Succession (TV Show): 15 Facts You Might Not Know

Succession is an American television series that follows the story of the Roy family, who are the owners of a global media empire. The show focuses on the power struggle within the family as they fight for control of the company, which is valued at billions of dollars.

At the center of the story is Logan Roy, the patriarch of the family, who is in his 80s and has been running the company for decades. As his health begins to decline, his four children – Kendall, Roman, Shiv, and Connor – start jockeying for position to take over the family business.

Kendall, the eldest son, is the heir apparent and has been groomed for the job his entire life. Roman, the second son, is more of a wild card, with a penchant for taking risks and a lack of discipline. Shiv, the only daughter, is a political consultant who is married to a high-profile political strategist. And Connor, the oldest child, is an eccentric and seemingly detached individual who has spent most of his adult life pursuing his own interests.

As the family members engage in backstabbing, betrayals, and power plays, the show explores themes of family loyalty, greed, and the corrupting influence of power. With a strong ensemble cast, sharp writing, and a darkly comic tone, Succession has become one of the most critically acclaimed shows on television.

There’s probably a lot that you don’t know about this show (which is streaming on Showmax in South Africa), but today my aim is to change that…

Here are 15 Facts You Might Not Know About the Succession TV Show

1. It’s the best cast on TV

In Season 4 of Succession, Matthew Macfadyen and Jeremy Strong return to their Emmy-winning roles as Tom Wambsgans and Kendall Roy respectively this season. They are appearing alongside Brian Cox as patriarch Logan Roy, Sarah Snook and Kieran Culkin as Roy siblings Shiv and Roman, Nicholas Braun as cousin Greg, and J Smith-Cameron as Gerri Kellman.

All of these actors were nominated for Emmy Awards. Season 4 also features Emmy winner Alexander Skarsgård from Big Little Lies as tech visionary Lukas Matsson.

2. It’s an awards favourite

Succession has already won over 100 awards. This includes 13 Emmys, with Succession taking home Outstanding Drama Series in both 2020 and 2022, as well as four Writers Guild of America awards, three AFI awards for TV Series of the Year, two Critics Choice awards and two Golden Globes for Best Drama Series, a BAFTA for Best International Series, two Directors Guild of America awards, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Performance By An Ensemble in a Drama Series.

3. Succession is a hit with critics

Succession has a 95% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with Season 4 sitting with a rare 100% score currently. Season 3 was mentioned on more critics’ list than any other series in 2021, according to Metacritic.

The show was named TV Show of the Year by media as varied as Adweek, A.V. Club, The Boston Globe, Complex,  Good Morning America, Little White Lies, Slate and Vanity Fair. Writing about Season 4, Vulture calls Succession “a shining example of the best qualities of TV” and Indiewire hails it as “the end all, be all of TV.”

4. It’s a rating hit

Succession’s Season 4 premiere garnered 2.3 million viewers across HBO Max and linear telecasts, marking a series high. Total viewing for Sunday night was up 62% compared to last season’s premiere (1.4M) and 33% compared to last season’s finale (1.7M), with season 3 episodes going on to average 7.2 million viewers per episode across platforms. Viewership figures are based on Nielsen and first party data.

Compared to other Sunday night HBO Original premieres, Sunday’s total viewing number was 51% ahead of the season two premiere of The White Lotusand trailed only House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, and Euphoria among recent HBO series.

5. It’s from HBO

Succession is from HBO – the same network behind 4 of IMDb’s Top Rated Shows of All Time: Band of Brothers, Chernobyl, The Wire and The Sopranos, and well as the likes of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, The White Lotus, Euphoria and The Last of Us. As they say, “It’s not TV; it’s HBO.”

6. Succession was created by Jesse Armstrong

Before creating Succession, Jesse Armstrong was previously Oscar-nominated for writing In The Loop and won Writers Guild of Great Britain awards for Peep Show, Fresh Meat and The Thick Of It. He’s won two Writers Guild of America Award for Succession, with additional nominations for Veep and What We Do In The Shadows.

7. Will Ferrell is an executive producer

Yes, the same guy better known for starring in comedies like Anchorman, Blades of Glory, and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.

8. There’s an official podcast

Between new episodes, viewers can tune in to the official Succession podcast, which features conversations with the major players from the award-winning HBO series. Hosted by Kara Swisher, the multi-part podcast dives deep into the razor-sharp writing, dynamic performances and high-powered family drama that drive the series. The podcast reached #1 on Apple’s TV & Film chart in the U.S.

9. Season 4 is the final season

Creator Jesse Armstrong has confirmed this is the fourth and final season of Succession. As Globe and Mail puts it, “Curse Armstrong and Co. for calling it quits, but bless them for going out on what seems to be a middle-finger-worthy high.”

10. Brian Cox was the first to suggest to make Logan Scottish

Originally Logan was Québécois, but was turned down. He was later informed late into Season 1 filming that Logan was changed to be Scottish from Brian Cox’s own hometown of Dundee.

11. The show is NOT about the Murdochs

Creator Jesse Armstrong has categorically stated that it is not. A screenplay about the Murdoch family, written by him sparked the idea though. The characters aren’t based on actual people. Armstrong drew inspiration from families like the Redstones, the Murdochs, and the Hearsts to highlight the distinct dynamics that come into play within powerful families.

12. Succession is heavily influenced by Shakespeare’s 17th century tragedy King Lear

Brian Cox, whose character is inspired by the play’s titular monarch, played Lear throughout the ’80s and ’90s while touring with the Royal Shakespeare Company and Royal National Theatre. Cox reprised the role in a 2004 episode of sketch comedy series French and Saunders (1987), this time in a satirical trailer for a campy modern day adaptation of Lear that sees him ruling over a media empire.

13. Kieran Culkin wasn’t supposed to play Roman Roy

The actor was sent the script for Greg, but after reading it, Culkin found he resonated more with the cynical and pompous Roman. “There was something that clicked with me and this character that’s something I still don’t understand, and probably don’t want to understand, considering the kind of guy he is,” Culkin told The Hollywood Reporter.

14. The Succession cast did their first read-through on Election Day 2016

In a scene reminiscent of a plotline from Succession, the ensemble gathered for their initial read-through of the pilot episode on Election Day in 2016. Executive producer Adam McKay extended an invitation to the cast to convene at his residence to witness the election results and commemorate what was expected to be Hillary Clinton’s triumph. However, as the outcomes unfolded, leaving the cast in disbelief, McKay recognized the imminent transformation of the American political and media realms. He then proclaimed to the cast, “Well, it appears we’re creating the right show.”

15. The Succession production uses wealth consultants

In what could easily be deemed one of the most fascinating and peculiar occupations, the show depends on “wealth consultants” to provide insights into the lifestyles of the ultra-rich, shaping everything from the characters’ attire to their helicopter disembarkation. Culkin shared with Variety an anecdote about a scene where the cast exited a helicopter, recalling how the consultants instructed them, “You would have been accustomed to this your entire lives. You’re aware of the propeller’s location. No need to duck your head.”

Well, there you have it, 15 interesting facts about the Succession TV show. If I’ve left out something important, feel free to comment below.

Check out the trailer for Succession Season 4 below:

Watch this space for updates in the Facts category on Running Wolf’s Rant.