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?
Loved the show. Breaking Bad on steroids. Hard to really say which character was a personal favourite as the cast all did a phenomenal job in their portrayal of their character. One thing for sure I will be watching Banshee again. All good things come to an end, and better to go out on top as opposed to running a good show into the ground as has happened with other shows.
I am a big fan of Banshee but i was hurt when i heard that there will be no season 5
I cried the day Siobhan Kelly died i just felt that pain Mr Hood was feeling but all in all it was a great show
This series been unbelievable. Really wish there was more. Carnt believes they have they have ended the best show on air. So sad.
I love this series! Just accidentally found it, but, so wish there were more seasons. So sad its over! Probably will watch it again, unless you want to add some more seasons!
Well I liked the first season. The brave hood handels every one his own way. But by episode six or seven of the second season ,it just looked stupid. Non stop shooting and killing, they go on and kill people and no police or Fbi come to check it out?I mean in real life a sherif hardly kills one person and if he did he would probably be fired. But hood and his unit can kill 50 people and no one cares…reminds me of Sons of anarchy that just got crazy in the sixth season. To much violance,and it cant… Read more »
Brilliant programme and finished at the right time. Perfect end, as all good ideas should
Banshee is one of the two most under-rated shows in the history of television (The Americans FINALLY got some long overdue recognition AFTER it ended.) The writing, directing, acting and fight choreography was breathtaking and adult, and the characters were multi-layered and alive. The conflicts were almost Biblical in their implications, and it was a thrill ride beginning to end. Thank you for 4 seasons of brilliant television.
I love this show . It was a attention getting every time it aired. The cliffhangers were awesome. The story line was great all 4 seasons . I don’t know how it will end or should continue. But I enjoy all of the current characters. I’m sorry to the see some go but that’s how it goes. This show is good enough to be on dvd. So I’m going to enjoy the last episode. To the cast a great job and I hope to see all the cast again soon in your next series
It was the first I watched this Series but I can tell the story writer and producer ,This is one of the uniqueness t.v series and the best of all time ,please bring back another Season Or two ,what a outstanding Job to the crew and Jason Hood ♥️Shout out from
Omg! I was hooked from the very beginning. This was the best show I have ever watched in a very long time. I really wished you would have kept the series going. There was still a lot of story lines to keep telling. The last episode did not seem like it even ended to me. I was looking on the internet to see when the next season was scheduled to come out, and I saw the article that the show ended. Well let me tell you I was in shock!!! Please, please, please bring it back. I would look forward… Read more »
Wow, l can’t believe this show. I have just finished watching all 4 series ( 48 episodes ), 2 yrs after the final episode I might add. I was only looking at new channels and seen the Banshee pic. with Lucas Hood facing a giant ponytail guy so clicked on it and from then on the only show I wanted to watch was Banshee. I didn’t realise the main character Anthony Star was from New Zealand til my partner saw him as he was also in a tv series we also watch with anticipation back here in NZ. Sadly the… Read more »
Please another series!
This is one of the best shows I’ve ever watched. This couldn’t possibly be the end of the series!!!! Please give us one more season!!!
Well i dont agree. To violent and not much complexcity going on like in Oz
My favorite series of all time Hated to see it end but it did end in a perfect way I wish the creators would put together another one of a kind series half as good as Banshee. Thank you for an amazing 4 years ✌
i just want to say that it was a great tv show. i watched the 1st season in late 2014, taking it from a friend. then i asked him for the 2nd season. he said “there is no 2nd season, or i don’t know”. i thought may be no 2nd season so i didn’t look for it, didn’t search in net too. and i forgot about it. but 5 or 6 days before i came to know that it has 3 more seasons. during these days i downloaded 3 seasons and watched it. actually i just want to say that… Read more »