Batwoman and Legends of Tomorrow Canceled
The Arrowverse has put two more shows back in its quiver, as the CW has canceled Batwoman and Legends of Tomorrow. Batwoman has been on the air for three seasons, and suffered some significant setbacks during its run, such as original star Ruby Rose injuring herself and ultimately quitting, then accusing the producers of mistreating her. When Rose left, she was replaced by Javicia Leslie, and the already dwindling ratings fell off a cliff. Caroline Dries, showrunner of the beleaguered series, announced the cancelation on Twitter:
Just got the sad news that #Batwoman will not be seeing an S4. I am bummed, but full of gratitude. What an honor to make 51 episodes. So many inspiring, brilliant people contributed to this series. Thank you producers, cast and crew. Thank you, fans! We love you. ❤️
— Caroline Dries (@carolinedries) April 29, 2022
Legends of Tomorrow has been around longer, having just completed its seventh season. The series, about a team of time-traveling heroes and anti-heroes – many of whom began as supporting characters on Arrow or The Flash – went through radical casting changes, as well as a tonal shift in its second season, and the result was diminishing ratings. Kito Shimizu, who served as co-showrunner with Phil Klemmer, broke the news on this one:
Well, folks. It’s been an incredible run. However, the CW has let us know that there will be no season 8 of #LegendsOfTomorrow. We are heartbroken, but also immensely grateful for the amazing work our cast, crew, and writers have contributed to the little show that could.
— Keto Shimizu (@ketomizu) April 30, 2022
These cancelations aren’t all that surprising, even for the CW, which will typically renew almost anything. Not only are the ratings bad, but they’ve been steadily declining, particularly in the 18-49 age demographic, which is the most important to advertisers and, thusly, networks. I also don’t think it’s a coincidence that ViacomCBS and WarnerMedia are currently looking to sell the CW; they’re likely trimming some of the fat to make their not-quite-Angus beef look like a better buy. As for me, I’m not fazed by it. I never watched Batwoman because the woke writing was on the wall for that show from the beginning. (“It will be… when it fits a woman.” Yeah, right here, lady.) My only encounters with it were “Crisis on Infinite Earths” (all of which was God-awful) and when Javicia Leslie showed up during The Flash’s “Armageddon” five-parter, and from what I gather (poor Az), I’m all the better for it.
Legends of Tomorrow, on the other hand, I used to watch. I loved the first season, with its motley crew of also-rans doing their best to fight Vandal Savage, who felt completely out of their league. The team dynamic worked, with everyone filling a specific role and bouncing off the others well, and the theme of free will vs. determinism was compelling. Then, season 2 happened; the team was changed too radically – which felt like it was done to make a statement about the malleability of the Legends crew rather than because it was actually good for the show (which it wasn’t) – and the tone shifted so far into comedy that it became a ridiculous farce devoid of any tension or humanity. (Some people loved this; I imagine they’re Ragnarok fans.) Partway through season 3 – around the time that talking doll became a Viking god – I was done. I wouldn’t mind seeing some of the remaining characters, like Sarah Lance, show up on The Flash, but I hope she’s actually cool again.
Are you sad to see Batwoman or Legends of Tomorrow go? Would you like to see any of the characters guest-star on other Arrowverse shows? Is Arthur Darvill raising a Scotch in devilish satisfaction? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to Geeks + Gamers for more from the ever-shrinking Arrowverse!
