A major reason people subscribe to HBO Max is to watch all six seasons of the highly praised crime drama The Sopranos. Many consider it not just HBO’s best series, but one of the greatest TV shows ever made. While The Sopranos remains popular on streaming, a new show is now taking its place as HBO’s flagship series.
Premiering in 2018 and running for four seasons, Succession offers a compelling and detailed look into the lives of the ultra-rich, exploring themes of wealth, power, and complicated family relationships. The show is not only known for its intriguing story and high production values, but has also earned praise from acclaimed directors like Steven Spielberg.
The Sopranos and Succession Are Razor-Sharp Commentaries on Family and Humanity
Both The Sopranos and Succession are notable TV shows because they share a common thread. Despite having different stories, characters, and settings, they both aim to offer a thoughtful and moving portrayal of family dynamics and what it means to be human.
The Sopranos is a crime drama celebrated for its deep understanding of human psychology. The show centers on a man who constantly battles with his own sense of right and wrong while trying to navigate his roles as a mafia boss and a devoted family man. It became famous for making viewers surprisingly sympathetic to, and even supportive of, a flawed and often unlikeable character.
With its dark humor, intelligence, and depth, The Sopranos was truly unique on television. Years later, Succession attempted something similar: telling a compelling and sympathetic story about the lives of the extremely rich and powerful.
The story revolves around the Roy family, inspired by figures like Rupert Murdoch, and focuses on Logan Roy (Brian Cox), a tremendously wealthy but deeply unhappy man. He built the media empire Waystar RoyCo, but at the cost of genuine connection and leaving him profoundly lonely. The real drama lies in the strained relationships with his four grown children, all vying to take over his company.
Similar to The Sopranos, Succession stands out with its clever writing, incredible acting, and darkly funny moments, creating a captivating look at family dynamics and the pursuit of power. However, Succession often feels more timely and heartbreaking. While The Sopranos focused on a mob boss, Succession centers on a powerful business executive, highlighting how influence and wealth can be just as destructive.
While Succession doesn’t feature typical crime drama elements like gang warfare or revenge, it still creates intense drama through power struggles, suspicion, and emotional outbursts – but these happen in business settings like conference rooms and board meetings.
Succession Earned Steven Spielberg’s Approval And a Shelf of Awards and Honors
Getting a thumbs-up from a respected director is always a good sign, and the acclaimed series Succession earned praise from none other than Steven Spielberg, widely considered one of the best filmmakers ever. While it doesn’t guarantee a show is good, it’s certainly a positive indicator.
I recently learned something really cool about Steven Spielberg – he’s a huge fan of quality television! Apparently, he’s been writing letters to people involved in shows he loves, and both Craig Mazin and Mark Mylod (a producer on Succession) have received his praise. Spielberg didn’t just watch Succession, he approved of it, and specifically called out Season 2, Episode 5, “Tern Haven” as a standout. It’s awesome to see a legendary filmmaker like that recognizing great work on TV.
As a film and TV fanatic, I always appreciate when a show can take something ordinary and make it extraordinary. “Tern Haven” totally did that for me – it used a simple dinner party setup but built this incredible, nail-biting thriller. The tension just kept ratcheting up! What’s even wilder is what happened after it aired. A few days later, I got a letter at my Brooklyn apartment, and honestly, it was a bit unsettling. I remember reading in Vanity Fair that the director, Mylod, was really pleased with how the episode was received, but that letter definitely threw a wrench in things.
Mylod explained that a young man gave him a lovely handwritten envelope with his name on it. When he opened it upstairs, he found a letter from Steven Spielberg praising the episode. Spielberg apparently wrote that directing a dinner party was like ‘fighting a bear—and you won’.
Steven Spielberg is famous for his movies, but he’s also been an executive producer on popular TV series like Masters of the Air. He clearly has a great eye for quality television, consistently recommending shows and episodes that receive high critical praise.
“Long, Long Time” received awards from both the Directors Guild of America and the Emmys, and Steven Spielberg has praised it. Meanwhile, Mad Men and The Bear have collectively won an impressive 37 Emmys and 10 Golden Globe awards. Considering all its accolades, Succession’s quality is already clear and doesn’t require Spielberg’s endorsement.
During its four seasons, Succession received an impressive 19 Emmy Awards and 9 Golden Globe Awards. What really made the show stand out was its consistent improvement – each season was even better than the last. By its third season, Succession achieved a record-breaking 14 Emmy nominations for its actors in a single year.
Kieran Culkin, Jeremy Strong, Matthew Macfadyen, and Sarah Snook all won Emmys for their acting in Succession. The show also received four Emmys for its writing. It’s unusual for a series to feature so many outstanding performances, but Succession managed to do just that.
From Jeremy Strong’s heartbreaking performance as Kendall Roy to Kieran Culkin’s portrayal of the troubled Roman and Sarah Snook’s nuanced take on Shiv, each actor delivers a complex and captivating performance.
Succession Has Cemented Its Place as HBO’s New Most-Prized Show
A show isn’t successful just because of awards. What really made Succession stand out is that it took what worked in previous shows, innovated, and offered a funny, yet unsettling, look at our world.
The Sopranos was groundbreaking in its use of flawed, yet likable, characters to move the story forward. Succession then built on this concept, presenting an even more modern anti-hero: a powerful, wealthy billionaire who views everything – even personal relationships – as a business deal.
Even though the Roy family in Succession might seem distant from our own lives, the show serves as a chilling reminder of how easily people can be corrupted by power and money. Like many other shows, such as The Sopranos, it portrays its central villain as almost godlike, with everyone else seemingly orbiting around them.
Succession took an interesting turn by showing how influential people can remain powerful even when they’re sick or frail. The show delves into complex human emotions, not just through its depiction of a wealthy, isolated man, but also through his four flawed children. They grapple with feelings of inadequacy, harmful behaviors, and the immense stress of trying to earn their father’s approval and take over his empire.
The show brilliantly portrays family feuds and the broader disagreements between millennials and baby boomers. Succession truly mastered this combination for today’s audiences. It’s a high-quality television series that expertly mixes family drama, political insights, and current events, making it feel both relevant to the present and enduringly classic.
HBO built its reputation on high-quality shows like The Sopranos and The Wire. Succession continues that tradition while also pushing the boundaries of the genre by exploring themes of politics, corporate greed, and family dynamics, all set against a backdrop of lavish parties and intense power struggles.
Succession is both entertaining and thought-provoking, using humor and satire to explore what it means to be human. Similar to The Sopranos, it also captures the worries and uncertainties of our current moment. The Sopranos, in its time, brilliantly reflected anxieties about a world in flux and the loss of old values.
Unlike other shows, Succession really gets into the worries many people have about money, power, family conflict, and the drive to achieve something lasting. But it also touches on feelings everyone can relate to. Both The Sopranos and Succession offer unique and worthwhile perspectives.
Despite being inspired by classic stories, Succession feels fresh and relevant for today’s audiences. It’s not just a popular show – many consider it the most important TV series of our time.
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2026-03-19 00:20