I loved Succession. I’m glad it’s over

There has always been something fitting about the idea that Succession will be the last great show on television. Logan Roy, the patriarch, is old media made flesh, slowly declining into debt and dementia. The show revelled in the fact that none of the next-in-line knew how to replicate him. 

From its premiere in 2018 to its last episode this week, HBO’s dynastic drama stood out from a crowd of forgettable spin-offs and interchangeable franchises, amassing countless awards and millions of viewers. 

Succession fast became appointment viewing: you couldn’t actually wait for the next episode to land. It offered a compelling plot, real-life intrigue, flawless acting, biting dialogue, a superlative score, and the jet-setting trappings of the super-rich. 

There’s a case to be made that Succession was so successful at depicting the struggles of modern American power because it was actually quite British. Jesse Armstrong, the English creator, was able to tell the story of the Roys from a healthy distance, with little self-consciousness about their American identity or their class.