Pen15 creators Anna Konkle and Maya Erskine explain why they decided to end the Hulu show. Konkle and Erskine play teenage versions of themselves in the show, which highlights the trials and tribulations of adolescence in the most honest, raw, and hilarious ways. The supporting cast is the actual age of the characters Konkle and Erskine are portraying (around 12-13 years old), making the concept that much more compelling and oddly hilarious.

Additional (adult) cast for the show includes Melora Walters, Taylor Nichols, and Erskine's own mother, Mutsuko Erskine.

Hulu greenlit Pen15 season 2 after a successful season 1, which debuted the first eight episodes in September 2020. A second set of episodes for season 2 were due to follow, but the pandemic stalled production and delayed the show's return by more than a year. Recently, it was confirmed that the final seven episodes of Pen15, which are considered part of season 2, will conclude the series entirely.

Having worked on Pen15 for more than a decade at this point, Konkle and Erskine decided to end the show rather than continue, citing a number of factors for the sudden conclusion to the Emmy-nominated series. Talking at a recent FYC event in L.A. (via Indiewire), the pair discussed their reasons behind ending the show, most of which come from the pandemic delays, becoming new mothers (the pair both gave birth in the show's interim), as well as handling nearly every aspect of the creative process, serving as creators, writers, actors, executive producers and, on occasion, directors.

The "emotionally intense" experience of making the show took its toll, but the pair feel like they accomplished their goal, which was always about doing three seasons in total, as they consider "2B" Pen15 season 3.

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