Why a Once Upon a Time season 8 renewal is still possible

Once Upon a Time January 8, 2018

While we understand that some may say that a Once Upon a Time season 8 is pretty unlikely, some new information seems to suggest that there could be a better opportunity for the ABC series to return than you may initially think.

Why is that? Well at the TCA Winter Press Tour on Monday, ABC’s programming head Channing Dungey seemed to suggest that there is still a chance for more episodes based on what the show is drawing in terms of DVR ratings. Nothing has been decided, but a Once Upon a Time season 8 renewal could still happen.

Take a look, via TVLine, at some of what she had to say on that subject:

“[The] actual fan base [measured by total audience] really hasn’t shifted very much. It’s more that they’ve been watching it more time-shifted since we’ve been on Friday.”

What Dungey is referring to here are the show’s DVR numbers, which have increased significantly ever since the series moved to its new timeslot. There are still fewer viewers overall watching, but it’s not by as significant a margin as you may think. Great DVR ratings are a sign that a show is more popular than its current timeslot gives it credit for, but this is far from a guarantee of a renewal … or really anything even close to that.

Dungey added that they will hear a possible season 8 pitch from show co-creators Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz before a final decision is made. We do think that Once Upon a Time season 7 has delivered some fun ideas, but we’d also say that there have been times the narrative has become more complicated than it needs to be. We of course do miss Ginnifer Goddwin, Jennifer Morrison, Josh Dallas, and some other old favorites, but it’s hard to anything about that. If you want to keep the show going and they want to leave, you’re really facing a catch-22 sort of situation there.

We’ll have more on the potential Once Upon a Time season 8 renewal prospects soon; for now, share some of your own expectations within the attached comments.

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2 Comments

Dave
January 9, 2018 @ 8:07 am

I just wish they would designate a day for OUAT reruns. Or have a marathon of half the season. Hell 12 hours is too long but make it a 3 night event showing off only 4 episodes. There is still so many other fans who have yet to watch Season 7 or even understand why there’s 2 versions of character cause they haven’t watched it from the beginning.

But I do wish in S7B they would continued to remind the audience and us that this is a separate realm from a separate book that Henry has found. Henry entered a Multiverse of fairy tales.
Nicky Aiuto
January 9, 2018 @ 2:13 am

On the contrary. Ginny and Josh have been hinting that they wish to come back and they have not quit the show. And also, Eddie had recently hinted on TVguide last month that they might bring back original faces including Ginny and Josh.