Reviewed by Colin Jacobson (September 17, 2024)
A much-celebrated HBO series, Succession debuted in 2018 and looked at the uber-wealthy media moguls in the Roy family as they deal with internal politics. That first season becomes the subject of this discussion.
We get all 10 of Season One’s episodes in this three-disc Blu-ray set. The plot synopses come from the series’ official website.
Celebration: “Media magnate Logan Roy (Brian Cox) shocks his family with a stunning announcement on his 80th birthday.”
Any resemblance between the Roy family and the Murdochs seems wholly intentional. Not that Logan and company explicitly emulate/copy the Murdochs, but it seems impossible not to view them as inspiration.
As with all pilot episodes, “Celebration” needs to do a lot of heavy lifting. It must introduce a slew of characters and situations while it also creates enough interest to engage us.
“Celebration” does this well. Granted, it sets up the participants largely as one-dimensional at this point, but that makes sense.
With barely an hour to give us so many roles, the episode lacks the room to do much more than ascribe one basic personality trait each. The series enjoys more than enough time to expand from here so I don’t mind the general lack of dimensionality on display.
“Celebration” takes us into its world on a vivid note. It leaves me curious to see where matters will go, and that means it does it job.
Sh*t Show at the F**k Factory: “Logan's incapacitation sets off a heated succession debate among his children.”
Through two episodes, it appears that Succession will consist of no characters who aren’t fairly horrible people. They vary in terms of awfulness, but it seems difficult to locate any actual decent humans.
If the entire series proceeds in that way, it’ll probably get stale, so I assume some form of humanization will develop eventually. In the meantime, “Factory” keeps matters lively and entertaining.
Lifeboats: “Kendall (Jeremy Strong) is confronted with a debt crisis at Waystar. Shiv (Sarah Snook) bristles at Marcia's (Hiam Abbass) influence on Logan.”
We start to see a smidgen of humanization with “Lifeboats”, and it revolves around a surprising subject: Kendall. In the first two shows, he came across as a parody of a “corporate alpha” – with more than a little Donald Trump Jr. in there - but this episode manages to evolve him a little.
“Lifeboats” also deepens the financial and business crisis at Royco. It allows S1 to push ahead in a positive manner.
Sad Sack Wasp Trap: “The family attends an annual company gala overseen by Connor (Alan Ruck) and highlighted by a surprise announcement.”
Though the main Roy family members get their moments, “Trap” allows some of the less prominent roles added room. In particular, we see more of the sadistic relationship between Shiv’s boyfriend Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) and hapless Roy cousin Greg (Nicholas Braun). They’ve been fairly loose comic relief so far but this grows in “Trap”.
Other big topics develop as well, especially in regard to the Roy power struggle. Expect another solid episode.
I Went to Market: “Kendall begins to plot a vote of no confidence against Logan. Tom questions his prenup and recruits Greg for a clandestine task.”
Any episode that introduces the great James Cromwell gets off to a good start. As Greg’s grandfather, he brings gruff spark to the show.
The conflict between the estranged brothers adds complexity to the episode. Toss in more of the wacky Tom/Greg dynamic and the Thanksgiving show hits the mark.
Which Side Are You On?: “Roman (Kieran Culkin) and Kendall attempt to sway the board, while Shiv explores her options in DC.”
After a show focused mainly on family dynamics, “Side” goes back to business politics in a firmer manner. This leads to an emphasis on “palace intrigue” that creates a more dramatic show than usual, though Greg and Tom manage some comedy.
Austerlitz: “The Roys gather for a family therapy session. Kendall finds his sobriety tested. Shiv considers joining the team of a divisive candidate.”
The sight of the massively dysfunctional Roys engaged in counseling proves irresistible, and their “session” lives up to expectations, with a good guest spot from Griffin Dunne as the therapist. Other aspects of the episode prove more serious than usual – mainly related to Kendall – and the various sides mesh well.
Prague: “Tom has a bachelor party to remember. Kendall and Roman eye new business opportunities.”
Not until “Prague” did I realize that Succession subtly evolved the various characters as nicely as it did. The leads all seem more human than at the start but the series created these shifts in ways so natural that I didn’t pick up on them until now.
Of course, the bachelor party allows for the show to bring some comedy as well. The episode melds these shifts in a smooth manner.
Pre-Nuptial: “The Roys assemble at an English castle for Shiv's and Tom's wedding. Kendall's plans are fast-tracked.”
As S1 rockets toward its conclusion, “Pre-Nuptial” comes with plenty of major character and plot points. In other hands, this could turn melodramatic, but the episode plays matters with enough cynicism and barbed humor to keep it on the right side of that line. We move toward the finale on a strong note.
Nobody Is Ever Missing: “Logan finds himself in crisis mode as news of a hostile takeover breaks. Kendall eyes an escape outlet.”
Staging S1’s last show at a wedding feels like a trite choice. It comes as an excuse to put all the series’ principals in one place and comes with plenty of natural drama.
Happily, “Missing” manages to sidestep the clumsy melodrama and cheap theatrics. Even when it engages in domains that could shift that way, it stays on the right side of that line.
All of this leaves us with a compelling end to a very good season. I look forward to Season Two, especially since “Missing” leaves some dangling issues.
