“Still Star-Crossed” set out to tell what happens between the Montagues and Capulets after Romeo And Juliet take their own lives. The series follows Romeo’s cousin Benvolio (Wade Briggs) and Juliet’s cousin Rosaline (Lashana Lynch) as they are forced into a relationship to create peace between their families.
It’s a Shakespearean soap opera if ever there was one, but fans of the show are about to be let down. According to Torrance Coombs, who stars as Paris, the man formerly betrothed to Juliet, ABC has opted to cancel the series.
Torrance Coombs shares the news
Coombs shared the news with fans via his Twitter account, likely in response to fans repeatedly messaging him about their own worries about the show being off one week, on the next, and the lack of viewership as a result.
Coombs confirmed that, “yes, it’s true that ‘Still Star-Crossed’ won’t be going for a second season,” but he also went on to lament the “funny business” of television, detailing that “sometimes you catch fire and sometimes you don’t,” while calling the series “one of the best things” he’s done.
Yes, it's true that #StillStarCrossed won't be going for a second season. However, the remainder of season 1 will be broadcast.
— Torrance Coombs (@torrancecoombs) June 24, 2017
It's a funny business. I think it's one of the best things I've done. Sometimes you catch fire and sometimes you don't. #StillStarCrossed
— Torrance Coombs (@torrancecoombs) June 24, 2017
Moving to Saturdays
ABC hasn’t pulled the plug on the show completely.
As Coombs’ tweet suggested, the series is moving to Saturday nights to finish out its first, and only, season.
The network has updated their schedule to reflect the move for “Still Star-Crossed.” Instead of its current Monday night time slot, “Still Star-Crossed” will air on Saturdays at 10 PM beginning on July 8.
Declining ratings
The summer TV schedule is always a time of lower ratings for network television, but “Still Star-Crossed” hasn’t performed where ABC expected, not doing the show any favors. The series averaged two million viewers for its first two episodes, but then, a week off thanks to basketball season caused a sharp decline.
For episode three, only 1.6 million people tuned in to see if Benvolio and Rosaline could convince Verona that they were really in love. It was an 18% decline in overall viewers, but the decline came in the critical demographic for the network. Amongst 18 to 49-year-olds, the audience instead dropped 40%, a blow for advertisers who rely on that market to sell their products.
‘Pluck Out the Heart of My Mystery’
“Still Star-Crossed” will be skipping its next Monday night timeslot and moving straight to Saturdays. The next episode, “Pluck Out the Heart of My Mystery” will be the first to air on its new night and time.
In it, Rosaline and Benvolio will be picking up their partnership, but in a new way.
They won’t just be convincing Verona of their fictional love in order to maintain peace between their families; the duo will also be attempting to uncover a larger conspiracy in Verona, trying to figure out who is responsible for continually putting their families against one another.
If fans are hoping for a Hail Mary, their best bet to get ABC to consider the second season is to tune in for the new episodes and provide higher ratings in the new time slot.
