
An extraordinary finale can elevate a good show to true greatness. Think of The Sopranos cutting to black. Walter White’s last stand. Tim and Dawn finally snogging. The question is: will Succession sign off with the level of quality we have come to expect from four seasons of top-tier acting, writing and masterly drama? Might it, in fact, exceed that level?
Next week, Jesse Armstrong’s acclaimed, award-winning and addictive HBO series about terribly rich people doing terrible things is coming to an end – and we’re still no closer to knowing who will come out on top. The show sprang a surprise in an early episode, killing off Logan Roy and leaving a leadership vacuum that was suddenly real rather than abstract. Since then, Kendall and Roman have tried various wily ways to kill off Matsson’s deal, Shiv and Tom have gone full Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and Tom and Greg have anointed a right-wing extremist as president – democracy be damned.