Alexander Skarsgård’s 4-Part Drama Was HBO’s Last Great Show

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Alexander Skarsgård often chooses roles in groundbreaking and daring projects, which made his appearance in HBO’s acclaimed drama, Succession, a fitting choice. While the wealthy Roy family at the heart of Succession were all deeply flawed, they also had to contend with powerful and ruthless rivals, such as Lukas Matsson, a disruptive Swedish tech entrepreneur played by Skarsgård.

It’s fitting that the critically acclaimed and award-winning show Succession aired on HBO, a network long considered the leader in high-quality television. HBO pioneered prestige TV with groundbreaking series like The Sopranos and Sex and the City, and has consistently shaped pop culture. However, Succession, which concluded three years ago, represents the last truly exceptional show from the network.

Why Succession Is A Masterpiece

If you haven’t watched Succession, you might wonder why you should care about the lives of such unpleasant, wealthy people. That’s understandable, but the show is truly exceptional – almost Shakespearean in its scope and drama. It’s one of those rare series that fully lives up to the overused comparison to the Bard.

While Succession clearly echoes the story of King Lear – a powerful leader making his children compete for control as he ages – the show is really about the ethical shortcomings of people who hold power, similar to Shakespearean tragedies. The main characters in Succession all have serious flaws that make them both awful and self-centered, but also, surprisingly, relatable at times.

From Kendall’s struggle for his father’s approval while trying to forge his own path, to Roman hiding behind humor, and Shiv’s relentless drive for control that often leads to poor decisions, the characters in Succession are compellingly flawed – we love to dislike them, but can’t look away. The show’s dialogue is exceptional; the characters use words as tools in their ruthless pursuit of power.

Despite all the serious drama, Succession is also incredibly funny. It sharply satirizes the world of media billionaires, and the show’s witty, often brutal, insults create some truly hilarious moments. Its awkward humor is often even more uncomfortable than Curb Your Enthusiasm, and the characters Tom and Greg provide a constant stream of physical comedy, like a modern-day Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. In fact, Succession excels at everything it attempts.

Alexander Skarsgård & HBO Are A Perfect Match

Macall Polay / ©HBO

Alexander Skarsgård plays Lukas Matsson, a confident and brilliant tech executive who quickly challenges the established leadership at WayStar RoyCo more effectively than any previous rival. Beyond being a powerful threat, Skarsgård also brings a darkly humorous and often cruel side to the character.

Alexander Skarsgård excels at playing villains who are both disturbing and darkly humorous, making him a great addition to shows like Succession and a perfect fit for HBO. He’s been a regular on HBO for almost two decades, consistently making each series better with his distinctive style, while still creating truly original characters.

Alexander Skarsgård’s Major HBO Roles
Title Character
Generation Kill (2008) Sgt. Brad “Iceman” Colbert
True Blood (2008-2014) Eric Northman
Big Little Lies (2017-2019) Perry Wright
Succession (2021-2023) Lukas Matsson

Skarsgård’s big break in Hollywood came with his role as Eric Northman, the compelling vampire, in all seven seasons of HBO’s True Blood. Also in 2008, the year True Blood first aired, he portrayed real-life Marine Sergeant Brad “Iceman” Colbert in the HBO miniseries Generation Kill. He brought his cool and charismatic presence to the role, perfectly fitting the character’s nickname and captivating audiences in every scene.

Alexander Skarsgård is perhaps best known for his role in HBO’s Big Little Lies. He won an Emmy Award in 2017 for playing Perry Wright, a character in an abusive marriage with Celeste, played by Nicole Kidman, who also received an Emmy for her performance.

Perry is arguably even more intimidating than Lukas Matsson, but his charisma, influence, and good looks explain why Celeste was drawn to him. This dangerous mix is also what makes Alexander Skarsgård so compelling to watch, both in his role on HBO and in other projects.

No HBO Show Has Topped Succession Since It Ended

Everyone was stunned by the shocking finale of Succession, and immediately wondered what HBO would create next to revolutionize television. Sadly, three years later, that groundbreaking series still hasn’t arrived.

While not every HBO show after Succession has failed, things haven’t quite reached the same level of quality. The White Lotus remains popular, and the Game of Thrones universe has expanded with successful shows like House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. New comedies starring celebrities, such as DTF St. Louis and Rooster, have also received good feedback. However, there’s a clear distinction between a very good show and a truly exceptional one, and none of these series have reached that masterpiece status.

It’s not just HBO – overall TV quality has been dropping lately. Many feel the period known as the “Golden Age of Television” or “Peak TV” ended in 2023, perhaps with the finale of Succession. The huge number of shows created by the competition between streaming services has made it hard to follow everything, and it seems like platforms are now focusing more on making money than on creating good shows.

HBO Max faces a bigger challenge now that Warner Bros. has been bought by Paramount – a situation that feels like a real-life version of the show Succession. It remains to be seen if HBO can maintain its reputation for quality, but for their next big hit, they might want to revisit a talented blonde actor from their previous projects.

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2026-03-07 22:19