Youth Creator Sharon Horgan on the Final Season and HBO's Future

Why Horgan Waited Years

Horgan recently discussed how Youth evolved. She admitted she was in a better place when she finally wrote it. She learned to trust her voice as a storyteller. She wanted to challenge herself. She also wanted to bring real-life trauma into the story. The relationship between Alex and Patrick is central. Horgan revealed how often she thinks about a third season of Apple's Bad Sisters.

Tragedy Plus Time Equals Comedy

Horgan is happy she waited years before writing. She said the show started forming in her mind long before she wrote it. Two seasons of Bad Sisters happened in between. When she returned to Youth, she was in a different place. She could write about love in a more interesting way. She noted that tragedy plus time equals comedy. She said she would have written it darker and less funny if she had started earlier. She felt she had more experience and perspective. She is glad she could not write it sooner.

Trusting the Storyteller's Voice

Horgan admitted she did not trust her voice at first. She had to jump in, close her eyes, and hope for the best. It did not get easier with more shows. She continued to draw from her life. She infused emotional experiences into the narrative. She always hoped that if she spoke sincerely, others would relate. She had to take a leap of faith. When Youth aired, she worried it might be received poorly. She felt it more because she was on screen. She just had to trust her instinct. Audiences responded positively, saying they had experienced the same things. She should start trusting her voice because it worked.