HBO Has Cancelled Looking, Will Wrap the Series Up With a Special

Well, it’s finally happened. After a second season spent speculating whether Patrick (ugh) and his friends would return to our screens, HBO has confirmed that the show, like Patrick’s relationship with Kevin, is done as a series. But don’t despair: a special is on the horizon.

Early this morning, Towleroad reported that the show had been cancelled after one of Jonathan Groff’s friends revealed that the actor had told him the show was over. Now, HBO has released an official statement, sounding the death bell for all our favorite characters (Doris, Dom, Richie, CiCi and Eddie), the ones we love to hate (Patrick, Kevin) and the ones we were just starting to like (Agustin, we hardly knew ye).

Here’s the message from HBO’s PR:

After two years of following Patrick and his tight-knit group of friends as they explored San Francisco in search of love and lasting relationships, HBO will present the final chapter of their journey as a special. We look forward to sharing this adventure with the shows loyal fans.

While it’s understandable that HBO would cancel a show that wasn’t doing well viewership wise (the show lagged way behind both Girls and Togetherness when it came to the second season premiere episode), it’s also upsetting to be losing a series many had grown to having strong feelings about. For all its flaws, one of the things I liked best about Looking is the fact that the drama presented in the show was realistic if sometimes boring. What was also refreshing was a lack of the overt stereotypes that often exist when gay characters are presented on TV. But most of all I’ll miss Doris and Richie who, despite having small parts this season, really felt like the heart of the show.

I’ll be waiting patiently for the promised special (you’d better make it, HBO) and will probably have a box of tissues ready for when the final credits roll. (Either so I can cry at how well it’s done or throw spitballs angrily at the TV when the show’s writers give Patrick and Richie the happy ending Patrick totally doesn’t deserve.)