman of global broadcast news at ATN, the Fox News Channel-like media company.
There are all sorts of theories floating around online about who will take control of Waystar Royco. But for many of us, the “Succession” finale feels most significant because it’s the last time we’ll be able to spend time with these horribly flawed, often simply horrible characters. They may be loathsome and dysfunctional, but they’re never less than terrific, fascinating company.
The 90-minute “Succession” series finale, “With Open Eyes,” airs at 9 p.m. Sunday, May 28 on HBO.
— Kristi Turnquist
503-221-8227; kturnquist@oregonian.com; @Kristiturnquist
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