Cancellation Watch: Status updates for the sci fi and fantasy shows on the broadcast networks, cable channels, and streaming services as well as breaking news on the currently airing, returning, and upcoming genre entries.
Status Updates
Foundation (Apple TV+, Streaming 2nd Season, Renewal Possible): This show returned for its second season in mid-July, but it did not place in the Nielsen Streaming Rankings over the first two weeks it was releasing episodes. Season 2 has received high marks from critics (currently holding a 100% Fresh Rating on Rotten Tomatoes), but there has been no word on viewership so far. Apple TV+ tends to support its originals, but this is an expensive series to produce. A third season is still possible, but fans may want to start making some noise on the social networks to bring it more attention.
Shadow and Bone (Netflix, Completed 2nd Season, Renewal Possible): The second season of this show adapted the second and third books of the trilogy, but there is more story to explore in the Grishaverse, and showrunner Eric Heisserer has plans for a third season. He would like to do a spin-off series that follows the Six of Crows storyline and a potential third season of Shadow and Bone would delve more into the characters of that show. It spent four weeks in the Nielsen Streaming Rankings and five in the Netflix Top 10, but this is an expensive show to produce and it is one that could fall victim to the strikes. It has a notable following, though, and I expect fans will make some noise on the social networks to help convince Netflix to keep the franchise going.
Rabbit Hole (Paramount+, Completed 1st Season, On the Bubble): This spy thriller with hints of sci fi did not make it into the Nielsen Streaming Rankings during its first season run and there has been no word about it since it wrapped up in May. Series star Kiefer Sutherland has indicated that he would like the show to continue for a second season, but this one did not stir up much buzz and it is possible it could be lost in the mix with the strikes going on. I am moving it to Bubble status, and this is another one that could use a Call to Action from fans to bring it more attention and improve its chances of continuing to additional seasons.
Cancellation/Renewal Score:
Amazon reversed its renewal of The Peripheral last week which shifted one show from the renewal to the cancellation column for the 2022-23 season. The score currently stands at 41 cancelled and ending sci fi and fantasy shows (47% of shows tracked) vs. 39 renewed (45%). Below are the season’s numbers, and you can see the list of shows and keep up with the score throughout the week at our Cancellation Watch Page.
| Show Count | 87 | ||
| Cancelled | 21 | 24.1% | |
| Ending | 20 | 23.0% | 47.1% |
| Renewed | 39 | 44.8% | |
| On the Bubble | 3 | 3.4% | |
| Renewal Possible | 4 | 4.6% | |
| Mini-Series | 3 |
Be sure to follow the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site for breaking news and updates. And for the latest news and discussions on sci fi and fantasy television, follow r/SciFiTV
Follow our Sci Fi TV Schedule for all the currently airing and upcoming sci fi and fantasy television shows, and you can see the premieres for all the upcoming genre entries at this link.
Foundation is a visually impressive mess. I suspect the only reason it rates so high is because of ‘representation’ and DEI considerations. I’ve heard time and time again people say that only the Empire parts of the show are of any interest – the other part with the two female leads is basically just the stuff you fast forward to get to the other parts. I can’t help but agree. Apple’s had some solid entries but this one is a dud.
I struggled through the first season but ultimately decided that I liked it. And so far, the buzz has been really good on the second season.
There were some rumors some months back that “Foundation” had already been given the go-ahead for a 3rd season and that filming had actually begun on it. You can read about that here:
https://www.techradar.com/streaming/apple-tv-plus/foundations-creator-and-cast-open-up-on-those-surprising-season-3-filming-rumors
HOWEVER, given the uncertainties the actors’ strike has caused, it has thrown any assurance about renews into chaos — along with what I have called the frustrating “unrenewing” as happened recently with Amazon’s “The Peripheral” and other series at other streamers/networks.
Certainly “A Call to Action” would *not* hurt a series — I would also do so for “Shadow and Bone” another series I enjoy (and I would love to see a “Six of Crows” series!). Netflix has said they wanted to make a franchise out of “The Witcher”, but their efforts to do so have been messy, to say the least. They would do far better to do so with the Grishaverse of “Shadow and Bone.”
(As for “Rabbit Hole” it never interested me so I never watched it; still I assume it has some fans.)
The core problem in all this right now *IS* the AG-AFTRA strike and, judging by their actions, the unwilling of networks/streamers to even begin to *seriously* negotiate. I wonder if any “Call to Action” would have any real affect now — or if it would just drop into the apparently fairly vast void between to the two sides in this contract dispute.