🚨 SUCCESSION IS OFFICIALLY DEAD… BUT HBO JUST UNLEASHED SOMETHING EVEN DARKER, FILTHIER, AND MORE ADDICTIVE 🚨

You thought the Roys were ruthless? Think again.

A new generation of 20-somethings is clawing their way up the London finance world… snorting lines off trading desks, hooking up in glass-walled offices, backstabbing for seven-figure bonuses, and burning their souls for the next deal.

The s-x is shameless. The betrayals are savage. The final twist of the latest season left jaws on the floor and fans screaming: “What the actual f*** just happened?!”

Whispers are growing louder: This is the show that’s actually dethroned Succession as HBO’s king. But why? What makes it hit harder, feel dirtier, and glue you to the screen season after season?

Don’t sleep on this. 💰🔥

HBO’s Succession set an extraordinarily high bar for prestige television, delivering a razor-sharp family saga of media moguls, betrayal, and corporate warfare that earned widespread critical acclaim and multiple Emmys before concluding in 2023. In the years since, fans and critics have searched for the network’s next defining series—one that could fill the void left by the Roy family’s implosion. Enter Industry, the London-set financial drama that has steadily climbed from under-the-radar status to a bona fide contender for HBO’s crown jewel.

Created by former investment bankers Mickey Down and Konrad Kay, Industry follows a group of ambitious young graduates navigating the brutal world of high finance at Pierpoint & Co., a fictional British investment bank. What began as a niche series in 2020 has evolved dramatically, particularly in its third season (which aired in 2024) and beyond, earning praise for its intensity, character depth, and unflinching portrayal of ambition’s dark side. While some comparisons to Succession feel inevitable—both explore cutthroat corporate environments and morally compromised characters—Industry stands apart in key ways. Here are five reasons why many now view it as HBO’s strongest ongoing drama post-Succession.

1. It Elevates Workplace Drama to Explosive New Heights

Succession thrived on boardroom battles and family feuds, but Industry takes the day-to-day grind of finance and turns it into a pressure cooker of adrenaline and excess. The show dives deep into the trading floor’s chaos: long hours, high-stakes deals, and the constant threat of being “cut” from the program. Episodes pulse with the raw energy of markets in flux, where a single bad trade can end careers.

Critics have noted how Industry captures the authentic frenzy of investment banking more viscerally than its predecessors. Unlike Succession‘s more satirical take on elite power plays, Industry grounds its drama in the minutiae of finance—spreadsheets, client calls, and the relentless pursuit of profit. This realism, drawn from the creators’ own experiences, creates a sense of immediacy that keeps viewers on edge. As the series progresses beyond the trading floor in later seasons, it expands into private equity, startups, and geopolitical intrigue, maintaining that same high-octane tension.

2. A More Diverse and Complex Cast of Characters

One frequent point of distinction is the backgrounds of Industry‘s protagonists. While Succession centered on a homogenous, ultra-wealthy family dynasty, Industry features strivers from varied socioeconomic and ethnic origins clawing their way up. Harper Stern (Myha’la), an American outsider without a college degree, embodies raw ambition and moral flexibility. Yasmin Kara-Hanani (Marisa Abela) comes from privilege but grapples with personal demons, while Eric Tao (Ken Leung) represents a veteran mentor figure scarred by the industry’s toll.

This diversity adds layers of class tension, racial dynamics, and cultural friction absent in Succession‘s more uniform world. Characters aren’t born into power—they fight for it, often at great personal cost. Reviewers have highlighted how this setup allows for richer explorations of identity, privilege, and exclusion in modern finance. The result is a ensemble that feels more reflective of today’s workforce, even as their actions grow increasingly deplorable.

3. Raw, Unfiltered Depiction of Finance’s Dark Underbelly

Industry doesn’t shy away from the excesses that define high finance: cocaine-fueled nights, casual sex in the office, and ethical lines crossed without hesitation. The show portrays the industry as a corrosive force that warps personalities, turning bright graduates into cynical operators. Themes of addiction, mental health struggles, and burnout run throughout, often portrayed with brutal honesty.

In contrast to Succession‘s more stylized cynicism, Industry opts for a grittier, almost documentary-like approach in its early seasons before embracing wilder, more operatic turns. Season 3, in particular, drew acclaim for its escalating stakes—characters embracing monstrosity, breathtaking betrayals, and a finale described as “diabolical” by outlets like NPR. The series has been praised for showing how the pursuit of wealth exacts a heavy toll, making it a compelling successor in HBO’s tradition of unflinching corporate dramas.

4. Evolving Storytelling and Character Arcs That Keep It Fresh

Industry improves markedly with each season, a trajectory that has surprised even skeptics. Season 1 introduced the world, Season 2 deepened relationships and conflicts, and Season 3—moved to HBO’s coveted Sunday-night slot—expanded the scope dramatically. Characters leave Pierpoint, enter new ventures, and face consequences that feel earned rather than contrived.

Guest stars like Kit Harington (as a detestable CEO) and Sarah Goldberg add fresh energy, while the core cast delivers powerhouse performances. Myha’la’s Harper, in particular, has been called one of television’s most compelling antiheroes—ruthless, unpredictable, and impossible to look away from. This evolution has led some critics to argue that Industry has surpassed expectations, becoming “addictive” in ways that rival or even exceed Succession‘s grip on audiences.

5. Filling the Void in Prestige TV with Bold, Unapologetic Energy

With Succession gone, HBO needed a Sunday-night flagship that could generate water-cooler buzz. Industry has stepped up, drawing comparisons not just to Succession but to classics like Mad Men for its focus on ambition’s personal cost. Its mix of soapy intrigue, sharp dialogue, and high-stakes drama has made it a cultural conversation piece.

The show doesn’t try to replicate Succession‘s family saga—instead, it offers a younger, hungrier perspective on power. As one review put it, it’s less about inherited empires and more about those desperate to build them. Renewed for a fourth season, Industry continues to push boundaries, blending thriller elements with character-driven storytelling.

Not every viewer agrees it’s superior—some maintain Succession remains untouchable in its satirical depth—but Industry‘s momentum is undeniable. It has filled a gap in HBO’s lineup with a series that’s thrilling, provocative, and relentlessly entertaining.

In an era where prestige TV often plays it safe, Industry refuses to pull punches. Whether it’s the best show after Succession is subjective, but its rise from overlooked gem to must-watch status speaks volumes. For fans craving the next great HBO addiction, the trading floor is open—and the stakes have never been higher.