By David Humphreys

In the current climate of 'woke', social media and the world forever seemingly getting smaller and more interconnected, Succession almost feels like a decadent period drama, with shiny bells and whistles attached.

The series centres around the Roy family - headed up by Rupert Murdoch-esque Logan Roy - Emporer-like media magnate and CEO behind the WaystarRoyco company.

Roy, holds court among his four children, who, as he remarks in series one, each have a game going on with regard to the future of the company.

With the classic premise of a central family presiding over a kingdom of sorts, Succession wouldn't look out of place if it were set in the Tudor times, with Brian Cox brilliantly and prickly in his performance as Sir Logan of Roye rather than an aging media boss. Yet having this series take place in gleaming perfect glass towers in the heart of New York City seems apt, given the comparisons that can be drawn with another famous family overseeing a corporate empire headed up by a patriarch who won't take no for an answer. No prizes for guessing who.

Succession was created by British writer Jesse Armstrong, most famous for his work on Peep Show, The Thick of It and In The Loop, and it is clear these shows remain cultural cousins to this gripping HBO drama, with acerbic put downs and wonderfully drawn characters that wouldn't look out of place in a Marvel-style shared universe. Malcolm Tucker would fit nicely walking into a WaystarRoyco office to tear strips off the staff after another cock-up.

Episode two picks up with the continuing fallout from a failed coup attempt by Kendall (played by Jeremy Strong) Logan's son, to take over WaystarRoyco. The company attempts to stave off the bid that Kendall started, while the credibility of the former prospective CEO crumbles ever further as he wrangles with the future of a digital firm he bought out.

With Armstrong's background, the cynical political manoeuvres play particularly well as siblings Shiv (Sarah Snook) and Roman (Kieran Culkin) jostle for position while Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) - Shiv's husband - feels further marginalised by his father in law's decision to install Shiv as a future CEO. With the chilling soundtrack and almost mafia boss like approach Cox brings to the role of Logan Roy, Succession makes for essential viewing.