Getty Image / Theo Wargo
In the prestige-television era, many of the shows considered by folks to be among the best of all time have struggled to stick the landing with a great finale. But, unlike shows like The Sopranos, Breaking Bad and Game Of Thrones, HBO super-hit Succession absolutely nailed it.
SPOILERS BELOW
In case you haven’t seen the show but for some reason decided to somehow keep reading, Succession is about for the battle for the CEO position of family-run media conglomerate WayStar Royco. The company has some resemblance to News Corp, the company that owns Fox, among many other properties. Three siblings, Kendall, Shiv, and Roman, battle to be the successor to their father, Logan Roy. And, in the final season, Logan suddenly passes away while on a plane to negotiate the sale of a large chunk of the company. I could write 5000 words about the plot, of course, but it set up a final showdown between the three siblings, as well as some other players, like Shiv’s sycophantic estranged husband Tom, zany cousin Greg, and many others.
And, the last episode of Succession delivered. It looked like the siblings had finally banded together to block the deal with foreign company GoJo to take over WayStar RoyCo, only for Shiv to flip on the deal at the last second. Tom, the father of her unborn child, has been named CEO. And, the other two siblings seem to be completely out of the picture.
This is probably the biggest scripted television event since the finale of Game of Thrones in 2019. And, people are going nuts about the episode, with many lauding it as going out on top.
Here’s a sampling of the best memes and takes on the big finale.
shiv: “i changed my mind”
kendall: #Succession #SuccessionHBO pic.twitter.com/u6NB42nbDi
— kathleen (@kathleen_hanley) May 29, 2023
What a show. What a finale. Absolutely perfect. Wish there was another 5 seasons of succession because it was so good but man did they crush that finale.
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) May 29, 2023
we've been wambsgansed. a tragic ending but brilliantly made.#Succession #SuccessionHBO pic.twitter.com/4yN0XbzeRR
— loose juice (@greenlife497) May 29, 2023
this shot, i am screaming into a pillow #Succession pic.twitter.com/OxQy24qHfV
— holly 🌙 (@hollylottie88) May 29, 2023
Kendall, Shiv, and Roman fully realising that Logan pitted them all against each other is so heartbreaking to watch. He completely messed them all up.
Incredible acting from Sarah Snook, Jeremy Strong and Kieran Culkin. Second to none. #SuccessionHBO #Succession
— Sare 💘 | pre-grieving Succession (@RoseNyborg) May 29, 2023
that hour and a half of succession pic.twitter.com/E6qOVTpkJ5
— grace (@amandayoungdyke) May 29, 2023
GIANT SPOILERS FOR SUCCESSION There is something so brilliantly conceived on a structural level in this finale. We get ejected from the show in the same instant that Ken gets ejected from Waystar. It's perfect.
— machine gun kelly reichardt (@LingoUnbound) May 29, 2023
Yeah, that was a note-perfect finale. Heartbreaking, searing, hilarious, infuriating, terrifying, and the perfect final statement about a group of deeply damaged people who can't help themselves when even a modicum of power is on the table. Bravo to everyone. #Succession pic.twitter.com/Dqhulkrfrh
— Brandon Lewis (@blewis1103) May 29, 2023
Credit to the Succession team and HBO, too. It is hard to willingly go out on top and leave a ton of money on the table. But, they did, and the show is better off for it.