When we talk about shows being cancelled, low ratings are frequently the culprit. However, subscription cable shows don’t need as many live or same day viewers to find a niche, so there are often more unique reasons for shows ending their tenures on channels like HBO and Starz. Recently, we learned that Da Vinci’s Demons will be ending after Season 3, and this week Starz CEO Chris Albrecht revealed that a big reason the network dropped the series is that its fans overlap with other properties that are doing a bit better.
We have the success with Black Sails, which in some ways appeals to some of the same audiences, and while we have a lot of fan boys for Da Vinci’s Demons, we have what may be the fan boy series of all time in Ash vs Evil Dead.
While I’m not certain that Ash Vs. Evil Dead will have a ton of audience crossover with Da Vinci’s Demons, Black Sails does have some crossover in terms of being a period drama with fun dialogue and featuring elements of adventure. Albrecht’s comments at the TCA press tour indicate that having other programs that resonate with viewers played a part in the show’s upcoming ending, but it’s not the only reason.
It also doesn’t help that David S. Goyer is no longer involved with Da Vinci’s Demons. Goyer’s a pretty prolific producer, and last TV season he spent time working on NBC’s Constantine. While that show unfortunately did not last past its first season on the major network, the point is, he’s a busy dude and he had to be replaced. While Starz isn’t saying anything negative about the new showrunner, it’s clear the show is no longer David S. Goyer’s baby and that makes it a little less of a draw.
A replaced showrunner and fanboy crossover aren’t the only two reasons Starz made the decision to end Da Vinci's Demons. Deadline reports that Albrecht also believes that the channel wasn’t sure they wanted to stick with the show, but that Season 3 is a good ending point because it will wrap up the current storyline satisfactorily.
If we didn’t stop now, the story should’ve gone through the next point, and we would’ve been in it for at least a couple of more seasons.
At the end of the day, there are a lot of reasons a show gets cancelled, and unfortunately, a decent performer like Da Vinci’s Demons is not immune to getting the axe. On the bright side, the show hasn’t been cancelled effective immediately. The show’s third season will still hit the schedule, and soon. You can catch new episodes of Da Vinci’s Demons starting on October 24 at 8 p.m. ET on Starz. In addition, Here’s what else the networks (and streaming services) have coming up this fall.
It's unfortunate that Da Vinci's Demons was cancelled. However, if you are looking to add the series to your dvd or blu-ray collection, you can check that out here.
