“Succession” went full f—ing beast in a way no one anticipated during the Golden Globe nominations on Monday, scoring a record-breaking nine bids for its fourth and final season. It is, needless to say, the odds-on favorite to win Best Drama Series for a record-tying third time. While the show won’t stand alone in the record books in this category, it would have a wee bit of an edge over the current record-holders.
“The X-Files” and “Mad Men” are the only dramas with three series wins at the moment. The former triumphed on its first nomination in 1995 for the second half of its first season and the first half of its second. After not even getting nominated the following year, it returned to win in 1997 (second half of third season, first half of fourth) and 1998 (second half of fourth, first half of fifth). “Mad Men” prevailed for its first three seasons from 2008-2010, making it the only one to win in three consecutive years. Both were nominated four times each — once more after their third victories — but never won again.
Unlike “The X-Files” and “Mad Men,” “Succession” could ends its run without ever suffering a loss in the category. The HBO hit was not nominated for drama series for Season 1 — it only nabbed a supporting actor nom for Kieran Culkin that year — before winning for Season 2 in 2020 and Season 3 in 2022. And now it’s staring down a perfect three-for-three record. “The X-Files” and “Mad Men” had perfect records at one point in their runs too, but neither of them won for their final seasons and both were dropped from the category just two years after what turned out to be their last wins.
SEE ‘Succession’ sets Golden Globe record with nine nominations
“Succession,” which is up against “The Last of Us,” “The Crown,” “The Morning Show,” “The Diplomat” and “1923,” won’t meet that fate, of course, since it’s over. Its shorter four-season lifespan also gives it a better batting average than that of “The X-Files,” which ran for nine seasons originally, and “Mad Men,” which lasted for seven but was eligible for eight Globe cycles. Globe history and voter habits (or at least those of the disbanded Hollywood Foreign Press Association) tell us that had “Succession” continued, the Globes would eventually move on from it too, but alas, we’ll never know.
Even before its nomination domination, “Succession” was widely expected to win the series prize again following its red-hot final season, which has also earned 27 Emmy nominations. The Globes obviously don’t have as many categories as the Emmys and are typically more stingy when it comes to showering a show with nominations, but just like at the Emmys, “Succession” has increased its Globe nomination total every season (one to three to five to nine). Not only is that mighty impressive considering how fickle the Globes can be, but it’s proof that affection for “Succession” has only grown and that it, unlike Kendall (Jeremy Strong), has the votes to win.
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