Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Succession: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman September 26, 2024

It's maybe just a little bit funny that in our Succession: The Complete First Season Blu-ray review from several years ago now I mentioned how the erstwhile 20th Century Fox just pretty much forgot about promoting a once hot series after releasing Empire: The Complete First Season on Blu-ray in 2015. That is relevant because that particular show lasted for more than one season (even if its pop culture zeitgeist quotient diminished pretty rapidly), and fans probably were a bit disappointed that no follow up high definition releases were ever forthcoming. Something at least somewhat similar seems to have happened with HBO and the series currently under discussion, as evidenced by the very fact that there have been no intervening releases on Blu-ray (that I'm aware of, anyway) of the second, third and/or fourth seasons of this series, other than this relatively newly released compendium of the whole megillah. If that particular release strategy may seem at least a bit confounding, the good news is now fans of the series do have the whole megillah, including not just the never before released seasons, but attendant Inside the Episode supplements for season two episodes, along with some similar Controlling the Narrative supplements for seasons three and four, in addition to a few other supplements (the first season's standalone release only offered one sole supplement on its third disc, something that's repeated here in this collection).

For my thoughts on the first season, you can click on the review link above.

Succession was probably even more of a sensation than Empire (briefly) was, and there's probably little doubt that its writing and general performance acumen far outshone the previous series, though that said, binging this show may actually not redound to its benefit. Especially in light of some of the pretty well publicized "spoilers" that were revealed as the series wended its way to the end of its original HBO run, the intervening drama(s) presented in seasons two and three can seem like needless detours, even if they offer substantial scenery chewing material for an ensemble cast that provides ample energy and (probably more importantly considering the rambunctious interrelationships) considerable snark. It may be a potential spoiler (for those unaware of how things ultimately work out in the Roy family succession) to simply state that Siobhan's nickname proves to be particularly apt.

What may ultimately make the series more than a bit exhausting to binge is its relentless stylizations, probably even more so than its stuffed full to bursting narratives. As I mentioned in the now pretty ancient review of the first season, all of Succession features quirks like repeated jiggly cam and other putatively more stabilized handheld sequences, along with sudden zooms and other framing devices that are ostensibly supposed to evoke mockumentaries but which may seem to have been inspired by more "traditional" sitcoms like The Office. One way or the other, these presentational choices may actually clash at times with some of this series' more serious aspects. Still, the second through fourth seasons offer several standout episodes and the performances are often surprisingly nuanced given some of the hyperbolic writing on tap.

Succession: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Succession: The Complete Series is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of HBO and Warner Brothers Home Entertainment with AVC encoded 1080p transfers in 1.78:1. I highly recommend those interested to revisit the link I offer in the video section of my review of the first season, as it gives some really interesting background on the shooting of the series, including the increasingly unusual use of 35mm film. The second through fourth seasons offer the same general excellence that I discuss in our review of the first season, though there are some of the same deficits in shadow and fine detail in some of the more dimly lit moments (kind of interestingly, in some ways I'd call the first season the "darkest" of the series, in more ways than one). In more fulsomely lit moments, detail levels are typically excellent, though even with the show's emphasis on the lifestyles of the rich and famous (so to speak), there's really not a surplus of luxe costuming or set designs. Close-ups typically feature really excellent fine detail levels on everything from fabrics to Brian Cox's impressively cragged face. The palette looks natural throughout, and I noticed no problematic compression issues, though occasionally the darkest scenes can hint at noise.

Succession: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

As with the original first season release, this set features DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks on all episodes which may admittedly not be a whirlwind of surround activity, but which consistently place ambient environmental sounds in the side and rear channels, while also offering some nicely spacious accounts of underscore. Commendably, the use of ambient environmental sounds isn't limited to outdoor urban environments, and even within several cloistered Roy locales (both home and office), there is clearly discrete channelization of effects, if admittedly interstitially at times. Dialogue is always rendered cleanly and clearly. Optional English subtitles are available.

Succession: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Season One, Disc Three

• Succession Wedding Featurette (HD; 8:29) offers some background on elements of the big wedding in the final episode, like the impressive Downton Abbey - esque estate where the episode was filmed to other details like costume design.

Season Two, Disc One

• Inside the Episode: The Summer Palace (HD; 2:29)


• Inside the Episode: Vaulter (HD; 1:56)


• Inside the Episode: Hunting (HD; 2:25)


• Inside the Episode: Safe Room (HD; 2:21)

Season Two, Disc Two

• Inside the Episode: Tern Haven (HD; 1:54)


• Inside the Episode: Argestes (HD; 2:31)


• Inside the Episode: Return (HD; 2:52)

Season Two, Disc Three

• Inside the Episode: Dundee (HD; 2:31)


• Inside the Episode: DC (HD; 2:01)


• Inside the Episode: This is not for Tears (HD; 2:55)


• Invitation to the Set (HD; 1:54)


• Meet the Roys (HD; 2:42)


• Character Recap: Tom Wambsgans (HD; 1:55) features Matthew Macfadyen.


• Character Recap: Shiv Roy (HD; 1:44) features Sarah Snook.


• Character Recap: Logan Roy (HD; 1:30) features Brian Cox.


• Character Recap: Kendall Roy (HD; 1:53) features Jeremy Strong.


• Character Recap: Connor Roy (HD; 1:31) features Alan Ruck.


• Character Recap: Cousin Greg (HD; 1:48) features Nicholas Braun.

Season Three, Disc One

• Controlling the Narrative: Mass in Time of War (Episode 2) (HD; 3:31)

Season Three, Disc Two

• Controlling the Narrative: Lion in the Meadow (Episode 4) (HD; 2:53)


• Controlling the Narrative: Retired Janitors of Idaho (Episode 5) (HD; 4:11)

Season Three, Disc Three

• Controlling the Narrative: Too Much Birthday (Episode 7) (HD; 3:59)


• Controlling the Narrative: All the Bells Say (Episode 8) (HD; 5:19)


• Who Said It? (HD; 3:39 and 3:05) features separate "game show" moments with Nicholas Braun and Matthew Macfadyen, and then Sarah Snook and Alan Ruck.


• Roy Family Food Chain (HD; 3:03) offers various cast members trying to rank the "players".

Season Four, Disc One

• Controlling the Narrative: The Munsters (Episode 1) (HD; 5:02)


• Controlling the Narrative: Rehearsal (Episode 2) (HD; 5:18)


• Controlling the Narrative: Connor's Wedding (Episode 3) (HD; 7:12)


• Controlling the Narrative: Honeymoon States (Episode 4) (HD; 4:41)

Season Four, Disc Two

• Controlling the Narrative: Kill List (Episode 5) (HD; 5:15)


• Controlling the Narrative: Living+ (Episode 6) (HD; 3:53)


• Controlling the Narrative: Tailgate Party (Episode 7) (HD; 5:30)

Season Four, Disc Three

• Controlling the Narrative: America Decides (Episode 8) (HD; 3:44)


• Controlling the Narrative: Church and State (Episode 9) (HD; 5:00)


• Controlling the Narrative: With Open Eyes (Episode 10) (HD; 6:35)


• Advice for Your Character (HD; 3:22) offers actors giving their characters advice.


• The Best of Logan Roy (HD; 4:57)


• Who Said It: Logan & Gerri (HD; 3:26)


• Who Said It; Tom & Greg (HD; 3:21)


• Scene Swap: Tom & Greg (HD; 3:15) features Nicholas Braun and Matthew Macfadyen playing the other's role.


• Character Recap: Logan Roy (HD; 2:15)


• Character Recap: Tom Wambsgans (HD; 1:59)


• Character Recap: Cousin Greg Hirsch (HD; 1:32)


• Character Recap: Roman Roy (HD; 1:32)


• Character Recap: Shiv Roy (HD; 1:30)


• Character Recap: Connor Roy (HD; 1:39)


• Character Recap: Kendall Roy (HD; 1:39)

The keepcase insert features an inner print with a list of episodes and supplements. The oversized keepcase encloses a removable so-called Epik-Pak with three plastic "pages" with two discs on each side of each page (for a total of 12 discs). I personally found getting the discs off and/or remounting them on the spindles to be a bit of a hassle.

Packaging features a slipcover.

Succession: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If binging all four seasons of this acclaimed series may frankly not be the wisest decision, as someone who did in fact binge in preparation for writing this review, I can say I was actually almost surprised that despite the somewhat wending quality of the narrative in the second and third seasons in particular, I was probably more impressed with the overall trajectory of the series as it moved along. It's undeniably odd that HBO and Warner Brothers Home Entertainment chose to release a standalone first season, forget about the next three individual seasons, and then release this complete series collection, but that said, I'm sure fans will be delighted to finally have the entire Roy saga at their fingertips. Technical merits are generally solid and the supplements, while kind of individually short, are often quite funny and enjoyable. Recommended.