10 TV Shows Like Descendants That You Should Watch Soon.
Succession, though over, hasn’t been forgotten, remaining one of HBO’s premier shows for four seasons. It’s a darkly comical tale of the Roy family, owners of the media conglomerate Waystar RoyCo, and the chaos and gossip that erupts when patriarch Logan (Brian Cox) suffers a stroke, sparking a family struggle for control after his inevitable death.
Why should we care what happens to these rich people and their evil gang? Plots of the super-rich behaving horribly or being generally indifferent to the plight of ordinary people are common, but they’re not entertaining in themselves; we have enough of that in real life. But when rich people treat other rich people poorly? That’s entertainment, and that’s precisely the appeal of Succession —and these 10 similar shows.
Vice President (2012–2019)
What if the most notorious villains controlled every lever of power in America? What would it be like? In this highly satirical and completely non-political HBO series, Julia Louis-Dreyfus gives a brilliant performance as Vice President (and later President) Selina Meyer: part female image icon, part worst-case scenario for a feminist dream. The plot centers almost entirely on wealthy individuals striving for meager power while trying to be seen as folk heroes by the common folk (that is, us, the voters). It’s one of the funniest shows with the most biting humor… if you can get past the sometimes uncomfortably documentary-like quality. Watch Veep on HBO Max .
Empire (2015–2020)
Terrence Howard leads a truly superb cast (Taraji P. Henson, Gabourey Sidibe, and Vivica A. Fox) in this gripping, slick, hip-hop-infused soap opera. The plot is so similar to Succession that it’s hard not to imagine the success of Empire serving as the impetus for an equally acclaimed HBO series. Howard plays Lucius Jackson (née drug dealer Dwight Walker), who has transformed his destiny by building Empire Entertainment from the ground up. At the series’ outset, the music mogul is diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and given only a few years to live. Refusing to accept the demise of his empire, he orchestrates a conflict between his three sons to determine who will run the company after his death. His plans are complicated by the release from prison of Cookie Lyon (Henson), the company’s co-founder and Jackson’s ex-wife. As the young say: drama! Watch Empire on Disney+ and Hulu .
Thick Porridge (2005–2012)
The creators of Succession and Veep, Jesse Armstrong and Armando Iannucci, respectively, have teamed up for this political satire starring Peter Capaldi (pre -Doctor Who) . It focuses on the government’s relationship with the media, as Capaldi’s foul-mouthed Malcolm Tucker tries to control coverage of the British Prime Minister, to whom he’s loyal, and any cabinet ministers who might get out of hand. The characters aren’t as wealthy as the Roy family from Succession , but their struggle for power in an unstable world feels remarkably similar (and while it’s a British series, American viewers won’t find the politics too foreign). Watch Thick Filth on Peacock and Britbox.
Industry (2020 – )
The series “Industry” doesn’t focus on the power struggles between those in the highest positions; instead, it focuses on the struggle to climb that ladder. The young, aspiring investment bankers it follows dream of becoming those filthy rich people from another series. That’s their dream. The main characters come from different backgrounds, but they’re all vying for a limited number of permanent positions at the fictional London bank Pierpoint & Co., and each will do whatever it takes to get their chance at the top prize. Watch “Industry” on HBO Max .
Pedigree (2015–2017)
Perhaps you need a break from the world of big business and high finance. How about a seaside inn in the Florida Keys? Everything is relative (pun intended), and big family dramas can arise anywhere. In this series starring Kyle Chandler, Ben Mendelsohn, Linda Cardellini, and Sissy Spacek, Mendelsohn’s “black sheep,” Danny, returns home for the 45th anniversary of the family business to uncover a multitude of hidden traumas that lead to his father’s death from a series of strokes. And that’s before we even learn about drug dealing, cover-ups, and murders past and present.Watch Bloodline on Netflix .
Arrested Development (2003–2019)
The premise of this popular sitcom-turned-meme is strikingly similar to Succession , though its tone is more overtly comedic. George Bluth Sr., a corrupt real estate developer, is sent to prison early in the series, which mostly inconveniences his family, who are unwilling to give up their lavish lifestyle. Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman) is the only one competent enough to take over the family business and the only one with any moral compass (though, frankly, there aren’t many), but his efforts are thwarted by his siblings and mother, who are uninterested in saving and unaware of the need for it. By keeping the family afloat, Michael only encourages their worst impulses. During its first three-season run (excluding the unsuccessful Netflix revival), it was one of the funniest and most caustic series on television.Watch Arrested Development on Netflix.
Mine (2021)
South Korean television and film makers have no problem criticizing the super-rich ( Parasite and The Squid Game are no exception), especially the plutocratic chaebol families that control a huge portion of the country’s economy. The series “My” centers on women vying for control of the massive fictional Hyewon Group of Companies from their family’s luxurious (and incredibly photogenic) apartment complex. The plans of two increasingly powerful women married into the family, Hee-soo and Seo-hyun, are derailed when a new housekeeper becomes romantically involved with one of the male heirs, and a new tutor seems poised to uncover long-held family secrets. It’s a typical Dynasty- style soap opera, with various family members vying for self-importance and control.Watch “My” on Netflix.
Billions (2016–2023)
Billions isn’t as edgy as Succession , but it’s a bit more fun. Paul Giamatti plays lawyer Chuck Rhoades (partially based on the real-life Preet Bharara), who tries to expose shady hedge fund manager Bobby Axelrod (Damian Lewis). The tone, at least initially, is a bit lighter, resembling a darkly comic soap opera, but it manages to stay fresh with its occasional twists. The series also stars the brilliant Asia Kate Dillon as Taylor Mason, one of the first non-binary characters on a major American television series. Watch Billions on Paramount+ .
White Lotus (2021 – )
There’s no room for ambiguity, and the show’s standard opening flashbacks make it clear that things are about to get ugly, at least for some vacationers at any of the White Lotus hotels (so far: Maui, Taormina, Sicily, and Thailand). In the first episode of season one, the harried manager, Armond, played by Murray Bartlett, makes it clear to the staff that the super-rich guests are nothing more than overgrown children and should be pampered accordingly. At these ultra- luxurious resorts, where people have paid absurd amounts of money for luxury, competition and general toxicity ensure everyone will be miserable, no matter the cost. Over the course of three seasons and beyond, there’s plenty of ugly rich people. Watch White Lotus on HBO Max.
Queen Sugar (2016–2022)
This show isn’t primarily about rich people behaving badly. However, it does explore the theme of a succession crisis: three nearly estranged siblings from distant towns are reunited after the death of their father, who left them equal shares of an 800-acre sugarcane plantation in rural Louisiana. Produced by Ava DuVernay, the series is loaded with scandal and soapy drama, but ultimately, it’s about a family reuniting to preserve their legacy. So what does it do? Consider it a counterweight to all the other shows and movies about rich people behaving badly—this one is about less -rich people in a Succession -like scenario that at least tries not to be terrible. Imagine that. Watch Queen Sugar on Disney+ and Hulu .