Containment got cancelled after one season for several interconnected reasons related to ratings, cost, and its original format as a limited series. The 2016 CW show Containment was initially developed as a limited event series based on the Belgian drama Cordon, with a closed story meant to end after 13 episodes. The CW left open the possibility of a second season if ratings were very strong, but viewership declined steadily, starting with 1.7 million viewers for the premiere and falling below 800,000 by episode 13, which is considered low even for The CW's standards, especially for a show with high production costs involving location shooting in Atlanta, crowd scenes, hazmat suits, and quarantine sets. Critical reception was mixed, with a 53 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with reviewers praising the timely premise and diverse cast but criticizing melodramatic soap opera elements and inconsistent writing. The network also had a crowded schedule of higher-performing DC superhero shows like The Flash and Arrow that attracted the same young adult demographic more reliably. Additionally, because the story was designed to have a conclusion, writers wrapped up major plotlines in the finale, including revealing the source of the virus and the fate of the cordon, making a second season less necessary creatively. In May 2016, The CW announced it would not renew Containment, and it was officially cancelled.
1 votes
Marked as accepted