The end of the 2020-21 season is pretty much upon us and there are still several sci fi/fantasy shows waiting for word on their fates. Below are the shows that currently have not received a renewal announcement, and the prospects for several of these are looking grim right now. But if the fans band together and make a Call to Action on the social networks, it is possible to sway network execs towards a renewal decision. We have seen shows like The Expanse, Lucifer, and Timeless saved by fan action in the past, even if just briefly, and perhaps one of the Bubble shows on this list could be the next to benefit from fan support. You can see the status of all the currently airing and returning sci fi and fantasy shows at our Cancellation Watch Page, and be sure to follow this site for status updates and breaking news.
Blood & Treasure (CBS, Awaiting Release of 2nd Season, Status – Uncertain): People may have completely forgotten about this globe-trotting adventure series that aired its first season two years ago. The second season was delayed due to the pandemic, but was allegedly set to air this Summer. There has been no word on it, though, and its fate is unclear at this point. Word is that production began on the second sesaon in late 2020, so certainly that will air at some point. Whether any more seasons will follow remains to be seen.
Final Space (Adult Swim, Completed Third Season, Status – Renewal Possible): Series creator Olan Rogers has claimed that he has at least six seasons planned for this show, but he also has an ending in mind in case it gets cancelled. The show’s ratings were down in its third season, but still decent, so a fourth year is a possibility at this point.
Dragon’s Dogma (Netflix, Completed 1st Season, Status – On the Bubble): Netflix has been in the cancelling business lately and September will mark one year since this animated fantasy’s first season was released. The streamer already has two other animated series with Dragon in the title (The Dragon Prince and DOTA Dragon’s Blood, both renewed) so maybe it has decided that is enough. I’m guessing this is another one-season-and-done entry from Netflix.
Manifest (NBC, Completed 3rd Season, Status – Cancelled): This show was cancelled by NBC and Netflix passed on picking it up, but recent events have given hope that a fourth season could happen. The encore run of its first two seasons on Netflix have topped the streaming charts since June, and now both networks are back in negotiations. Fans are also campaigning hard for this one, so there is a chance that the show could take flight once again.
Into the Dark (Hulu, Completed 2nd Season, Status – Renewal Possible): The second season of this movie-of-the-month horror anthology was delayed due to the pandemic, but it has now wrapped up. The series has received decent buzz, but if it wants to resume its original schedule of holiday-based themes, production on a third season will need to start soon. An announcement on this one could come at any time.
M.O.D.O.K. (Hulu, Completed 1st Season, Status – Renewal Possible): According to comments from Hulu’s head of scripted content Jordan Helman, “we have not yet made a determination” on whether this animated Marvel series will continue for a second season. It is one of the shows orphaned when Marvel TV was absorbed into Marvel Studios, and the other one–Helstrom–was cancelled by Hulu. The animated Hit Monkey series is still moving forward at Hulu, though, so perhaps the streamer will also keep M.O.D.O.K. around for a second season.
Moonbase 8 (Showtime, Completed 1st Season, Status – On the Bubble): This lunar-based workplace comedy barely registered in the ratings during its short first season averaging only a 0.01 score and 81K total viewers based on the same-day numbers. Sure, the premium cable channels pay more attention to delayed and digital viewing, but I can’t believe this one gained too much from those platforms. It did come to the network pre-funded, so it didn’t cost them much. And that is probably the only way a second season would happen, but that is seeming less and less likely the longer that the network is silent on the show’s fate.
Motherland Fort Salem (Freeform, Airing 2nd Season, Status – On the Bubble): This supernatural drama’s numbers are down year-over-year, but it is likely making up some slack in digital and delayed viewing. Freeform typically lets its show go for at least three seasons, and this one may stick around for that long. Update: this show has been renewed for a third and final season.
The Outpost (CW, Airing 4th Season, Status – Renewal Possible): The CW has not cancelled/ended a show that has made it beyond its first season without a final season announcement since 2014. But The Outpost is an acquisition, so they may approach it differently. Its ratings are about on par with last year, so it is possible this one could still come back for a fifth season. But there is also a chance that the creative team was told to approach the fourth season as the show’s last in case the network decided to cut ties with it. This is another one that could definitely use a boost from fans on the social nets.
Pandora (CW, Completed 2nd Season, Status – On the Bubble): There has been no word on this space opera show since it wrapped up its second season in December of 2020. And the fact that The Outpost received a renewal while Pandora did not certainly reinforces its Bubble status. As an acquisition, it could still come back for a third season, especially if it has international syndication and/or funding propping it up. But Fans should definitely make some noise to help give it a boost.
Pennyworth (EPIX, Completed 2nd Season, Status – Renewal Possible): This Batman prequel has made it through a second season on EPIX, but I have no idea what the viewership has been seeing as Nielsen does not track the numbers for its network. It has been fairly well-received by critics so far and there are talks that it could jump to HBO Max for a third season or do a time-share across both networks. So it is possible that the story of Alfred Pennyworth may not have ended yet.
The Watch (BBC America, Completed 1st Season, Status – On the Bubble): This series, which is loosely based on Terry Pratchett’s Discworld books, has not been well-received by fans or critics, and it pulled pretty poor ratings numbers during its short first season. There has been no word on its fate since it wrapped up in February, so it is certainly looking like it could be one-and-done unless it has international syndication and/or funding to keep it going.
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