A captivating nine-part struggle for power, season three is a near-perfect return for the critically acclaimed Succession, which never fails to remind you that your own family aren’t actually that bad when compared to the imploding Roys.

Success hasn't spoiled Succession, as the Emmy-winning drama returns with all its Shakespearean and Murdochian overtones intact, with a bruising father-son battle over its fictional media empire. Stripped of that, the HBO series remains enormously fun, filled with cringe-inducing moments and the kind of vicious insults that would make the writers of "Veep" blush.

The good news is “Succession” remains the same show it was two years ago. The great news is it made the most of that time away to amplify all its strengths. Really, the best advice I can give is to get ready.

The writing – though there is in this particularly plot-heavy, season-setting opener less room for the delicate characterisation that customarily leaven the script and make you wring your hands with their deftness and intelligence – remains immaculate. The performances ... remain unimpeachable.

Propelled by the best ensemble cast you’ll find anywhere—Nicholas Braun and Matthew Macfadyen are a dream team of lacerating laughs— Season 3 is the funniest, fiercest ‘Succession’ yet. It’s a perverse pleasure to ogle the rich abusing their ill-gotten privileges.

Succession continues to be one of the best shows about royal in-fighting on TV. It’s the Wars of the Roses, it’s Machiavelli, it’s the last days of Rome. It’s addictive, but it’s also depressing. Because even in its most grandiose comedic moments, there is truth to Succession’s cynical world that makes us realize yes, these idiots are absolutely in charge of our world and no, there’s not really anything we can do about it.

The performances are what make “Succession” sing, and also what distract you from its shortcomings. ... Ultimately, “Succession’s” buffet of uniquely crafted artisanal profanities have the ring of desperate-to-impress schoolyard taunts. A little goes a long way and the show’s preoccupation with this kind of shock comedy has diminishing returns.

After a 2year break and a jaw dropping cliffhanger the Roys return in real time stronger than before as if they never left. With some if the best dialogue I've seen on screen this year and full story. Despite the size of the cast no narrative is lost,nothing is easy and forgotten. One thing i appreciate about this season more than the other's is seeing the relationship between tom and greg shift and seeing tom and shiv's romantic paradigm shift too. I rarely enjoy the episodic format but with this show it increases the thrill. Never would i expected a show about one of the worst family's to be so human. Also that finale has one of the best scenes I've seen on television since the "red wedding", i was honestly shocked. The performances if i may again emphasis were **** phenomenal!

Took a great season 1 and cookie cuttered the thing until there are just crumbs. Shame, really.

It is not that bad but previous seasons were better. Does anyone has the same view that the action doesn't go anywhere in season 3?

I honestly don't get it. It's aggressive, pathetic, and they are all around this bipolar president awaiting for his directions. They are all morons. It is not entertainment, it is sad. Not worth wasting time

This season ****. Nothing changed. Same old. Same old. This season rendered all of season two meaningless.