Succession
By Martin Brown,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Biting, profane satire about the obscenely wealthy.

A Lot or a Little?
What you willāand won'tāfind in this TV show.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Succession
Community Reviews
Based on 8 parent reviews
Excellent satire okay for teens
Report this review
Report this review
What's the Story?
In SUCCESSION, Logan Roy (Brian Cox) and his four children run a global media company, with business ranging from television networks to amusement parks. His son Kendall (Jeremy Strong) is preparing to take over as the head of the business, but Logan doesn't quite trust him to run things. Loudmouth Roman Roy (Kieran Culkin) has been removed from business operations, while older brother Connor (Alan Ruck) and sister Shiv (Sarah Snook) sit on the board of directors, but don't work at the company. On his 80th birthday, Logan gathers his family to tell them that he's decided to stay on as head of the company for a few more years, and that he's giving his partner, Marcia (Hiam Abbass), a significant portion of the company upon his death. This begins a series of negotiations and manipulations among the family that only get more complicated as time goes on.
Is It Any Good?
This dark but very funny series is an American comedy of manners as entertaining as Veep or its British predecessor, The Thick of It. The comedy comes from the fact that each member of the Roy family is a profoundly terrible person that is consciously manipulative and money-hungry, but also stunningly socially awkward.
It's worth wondering what's the point of watching a show about obscenely wealthy people doing terrible, sometimes cruel, things with money. How much mileage is there in laughing at terrible people that, nonetheless, are thriving in America? From the start, the jokes are funny, and the performances are on point. But the ongoing success of Succession's satire depends on the viewer's appetite for seeing how pathetic rich people can be when it comes to money.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about satire. Succession's characters are almost universally unlikable people. Why would people want to watch a show about them? What is the show trying to say about the Roy family and how they behave?
What are the family dynamics in Succession? What motivates each of the characters? What do they want from each other, and how do they go about getting it? Who do you find yourself rooting for, and does your allegiance change over time?
What is the role of money in this show? How is the characters' relationship with money similar or different to yours? How do they use money? Just to buy things? Or do they use it in other ways?
TV Details
- Premiere date: June 3, 2018
- Cast: Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, Kieran Culkin
- Network: HBO
- Genre: Drama
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Awards: BAFTA, Emmy, Golden Globe
- Last updated: May 19, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate