Succession season 4 reviews praise 'masterclass' final season

The reviews for the fourth and final season of Succession are in and it's good news for fans of the Roy family: they're overwhelmingly positive.

The fourth season picks up after the events of the classic season three finale which saw Tom Wambsgans help out his father in law Logan Roy in freezing out the three Roy children – Kendall, Roman and Shiv – from the family company Waystar RoyCo.

Read more: Succession season 4: When does it start? All you need to know

The acclaimed drama sees the return of all its regular cast members including Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong, Kieran Culkin, Matthew Macfadyen, Sarah Snook, Alan Ruck and Nicholas Braun.

Ahead of the the season four premiere on 26 March, critics were screened the first four episodes which have received rave reviews.

In a wildly positive review, IGN wrote: "Powerhouse performances from the Roy clan offer a dazzling masterclass of buttoned-up emotions competing with years of desperately craving approval from the family patriarch.

"Each department behind the cast is at the top of its game, from regular Succession director Mark Mylod to composer Nicholas Britell. Swinging from comedy to drama helps keep the material fresh even when dealing with ongoing power struggles, and just when you think specific stories might become repetitive, something alters the course."

In a five star review for Empire, John Nugent said: "If the standard of the first four episodes is sustained, it’s surely in contention to be counted among TV’s greatest achievements."

The Guardian gave the show four stars and said: "It’s a drama set in the heart of darkness, with comedy set round to illuminate its inescapable, eternal depths. Gather your strength for one last look into the abyss."

Read more: Everything new on Sky in March

A five star review from the BBC said: "As always, the writing and the plot glitter with precision and dark wit. Waystar's future may hinge on whether a pencil mark on a piece of paper is meant to underline or cross out a few words."

The Financial Tim also awarded a five star review to Succession and noted: "To say more about how things play out (Armstrong has expressly forbidden it) would diminish the impact of the masterful, sometimes daring storytelling, which once again occupies a unique space between Shakespearean grandeur and crude, excruciating comedy."

Succession season 4 begins on 26 March on HBO in the US and Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK.

Watch below: Nicholas Braun 'sobbed' after Succession farewell