The upcoming fourth season of “Banshee” will be the last for the kick-ass Cinemax action drama. But it's ending on its own creative terms, and not because Cinemax wanted it to.
Though some early reports on the decision have used the term “canceled,” a source close to “Banshee” production insists that everyone went into making season 4 knowing that the story of fake sheriff Lucas Hood would be coming to a close with it.
According to this source, “We have not been canceled, but on the creative side, we have decided to end the show, basically because we were done telling the story. As Cinemax's highest-rated show, no one was looking to cancel us. It was a creative decision. The premise was never meant to survive a long stretch. We all made the decision at the end of season 3 that we were going to make season 4 our grand finale.”
All shows end. The trick is knowing exactly how much story you have to tell and not going out too soon or sticking around too long, so that eventually your hero becomes a lumberjack.
UPDATE: Cinemax made the news official this morning, with a press release including this quote from “Banshee” co-creator Jonathan Tropper: “'Banshee' has been an incredible ride, and we continue to break new ground in season four. While we certainly considered returning for a fifth season, I always said that when the story was told, it would be time to move on, and that time has come. I am grateful to Cinemax for making 'Banshee' the great success it has been and for supporting our creative decision to wrap things up.”
UPDATE #2: And Tropper has given some additional thoughts on Twitter, perhaps in response to fans upset the show's ending sooner than they might have liked:
As we planned out season 4 of Banshee in the writers room, it became increasingly clear to me that the story was reaching its natural end.
– Jonathan Tropper (@Jtropper) July 29, 2015
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I felt pressure to come up with a 5th season, but to me there is nothing more disappointing than a show that doesn't know when it's over.
– Jonathan Tropper (@Jtropper) July 29, 2015
We have a very passionate fan base, and if we handed them a contrived season 5, they would feel it. And we would feel it.
– Jonathan Tropper (@Jtropper) July 29, 2015
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So we made the gut-wrenching decision to end our run rather than risk a sub par season 5. It hurts, but I know it's the right move.
– Jonathan Tropper (@Jtropper) July 29, 2015
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We are shooting the insane finale right now, and I believe it wraps up the show in an emotionally satisfying way.
– Jonathan Tropper (@Jtropper) July 29, 2015