About two years ago, right as Game of Thrones was ending, it was briefly popular in nerdy entertainment circles to talk about the End of HBO. The argument was that while the network had held a vise grip on TV monoculture for a solid two decades, it would have no counter to Netflix’s burgeoning presence—at least once their fantasy epic concluded. Out with the weekly Sunday night prestige viewing, in with consuming one new series we’re all obsessed with for one weekend before we move on to the next.
Fast forward and wouldn’t you know it: reports of the Home Box Office’s imminent demise were greatly exaggerated. Let’s look at the last 12 months: record-breaking nominations for Watchmen and Succession, the latter taking home Best Drama. A monopoly on buzzy TV in winter 2020 and this past spring and summer with The Undoing, Mare of Easttown, and most recently, White Lotus. All while viewers impatiently awaited the reigning Best Show on TV to return sometime this fall.
Succession’s return date was finally announced today—but instead of giving us what we’ve been asking for, HBO also added on two things we didn’t know we needed, as well: a new season of Curb Your Enthusiasm and the final season of Insecure will join Succession in premiering this October. Three of the timeline’s favorite series, all at once? It’s enough for me to almost rebuke screeners and take it all in in real-time with my fellow Shiv thirsters, social assassins, and Issa-Lawrence shippers. (Almost.)
Details on all three series are being kept close to the vest, but it’s not hard to pull together at least a few tantalizing breadcrumbs. A trailer for Succession hit not too long ago, and a New Yorker profile of creator Jesse Armstrong reveals that season 3 will pick up mere moments after Kendall’s titanic press conference that closed season 2. Meanwhile Jeff Garlin has assured that Curb season 11 takes place in a “post-COVID world” outside of the premiere episode, which will reference the pandemic. Richard Lewis seemed unable to grace the set with his presence due to health conditions, but he managed to rally for one episode, even getting a rare actual hug from Larry when he arrived. Insecure, meanwhile, is in the homestretch, with Issa Rae and team circling an ending that might give closure to the handful of friendships and relationships we’ve seen blossom, wilt, and re-bloom over the last four seasons. Love triangle fans will be happy to know Kendrick Sampson was spotted on set, suggesting a return as Issa’s ex Nathan—even as things between Issa and Lawrence are more up in the air than ever. Rae has said she’s been working out the idea of an ending since season 3. And if the outpouring of tears from the cast and crew’s final days is any indication, then we’re in for a highly emotional finish.
So, to recap: the best show on TV, the GOAT of comedy, a highly anticipated series finale… yea, HBO’s doing just fine.