Following the conclusion of “Game of Thrones,” HBO subscribers may have asked themselves what their new “must watch” Sunday obsession would be. HBO certainly offered a few options: In the midst of “Game of Thrones,” the network tried to capitalize on the popularity of genre shows with the dystopian mind-bender “Westworld,” the historical science fiction series “Lovecraft Country,” and the fantasy drama “His Dark Materials.” Surprisingly, the show that really caught on wasn’t one that took place in a fictional world. In fact, “Succession” feels so close to reality that it’s more than a little bit eerie.
“Succession” tells the story of the aging media giant Logan Roy (Brian Cox). Logan is considering retiring from his position as the CEO of Waystar RoyCo, a powerful media company that deals with entertainment, news, amusement parks, and technology. However, stepping down from the company he created would force Logan to choose a successor. His children all vie for the position, but each has their flaws. Kendall (Jeremy Strong) is recovering from addiction issues, Shiv (Sarah Snook) already has her hands in political campaigning, Roman (Kieran Culkin) is a notorious troublemaker, and Connor (Alan Ruck) is completely ignorant of his privilege.
The question of “who will become CEO?” is just as exciting as the debate over “who will sit on the Iron Throne?” Similar to “House of the Dragon,” “Succession” shows how even a family that is in a position of power and influence has to deal with their personal issues.
If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).