The CW cancels (another) TV show after four seasons

The CW has announced that its time in the superhero business will be ending as Superman and Lois’ upcoming fourth season will be its last. 

It’s a really tough time to be a fan of The CW. The network has been undergoing a huge change in the past two years after its sale to Nexstar which has resulted in the cancellation of the vast majority of its own programming.

The CW had its own unique identity, originally functioning as the home for teen dramas before evolving into the home for superheroes, and it actually produced some of the biggest global hits that US TV has seen in the past two decades.

Unfortunately, almost all of that identity is gone after the rebrand, and one final shred of it is coming to a premature end.

Superman and Lois will end on The CW with its fourth season

Superman and Lois will come to an end with its upcoming fourth season. It’s a frustrating decision, especially because it’s the network’s joint-most-watched show, with the third season averaging around 700,000 viewers. That was one of the reasons that it was one of the few original shows renewed by The CW.

However, that wasn’t an easy renewal, as the network’s desire to produce cheaper programming and air acquisitions made Superman and Lois‘ hefty price tag a tough sell. Thankfully, Warner Bros. were eager to keep the show going while James Gunn and Peter Safran worked on launching a new DC Universe with the upcoming movie Superman: Legacy, so negotiations eventually resulted in The CW agreeing to renew it for a fourth season.

That fourth and final season will look quite different to the previous three seasons, however, as there were significant budget cuts, with seven cast members departing as series regulars (though most are expected to return for guest or recurring appearances). The episode count will also be cut from 13 to 10, and the writers room has also been trimmed down.

It was hoped that cuts as significant as these would make a fifth season possible as the network would have to spend considerably less money on it (and still benefit from its high viewership) but unfortunately it seems that they decided against that.

Superman and Lois is one of the only remaining original CW shows left on the network. Walker, All American, and All American: Homecoming are also returning for new seasons. Whether or not that they will continue after that – or if the network’s cancellation spree will continue – remains to be seen.

Another beloved show ends after too many cancellations

Superman and Lois‘ impending end is just the latest in a long line of similar decisions over the past two years. The network famous for kickstarting the superhero TV renaissance we’re currently living in thanks to its Arrowverse programming has been cancelling the vast majority of its shows due to the Nexstar sale, and the DC TV shows have unfortunately been part of that.

While Arrow, Supergirl and Black Lightning all ended on their own terms before the sale to Nexstar was even a possibility, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Batwoman, DC’s Stargirl, Naomi, and Gotham Knights have all been cancelled since – in spite of the fact that the first three were among the most consistent performers on the network. Long-running veteran The Flash received similar treatment that Superman and Lois has, as it was renewed for a ninth and final season (which ended earlier this year). In another time, Warner Bros. might have intervened and saved the shows for their own streamer Max, but new ownership over there after the merger with Discovery has seen the company change its focus for DC content.

Superman and Lois is the last remaining superhero show on linear TV. It avoided the network’s cull of the expensive genre because of the high ratings and critical acclaim it received, so it’s safe to say that fans were hoping its season 4 renewal would be an extension of its planned five-season run, not a farewell tour.

Nevertheless, it’s good that both the show – and this entire era of DC TV – will get to bow out on its own terms. Even if it still feels a little premature.

If you’re a fan of Superman and Lois or The CW, listen to The CW Spiral Podcast for news, and updates on the future of the show and its season 4 return. Subscribe to their YouTube Channel here.