Banshee TV show on Cinemax. Pictured: Antony Starr. Credit: Gregory Shummon/Cinemax.
What are you going to do, now? The Banshee TV series finale, “Requiem,” airs tonight, on Cinemax. Showrunner Jonathan Tropper, who created the show with David Schickler, talks about why they made the decision to end the show after four seasons, leaving Banshee effectively cancelled by its creative team.
Banshee stars Antony Starr as Lucas Hood, who is back in town after a couple of years, where there is a serial killer on the prowl. The Banshee TV show cast also includes Ivana Miličević, Ulrich Thomsen, Frankie Faison, Hoon Lee, Matt Servitto, Ryann Shane, Lili Simmons, Tom Pelphrey, Eliza Dushku, Casey LaBow, Chris Coy, and Ana Ayora.
Banshee TV show on Cinemax. Pictured: Tom Pelphrey, Matt Servitto. Credit: Gregory Shummon/Cinemax.
Here is what Tropper tells Collider, about the decision to end the Banshee after this fourth and final season:
What made four seasons the right end point for this show, and what made eight episodes the right number for this season? Is that just what you needed to tell this particular story?
TROPPER: The fourth season being the last season was a combination of factors. I was always upset when shows I loved stuck around too long and starting generating extra plot. Once we ended Season 3 and Lucas Hood was basically no longer the sheriff, the premise of the show was about a fake sheriff, so going on for many more seasons, it would have been ridiculous for him to become the sheriff again. The town itself might have had plenty of stories to tell, but it felt like the story of Lucas Hood was coming to an end. All the pitches we came up with, for how to extend that, felt like, “Well, maybe that’s cool, but that’s a different show.” The move to Lucas’ post-sheriff life was the beginning of the end. It was the beginning of the conclusion, and trying to have a conclusion for two seasons, it felt like we would lose some of the immediacy of the storytelling. And ending with eight episodes was really a financial decision. We have a finite amount of money. To have done ten episodes at that budget, we would not have been able to deliver the action we wanted to deliver, and we wouldn’t have been able to deliver the depth of episodes that we’re accustomed to doing. So, we decided to do eight episodes and make them really rich.
[…]
Banshee TV show on Cinemax. Pictured: Eliza Dushku. Credit: Gregory Shummon/Cinemax.
Looking back on the run of the series and everything you were able to accomplish with it, what are you most proud of?
TROPPER: I’m just proud that we got a show on the air when there was no precedent for this kind of show. We pitched a show that didn’t resemble any other show, and then we executed the show in a way that it didn’t resemble any other show. On paper, this show sounded pretty insane. We somehow convinced the guys at Cinemax to let us do it, and they let us do it without really messing with it. We had a show that, in a million years, couldn’t show up on a broadcast network, and hadn’t even shown up on any of the premium networks. In the four years since, you do see a lot of other shows like that starting to happen, but I really do think that we put the kind of show on the air, with the cinematic storytelling and action that we were doing, and the kind of heightened pulp, that really carved its own niche and hadn’t been on the air before. I’m really proud of that. I don’t think I could have even done the show that I’m doing now for Cinemax, if Banshee hadn’t come first.
Banshee TV show on Cinemax. Pictured: Ivana MIlicevic. Credit: Gregory Shummon/Cinemax.
Here is the Cinemax description of the Banshee TV series finale, “Requiem.” Watch a preview, below.
Episode #38 (season 4, episode 8): “Requiem” (series finale)
Debut: FRIDAY, MAY 20 (10:00-11:00 p.m.)
Other CINEMAX playdates: May 20 (11:00 p.m., midnight), 21 (9:00 p.m., 12:20 a.m.), 22 (4:30 p.m.), 23 (8:00 p.m., 12:35 a.m.), 24 (2:25 a.m.), 25 (9:00 p.m.) and 29 (11:15 p.m.)
Resolved to leave Banshee, Lucas learns that the murder case he thought was finally closed may in fact be opening again. After a tense faceoff with Calvin and the Brotherhood, Proctor looks to finalize his deal with the Colombians. Carrie takes aim at one final act of vengeance. Brock demands allegiance from Bunker (Tom Pelphrey) as Banshee braces for an uncertain future.
Written by Jonathan Tropper; directed by Ole Christian Madsen.
BANSHEE was created by Jonathan Tropper and David Schickler; executive producers, Alan Ball, Greg Yaitanes, Jonathan Tropper, Peter Macdissi, Adam Targum, Ole Christian Madsen; producer, Robert F. Phillips.
What do you think? Are you a fan of the Banshee TV show? Is it ending at the right time, or do you wish Banshee had been renewed for a fifth season? How do you want the Banshee TV series finale to end?
Banshee is a great action packed show. Lucas Hood is everything. Surely there is a way to keep this show on. There are so many other shows that should end yet they are still on. (If my assistance is needed writing the next season – I am all in) Perhaps, the new plot could be: the few people that know about Lucas Hood agree to keep his secret because they want him back as sheriff. Lucas agrees to stay because he is sexy and fearless and convinced his skills are needed. There is so much more to be done in… Read more »
Love love love this series. What a shame it ended.
It’s a sad day
Dont end this wonderful surreal series, if your on to a good thing then keep going. Why do programme producers become so nervy when successful programmes just keep being successful? Look at your T.V history
It’s because of their T.V history that they ended early. True blood lost direction from season 5 onwards. They admitted to suffering from the equivalent of writers block when it came to new story. Not wanting the same to happen with Banshee they ended it slightly early but at a good point
Justfinishec watching season-four of banshee, as a big fan of Jonathan Troppers books
please consider more seasons or spin offs, absolutely addicted
The characters are really strong, just like the characters in Jonathan Troppers books
Banshee is my favorite please do not cancel looking forward for season 5
This is the best tv series I have ever seen. Come on Cinemax please do a spin series perhaps with Hood and his team doing doing heists or black ops stuff ( A Team style).
Different idea :-Would love to see a series based on Road house……
Really disappointed! This is my best tv serie ever, never felt so involved in a TV show. I am really sorry that this came to an end. There was a lot of more to include and to tell but this is my personal opinion! Anyway thanks for the great show!
I just realized Banshee was a show and I love it. I wish they had never cancelled it.
Why did the best TVs show on TVs have to end bring back hood and Brock in separate TVs shows
Why did the best TVs show for years have to end””””
I’ve not finished yet 2 eps of s4 left 1 things for sure….. This is the best thing I’ve watched since breaking bad and will be gutted once I’ve finished it
When i accidentally tuned into the first ever episode of Banshee I was immediately hooked, wow this was the best series I have ever seen, and I have seen a few. I agree it had to end, “better to burn out than fade away” however the characters are so strong, there must be a spin off, either of Job or Lucas Hood – or both. New scene new title new story line. Missing it already
Well its really sad for the show to have ended…this is a very nice show that would make the viewers want more…I’m really sad but anyways shoutout to lucas hood and job.. ..they are ******* awesome.. HOON LEE!!!!!..thats ma nickname now….
I’m really going to miss this show. The action was terrific and intense.
Even the villains were kind of likable. I think the series ended too soon.
Banshee was truly a great show. Its final season was carefully written, directed, and produced with such artistry and meaning. Banshee ended leaving me feeling both happy and sad but most importantly 100% fulfilled…there was a perfect execution of each character and their respective stories. Well done!