Why Did HBO Cancel Togetherness?

By Reuben Levine | Apr 1, 2016

HBO canceled one of its best new shows without giving it time to grow.

Togetherness was something a little different for HBO. It resembled a series that would have perhaps been more comfortable on Netflix or Hulu, which both have their fair share of relationship-based shows. At first HBO put its full weight behind Togetherness and gave it an early renewal for a second season. That good faith has apparently dried up.

Togetherness is dead. The news came down a few days ago that the Duplass’ brothers show about fractured family relationships would not be coming back for a third season. It feels like the promotion machine for season two hasn’t even finished yet.

For more on that, check out Amanda Peet on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

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Togetherness currently sits at a 73 on Metacritic for its second season. That’s not an altogether great score, but it’s not terrible either. The problem with Togetherness doesn’t really lie in its critical reception — it has more to do with the ratings. Deadline labeled Togetherness’ rating as “modest,” though they were in-line with other HBO shows like Girls.

The series just wasn’t the breakout hit that HBO was likely hoping it would be. The Duplass brother are respected and probably drew their fair share of viewers, but there are many relationship dramas out there and Togetherness maybe didn’t do enough to single itself out.

What we can possibly learn from this is that HBO is hungry for a hit. They want something on the level of Veep or Silicon Valley. The upcoming Vice Principals might be able to do that for them but it’s too early to tell. Togetherness could have been a truly excellent show if it had been given more time to grow.

Next: Marnie makes the deacon we all knew was coming on Girls.

It’s a real shame that HBO didn’t have the faith in it to let it find its voice a little more.