Shades of Blue fans will be feeling a little blue themselves after hearing NBC's news. The series, which boasts the star power of Jennifer Lopez and Ray Liotta, has officially been cancelled. But it won't leave us before going out in style, as Season 3 is still on the way, with ten episodes left of the series before it bids farewell. It's a silver lining, sure, but one that hopefully leaves fans ample time to relish the episodes they have left.
Starring Jennifer Lopez as Harlee Santos, a single-mom and NYPD officer who was coerced into working with the FBI's corrupt anti-corruption task force, Shades of Blue set itself apart from many other police dramas by also including big family drama stories set outside of work, which added to the overall excitement delivered by the hectic storylines. Shades of Blue premiered on NBC in January 2016 and had a strong start on the network, and not too long after said premiere, the network renewed it for a 13-episode sophomore season, which premiered the following March. And so we're surprised that it'll definitely be ending with Season 3
The cancellation is quite shocking given the series' star power, but the ratings likely spell out a lot about the show's fate. Season 2 saw a ratings and viewership loss of nearly half of that earned by Season 1. Season 2's ratings remained reasonably stable, though, and the show has developed a strong core following that has also kept its delayed viewing stats on the impressive side.
Jennifer Lopez expressed how much she will miss Shades of Blue, and the lasting impression it has left on her, in an emotional statement.
I have enjoyed producing and starring in this beautifully complicated world and playing such an empowering yet flawed character -- a woman, a detective, but, first and foremost, a mother. . . . It's crazy how some parts permeate your soul and change you forever and for that I am grateful. We crafted a poetic three-season arc on how her journey ends, which is true redemption. The way only Harlee could have done it -- the hard way, the road less traveled.
From the sound of things, Shades of Blue fans can take comfort in knowing that the final season will bring closure to the journey of its lead character. It is a rare experience when series get canceled. Just ask fans of the abruptly canceled Freeform series Beyond. Here's hoping NBC will keep this tradition of closure in mind when it comes to the fate of its other bubble shows.
To that end, what does Shades of Blue's cancellation mean for shows that are currently awaiting news at NBC? Two of those shows are also crime dramas, with the network's exceedingly entertaining procedural drama The Blacklist and the similarly-bent drama Blindspot both considered to be on the bubble. Should they get canceled, one can hope NBC will give its showrunners the same opportunity as Shades of Blue's to tie up all the loose ends.
For those who will miss their weekly dose of Jennifer Lopez, though, there is other good news. The multi-hyphenate star will continue leading NBC's dance competition series World of Dance, for which Lopez serves as a judge and executive producer. Season 2 premieres May 29.
The final season of Shades of Blue premieres on NBC, June 17 at 10 p.m. ET. Try to cheer yourself after the cancellation news by seeing when some of your other favorite TV shows will return by perusing our midseason premiere guide and summer TV schedule.
