Succession's final season is lauded by critics in first reviews

2023-03-22

Succession’s final season is lauded as ‘brisk, brutal and hilarious’ by critics with ‘powerhouse’ performances and ‘toast-dropping’ shocks as the HBO series’ conclusion is showered with rapturous reviews

Season four begins with Logan Roy no longer speaking to his children’s after learning of their coup to prevent him from selling the family business
READ MORE: Everything YOU need to know about Succession’s final season

The first reviews for the fourth and final season of Succession have lauded its concluding run as ‘brisk, brutal and hilarious.’

Early reviews have praised its first four episodes as packed with ‘powerhouse’ performances and ‘compelling dialogue’ from creator Jesse Armstrong, ahead of the HBO series return on Sunday.

Others have noted that the episodes will be packed with ‘toast-dropping’ shocks and sets up a ‘long, glorious goodbye’ to the acclaimed show, which will air its last ever episode on May 26.

Succession’s season three finale revealed that Logan Roy doesn’t trust any of his children and would much rather sell the company to a outsider, especially as they teamed up to stop the company from leaving the family.

And the final run begins with Logan no longer on speaking terms with his offspring, as he goes full steam ahead with selling Waystar Royco to tech visionary Lukas Matsso, with the Roy family questioning their future once the deal is complete

Praised: The first reviews for the fourth and final season of Succession have lauded its concluding run as ‘brisk, brutal and hilarious’

In her four-star write-up, The Guardian’s Lucy Mangan says: ‘The opening episodes of each season of Succession tend to subsume the family dynamic in the corporate intrigue, because there are always so many pieces not just to set up but to explain to a lay audience. This seems to have opted for a more equal balance, perhaps to personalise the tragedy, or tragedies, that are surely to come.

‘It’s a drama set in the heart of darkness, with comedy set round to illuminate its inescapable, eternal depths. Gather your strength for one last look into the abyss.

In his four-star review, The Telegraph’s Ed Cumming writes: ‘Everything Succession’s fans love is here: the acid dialogue, the private jets, the horror its characters feel whenever they are forced to brush up against the real world.’

Awarding season four’s opening five stars, The Times’ Carol Midgeley wrote: ‘Based on the four episodes I have seen, it has plenty of surprises, fanged vipers and toast-dropping shocks up its exquisite Tom Ford sleeve.’

In another five-star review, i News’ Gerard Gilbert penned: ‘This propulsive plot is, as usual, only half the story, for Succession is also one of the funniest comedies on TV.

‘I almost feel sorry for the cast, who will probably never again get the opportunity to utter such gorgeously well-crafted dialogue.’

The Irish Times’ Ed Power penned: ‘They’re all as dreadful as we remember. But under the comedy lurks horror.

‘As Succession never tires of reminding the viewer, these people aren’t just running each other down. They’re also running the world. The joke in this jet-fuelled black comedy is ultimately on us.’

Acclaimed: Early reviews have praised its first four episodes as packed with ‘powerhouse’ performances and ‘compelling dialogue’ from creator Jesse Armstrong

Rolling Stone’s Alan Sepinwall was full of praise for the ‘deliciously dark’ final run, writing: ‘Logan knows the end is coming, and so does Succession.

‘Without spoiling what happens in the episodes sent to critics, the way that events unfold, and the impact that they have on Logan and everyone else, never plays like a rehash of what’s come before.

‘Significant choices are made, by both the characters and the creative team, that cannot be taken back. It is full steam ahead to the end. Much of what happens is shocking and/or shockingly poignant, especially since it is a show about the absolute worst human beings alive.’

Variety’s Joshua Alston branded season four’s opening episodes ‘brisk, brutal and hilarious,’ noting that it’s full steam ahead to its series finale in the coming weeks.

He wrote: ‘While the season takes a bit longer to catch fire than its predecessors, once the shady dealing begins in earnest, ”Succession” is more intense than ever.

‘And with the series finale in sight, the show has a full tank of gas and an 800-pound gorilla’s foot on the pedal.’

Collider’s Samantha Coley penned: ‘Right off the bat, the Succession cast is delivering some truly spectacular performances in Season 4 with the full ensemble in top form.

‘It’s obvious that this is a collective that has been working closely together for years at this point, with each of them bouncing off of each other in even snappier ways, gelling together in a way that makes every conversation compelling.’

Writing in IGN, Emma Fraser said: ‘Powerhouse performances from the Roy clan offer a dazzling masterclass of buttoned-up emotions competing with years of desperately craving approval from the family patriarch.’

The Hollywood Reporter’s Daniel Fienberg says: ‘Brian Cox has an early monologue that represented a side of Logan we’ve never seen before.

‘I think I said last season was The Season of Sarah Snook and I’d be inclined to say that again, except that it could just as easily be The Season of Kieran Culkin, and lemme tell you… even if Jeremy Strong’s process irritates Cox or whomever else, man it gets results.’

SensationaL: Others have noted that the episodes will be packed with ‘toast-dropping’ shocks and sets up a ‘long, glorious goodbye’ to the acclaimed show

Deadline’s Dominic Patten added: ‘Satisfying authenticity with precision, like certain brutal Manhattan penthouse locations and karaoke joints, and the pleasure and carnage that comes with wealth and real power, Succession’s swan song satisfies in no small part because it pulls together many of the disparate elements that garnished past seasons.’

Creator Jesse Armstrong announced last month that the hit HBO series will culminate in the upcoming 10 episodes, which will begin airing on March 26.

In a recent interview with The New Yorker, Armstrong, who is the creator and main writer of the show, confirmed season four as the show’s final run.

He also explained in part, ‘I’ve never thought this could go on forever. The end has always been kind of present in my mind.’

Succession first aired in 2018 and tells the story of The Roy family, known for controlling the biggest media and entertainment company in the world.

However, their world changes when their father (Cox) steps down from the company leading his children to battle to secure themselves the top job as his successor – by any means possible.

While, for most of the series, the Roy children have been at odds with each other, the last few episodes of season three found them finally joining forces to stop their father, Logan, from selling off the family’s media conglomerate.

Little did they know that family black sheep Tom Wambsgans (Matthew McFadyen) betrayed his own wife Shiv (Sarah Snook) and gave Logan a heads up on what they were doing, giving him enough to remove their power to block the impending sale.

The final shots of season three indicated that Shiv realized her husband betrayed her, though it’s unclear how that will play out in season four.

Succession returns on Sunday March 26 on HBO and HBO Max in the US, and on Monday, March 27 at 2am and 9pm on Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK.

Succession’s final season: What do the critics think?

THE GUARDIAN

Rating:

‘It’s a drama set in the heart of darkness, with comedy set round to illuminate its inescapable, eternal depths. Gather your strength for one last look into the abyss.’

THE TELEGRAPH

Rating:

‘Everything Succession’s fans love is here: the acid dialogue, the private jets, the horror its characters feel whenever they are forced to brush up against the real world.’

THE TIMES

Rating:

‘Based on the four episodes I have seen, it has plenty of surprises, fanged vipers and toast-dropping shocks up its exquisite Tom Ford sleeve.’

i News

Rating:

‘This propulsive plot is, as usual, only half the story, for Succession is also one of the funniest comedies on TV.

‘I almost feel sorry for the cast, who will probably never again get the opportunity to utter such gorgeously well-crafted dialogue.’

THE IRISH TIMES – ‘They’re all as dreadful as we remember. But under the comedy lurks horror. As Succession never tires of reminding the viewer, these people aren’t just running each other down. They’re also running the world. The joke in this jet-fuelled black comedy is ultimately on us.’

ROLLING STONE – ‘It is full steam ahead to the end. Much of what happens is shocking and/or shockingly poignant, especially since it is a show about the absolute worst human beings alive.’

VARIETY – ‘While the season takes a bit longer to catch fire than its predecessors, once the shady dealing begins in earnest, ”Succession” is more intense than ever.

‘And with the series finale in sight, the show has a full tank of gas and an 800-pound gorilla’s foot on the pedal.’

COLLIDER – ‘Right off the bat, the Succession cast is delivering some truly spectacular performances in Season 4 with the full ensemble in top form.

IGN – ‘Powerhouse performances from the Roy clan offer a dazzling masterclass of buttoned-up emotions competing with years of desperately craving approval from the family patriarch.’

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER – ‘I think I said last season was The Season of Sarah Snook and I’d be inclined to say that again, except that it could just as easily be The Season of Kieran Culkin, and lemme tell you… even if Jeremy Strong’s process irritates Cox or whomever else, man it gets results.’

DEADLINE – ‘Satisfying authenticity with precision, like certain brutal Manhattan penthouse locations and karaoke joints, and the pleasure and carnage that comes with wealth and real power, Succession’s swan song satisfies in no small part because it pulls together many of the disparate elements that garnished past seasons.’

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