Within the age of streaming and rampant TV present cancelations, cliffhangers have grow to be extremely prevalent. What’s grow to be significantly frequent is for them for use in tales that finally don’t want them, and I might argue that that they’ve grow to be ubiquitous. I am certain I am not the one one who feels that approach, too. That appears to be partially why Intercourse Lives of School Ladies EP Justin Noble determined towards together with one within the present’s Season 3 finale, which simply aired amid the 2025 TV schedule. Noble shared some perception into the choice, and I hope extra reveals take notice.
Justin Noble, who co-showruns the Max unique sequence and co-wrote the Season 3 finale episode alongside Caroline Goldfarb, deviated from the previous seasons’ pattern of ending on main, life-altering cliffhangers. As an alternative, he selected to finish on a happier, much less dramatic notice. This was such a stunning change that many followers have expressed their concern that it’s the present’s finale. Nonetheless, Noble made it abundantly clear to THR that he was not requested to “wrap up the present.” From there, he shared his eager logic on the capper:
I believe simply me as a creator, I’m dropping curiosity in cliffhangers. I believe it’s longer than ever between seasons for logistical causes inside the trade, and admittedly, I don’t assume audiences like cliffhangers the best way that they used to. I believe intrinsically, reveals are what they’re. We don’t need tons of change on our reveals, particularly in comedy, which makes cliffhangers dangerous and momentary, and numerous the occasions it’s like, ‘uh oh,’ after which two episodes into the brand new season, it’s like, ‘and we’re again to regular.’
As a fan of the present and one who shares Noble’s disinterest in cliffhangers, I couldn’t agree extra. Nothing is extra irritating as a viewer than watching a personality make a life-changing determination that they’re not going to observe by means of merely in an try to preserve followers hooked. Take this season, for example; the writers spent practically two complete episodes making an attempt to get Whitney and Kimberly to make up after the Season 2 cliffhanger, which wasted time that might have been spent on new storylines and introducing viewers to the brand new characters extra shortly.
The truth is, given followers have been conditioned to count on a dramatic cliffhanger, having the alternative occur was much more stunning and rewarding. For one, it was a very good tonal shift to an intense episode packed stuffed with dramatic revelations and the lack of Reneé Rapp’s Leighton as she pursued different educational targets. Additionally, this gave the ladies a uncommon win in a season that was stuffed with struggles. On prime of that, the perfect half is that there’s nonetheless extra story to be informed despite the fact that issues appear nice now.
To place it merely, I actually hope extra writers and EPs be aware of how well-received the Season 3 finale of The Intercourse Lives of School Ladies was and implement cliffhanger-less endings in their very own reveals. Maybe, then, the storytelling system will grow to be a novelty once more and maintain the apt quantity of weight for viewers after they do occur.
Whilst you look forward to information on a Season 4 renewal for The Intercourse Lives of School Ladies, stream Season 3 — together with the earlier two seasons — with an energetic Max subscription.