Succession is one of the most riveting HBO Originals to have come out in quite some time. The concept of a massive family trying to lay their hands on the family business doesn’t sound like anything new, but it’s the manner in which Succession weaves its riveting narrative threads around this premise that makes it such a brilliant watch. It helps that the characters and dialogue present in this show are a cut above the rest.
As a result, some people might feel like there aren’t really many shows like Succession out there. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth — there are several amazing TV shows that fans of Succession should definitely check out. Here are some of the best shows in this regard that fans are bound to appreciate, if not get completely hooked.
10 Suits
A big part of what makes Succession great is the rapid insults and amazing dialogue work that is present throughout the series. Viewers who want to get absorbed in such amazing back-and-forths should check out Suits.
The show is notorious for featuring a wealth of fast-paced dialogue sequences that never let up throughout its extended run. Suits might fizzle out in its latter half, but it’s still a great legal drama that’s worth a watch.
9 Six Feet Under
The idea of a family working together always seems like an easy and enjoyable premise for most TV shows. Six Feet Under definitely doesn’t falter in this regard, although its subject matter is way darker than that of Succession.
Six Feet Under deals with a family that provides the services of a funeral home. The show doesn’t shy away from looking at the darker aspects of these characters and the motivations that drive them, with each season being just as riveting as the last.
8 Empire
Another show that takes the concept of a family business and runs with it is Empire. The show might be more popular now due to the controversy perpetrated by one of its main stars, but don’t let that take away from the brilliance of this unique TV series.
There’s really quite nothing like Empire out there, with its focus on a hip-hop dynasty being a peach to explore. The family is nowhere near perfect, but it’s how they convey their side of the tale that makes each episode of Empire unputdownable at times.
7 Billions
The concept of wealth and power is ever-present across both Succession and Billions. This makes it easy to see why both shows are compared to each other so frequently.
While fans of Succession will like Billions, this is not because of the perceived similarity of both series. Rather, it’s because of the amazing power dynamics at play in Billions that makes it such a brilliant watch.
6 The Wire
The Wire is an easy recommendation as one of the greatest TV shows of all time — a statement that isn’t made lightly at all. Every season of The Wire is pure brilliance, with the story arcs being tightly woven and infinitely satisfying to unravel.
Characters and situations in The Wire are as realistic as can be, showing a grim portrayal of life in Baltimore and how things can change in the blink of an eye. It’s a show that fans will think of long after finishing their watch.
5 BoJack Horseman
There aren’t many shows on this list with dialogue as strong as BoJack Horseman. The show takes a while to get going and never stops, delivering emotional gut-punches that serve as some of the show’s biggest strengths.
Characters in BoJack are lovable, even though they can be pretty flawed at times. It’s a testament to the show’s amazing dialogue and humor that it has become one of the most recommended TV shows around.
4 The Sopranos
It’s rare for a show about the Mafia to have such a personal and familiar focus on its characters, but this is precisely why so many people adore The Sopranos. It’s a show that most people still consider to be way ahead of its time.
HBO has a habit of greenlighting brilliant shows, and fans of Succession will feel right at home with The Sopranos. It might be a bit more slow-paced at times, but The Sopranos knows exactly how to deliver brilliant payoffs with its well-structured narrative.
3 Mad Men
Mad Men is another show like Succession which looks at people in power and how they get poisoned by their own ideals. In the case of Mad Men, it’s the power of its setting coupled with the advertising background of the main cast that makes them so interesting to deal with.
The strength of Mad Men lies in the hands of its main cast, with Don Draper being an absolutely fascinating protagonist indeed. The show explores the human psyche itself and how people strive to run away from the past even though it’s what they’ve been through that will always shape who they are.
2 Sherlock
Sherlock might’ve fallen off quite pathetically in its latter half, but the first two seasons are still absolutely brilliant to behold. The modern take on Sherlock’s legacy coupled with an amazing cast turned the show into a major phenomenon.
Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are masters of their craft and prove why they were the best selection for the iconic duo of Sherlock and Watson. The first six episodes are must-watch television and something every fan should check out.
1 Black Mirror
Black Mirror is easily one of the more depressing recommendations on this list. Each episode deals with the effect of technology on the lives of people and how it changes them for the worse.
Black Mirror is another show that might not be at its strongest point right now, but its heyday is still a thing of beauty. The mind-bending premises of some of the episodes were amazing and made for a brilliant watch indeed.
