HBO’s hit show “Succession” is about to bow out after the discharge of its upcoming fourth season.
Series creator Jesse Armstrong told the Recent Yorker he feels “deeply conflicted” and “sad” in regards to the decision.
“I feel like I’ve done the perfect work I can do,” Armstrong told the outlet. “And HBO has been generous and would probably have done more seasons, they usually have been nice about saying, ‘It’s your decision.’ That’s nice, nevertheless it’s also a responsibility ultimately. It feels quite perverse to stop doing it.”
But while it’d function surprising news to fans of the show, which first aired in 2018, it’s been a protracted time coming for the 52-year-old.
“There’s a promise within the title of ‘Succession,’” he said. “I’ve never thought this might go on ceaselessly. The top has at all times been type of present in my mind. From season two, I’ve been attempting to think: Is it the subsequent one, or the one after that, or is it the one after that?
“I got along with a number of of my fellow-writers before we began the writing of season 4, in about November, December, 2021, and I type of said, ‘Look, I feel this possibly ought to be it. But what do you think that?’”
Armstrong, who executive produces and serves as showrunner, said he toyed with the thought of getting a number of “short seasons” but ultimately decided against it.
“Or we could go on for ages and switch the show into something slightly different, and be a more rangy, freewheeling type of fun show, where there can be good weeks and bad weeks,” he continued. “Or we could do something a bit more muscular and complete, and exit type of strong. And that was definitely at all times my preference.”
Armstrong said the show’s ending “must work by itself merits” but admits that pulling the plug on it was a “bit tortured.”
“I hope that nobody ever thinks that we’re outstaying our welcome — that we’re going to do a dud season, or be stretching it out. I hope those concerns never occur to people,” he said.
“Who knows in regards to the psychological reasons, however the creative ones were that it felt really useful to not make the ultimate, final decision for ages.”
Season 4 will return to HBO on March 26.