At the Variety A Night in the Writers’ Room event in Los Angeles, TV drama creators discussed the challenges of concluding their series, planning for finales, and audience reactions.
Eric Kripke on 'The Boys'
Eric Kripke, showrunner of Prime Video’s 'The Boys,' shared insights into the pressures of crafting a series finale, set to air on May 20. Kripke noted the superhero genre's tendency to be judged by its finales, saying, “If you stiff the finale, they’re like, ‘I guess that wasn’t such a good show.’ It's unfair and shitty, but it’s true.” He emphasized focusing on emotion, hoping to leave audiences feeling connected to the characters as the series concludes.
Matthew B. Roberts on 'Outlander'
Matthew B. Roberts, of Starz’s 'Outlander' and its prequel 'Outlander: Blood of My Blood,' echoed similar sentiments. With 'Outlander's' series finale set for May 16, Roberts likened the process to landing a plane without knowing how to fly, amidst input from millions of fans. “We’re storytellers, but I think our real job is, we’re emotion dealers,” he said, aiming to evoke emotional engagement with the characters.
Sam Levinson and Bruce Miller's Approaches
Sam Levinson, creator of HBO’s 'Euphoria,' approaches each season as if it could be the last, ensuring satisfaction with the story’s conclusion regardless of future seasons. Meanwhile, Bruce Miller, who transitioned from 'The Handmaid’s Tale' to its spinoff 'The Testaments,' adjusts storytelling based on fan feedback, aiming for better decision-making.
Plans from Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Vince Gilligan
Geneva Robertson-Dworet, executive producer of 'Fallout,' emphasizes having a flexible plan while allowing room for creative input from her team. Vince Gilligan, working on Apple TV’s 'Pluribus,' has more ideas than he did for 'Breaking Bad,' but remains open to evolving the storyline as needed, akin to following a flexible travel guide.
Source: https://variety.com/2026/awards/news/tv-drama-writers-ending-shows-fan-reactions-1236747784/
