Weekly Roundup: Ratings results and status updates on all the currently airing sci fi & fantasy shows as well as those still awaiting word on their fates. For the latest ratings updates throughout the week, be sure to follow the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site
Ratings Results of Interest: On Sunday, AMC’s The Walking Dead had its mid-season finale but saw its numbers drop to a 1.0 rating with 3.2 million total viewers. That marks a series low for the show’s Fall wrap-up, an episode that usually brings a boost to the ratings. I’m expecting to see the show slip below the 1.0 mark at some point in Spring, but that does not mean it is in danger of cancellation as I discuss at this link. Over on HBO, Watchmen slipped to a 0.21 rating with 620K total viewers as it continues to underperform in its first season.
On Friday, Syfy’s Van Helsing dropped for the second week in a row, posting a 0.07 rating with 248K total viewers. This show’s numbers have been marginal most of the season and it could find itself On the Bubble if it does not improve. On Thursday, The CW’s Supernatural dropped to a 0.2 rating with 1.1 million total viewers and was bested on the night by lead-out Legacies which posted a 0.3 rating in the demo.
>Keep up with all the currently airing sci fi and fantasy shows with our Weekly Listings
On Wednesday, The CW’s Riverdale slipped to a 0.2 rating with 739K total viewers, and its numbers have been down the last few weeks. But I am still expecting this one to get a fifth season nod. On Tuesday, ABC’s Emergence slipped to a 0.4 rating with 2.3 million total viewers as it remains firmly On the Bubble. And USA’s The Purge slipped a tick to a 0.21 rating with 547K total viewers.
On Monday, HBO’s His Dark Materials improved slightly to a 0.10 rating with 348K total viewers. That show is more heavily dependant on its viewership in Britain and it has been doing well across the pond so far. Plus, it has already been renewed for a second season.
The other sci fi and fantasy entries remained mostly steady with the prior week, and you can see the full ratings results for the week at this link, Be sure to follow the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site for the latest results and breaking news and to join the #CancelledSciFiArmy as we fight to save our sci fi shows. For more info on what the ratings mean and how I use them to gauge the status of a show, check our our Cancelled Sci Fi FAQ Page. Ratings Source: ShowBuzzDaily
Renewal and Cancellation Announcements: Apple TV+ has given a second season renewal to M. Night Shyamalan’s upcoming series Servant. That news does not come as a surprise as the fledgling streaming service has already renewed most of its originals prior to their first seasons. The genre entries See and For All Mankind were both renewed before their debuts at the beginning of November. Servant bows on Thanksgiving day with its first three episodes available and will then release one ep a week after that.
Netflix announced last week that its zombie-pocalypse series Black Summer will be returning for a second season in 2020. And Amazon has given a second-year renewal to its adult animated series Undone, also returning in 2020. Marvel’s Runaways will be ending after its upcoming third season on Hulu, likely due to the behind the scenes shake-up going on with Marvel TV.
Status Updates: Primal Has Five More Episodes on the Way in 2020
Below are the status updates for all the currently airing shows or those still awaiting word on their fate, including the those on the streaming services. You can click through to the show pages to see week-over-week ratings results (where available) and find out more information about the series. You can see the status of all the currently airing and returning sci fi TV shows at our Cancellation Watch Page.
Currently Airing / Streaming:
American Horror Story (Netflix, Status – Renewed): The numbers are down for this show year-over-year, but that is pretty much true across the board with the cable channels and broadcast nets. This one has already been renewed through a tenth season and could still stick around for a few years beyond that unless Disney execs (the Mouse House now owns the show) decide to wrap this one up.
Arrow (CW, Status – Final Season): Arrow wraps up with its eighth season, but The Flash, Supergirl, Batwoman, and more will pick up the torch for the Arrow-verse, and a possible female-led spin-off could be on the way next year.
Batwoman (CW, Status – Renewal Possible): The early numbers look good for this show and the network has picked up the Back 9 episodes for its first season as expected. It airs on The CW, aka the Happy Net because it prefers to renew rather than cancel shows (and it has adapted to the 21st century with its focus on digital viewing). Consider a second season a good bet for this show at this point.
Black Lightning (CW, Status – Renewal Possible): Over the past five-plus years, once a show has made it past its second season on The CW, it almost always sticks around for at least seventy episodes no matter the ratings. Black Lightning will reach that point right about the end of its fourth season, so expect this one to stick around at least one more year unless the network decides to shake things up.
Castle Rock (Hulu, Status – Renewal Possible): This show has been generally well-received thus far (it has a 90% Fresh Rating and 73% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes), and since it reboots itself each season, it could stick around for another year or more.
Charmed (CW, Status – Renewal Possible): The numbers are down a bit for this show because of its move to Fridays, but it should do well in digital viewing like it did last season (The CW pays more attention to those stats than the other broadcast networks). At this point, a third season definitely looks like a possibility.
Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (Netflix, Status – Renewal Possible): This show has been well-recieved thus far (currently holding an 86% Fresh Rating and 94% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes) and has a decent chance of returning for a second season if the creative team wish to continue the story.
Daybreak (Netflix, Status – Renewal Possible): As with any Netflix original series, this show has a decent chance of sticking around for a second season. But don’t expect an extended run because the streamer tends to cap off its shows around the third season.
Disenchantment (Netflix, Status – Renewed): This animated comedy has proven popular thus far and has already been renewed for a second season which will comprise two ten-episode runs (on some sites this is being refered to as Season 3 and 4).
Emergence (ABC, Status – Renewal Possible): After a promising start, the numbers for this show have slipped to marginal at best levels. It is seeing notable gains in delayed viewing, but that did little to help Forever several years ago which aired in the very same timeslot. I have moved Emergence to Bubble status which I discuss in more detail at this link.
Evil (CBS, Status – Renewed): The early renewal for this one was a bit of a surprise because its ratings have been moderate at best. But perhaps CBS is starting to pay less attention to the same day viewing stats these days.
The Flash (CW, Status – Renewal Likely): This show returned mostly even with where it was last Spring which is to be expected. It remains The CW’s top-rated series and will become the lead Arrow-verse show with Arrow ending this season. Expect a seventh year and possibly more from this one.
For All Mankind (Apple TV+, Status – Renewed): The early viewership for the new Apple TV+ streaming service is not strong, but could improve as more content is added. But the streamer renewed this show and several others in advance of their premieres, so at least one more season is on the way.
The Good Place (NBC, Status – Final Season): This show has returned with numbers down from last year, but we are pretty much seeing that across the board these days. It is in its final season, so it will at least get the chance to wrap up its storylines.
His Dark Materials (HBO, Status – Renewed): This show had a soft start for HBO, but as a joint production with the BBC its viewership in Britain factors in heavily as well. It has already been renewed for a second season, but the audience numbers may need to improve for it to stick around beyond that.
The I-Land (Netflix, Status – Renewal Possible): Early reactions to this show have not been good as it is currently at a 0% Fresh Rating and 27% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes. But Netflix did give this one more promotion than it usually does for one of its originals, so they may be more invested in the show and could keep it around for a second season.
Into the Dark (Hulu, Status – Renewal): This show continues to draw good buzz in its second season and Hulu could keep it around for another year or so.
Legacies (CW, Status – Renewal Possible): This show has returned even with last year’s numbers and it should continue to do well in digital viewing like it did last season (The CW pays more attention to those stats than the other broadcast networks). At this point, I would expect this one to stick around for a third season.
Mr Robot (USA, Status – Final Season): This show has returned down in its fourth season, which is what we are seeing for pretty much all shows these days. It did receive the final season renewal, though, so it will have the chance to wrap up its storylines.
Nancy Drew (CW, Status – Renewal Possible): The same-day numbers for this show are not great so far, but it will likely make up some of the slack with digital viewing (The CW pays more attention to those stats than the other broadcast networks). The network has picked up the Back 9 episodes for its first season and it appears to be on track for a second-year renewal.
Primal (Adult Swim, Status – Renewal Possible): This show’s numbers are decent for a cable series these days, especially one airing at midnight. Five more episodes are planned for the first season and will air in 2020. If the numbers remain where they are at, Adult Swim could bring this one back for a second season.
The Purge (USA, Status – Renewal Possible): This show has returned down from its first-year numbers, but that is the typical trend we are seeing for second season shows these days. If it picks up enough slack in delayed and digital viewing, it may be doing okay. But it is worth keeping a close eye on how this one tracks in the coming weeks.
Raising Dion (Netflix, Status – Renewal Possible): As with any Netflix original series, this show has a decent chance of sticking around for a second season. But don’t expect an extended run because the streamer tends to cap off its shows around the third season.
Riverdale (CW, Status – Renewal Likely): The numbers have slipped a bit after this show had a decent fourth season premiere, but it will likely make up the gap in digital viewing which its network pays attention to (unlike the other broadcasters). Plus, one more season gets it to a syndication friendly count of episodes, so expect at least a fifth year from this one if not more.
See (Apple TV+, Status – Renewed): The early viewership for the new Apple TV+ streaming service is not strong, but could improve as more content is added. But the streamer renewed this show and several others in advance of their premieres, so at least one more season is on the way.
Star Wars Resistance (Disney, Status – Final Season): The fact that this series never drew much of an audience likely factors into why it is ending after only two seasons. Disney execs claimed that “this was a natural place to end the show with an epic finale” seeing as it leads into the The Rise of Skywalker which debuts in December. But if the ratings had been higher, I’m betting this one would have stuck around for another season or so.
Supergirl (CW, Status – Renewal Possible): This show’s numbers are down from its prior season average, but the network has indicated that they have no plans of ending any of the Arrow-verse shows beyond Arrow at this point. Consider a sixth season a good bet for this one at this point.
Supernatural (CW, Status – Final Season): After a record-busting fifteen-year run, this show will finally be coming to an end. But don’t be surprised if The CW has a spin-off from this one on the schedule for next season.
Titans (DCU, Status – Renewal Possible): As with the other streaming services, DC Universe does not reveal its viewership numbers. But Titans has proven popular for the streamer thus far and has a decent chance of returning for a third season. Even if WarnerMedia decides to shut down the DCU platform, I would expect this one to move to the upcoming HBO Max service.
Van Helsing (Syfy, Status – Renewal Possible): The ratings are not great for this show so far in its fourth season, but it may be doing just enough to survive on Syfy. The network tends to cap off its shows by the fourth or fifth season, so fans should probably rally for this one on the social nets if they want it stick around beyond the current year.
The Walking Dead (AMC, Status – Renewed): Yes, this show is at series-low ratings levels, but it is still one of the top-rated scripted shows on television and it has made it past the point where same-day (or even delayed / digital) viewing numbers dictate its fate. It has already been renewed for an eleventh season, and expect more to follow. More on that at this link.
Watchmen (HBO, Status – Renewal Possible): The early ratings for this show are not too strong, but the premium cable channels base the success of a show on how many subscribers its draws. Still, those ratings act as a leading indicator, and this show has not drawn much interest early on. Series creator Damon Lindelof has already said the show could only run one season, and if the viewership remains low, HBO may agree with that.
Season Ended But Still Awaiting Renewal / Cancellation Decision:
Black Mirror (Netflix, Status – Renewal Possible): Netflix tends to end its originals around the three season mark, but this one may be able to hold on longer because the streaming service continues to roll out each new season as a major event.
Black Summer (Netflix, Status – Renewed): It took a while for Netflix to make the announcement, but this show has been renewed for a second season which will debut at some point in 2020.
Final Space (ADSW, Status – Renewal Possible): This show has switched to Adult Swim in its second season which worked out well seeing as its ratings improved by 30% from last year. A third season renewal seems like a good bet for this one.
Mars (NGC, Status – On the Bubble): This show’s same day viewing numbers were down notably in its second year, but it relies more heavily on its global viewership stats. I consider a third season possible, though Nat Geo may decide to wrap it up at that point.
Osmosis (Netflix, Status – Renewal Possible): Another new series on Netflix that has a decent chance of getting renewed for a second season because the streaming service tends to keep its originals around for two to three seasons.
The Rook (Starz, Status – On the Bubble): This show barely registered in the ratings during its first season and I have it at Bubble status. Its international viewership may have more influence on its fate, but it would probably be a good idea for fans to make a Call to Action on the social networks to bring it more attention.
Scream (VH1, Status – On the Bubble): This show actually posted decent numbers for its double-episode season premiere on Monday night, but saw those drop notably the next two nights. Considering the long delay between seasons and the fact that it was shifted to another network, these ratings will likely not encourage Viacom / VH1 to move forward with a fourth season. Fans may want to make a Call to Action on the social nets, though, to see if that can help.
SuperMansion (Crackle, Status – Renewal Possible): There has been no word on a fourth season of this show, but it has done well for Crackle so far and has also performed well in its encore run on Adult Swim. It released another special as recently as April 2019 and that might be its output for a while as the principals try to work in enough time in their schedules to produce more episodes.
The Terror (AMC, Status – On the Bubble): After proving to be a hit for AMC in its first season, this show returned with ratings down notably in its second year. It sure seems like this one should be headed to cancellation, but since it reboots itself each year, perhaps AMC will take a chance on a third season. Fans should make a Call to Action on the social networks to give it a boost.
Tidelands (Netflix, Status – On the Bubble): This Australian-made series arrived in December of last year with little fanfare and there has been no word on it since. Netflix does tend to give its shows at least two seasons, but at this point they may have decided to let the tide go back out.
Two Sentence Horror Stories (CW, Status – Renewal Possible): The debut numbers for this show were pretty low, but still not terrible for a Summer entry on The CW. It’s possible that this one could return for a second season on the fifth place network.
Undone (Amazon, Status – Renewed): Amazon has given this show a second season renewal. More on that at this link.
You can see the list of all of this season’s renewals and cancellations at this link.
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