Ratings Bubble Report: Should Lethal Weapon season 3 happen on Fox?
So should Lethal Weapon be renewed for a season 3 on Fox? Is it possible that it could be canceled at the end of the spring? We’re confident that there is more coming for Riggs and Murtaugh, but let’s look through all of the variables.
Understanding the latest Lethal Weapon season 2 ratings
As of right now, we’d called the Lethal Weapon season 2 ratings a little bit of a mixed bag. The good news is that with a 1.0 rating in the 18-49 demographic, the numbers are avoiding the fractional threshold. Yet, they’re also down significantly from season 1 — think more than 30% in the 18-49 demographic.
There is a little bit of a caveat you do need to think about it when it comes to this, and it has to do with the fact that Lethal Weapon is airing on a different night. In the first season, this was a show that had the help of Empire, at least in that they were a part of a one-two punch. This year, it’s not only leading up its own night, but it’s paired with some lower-rated comedies and also is airing up against NCIS — a very similar show, by most estimations.
Why Lethal Weapon could be renewed for season 3
The biggest reason is simple: Branding. This is a property that does have a heck of a lot of equity no matter how you spin it. There are fans of the Lethal Weapon franchise all over the world and this is a property that can be sold really well. It’s also a show that is only going to get better insofar as chemistry and humor goes as time progresses.
In terms of performance, it’s worth noting that the ratings haven’t dipped at all through season 2. Those who watched at the start are still watching now.
Why Lethal Weapon could be canceled
We are very much aware of the fact that this is not the cheapest show to put on the air. There are a ton of high-octane action sequences and that sort of stuff always cost a pretty penny. Beyond that, many Fox shows are frankly performing better. At the moment, we’d say that there’s a trio of Gotham, Lucifer, and Lethal Weapon — two out of the three of them will probably be renewed, but we’re not sure all three will. Much of that could come down to what Fox thinks as the most valuable in the long-term. Given that they’re all either adaptations or from an established franchise, it’s really hard to rate them.
Related – What’s coming up on Lethal Weapon next? Get ready for some Riggs backstory
Our verdict: Lethal Weapon will likely be renewed
We’re not 100% confident on it yet, mostly because end-of-season ratings could stall the show out and anything could still happen. Nonetheless, we do think that Fox needs a show in this sort of vein and Lethal Weapon is a hoot to watch. It’d be a shame to not get any more of it.
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