In a daze after THAT finale and now finding yourself googling,’are there any other TV shows like Succession I can watch now???’ Still reeling from the final and already missing the Roys (who thought that would ever be possible?) and wondering how you will fill that Monday night hole in your life?!?
Well, never fear. We’ve got ten shows that have some (or many!) similarities to Succession and are well worth a watch. In no particular order, here goes:
Billions
if you’re looking for a show that’s like Succession, in that it’s all about a bunch of ridiculously rich individuals, who are constantly under threat from each other, trying to steal their crowns, with New York as a back drop – Billions is your show. Unlike a family battle, like Succession, Billions is all about the fight between two men – shrewd, savvy US Attorney Chuck Rhoades and the brilliant, ambitious hedge fund king Bobby “Axe” Axelrod.
It features one hell of a cast, including Paul Giamatti and Damian Lewis (of Homeland fame).
Watch it now on: Neon
Yellowstone
I’ve often heard Kevin Costner’s Yellowstone described as being “Succession in the Wild West” or “Succession on a Ranch”. Essentially, the show follows the Dutton family, led by John Dutton III (Kevin Costner), who is essentially Logan Roy in a cowboy hat. As the head of a crumbling empire, considering his own mortality and legacy, he watches on as his kids circle to take the crown – and desperately seek his approval.
Watch it now on: Neon
Ozark
Ok, surely everyone has been telling you to watch this show – or maybe you’ve already seen it? Otherwise, get it in on your watch list now. It’s a pretty dark crime drama, that has a touch of black comedy to lighten the load and one heck of a cast.
Jason Bateman stars as Marty Byrde, a financial planner who relocates his family from Chicago to a summer resort community in the Ozarks. With wife Wendy (the wonderful Laura Linney) and their two kids in tow, Marty is on the move after a money-laundering scheme goes wrong, forcing him to pay off a substantial debt to a Mexican drug lord in order to keep his family safe. While the Byrdes’ fate hangs in the balance, the dire circumstances force the fractured family to reconnect. There’s a cast of colourful characters along the way – including Julia Garner as Ruth, who is nothing short of incredible.
It’s a different story entirely to Succession – and it looks a heck of a lot different (it’s beautifully shot, but heck, it’s GREY). But, it feels hugely similar in that pretty much every single character is hugely flawed and unlikeable… yet, you suddenly find yourself rooting for them to succeed.
Watch it now on: Netflix
The Morning Show
For another beautifully shot show, with an insanely good cast – make sure you add The Morning Show to your list. Starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Steve Carrell and Billy Crudup, it’s a seriously good watch.
It’s another sort of take on the rich people behaving badly theme, but focuses on the characters and culture behind a network broadcast morning news program. The #metoo movement is explored from a number of different, devastating perspectives, after allegations of sexual misconduct are aimed at the male co-anchor of the show – who is then forced off the show. There are two series of this show, with a third in the works, and holy heck I cannot wait.
Watch it now on: Apple TV
The Sopranos
I don’t know what the heck I was doing with my life in the early 2000s, but I only got onto The Sopranos last year and now I understand why it won so many goddam awards and why everyone is flabbergasted if you say you haven’t watched it. But, I’m proof that you can catch up now and still love it.
It’s entirely different to Succession, but also wildly similar. It follows Tony Soprano – a mob boss, who has both his New Jersey mafia family to deal with, but also his own problems to deal with at home with his actual family. My god there are some unlikable people in it who do some horrific things, but you can’t help but find yourself rooting for them, and getting teary when things don’t go there way (just like the Roys!)
Watch it now on: Neon
The White Lotus
If someone told me that from here out I could only watch Succession OR The White Lotus again, I’d be in a complete tailspin. My head would likely explode. It’s Sophie’s Choice. They’re both just too good.
See, The White Lotus is also beautifully shot, with a fabulous cast and a seriously incredible theme song. It’s also about hideously rich people, doing hideous things and yet you find yourself entranced. Plus it has Jennifer Coolidge.
Watch it now on: Neon
The Newsroom
The Newsroom feels like it could very likely be some sort of ATN spin-off show. It follows a bad-tempered news anchor (Jeff Daniels) who loses his entire staff and must work with ideological newbies, and an old enemy to get his nightly news show back on track.
It also stars 5,000 well-known stars, including Emily Mortimer, Olivia Munn, Dev Patel, Alison Pill, Jane Fonda, Chris Messina, Kat Dennings, Clea DuVall, Hope Davis, Kathryn Hahn, BJ Novak (basically half of Hollywood).
Watch it now on: Neon
Veep
Succession has brought us some of the best one-liners and insults in TV history (God, where to start as examples: “your earlobes are thick and chewy, like barnacle meat” or “you can’t make a Tomlette without breaking a few Gregs”??) and if you’re looking for zingers, Veep should be your next watch.
Seinfeld‘s Julia Louis-Dreyfus (a genius) plays Selina Meyer, the Vice President of the United States – and although it’s a political show, it’s far, far away from being The West Wing. Satire at its best, this show is a seriously good watch – with a fantastic cast and wonderful writing (Succession show runner Jesse Armstrong even wrote an episode in the first series!).
The Rise of the Murdoch Dynasty
Ok, so this show is an entirely different genre to the other shows on this list – and to Succession itself. BUT, it’s also a very interesting watch for hardcore fans of the show who will no doubt know that the lives of the Roy family are eerily similar to those of the Murdoch family. There’s everything from the eldest sibling who is always kept at arms length, to the sister with opposing political views, to the brothers who are pitted against each other.
Watch it now on: TVNZ+
The Americans
Okay, full disclosure: I have not watched this yet. BUT, Capsule’s Emma Clifton has and she keeps telling me it needs to be next on my list to replace my Monday night Succession fix. Why? Well, first of all it has Felicity in it, I mean, Keri Russell, who is a seriously wonderful actress. She and Mathew Rhys play a pair of undercover Soviet spies who are hiding out in the US during the cold war in the late ’80s.
Watch it now on: Disney+
