The Best Anthology Series Of The Decade Cancels Itself And Creators Are Relieved
Inside No 9 first premiered in 2014 to near-immediate critical and audience acclaim, even achieving the coveted status of a 100 percent certified fresh critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. Now, after nine seasons of running the hit anthology venture, series creators Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith have decided to call it quits, explaining that the series presents a massive creative undertaking. While the creators have expressed sadness that the delightfully dark journey has come to an end, they have also expressed massive relief, as the show’s audience has become all but impossible to surprise at this point.
Inside No 9’s Legacy and Conclusion
Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith recently sat down with the Radio Times Magazine to discuss their decision to end the show, explaining that they could have happily concluded Inside No 9 half a decade ago, though they wanted to reach a ninth season specifically to have an inside joke with themselves about the show’s title.
Creating Unforgettable Twists
The pair set a standard early on for gripping genre work, restrictive writing barriers, and a demand for a shocking twist at the end of nearly every episode, making the series a delight for any new or returning viewers. After penning 55 standalone 30-minute stories in 10 years, the duo feel that they have finally exhausted the well.
The End Of An Era
For now, the pair claim that Inside No 9‘s ending hasn’t emotionally set in just yet. Shearsmith specifically described his expected grief for the show to finally hit him when the last episode premieres on the video on demand service BBC iPlayer. In the meantime, the writers are happy to revel in their free time, and loosen up their brainpower for new and exciting ventures.
Inside No 9’s Cast
Though Inside No 9 tends not to have repeat performers, due to its status as an anthology show, the series has held some massive talent in its cast over the years. Shadow and Bone‘s Jack Wolfe, Downton Abbey‘s Paul Copley, and Game of Thrones‘ Natalie Dormer are just a few of the stars to have graced the screen with their own gripping installments.
Future Endeavors
While there’s no telling what new projects Shearsmith and Pemberton will helm next, they’ll surely have a massive audience patiently awaiting their next ventures.
Like many long-running television series, Inside No 9 has continued to bring in more viewers with each passing year, meaning the forthcoming finale is expected to be one of the highest viewed episodes in the history of the series. Of course, after 10 years of writing some of the best self-contained stories on television, fans surely wouldn’t fault the illustrious duo for taking a break.
The Final Season’s Premiere
The final season of Inside No 9 begins airing on BBC Two and iPlayer on May 8, with each of the six episodes expected to premiere weekly. A synopsis of the first new episode has already been released, confirming that the story will center on an underground train car which breaks down in transit and becomes trapped in the tunnel.
For the time being, the plot of the following five episodes are being kept tightly under wraps.
Source: Radio Times
