This ongoing column focuses on shows that currently have a question mark concerning their future. You can see the status of all the currently airing sci fi and fantasy shows at this link.
ABC’s new superhero series The Inhumans and its veteran fantasy entry Once Upon A Time are currently airing on Friday nights and both shows are struggling mightily to keep up their audience each week. Based solely on the ratings, it would seem that both are surely headed to cancellation, as their numbers are poor even for that typically low viewership night. But both do have some intangibles in their favor, particularly the fact that ABC’s parent company Disney could weigh in and issue a decree that one or both continue for another season.
The Inhumans has gotten off to a particularly rough start. That one began receiving negative buzz early on when reaction to the trailers was less than positive, and the special run of the first two episodes on IMAX screens generated poor reviews. When the show made its debut on Fridays, it managed only mediocre numbers to start with then saw the ratings continue to decline. And opinion has remained negative towards the show (I’m not quite certain why, though, I rather enjoy it) as it only has a 8% Fresh Rating on Rotten Tomatoes (the audience score is notably higher at 52%). The Inhumans was only planned for an eight episode run, and that will wrap up next Friday. Whether it will be back for a second season remains a huge question mark.
As mentioned above, the show’s ratings are quite a disappointment, even for a Friday entry. But we have already seen other low-rated Marvel properties like Agents of SHIELD and Agent Carter get renewed despite low ratings (only for one season for the latter, sadly). Disney likes to have tie-ins to its Marvel Universe movies on television, and that could get The Inhumans to a second season if that show will hook up with the feature films in a significant way. But if not, ABC and the Mouse House may have a hard time justifying keeping the show around. At this point, I would lean toward cancellation, but I won’t say it is a sure thing because that final decision will be based on more than just ratings results.
As for Once Upon A Time, the drop in viewership had to be expected with the show’s move to Thursdays, but I’m guessing that ABC hoped it would hold up better than it has. It’s last two episodes were down over forty percent from last year’s ratings average, and it was already at series lows then. But the ratings are really only a secondary concern for this show at this point. Any additional seasons are just padding to what is almost certainly a lucrative syndication package, so the network will make its money back despite the low ratings. And Disney likes to run its stable of characters through the show’s stories, which has provided a ratings boost at times in the past. So if ABC and Disney decide this show sufficiently plugs up a low-viewership hour on the Friday schedule, they could keep it around for another year or so. I have this show as On the Bubble now, and that is where I will keep it, because like The Inhumans there are too many intangibles to make a more solid call on its fate.
Be sure to follow the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site for the latest ratings results as well as breaking news. And keep up with what is on and what is coming up in sci fi tv at The Sci Fi TV Site.
Once upon a time is now in it’s final; season and it will have a proper ending at least. Thank goodness!. So it’s cancelled but in a way that won’t be a cliffhanger. Inhuman’s is probably gone as well.