Recently, in a New Yorker profile, showrunner Jesse Armstrong announced that HBO’s Succession will be concluding with its upcoming 4th Season. The ultimate season would be releasing later this month and HBO has confirmed that it would be the end of the series as well. According to him and his writers, season 4 will finally establish a complete story around the family and thus, they feel that it is the perfect time to end the show, instead of needlessly prolonging it.
Jesse Armstrong’s comment
Jesse Armstrong stated that this show could not go forever and they, as writers, have been planning the end of the show since 2021. Though Armstrong has stated that working on the edit and with the writers have been a deeply enriching and insightful time for him, he knew that this show would not go on perpetually. He has further stated in that interview that he feels fulfilled by the end, as HBO has been ‘generous’ and had given him the complete liberty of deciding when and how the show would end.
What is Succession about?
Succession, a show that revolves around media mogul Logan Roy and his children’s fight to get the spot that he occupies after his demise, has been lauded by critics and the general viewers since even during its initial release back in 2018. The series stars a host of brilliant actors like Brian Cox, as the dutiful patriarch to the Roy Family to Nicholas Braun, the bumbling Cousin Greg.
The series has also been receiving a lot of ‘award show love’ since its inception back in 2018. The series has been a recipient of countless Emmys, BAFTAs and SAG awards and nominations, both for their cast and crew.
Succession is a part of the handful of original shows that is produced at HBO by Casey Bloys. Other original shows produced under him include The White Lotus, Barry, Euphoria and House of The Dragon. When asked if Succession would be getting a similar spin-off treatment where a series is made on a particular character of the ensemble, Bloys has stated that Succession is unlikely to have future spin-offs. Armstrong, though, in his profile with The New York Times, has said that he remains receptive to the idea of further experimenting with the world of the Roys.
It is also widely rumored that the show is based on the real-life drama of Murdoch, specifically between Rupert Murdoch and his kids. Though Jesse Armstrong denies directly basing the show on Murdoch, he and writers have constantly acknowledged the similarities between celluloid and reality. The Murdoch family have not commented on this aspect.
The philosophy of Succession
Succession excels at mocking and showing an honest and harsh perspective into the lives of the rich and elite. Many fans and critics have been appreciative of Armstrong and his writer’s deft handling of the subject and striking a perfect balance in the audience’s mind between hating and actually having sympathy for the children who were born and are destined to perish in this sort of an despotic environment, with most complaining about being confused about whom to support.
The penultimate season of Succession, was aired in December 2021, to raving reviews from critics and the general audience. The season at the end, saw the kids come together against their biggest enemy, their father Logan Roy and it ended on a note which promised the fans that the kids would reunite and fight against the injustice that their father had shown to them. The 4th and final season will be airing from 26th March.
