Succession Season 4 Review

Succession (2018-2023)

Rent Succession Season4 on Amazon Video (paid link)
Season 4 - 10 episodes (2023)
Created by: Jesse Armstrong
Starring: Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong, Kieran Culkin, Sarah Snook, Matthew Macfadyen, Alan Ruck, Alexander Skarsgård
Rating: TV-MA
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Plot
Logan Roy and his four children control one of the biggest media and entertainment conglomerates in the world. When the aging patriarch begins to step back from the company, the children contemplate what the future and company will hold for them.

Verdict
This is the final season to a show that has been nothing short of excellent. Each season we see this family try to scheme and scam their way to power despite how much they already have. This season does lose a little bit with less of the patriarch Logan Roy, but with less of him it's the children as always plotting against each other as they try and fail to be and live up to the reputation of their father. Since the first episode we've asked who will lead the company. This season promises to answer that question.
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Review
The first episode of this season jumps right into it. The siblings Ken (Jeremy Strong), Shiv (Sarah Snook), and Roman (Kieran Culkin) are working on building a company together to spite their father. They're as rude as ever not just to their employees but to each other. Logan (Brian Cox) is working on a deal to bolster the company that his kids want to derail. Everyone is playing each other. This first episode is a table setter for what's to come. The first episode provides characterization to the main cast, provides a conflict, and draws a line for the sides.

Jeremy Strong, Kieran Culkin, Sarah Snook play Ken, Roman, Shiv

Logan has never regarded his children as "serious" people. That is after he attempts an apology, or at least the best he can do. Logan wants to sell his company, the company his kids have been fighting over to be the new CEO after Logan. He has pitted them against each other, made promises, but has yet to announce who will secede him. Logan is always playing them. The children want his love because they've never gotten it. He wasn't a good father, and now he's spinning them to do his will. They're always blindly hoping that this time will be different. As a viewer we wonder at times if Logan does this just for entertainment. He likes poking people

Episode three is a surprise. It's pivotal, setting the stage for the season's plot. I didn't expect to see the kids having to express their love to their father. Their admissions are complicated and spiked with anger, telling in how they act and react. These are people that don't often have to accept hard truths. They're rich, and no isn't an answer they usually get. When they do it's not even a roadblock, it's just a speed bump.

The question throughout this show has been who will be the CEO. Everyone has an opinion, and there's rarely any consensus. There's tension between the siblings and the old guard of the company.

The second half of the season is Lukas Matsson (Alexander Skarsgård) angling to buy the company. Matsson wants the company and the news division, but Roman and Ken want to keep the news, though they seem outmatched. This deal is the sticking point. The kids act out due to the prospect of losing their dad's company. They wanted this company. Each of them thought they would be CEO, and now it's being sold.

Sarah Snook, Kieran Culkin, Alan Ruck, Jeremy Strong play Shiv, Roman, Connor, Ken

Episode five is a great window into the family. Ken gets to play interim CEO demanding people to meet his vision with no idea of what it will take. It's a parallel to Greg and the video editor. Greg demands he makes it happen with no regard to logic and what's possible. Due to Ken and Greg's demands the presentation is lacking. They can't provide a plan for a presentation. They have only an idea and demand it happen. All Ken has is platitudes, and yet his speech isn't a wreck which is a surprise. Shiv plans to team with Matsson to secure her place in this new company while Roman flounders. Over this season, we've seen how Ken, Shiv, and Roman behave. This summarizes it in an episode.

With a focus on Matsson and a reduced part for Logan, the show does lose energy. Brian Cox has been amazing since the first episode of the series. His character has been the driving force since day one. Without him to steer the ship, everyone swirls in his wake.

I like how this season ties into a fictitious presidential election as we see how the media spins it and the control exerted. The news division has always been a bit of a Fox News stand in with Logan Roy as Murdoch. The siblings are trying to run an election for their own means. Roman is pushing for an outcome that's to his benefit at the cost of the country. Shiv is only after the right thing because it's to her benefit.

As Matsson's deal to purchase the company looms closer, everyone is trying to make connections and secure a spot or improve their position. Where will everyone land? The siblings are posturing. Ken wants to be Logan, but he's proven time and again he's not.

The final episode is the race to CEO. The siblings come to an agreement on which of them should take the title if they can get the votes to override Matsson's deal. You can't help but recall Logan stating they aren't serious people as they celebrate with "a meal fit for a king." In the final vote of the board we get a clear look at the children as they bicker and fight. We also finally get an answer to who will secede Logan Roy as CEO. The show kept us guessing until the very end, but regardless of who got the spot it seems to be a position slated to fail. None of the candidates have an impressive resume. The Roy kids are in contention only because of their father. The sad truth is all of them will land fine with or without the company despite never holding real jobs. This new CEO likely will serve at the whim of Matsson.

This is an incredible series. The writing in every episode impresses, with the characters giving the actors great roles. You can read into these characters and why they behave as they do. This show doesn't need exposition. It's a strong four season run that doesn't overstay its welcome. The writing and length provide plenty of arguments to position this in all-time great HBO series lists.