Hit US comedy-drama series Better Things will conclude at the end of season 5, according to reports. The show, starring Pamela Adlon of Californication fame, and co-created by Adlon and comedian Louis C.K., premiered on FX on September 8, 2016, and has enjoyed four successful seasons so far. The show is an unflinching look at the highs and lows of motherhood and adolescence in Los Angeles. It follows Adlon's character Sam Fox, a working actress and single mother, as she tries to balance a successful career with raising three daughters alone. The show received acclaim for its feminist themes and its tackling of difficult subject matter.
Now, Deadline reports that the upcoming Better Things season 5 will be the show's last, wrapping up the journey of Sam Fox and her daughters. The publication revealed that season 5, which was ordered by FX last year, is due to broadcast in 2022. Adlon made an emotional statement about the show's end, thanking FX for the opportunity to make the show, likening it to being at "film school." Read her comments below:
"I will forever be grateful to FX for allowing me to tell stories the way I see the world and want the world to be seen. Making this show has been film school for me. I bow down to my crew and my cast. And I can’t wait for people to discover and re-discover Better Things. This is gonna be a wrap on Sam Fox (for now). See you at the after party."
In addition to the final season being commissioned, Adlon has also signed a new overall deal with FX for a new material to work on. The semi-autobiographical Better Things is loosely based on Adlon's early life, and the success of the show resulted in 2017 Peabody Award. This accolade caused Adlon's stock to rise even further after the four Primetime Emmy nominations she received for her work on FX comedy-drama show Louie.
Better Things received universal acclaim and is one of the most popular shows FX has produced, and with the show ending, the future looks bright for Adlon. However, her working relationship with comedian Louis C.K. came to an end after several sexual misconduct allegations were made against him. Whether or not Adlon will work with a new writing partner or alone when it comes to future material remains to be seen, but it is clear that the impact of Better Things will have a wide-reaching effect on her future career.
Source: Deadline