Digital Review – Succession: Season 1 – HBO

I am not, by any means, a Shakespeare scholar, but I know it when I see it, and Succession is a meal basted in the juices of King Lear.

From the press release:

Set in New York City, this witty drama follows the Roy family – headed by the aging patriarch Logan Roy (Brian Cox; “Medici: Masters of Florence,”) and his four children – who together control one of the biggest media communications and entertainment conglomerates in the world. The Roy’s story is compelling and often comedic, as they out-maneuver each other through cut-throat family and business dynamics, while contemplating what’s in store once their father passes.

Before I say anything else I have to be clear with you that I have not, yet, watched the entire first series. This is the result of time and not from the quality of the show. Anyway, if Brian Cox is involved then I am excited. I wanted to wait for the season to be complete before watching it because I lack patience, BUT I was given a digital code to give away so that some lovely reader can also have access to the show.

One thing that is unclear with the show is whether it would prefer to be a drama or a comedy as it is constantly flirting between the two but not quite mastering either. Kieran Culkin is, in my opinion, the stand out star as the lazy, vulgar, son who has clearly enjoyed his family wealth rather than the sister, Natalie Gold, with limited expectation or the second son, Jeremy Strong, who is expected to have the empire bequeathed to him. Now of course all of this can change over the remaining seven episodes but the verbal sparring between Culkin, Gold and Strong is engaging and interesting enough to want to watch.

Here is the problem, though, and trust that I know this unfair, but this is an HBO Original Series and, so far, it does not hold a candle to its cohort. I know this isn’t fair because I also know that there are many HBO shows that fizzle but I hold HBOs programming to a much higher standard than any other production house out there. It is interesting and I am definitely planning on finishing the season and hope that I am wrong. Time will tell.