5 Best High-Quality Dramas to Watch if You Miss 'Succession', Ranked by Rotten Tomatoes
Toxic dynasties, the struggle for influence in the closed worlds of the elite, and the moral flexibility of those who strive for the top.
Succession set the bar incredibly high, combining witty satire of the world of big business with a Shakespearean drama of family, power, and betrayal.
If you miss its unique blend of cynical wit and family drama set against the backdrop of expensive suits and yachts, you're not alone.
5. 'House of Cards', 2013-2018
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 77%
Frank Underwood is a Democratic congressman. He helped Garrett Walker become president. In exchange, the future president promised to appoint him as Secretary of State.
However, after the election, Frank learns that he did not get the position. Unwilling to accept the situation, the Underwoods embark on a path of revenge.
Frank Underwood plays as dirty as Logan Roy. For those looking for a deeper dive into the intrigues of the White House, House of Cards is the perfect choice.
4. 'Empire', 2015-2020
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 84%
A company's head must choose an heir to continue his legacy. This isn't Succession, but rather the story of a famous music empire whose owner discovers he is terminally ill. The founder's three sons and ex-wife will compete for the coveted position.
The plot of Empire resembles the HBO hit more than that of most other series. The show's core is a boss searching for a successor and a motley crew of characters gathers around this influential figure, ready to do anything to secure the "throne."
3. 'Billions', 2016-2023
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87%
Succession is often compared to Billions. Both projects revolve around boundless power and vast sums of money and Billions is also set in New York City.
It is in this city that the war between two men unfolds: Bobby Axelrod and Chuck Rhoades. Axelrod is a Wall Street financier, and Rhoades is a prosecutor who always adheres to his principles.
Billions, like Succession, depicts the rivalry between characters willing to do anything to achieve their goals.
2. 'Industry', 2020-...
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%
The story centers on interns working at a London investment bank. Graduates from prestigious colleges find themselves in an industry where everyone must compete for a coveted position.
Getting their dream job proves to be a challenge. These young people struggle to balance their careers with the temptations of their profession.
Unlike Succession, Industry isn't a family epic. However, the series features plenty of lies, betrayals, and corporate intrigue.
1. 'Mad Men', 2007-2015
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
The 1960s, the corporate world of advertising. Don Draper, the creative director of the Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency in New York City, is the series' main character.
The industry's main schemer struggles to maintain his position at the company and fend off competitors.
There are abundant parallels between Mad Men and Succession – masterfully written dialogue, a gripping plot, and complex characters are evident from the first episode of Mad Men.
