Succession season 3

The first two seasons of the highly acclaimed HBO series, Succession, rank among the very best TV to date with its Shakespearian levels of drama as the Roy family compete to be king of the hill in the treacherous corporate minefield. Succession has also been the saving grace for HBO as its flagship title with Game of Thrones having disgraced itself and Westworld failing to match the high bar it set itself in season one. Sure there are other shows that keep the network held in high regard but this remains the peak for them but how would Jesse Armstrong's satirical drama maintain itself while filmed during the height of the pandemic?

Whereas the first two seasons followed numerous storylines which would interweave and sometimes conclude by the end of the tenth episode, season three takes nine episodes and focuses predominately on the fallout between Logan and Ken as they go to war over the shady history of Logan's empire. It can feel like two heavyweights slugging it out making for a claustrophobic and exhausting experience but in the very best way possible as the team behind this ratchet up the tension. 

The end result is a superbly acted, beautifully shot and perfectly directed experience that moves fast but not at the expense of its characters. Too many shows drag their heels, throw in useless and forgettable filler episodes with tedious subplots but not a single episode is wasted here, which makes for another season of unmissable entertainment. Without spoilers, the final episode is perfect and I hope it's not too long before they start filming that fourth season. 

As you can probably tell, I think Succession has been flawless and boosted by terrific performances again from the likes of Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, Kieran Culkin and Matthew Macfadyen. The third season has been intense at times with a tighter focus on the battle between Logan and Ken but the writers pace the drama perfectly without it ever becoming stale. It's a full recommendation from me without a shadow of doubt.