Succession review: the glorious return of the bad, mad Roys
Jesse Armstrong’s hit TV drama is as ‘bitingly brilliant’ as ever

After the year we have had, with its struggle, sickness and worry, it is peculiarly comforting to be reunited with “some of the worst and most narcissistic” characters ever written, said Philippa Snow in The Independent. Jesse Armstrong’s hit TV drama Succession has returned, and it’s as bitingly brilliant, elegant and funny as ever.
For two seasons, the Roy siblings have been jostling for position in their Murdoch-style media empire, and for the love of their monstrous father, Logan Roy (Brian Cox). Now the tensions seem to be moving up a level. In the opening episode, still smarting from the betrayal of his middle son, former junkie Kendall (Jeremy Strong), the billionaire patriarch sets what promises to be the tone of season three. “It’s war,” he bellows, in the cabin of his private jet. “So F*** OFF!”
Although episode one kicks off in a “lower octane” than we’ve been used to, Succession remains a “toxic joy”, said Carol Midgley in The Times. This is a show that is better when firing on four cylinders than most dramas are on six. The acting is superb, but the show’s appeal has always rested more on “scalpel-sharp dialogue” than on plot, and Armstrong, who made his name as the co-creator of Peep Show, has not rested on his laurels: the X-rated script is still brutally fast and funny. Episode one is so rich, I recommend watching it twice; and by episode three, the series is on “fire”.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The new season is being released in nine weekly instalments, but you might do better to wait, and then binge-watch it, said Anita Singh in The Daily Telegraph. Succession is so compelling, an hour “isn’t enough”.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Jaguar Land Rover’s cyber bailout
Talking Point Should the government do more to protect business from the ‘cyber shockwave’?
-
Russia: already at war with Europe?
Talking Point As Kremlin begins ‘cranking up attacks’ on Ukraine’s European allies, questions about future action remain unanswered
-
Crossword: October 5, 2025
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
-
Mustardy beans and hazelnuts recipe
The Week Recommends Nod to French classic offers zingy, fresh taste
-
Susie Dent picks her favourite books
The Week Recommends The lexicographer and etymologist shares works by Jane Goodall, Noel Streatfeild and Madeleine Pelling
-
6 incredible homes under $1 million
Feature Featuring a home in the National Historic Landmark District of Virginia and a renovated mid-century modern house in Washington
-
The Harder They Come: ‘triumphant’ adaptation of cinema classic
The Week Recommends ‘Uniformly excellent’ cast follow an aspiring musician facing the ‘corruption’ of Kingston, Jamaica
-
House of Guinness: ‘rip-roaring’ Dublin brewing dynasty period drama
The Week Recommends The Irish series mixes the family tangles of ‘Downton’ and ‘Succession’ for a ‘dark’ and ‘quaffable’ watch
-
Dead of Winter: a ‘kick-ass’ hostage thriller
The Week Recommends Emma Thompson plays against type in suspenseful Minnesota-set hair-raiser ‘ringing with gunshots’
-
A Booker shortlist for grown-ups?
Talking Point Dominated by middle-aged authors, this year’s list is a return to ‘good old-fashioned literary fiction’
-
Fractured France: an ‘informative and funny’ enquiry
The Week Recommends Andrew Hussey's work is a blend of ‘memoir, travelogue and personal confession’