"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."
TK Shows to Watch About Dysfunctional Families a la Succession
The saga of the billionaire Roy family is coming to an end. And if the series finale of Succession leaves a gaping Waystar Royco-sized hole in your soul—and watchlist—fret not. Tales of dynastic drama and extreme family depravity are to be found in every corner of the TV universe, from old school network to streaming platform. There is literally something for every taste.
Succession with a power matriarch? Check (watch: Animal Kingdom, starring Ellen Barkin). Succession with cowboys? Check (watch: the supremely popular Yellowstone). Succession with tiaras? Check (The Crown, natch).Even Succession in the world of superrich Bible thumpers? Yes, courtesy of The Righteous Gemstones, another sleeper hit from HBO which returns for its third season on June 18. Whether you're after the guilty pleasure of watching morally corrupt fictional families implode, or simply want to get lost in another fantastic prestige series, below are 10 of the best Succession-like shows to tune into or stream now.
The Righteous Gemstones
The Righteous Gemstones—a dark comedy whose third season premieres on HBO on June 18—is the brainchild of Danny McBride, who also stars as Jesse, a second-generation member (with sister Judy, played by Edi Patterson, and baby brother Kelvin, played by Adam DeVine) of the Gemstones, a family that is world-famous and ultra-rich thanks to the global, multimillion-dollar televangelist and megachurch empire founded by their father Eli (John Goodman). They travel in motorcades of gleaming white G-wagons and Range Rovers, live in mansions on an amusement park-sized compound with a golf course, shooting range, and actual amusement park, and will basically do whatever it takes to protect their holy enterprise, with zero regard for neither law nor scruples.
Arrested Development
Arrested Development, the multiple Emmy-winning cult hit that aired from 2003-2006 on Fox and later had a two-season revival on Netflix (in 2013 and 2018), is a perennial classic and one of the funniest and wittiest shows ever made skewering the one percent. The sitcom centers around the lives of the Bluths, a Newport Beach real estate family of spoiled, materialistic, manipulative, and self-serving individuals. After their patriarch is arrested and jailed for fraud, Michael (Jason Bateman), the only normal one, takes over as head of the family and hilariously attempts to help his siblings, Lindsay (Portia de Rossi), Gob (Will Arnett), and Buster (Tony Hale), their mother Lucille (Jessica Walter), and their extended families adjust to their new circumstances—and be better people.
More: 15 Best Comedy Shows to Stream on Netflix Now
Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom, which ran for six seasons, switches out the patriarchal structures of most dynastic shows for a badass matriarch, who in this case is the formidable Ellen Barkin. She plays Janine "Smurf" Cody, who runs a Southern California criminal enterprise with her four sons. When grandson Joshua (played by Finn Cole, who also stars as Michael in Peaky Blinders) moves in after the death of his mother, he is about to get a crash course in the violent family business, and all the complicated dynamics within it.
Yellowstone
The most popular family in all of TV land? That title undeniably goes to the Duttons of Yellowstone. The Paramount network show is a colossal ratings hit that consistently sets records—and beats them. It's not hard to see why: Yellowstone is about as true-to-American-values as it gets, telling the tale of John Dutton (Kevin Costner), a legacy cattle rancher and largest landowner in the country, who—deep, deep down—is really just a salt-of-the-earth cowboy valiantly fighting to preserve his way of life—and defend what is rightfully his from greedy real estate developers. There is plenty of family dysfunction to go around, too, thanks to his kids: acid-tongued Beth (Kelly Reilly), reluctant would-be successor Kayce (Luke Grimes), and John's very own Judas, Jamie (Wes Bentley).
More: Yellowstone Is Essentially Succession Set in the Modern Wild West
The Crown
One could argue that when it comes to IRL family dysfunction the Windsors really take the cake. They have provided juicy tabloid fodder for decades, and, as of 2016, inspirational material for The Crown, the hit Netflix series that charts the reign of Queen Elizabeth and imagines the conversations—and fraught succession dramas and sibling rivalries and love affairs—that take place within the walls of Buckingham Palace. A sixth and final season is scheduled to premiere this fall, and it will cover the royal saga up until the 2000s. Imelda Staunton reprises her role as the queen, along with other returning actors from season 5, including Jonathan Pryce (Prince Philip), Lesley Manville (Princess Margaret), Dominic West (Prince Charles), and Elizabeth Debicki (Princess Diana).
La Casa de las Flores
What you might get if Succession was set in Mexico, in Spanish, and was a satire of the telenovela genre, La Casa de las Flores centers on the wealthy de la Mora family, whose picture-perfect flower shop is a front for their general dysfunction and shady behavior—affairs, white collar crime, a secret cabaret business. The series, which ran for three seasons and also had a movie spin-off, received high praise for its dark humor and stereotype-subverting take on race, gender, and sexuality.
More: 13 Spanish-Language TV Shows on Netflix to Stream Now
Empire
At the start of Empire, which ran for 6 seasons on Fox, patriarch Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard) has a health crisis that makes him question who among his three sons will inherit the throne of the multimillion-dollar hip-hop label and entertainment company he built with his wife Cookie (Taraji P. Henson). Let the succession battle begin, as the brothers, and various family hangers-on, duke it out for daddy's approval. Sound familiar?
Bloodline
Nothing spells doom quite like a family reunion. Netflix's Emmy-nominated Bloodline, which ran for three seasons from 2015-2017, begins with the 45th anniversary party of the Rayburn House, the seaside Florida Keys hotel owned by Sally and Robert Rayburn (Sissy Spacek and Sam Shepard). The couple have four children: local detective John (Kyle Chandler), local marina-owner Kevin (Norbert Leo Butz), local attorney Meg (Dead to Me's Linda Cardellini), and the eldest Danny (Ben Mendelsohn, who won an Emmy for the role), the wayward black sheep of the family, whose arrival from Miami threatens to expose the terrible secrets, lies, and crimes buried deep beneath the Rayburns' sunny veneer.
House of the Dragon
Set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, the prequel centers on the succession drama that consumes the dragon-taming House Targaryen. The trio of characters fighting for the Iron Throne here include Princess Rhaenyra (Emma d'Arcy), daughter of King Viserys I and heir apparent, her half-brother Aegon, and her uncle Prince Daemon (Matt Smith). The fiery series was renewed for a second season.
The White Lotus
While it may not necessarily be centered on dynastic dysfunction, The White Lotus is certainly a tale of many, many forms of one percenter decay. Each season of Mike White's searing eat-the-rich satire (a third is in the works) takes place within the gilded confines of a luxury resort (Hawaii in season 1, Sicily in season 2) and centers on the group of wealthy and entitled guests who check in for a week of decadence and simmering class tensions—and it all ends with someone's demise. A who's who of A-listers have made up the two seasons' ensemble casts, including Connie Britton, Murray Bartlett, Michael Imperioli, Aubrey Plaza, Tom Hollander, and, of course, Jennifer Coolidge, whose turn as recurring character Tanya McQuoid turned her into an award-winning legend.
You Might Also Like
13 Beauty Tools to Up Your At-Home Facial Game
(Video) The 10 Best Political TV Shows of All Time - From House of Cards to Veep
FAQs
10 Shows About Family Dysfunction à la Succession? ›
Succession. Official Website for the HBO Series. HBO.com.
What is the TV show about family dynasty? ›Succession. Official Website for the HBO Series. HBO.com.
Are there any shows as good as Succession? ›- 1 Ozark. Netflix.
- 2 Bloodline. Netflix. ...
- 3 The Crown. Netflix. ...
- 4 Arrested Development. Netflix. ...
- 5 The House of Flowers. Netflix. ...
- 6 King of Stonks. Netflix. ...
- 7 House of Cards. Netflix. ...
- 8 Club of Crows. Netflix. ...
If your favorite Succession storylines involve the fictional ATN and network drama, give Apple TV's The Morning Show a stream. The series stars Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon and is based on the 2013 book Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV.
What is the HBO series about the rich family? ›Succession is an American drama television series created by Jesse Armstrong. It premiered on June 3, 2018, on HBO.
What TV series was set around the Carrington family? ›In high-society Atlanta, staying rich means playing dirty for two affluent families caught in an outrageous feud for power, prestige and love. Watch all you want.
Why is Succession so hyped? ›But the thing that makes Succession so compelling is not its storylines, which are minimal, but rather its whip-smart writing and detailed character studies; a complicated cocktail of privilege and trauma keeping the protagonists entrenched in patterns of narcissistic self-sabotage that fill the audience with ...
Is the drama Succession on Netflix? ›Succession is not on Netflix, but you can watch seasons one through three on Amazon Prime Video U.S. with the HBO Max add-on.
What should I watch while waiting for Succession season 4? ›- The Staircase.
- Yellowstone.
- Billions.
- Industry.
- The Righteous Gemstones.
- Veep.
- The Good Fight.
- Arrested Development.
What media family is Succession based on? ›
The Murdoch Family: All About the Real-Life People Who Inspired 'Succession' An elderly media tycoon with several grown children in consideration to be his successor: What sounds like the plot of Succession is actually the reality for Rupert Murdoch and his six children.
What is the fancy watch in Succession? ›Logan Roy: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak
The ruthless patriarch of the Roy family, Logan Roy, is often seen wearing an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. This iconic timepiece, known for its octagonal bezel and integrated bracelet, has become synonymous with luxury and success.
Roman in what looks like the same model from Season 2, episode 9 of 'Succession. ' The timepiece in question is a stainless-steel Rolex Datejust with an Oyster bracelet, Roman numerals (of course), and a smooth bezel—a configuration that hasn't been offered by the brand in a few years.
What series is about a rich family that loses everything? ›Here, Levy and O'Hara play Johnny and Moira Rose, a wealthy married couple who lose their wealth in the first episode, save for one asset: Their accountant tells them they own a small town called Schitt's Creek.
What is the show about the rich family that loses everything? ›After being a victim of fraud, Johnny Rose and his family go from extremely wealthy to penniless overnight.
What is the HBO show about poor family? ›MILES PARKS, HOST: HBO's new show "Rain Dogs," a raunchy dark comedy set in London, follows Costello Jones as she navigates motherhood while dangling on the edge of poverty.
Who is older Fallon or Steven Carrington? ›Because of this, Steven is the second oldest Carrington child, following his kidnapped brother, Adam. He is the older brother of Fallon Carrington, and the older half-brother of Kirby Anders.
Is Fallon Carrington based on a real person? ›Fallon Carrington is a fictional character from the ABC television series Dynasty and its spin-off The Colbys. Created by Richard and Esther Shapiro, the role of Fallon was originated by Pamela Sue Martin in the show's first episode in 1981, and Martin left at the end of the fourth season in 1984.
Who is the real Carrington son? ›Adam is the long-lost son of Blake Carrington and Alexis Carrington.
Why did Netflix remove Dynasty? ›Dynasty had benefitted from a deal between CBS and Netflix, but the show's luck sadly ran out. It seems as though the new owners will put a much larger priority on making money for the network rather than making money for the studios providing the content.
Why has Dynasty been cancelled? ›
According to Distractify, Dynasty apparently was profitable for the CW through the network's streaming deal with Netflix. However, that still wasn't enough to save it - Netflix viewership was high, but ratings remained consistently poor when episodes were broadcast live on the CW.
When did Dynasty get Cancelled? › What is the best episode of Succession? ›- 1 "Connor's Wedding" Season 4, Episode 3 (2023)
- 2 "All the Bells Say" Season 3, Episode 9 (2021) ...
- 3 "This Is Not for Tears" Season 2, Episode 10 (2019) ...
- 4 "Kill List" Season 4, Episode 5 (2023) ...
- 5 "Chiantishire" ...
- 6 "Tern Haven" ...
- 7 "Honeymoon States" ...
- 8 "DC" ...
Waystar Royco vs. News Corp.
The Roys head the fictional Waystar Royco, “which the Roys like to boast is the fifth-largest media company in the world,” according to Vanity Fair. Waystar Royco shares a strong likeness to News Corp.
How to Watch Succession. Right now you can watch Succession on HBO Max. You are able to stream Succession by renting or purchasing on iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, Vudu, and Google Play.
Can I watch Succession on Hulu? ›With Hulu's HBO Max add-on, subscribers can watch Succession live or on-demand.
Is Succession based on the Murdochs? ›While showrunner Jesse Armstrong told HBO that the events of the series are inspired by a mix of different media families – “like the Hearsts, to modern-day Redstone, John Malone, Robert Fitz of Comcast, Murdoch, and Robert and Rebekah Mercer, who founded Breitbart”– fans believe that the Murdochs, the family behind ...
Is Succession one of the best shows of all time? ›Through almost four and half seasons, Succession has staked its claim as the sixth-best show in HBO history. That's an incredible accomplishment given the series was unbeknownst to most subscribers until the second season.
Is Succession like Dallas? ›At its most basic level, "Succession" fits neatly into the prime-time soap tradition of series like '80s standards "Dallas" and "Falcon Crest," as it chronicles the power struggle within a family of miserable billionaires who, like the Murdochs and the Redstones, own a global media and entertainment conglomerate.
Is Succession similar to empire? ›Both Empireand Succession revolve around family drama, the nuances of father-children relationships, and how this can get corrupted by money and greed. Empire is a solid choice for Succession fans, especially if they like the music industry.
Which Murdoch is Kendall based on? ›
Kendall Roy versus James Murdoch
Number-one boy: Though Kendall is Logan's second eldest child, it seems he is modeled after Murdoch's youngest son.
Succession is filmed in New York City. Over the four seasons, though, the UK, Iceland, Croatia, Italy and most recently Norway have also been used as filming locations.
Who is Kendall Roy based on? ›And Kendall's interest in the company even provides more evidence that the Roys are inspired by the Murdochs; James Murdoch joined the Vice board in 2013 after Fox acquired a stake in the business.
What watch does Kendall give Greg? ›In season three, Kendall convinces the naïve Cousin Greg to spend $40,000 on a Rolex Submariner seemingly in steel (a significant over-valuation even in today's hyped-up market).
What was the smell in Succession? ›The other children arrive, and the source of the stench is discovered to be a bag of dead raccoons stuffed in the chimney. Logan has the prepared meal discarded and orders pizza, and asks his children for their opinion on whether he should sell the company.
What watch did Kendall give to Greg? ›There are many other watches from the first three seasons that deserve to be mentioned, such as the Rolex Sea-Dweller Deepsea given to Greg from Kendall, or Kendall Roy's wristwatches like the Vacheron Harmony Mono-Pusher Chronograph and Traditionelle World Time.
Is the kid in Succession autistic? ›Iverson Roy is the son of Kendall and Rava Roy, and the younger brother of Sophie Roy. Iverson is likely on the Autism spectrum.
What watch did Kendall wear in Succession? ›Ordinarily – as much that can be ordinary for a billionaire nepo baby – Kendall wears a Vacheron Constantin of some sorts (past sightings include a Harmony Mono-Pusher Chronograph and a Traditionelle World Time) which gives off an air of superiority, but not in a shouty manner.
What kind of watch does Roman Roy wear? ›For much of the previous three seasons of Succession, Roman Roy (Kieran Culkin) has been a Rolex man. As dependable as ever, he's almost always been spotted wearing a classic Rolex DateJust (naturally, with Roman numerals) but just like his older brother, he's mixed things up in this latest season.
What is the Showtime series about dysfunctional family? ›| Shameless | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy drama Family drama Black comedy |
| Created by | Paul Abbott |
| Based on | Shameless by Paul Abbott |
| Developed by | John Wells |
What shows were spin offs of all in the family? ›
What is the Netflix series about the corrupt family? ›Bloodline. This three-season Netflix series follows the drama that unfolds around and within the Rayburn family: three of four siblings who seem, at first glance, near perfect.
What TV shows do the wealthy watch? ›- 1 'Succession' Image via HBO.
- 2 'Élite' Image via Netflix. ...
- 3 'The White Lotus' ...
- 4 'Billions' ...
- 5 'Big Little Lies' ...
- 6 'Downton Abbey' ...
- 7 'Empire' ...
- 8 'Gossip Girl' ...
Bling Empire is an American reality television series released on Netflix on January 15, 2021. The series focuses on the lives of wealthy, materialistic East and Southeast Asian Americans, socialites based in the Los Angeles area, described as real-life Crazy Rich Asians.
What is the TV show about rich black kids? ›Baldwin Hills (TV series)
What is the HBO series about a billionaire family? ›Premise. Succession follows the Roy family, owners of media conglomerate Waystar RoyCo. The family patriarch, Logan Roy (Cox), has experienced a decline in health.
What is the TV series about the rich family business? ›- 1 Riches - Amazon Prime Video (2022)
- 2 Breaking Bad - AMC (2008-2013) ...
- 3 Succession - HBO (2018-2023) ...
- 4 Yellowstone - Paramount Network, 2018-2023. ...
- 5 Empire - Fox (2015-2020) ...
- 6 Dynasty - The CW (2017-2022) ...
- 7 Ozark - Netflix (2017-2022) ...
Premise. The Leftovers starts three years after a global event called the "Sudden Departure", the inexplicable, simultaneous disappearance of 140 million people, 2% of the world's population, on October 14, 2011.
Was Dynasty removed from Netflix? ›Sadly not. As we've witnessed, even exclusive internationally licensed titles with Original branding leave the service too. Typically shows that are licensed exclusively to Netflix from The CW have left even sooner than the US, but that won't be the case for Dynasty.
Why did Dynasty end so abruptly? ›It's simply a case of low ratings, according to a Deadline report. Dynasty apparently made a lot of money for the CW through the network's streaming deal with Netflix (for Dynasty episodes). However, it wasn't enough to save the show.
Is the show Dynasty based on a true story? ›
If you're at all familiar with the original, you'll know it's strictly fictional — which is probably for the better, given all the lurid affairs, petty scheming, and snobbish bickering that fuels it.
Is Dynasty a spin off of Dallas? ›“Dynasty” In 1981, ABC took note of the soap opera “Dallas” and drafted its own drama about a wealthy family in the oil business, “Dynasty,” and laid the luxury and glamour on thick.
Will Netflix revive Dynasty? ›Unfortunately, we're definitely not getting another season of Dynasty, so I'm going to go and have a little cry whilst rewatching season five.
Do Fallon and Liam get divorced in Season 5? ›However, Fallon and Liam's relationship does not end after their fake marriage fulfills its purpose, and after a series of ups and downs, Fallon and Liam realize their love for each other, though hurdles between their love are never-ending. They are currently married.
Who does Fallon end up with? ›Fallon and Jeff remarry in "The Wedding", and Miles and Jeff call a truce. In the season one finale "Checkmate", Fallon tells Jeff that she is pregnant, but is soon alarmed to realize that the baby may have been fathered by Miles during the rape.
Is Adam Carrington really Blake's son? ›Series information
He is portrayed by Sam Underwood. Adam is the long-lost son of Blake Carrington and Alexis Carrington.
In the end, their baby is delivered happy and healthy, and the two reveal her name to the bunch: Lauren Morell Carrington-Ridley. And, in true Fallon fashion, the birth of her daughter and return of Steven give her an idea of how to handle her work crisis.
Is Adam Carrington in love with Fallon? ›Adam also met his sister Fallon, not knowing that they were siblings. The two were very attracted to each other and almost ended up in bed.
Who is the real villain in Dynasty? ›Alexis Carrington Colby is a fictional character and major antagonist of the American TV series Dynasty and its reboot.
Is the mansion in Dynasty real? ›The real residential house, located on 5726 Kennedy Road, Buford, Georgia, is used for the establishing shots and the outdoor scenes. In the pilot episode, a different house located at 4110 Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta, Georgia was used.
What illness does Jeff have in Dynasty? ›
Jeff Colby is admitted to Atlanta General due to liver failure as a symptom of his neurotoxicity medication. He needs a transplant or he won't survive the week.
Is another network picking up Dynasty? ›Netflix previously teamed with Warner Bros. TV for international distribution of CW drama "Riverdale." In a sign of the changing times, Netflix will reportedly distribute the upcoming CW reboot of "Dynasty" in all territories outside of the U.S. CBS Studios is producing the drama, which will premiere in October.
Did Dynasty get picked up by another network? ›On November 8, 2017, The CW picked up Dynasty for a full season of 22 episodes. On February 3, 2021, the series was renewed for a fifth season, which premiered on December 20 of the same year. In May 2022, it was announced that this season would be the last. The final episode aired on September 16, 2022.