If a TV present is profitable, the same old intuition is to maintain it going so long as attainable. It is just like the previous parable of the golden goose. That is why this information comes as a shock. In his dialogue with the New Yorker, Armstrong defined why he selected to offer “Succession” what some will doubtlessly name a untimely ending.

Armstrong believes the very title of “Succession” holds the “promise” of an ending. He mentioned, “I’ve by no means thought this might go on ceaselessly. The tip has at all times been form of current in my thoughts. From season 2, I have been making an attempt to assume: Is it the subsequent one, or the one after that, or is it the one after that?”

As Armstrong recalled, he advised his writers’ room earlier than they began season 4 that he thought it was time to wrap up, then put the query on the ground:

“We performed out numerous situations: We may do a few brief seasons or two extra seasons. Or we may go on for ages and switch the present into one thing quite completely different, and be a extra rangy, freewheeling form of enjoyable present, the place there can be good weeks and unhealthy weeks. Or we may do one thing a bit extra muscular and full, and exit form of robust […] and the choice to finish solidified by way of the writing and even after we began filming.”

Subsequent query — why did Armstrong drop this bombshell now? He admits he thought of not revealing it till after season 4 completed airing, however he in the end felt, “a duty to the viewership,” as a result of, “we do not conceal the ball very a lot on the present.” Plus, he needed to save lots of his solid and crew the awkwardness of preserving a secret throughout interviews.

“Succession” season 4 debuts on March 26 on HBO.