The Fall 2021 season is upon us, and it will have notably more shows to offer sci fi and fantasy fans than what we saw last year from the pandemic-impacted Fall 2020 slate. As of this writing, there are over thirty genre entries on the schedule with at least a tentative date, and more premieres will certainly be announced in the coming month or two. Following is my rundown on all of the shows currently set to hit the schedule between September and December with my predictions on whether they will survive beyond the current season. My predictions are largely driven by the network scorecards I have put together over the Summer which look at how sci fi and fantasy shows have performed at those venues over the past ten years. With fewer and fewer genre entries on the linear networks, it is harder to gauge the status of current shows since there is not as much ratings data. And Netflix has proven that ranking in the Nielsen Streaming Top 10 provides no guarantee that a show will be renewed with the quick cancellations of highly-watched originals like Away, The Irregulars, and Jupiter’s Legacy. But looking back at how networks have handled genre entries over past seasons gives us at least something to go on. The renewal prospects that I will assign from most to least likely to be renewed are as follows: Very Good, Good, Fair, Toss-up, Poor. A few shows got off to an early start in August, the rest will have their premieres over the next four months. You can see the current Fall schedule at this link and be sure to follow our Cancellation Watch posts throughout the season for updates and ratings results as well as our weekly Sci Fi TV Update posts.
4400 (CW, Premieres Oct 25): Nobody asked for a YA-focused reboot of this ’00s series about missing people mysteriously returning, but we are getting it anyway. And since this is a Fall entry for The CW, that network tends to prefer to do a blanket renewal of its entire early-season slate right around January or February. So unless this one completely tanks in the ratings (and possibly even then), I would say that it has a decent chance of surving to a second season.
Renewal Prospects: Good
American Horror Story (FX, Airing 10th Season): The linear ratings for this season-long horror anthology continue to slip, but that is true across the board. It has already entered Top 10 list of longest-running sci fi/fantasy shows of all-time and it is guaranteed an extended encore run in syndication and streaming. It has been renewed through its thirteenth season and could continue beyond that.
Status: Renewed
Another Life (Netflix, Season 2 Premieres Oct 14): A space-based sci fi show starring fan-favorite Katte Sackhoff? Sure seems like that should be a must-watch genre series, right? But this one did not receive much love in its first season, evidenced by its 6% Fresh Rating and 59% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes. It did get renewed for a second year which premieres in Fall, but nothing appears to be safe on Netflix these days and there is no telling whether this one will make it to a third season.
Renewal Prospects: Toss Up
Batwoman (CW, Season 3 Premieres Oct 13): Once a CW show has been renewed for a second season, it is pretty much guaranteed a minimum of four seasons. The ratings for this Arrow-verse show were relatively good for the network in its second season, so expect four-to-five years total from this unless a major shakeup comes to The CW.
Renewal Prospects: Very Good
Carnival Row (Amazon, Returning for 2nd Season): This fantasy series with socio-political overtones is allegedly finally returning for its second season this Fall (no premiere date has been set, though). Amazon has typically been supportive of its originals, though Carnival Row is expensive to produce and hardly counts as a hit for the streamer. But I could see it continuing for a third and possibly final season. [Note: The Season 2 premiere for this show has been pushed to 2022.]
Renewal Prospects: Fair
Chucky (Syfy, Premieres Oct 12): Syfy has been one of the least-supportive networks of its own original series over the past ten years. But this one will almost certainly draw on the name-recognition from the feature film franchise, and horror fans just may tune in on a regular basis.
Renewal Prospects: Fair
Cowboy Bebop (Netflix, Premieres Nov 19): There was a time when Netflix originals were practically guaranteed a second season renewal, especially high-profile entries like this reboot of the classic Anime. But the Netflix Red Queen delivered an “Off With Their Heads!” verdict to several notable first-year genre entries this last season (Away, Jupiter’s Legacy, The Irregulars), so it is hard to gauge the prospects of this one even if it starts out in the Nielsen Streaming Top 10.
Renewal Prospects: Fair
Day of the Dead (Syfy, Premieres October 2021): Another horror entry on Syfy’s Fall schedule, though at least this reboot of the George A. Romero film has some sci fi elements (the zombies were created by a virus, not supernatural means). And again the network is going for name recognition with this property just like with Chucky (see above), but has the zombie-pocalypse genre been spent on television at this point?
Renewal Prospects: Toss-Up
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Doctor Who (BBCA, Returning for 13th Season): The thirteenth season of this long-running series is finally set for a fall return (no premiere date yet) and it will be the swansong for Jodie Whittaker who will exit the role after three specials that will air in 2022. But expect another regeneration for the Doctor (and possibly J. Michael Sraczynski coming onboard as showrunner?) with more adventures through time and space to follow.
Renewal Prospects: Good
Doom Patrol (HBO Max, Season 3 Premieres Sep 23): It is too early to get a good gauge of how long HBO Max will allow its originals to run. The Big Three streamers (Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu) tend to wrap up their shows around the third or fourth season mark, and it is not impossible that HBO’s streaming service could do the same. I would still put decent money on at least one more season from the comic book adaptation of this quirky superhero team, though.
Renewal Prospects: Good
The Expanse (Amazon, Final Season): It sure would have been nice if Amazon had allowed this one to continue to adapt the James S.A. Corey novels (it will make it to six out of nine), but ending it with advance notice that its sixth season will be its last is certainly better than where Syfy left it after its third season. It is possible that another venue could pick up the show and carry on the story, but that seems like a longshot at this point.
Status: Final Season
Fantasy Island (FOX, Airing 1st Season): This reboot of the well-known ’70s/’80s series is really more of a Summer entry, but I will include it here since it will carry into the Fall. The numbers have been okay for this one so far, but not spectacular, and FOX did not give much in the way of promotion or a premiere timeslot. But I would not count it out just yet.
Renewal Prospects: Fair
Fear the Walking Dead (AMC, Season 7 Premieres Oct 17): This TWD spin-off continues to lumber on even though most of the buzz coming from it seems to be negative. The seventh season has not been announced as its last, but I am guessing that the creative team has been told to start wrapping up the storylines. It is approaching the one hundred episode mark which makes it more attractive for a syndication run, and it could very well wrap up at that point or maybe stick around for one more year.
Renewal Prospects: Toss Up
The Flash (CW, Season 8 Premieres Nov 16): This show may have ceded its Arrow-verse tentpole status to Superman & Lois this past season seeing as that show outmatched it in the linear ratings (though just barely). And The Flash is getting rather long in the tooth at this point. But unless there is a final season announcement before its eighth year begins, expect it to stick around for at least one more season.
Renewal Prospects: Good
Foundation (Apple TV+, Premieres Sep 24): So far, Apple TV+ has been a good landing place for sci fi/fantasy shows with most getting a second season renewal ahead of their premieres. Foundation has not received the greenlight for a second year just yet, but I expect that the streamer is playing the long game with this one. Look for it to run at least three seasons so that it can cover the original trilogy.
Renewal Prospects: Good
Ghosts (CBS, Premieres Oct 7): CBS is not known for supporting sci fi/fantasy shows, but if this one is more sitcom than genre entry, that will help its chances. It has a decent timeslot, so I give it at least has a ghost of a chance of sticking around to a second season.
Renewal Prospects: Fair
Hawkeye (Disney+, Premieres Nov 24): Unlike Wandavision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, it appears that this MCU entry is built to run for multiple seasons. How long shows like this and Loki will produce new seasons remains to be seen, but I like the chances for a second year of Hawkeye.
Renewal Prospects: Good
Invasion (Apple TV+, Premieres Oct 22): This alien-invasion entry from Apple TV+ does not have the name-recognition of Foundation, but I still like its chances of getting a second season nod because that has been the trend for this streamer so far. How long it lasts beyond that remains to be seen.
Renewal Prospects: Good
La Brea (NBC, Premieres Sep 28): NBC ditched Debris pretty quickly last season and also canceled Manifest despite the evidence that the linear ratings did not truly reflect the show’s audience (and it subsequently became the most-watched acquired streaming series for seven weeks in a row). The prospects for the Lost-like La Brea, yet another heavily serialized drama with genre elements, do not look great at this point unless it comes out of the gate strong.
Renewal Prospects: Toss Up
Legacies (CW, Season 4 Premieres Oct 14): This show will have reached the four-season threshold when it returns, but it continues to be one of the better-rated CW entries. I’m guessing it gets at least a fifth season if not more as it carries on the Vampire Diaries franchise.
Renewal Prospects: Very Good
Legends of Tomorrow (CW, Season 7 Premieres Oct 13): I have had this team-up show on final season watch for a while, but The CW keeps bringing it back. With Arrow and Black Lightning ended and Supergirl airing out it’s final episodes, characters from those shows could make the move to Legends of Tomorrow. And if there is no final-season announcement by the time this one kicks off its seventh year, expect it to keep going for another season or more.
Renewal Prospects: Good
Locke & Key (Netflix, Season 2 Premieres Oct 22): Word is that viewership was good for this one in its first season, though it debuted before the Nielsen Streaming Rankings were in place so we have to trust Netflix’s word on that. I would expect that this one would get at least a third season, though it is getting harder to gauge the status of this streamer’s shows as it continues its churn-and-burn strategy. But I still give this one decent odds.
Renewal Prospects: Fair
Lost in Space (Netflix, Final Season): Consider this reboot of the ’60s series to be the quintessential Netflix show. It has name recognition that draws new subscribers to the service and it is given a three-seeason run which allows it to tell its story before getting to the point of contract escalations for cast and crew and/or delivering diminishing returns on those new subs. Once it wraps its third season, Netflix will be ready with the next entry in its constant churn of originals.
Status: Final Season
Lucifer (Netflix, Season 6 Premieres Sep 10): Netflix did three seasons of this supernatural dramedy, which they saved from cancellation by FOX, and that is right in the target tenure range it prefers for its originals. But this one has proven to be a breakout hit, so don’t be surprised if a spin-off or sequel series emerges at some point. Tom Ellis is certainly willing to stick with the character.
Status: Final Season
Nancy Drew (CW, Season 3 Premieres Oct 8): The linear ratings have never been great for this supernatural take on the super-sleuth, but it does well in digital viewing and it is closing in on that fourth-year threshold The CW appears to have set for its shows. Plus, a Tom Swift spin-off series is in the works. Except this one to get to at least a fourth season if not more.
Renewal Prospects: Very Good
Riverdale (CW, Season 6 Premieres Nov 16): This dark take on the Archie comics will pass the one hundred episode mark in its sixth season and could be looking at wrapping up in the next year or two. There has been no final season announcement at this point, though, so expect it to stick around for at least a seventh season.
Renewal Prospects: Good
Star Trek Discovery (Paramount+, Returning for 4th Season): Word is that work has already begun on a fifth season of this Star Trek prequel, and I would expect that Paramount+ will want for it to get to at least enough episodes to give it an extended run in syndication. So I consider a fifth season renewal to be a good bet and it could stick around longer.
Renewal Prospects: Good
Star Wars Visions (Disney+, Premieres Sep 22): It is unclear at this point if this Star Wars Anime anthology is intended for an ongoing run or if it is just a one-shot. If there are long-term plans for this one, I can see it sticking around for a few years on Disney+.
Renewal Prospects: Good
The Walking Dead (AMC, Airing Final Season): This long-running zombie-pocalypse series based on the Robert Kirkman comics is finally coming to an end. Its final season consists of twenty-four episodes that will be aired in three eight-episode blocks. The first block is currently airing with the other two set for 2022. But more TWD spin-offs and sequels are on the way including the movies that will catch up with Rick Grimes.
Status: Final Season
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The Walking Dead: World Beyond (AMC, Season 2 Premieres Oct 3): I’m thinking this TWD spin-off series was cancelled without actually getting cancelled. Two seasons were planned in advance, but if the ratings had been stronger I’m guessing it could have continued beyond that. This one will wrap up with its ten-episode second season, and perhaps some of its storylines will be carried into the other TWD spin-offs and sequels currently planed.
Status: Final Season
The Wheel of Time (Amazon, Premieres Fall 2021): Coming as no surprise, Amazon has given this one a second season renewal in advance of its first season premiere. This is an epic undertaking for the streaming service, so I expect this one to stick around for at least three to four seasons possibly followed by sequel series based on more books from Robert Jordan’s sprawling book series.
Status: Renewed for 2nd Season
The Witcher (Netflix, Season 2 Premieres Dec 17): This fantasy series has proven to be a hit for Netflix so far with a spin-off already in the works, and I would expect at least three to four seasons from it. Whether it will succeed in breaking the streamer’s four-season wall, though, remains to be seen.
Renewal Prospects: Good
What We Do in the Shadows (FX, Season 3 Premieres Sep 2): This supernatural comedy has done quite well for FX so far and it has already been renewed for a fourth season. I would expect at least another season or two beyond that as well.
Status: Renewed for 4th Season
Y The Last Man (Hulu, Premieres Sep 13): This post-apocalyptic series based on the comic by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra has been long in the making but finally arrives this September. Genre entries on FX have generally enjoyed multi-season runs, so I like its chances of coming back for at least a second season.
Renewal Prospects: Good
Young Justice (HBO Max, Season 4 Premieres Oct 21): The long-delayed fourth season of this acclaimed young superhero series finally arrives in October. That will get it to close to the one hundred episode mark which is typically where animated shows cap out. But it is still possible that HBO Max could bring this one back for possibly one final season.
Renewal Prospects: Fair
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