Guide to the Mid-Season 2018-19 Sci Fi and Fantasy TV Shows

Mid-Season is upon us and the sci fi and fantasy shows are already returning from hiatus or having their early 2019 debuts. At current count, there are over forty shows that will be returning or premiering from January through April and I have given a rundown of all the ones I know about at this point. I provide the premiere dates a quick synopsis and and the status / prospects of the show heading into Mid-Season, and I have indicated which shows could use a Call to Action from fans on the social nets to give them a boost. You can see the current schedule for the Fall sci fi and fantasy shows at this link, and be sure to follow our Cancellation Watch column and the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site throughout the week to keep up with the status of your favorite shows and the ratings results.

(Links below are to the show pages on this site with more information, status updates, and ratings results where available.)

American Gods (Starz / Sun 9 PM) Season 2 Premieres Mar 10

About: After a two year wait, Starz’s adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s book about the old gods living in America finally returns for its second season.

Status: This show has gone through some behind the scenes shakeups with Brian Fuller and Michael Green having left after its first season and several more members of its creative talent departing as well. The first season performed well for Starz, so hopefully the changes won’t drive viewers away in the show’s second year.

Arrow (CW / Mon 9 PM) Returns from Hiatus Jan 21

About: This series returns from Fall as Team Arrow continues to wage war on the criminals that threaten Star City.

Status: The numbers are down for this show in its seventh season (as they are for most shows on television), but expect this one to be back for an eighth year to participate in the Crisis on Infinite Earths cross-over event that will likely bring big changes to the Arrow-verse.

Black Lightning (CW / Tue 9 PM) (New Timeslot) Returns from Hiatus Jan 21

About: This show returns from Fall as Jefferson Pierce will continue to fight crime in his city as the superhero Black Lightning with the help of his two daughters and other allies that want to make the streets safe again. (Based on the DC comic book characters, this is not officially considered part of The CW’s Arrow-verse shows.)

Status: The numbers are down for this show, but CW prefers to renew shows rather than cancel them. But since it is only in its second season and has a ways to go to reach the syndication stretch, this one could be vulnerable if the numbers remain low.

Black Mirror (Netflix / Streaming) Season 5 Premieres 2019

About: This sci fi anthology series debuted the interactive episode “Bandersnatch” at the end of December and the full fifth season will be following at some point. That could happen by Spring or this one may take a bit longer to return with new episodes.

Status: This acclaimed series continues to draw plenty of praise and I am guessing that Netflix will keep it around for a few more years.

Charmed (CW / Sun 9 PM) Returns from Hiatus Jan 20

About: Returning from Fall, this reboot of the 90’s series follows two sisters who discover they have another sister they never knew about and that they possess magical abilities they never knew existed.

Status: The ratings for the broadcast airings of this show have not been great, though also not too bad for highly competitive Sundays. And this one is reportedly performing well in digital viewing so a second season renewal is looking like a good bet.

The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (Netflix / Streaming) Season 2 Premieres

About: Sabrina Spellman must reconcile her dual nature as a half-witch, half-mortal while fighting the evil forces that threaten her, her family, and the daylight world humans inhabit.

Status: This show debuted last Fall to a warm reception and is hurrying back for its second season this Spring. And it has already been renewed through its fourth season.

Cosmos: Possible Worlds (FOX / Sun 9 PM) Premieres Mar 3

About: Neil deGrasse Tyson brings us another season of the acclaimed science series that was originally launched by Carl Sagan.

Status: The previous season of Cosmos was not a huge hit for FOX ratings-wise, but it drew in good global viewing numbers from simulcasts and some respectability to the network. If Tyson does not get mired down with the recent allegations against him, the network could bring this one back for another round.

Counterpart (Starz / Sun 9 PM) Continues from Fall

About: A man working a rather mundane job discovers that a parallel Earth exists and that his counterpart on the other side is a high-ranking agent involved with intrigue and espionage on both sides.

Status: Those people that are tuning in to this show should hope that the second season does not end on a cliffhanger. Because this one barely registers in the ratings and could likely be done after it wraps up its current run.  A Call to Action could definitely help this show out at this point.

Deadly Class (Syfy / Wed 9 PM) NEW SERIES Premieres Jan 16

About: A disillusioned young man is recruited to be part of a school training people to be assassins. Based on the comic of the same name by Rick Remender.

Prospects: The pilot episode is available for streaming on Syfy’s website and app and the series will have its broadcast debut on January 16th. This John–Wick-meets-Harry–Potter show is a bit of a divergence for its network but may draw in some curious viewers.

A Discovery of Witches (Shudder / Streaming) NEW SERIES Premieres Jan 17

About: Diana Bishop is a historian and reluctant witch who is drawn back into the world that she shunned when she discovers a book that holds the secrets of many magical beings. This is based on the All Souls trilogy by Deborah Harkness.

Status: This series debuted in Britain on Sky One in Fall. It has already been renewed through a third season which will presumably cover through the third book.

Doom Patrol (DCU / Streaming) NEW SERIES Premieres Feb 15

About: In this spin-off from Titans, the misfit heroes Cyborg, Robotman, Negative Man, Elasti-Woman, and Crazy Jane are brought together by the man known as The Chief to use their powers to fight evil.

Status: As with Titans, DC Universe has renewed this show for a second season before the first debuted.

The Flash (CW / Tue 8 PM) Returns from Hiatus Jan 15

About: This series returns from Fall as the Flash and his allies, both meta-human and human, continue to protect Central City from dire threats.

Status: The numbers are down for this show in its fifth season (as they are for most shows on television), but expect this one to soar back for a sixth year to participate in the Crisis on Infinite Earths cross-over event that will likely bring big changes to the Arrow-verse.

Future Man (Hulu / Streaming) Season 2 Premieres Jan 11

About: In this sci fi comedy, a man from the present who happens to be a good gamer is recruited to fight in the real, time-spanning war that his favorite game is based on.

Status: This show did not make a lot of waves in its first season but apparently drew enough viewers to bring it back for a second year. It could stick around for another year or so on the streaming service.

Game of Thrones (HBO / Sun 9 PM) Season 8 Premieres in April

About: HBO’s adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire books returns for its final season. It will only consist of six episodes, but most of those will be super-sized to wrap up the show’s epic story.

Status: This will be the final season of Game of Thrones, but the franchise will live on in prequels, sequels, and spin-offs beginning with The Long Night which is already in development.

About:

The Gifted (FOX / Tue 8 PM) Returns from Hiatus Jan 1

About: Returning from Fall, this spin-off from the X-Men franchise follows a group of young mutants on the run from a world that fears people with their abilities.

Status: The ratings are down notably for this show in its second season and it is not seeing much in the way of delayed viewing gains like it did in its first year. I currently have this one On the Bubble and fans need to stage a Call to Action to bring attention to the show.

God Friended Me (CBS / Sun 9 PM) Returns from Hiatus Jan 6

About: Returning from Fall, this show follows an outspoken atheist who has his life is turned upside down when he is friended by God on Facebook. Unwittingly, he becomes an agent of change in the lives and destinies of others around him.

Status: This show performed relatively well in Fall on highly competitive Sundays, but it frequently had a boost from NFL Football run-over. If it can remain in the Top 25 based on total viewers in the Spring, then expect CBS to bring it back for a second season.

What’s to watch on the Streaming Services?  Click on the following links for a comprehensive list of the Sci Fi TV Shows available on Netflix | Prime Video | Hulu

The Good Place (NBC / Thu 8:30 PM) (New Timeslot) Returns from Hiatus Jan 10

About: Returning from Fall, this show follows a woman who was not very good during her life but finds herself in the “Good Place” after she dies. She does her best to fit in and avoid getting sent to the “Bad Place”.

Status: This show has managed to perform decent enough for NBC on Thursdays and it has received good buzz from critics as well. The network has already renewed it for a fourth season.

Gotham (FOX / Thu 8 PM) Season 5 Premieres Jan 3

About: Gotham is back for its final season and we will finally see the Dark Knight this year. Jim Gordon continues to battle the villains of Gotham City and a certain Caped Crusader will be showing up at some to lend a hand in the fight against evil.

Status: The ratings have been on a downturn for this one the last few seasons, but FOX elected to bring it back for one more year to wrap up up the origin of Batman.

Happy (Syfy / TBD) Returning for 2nd Season

About: A down-on-his-luck ex-cop teams up with an imaginary (or is he?) winged blue unicorn named Happy to solve the disappearance of a young girl. Hi-jinks ensue.

Status: This bat-shit crazy series (based on the Grant Morrison comic of the same name), started strong last season but then dropped off. Syfy is terrible about promoting its own shows and also follows old school thinking of placing heavy importance on the same day ratings numbers. So whether this one can survive to a third season may depend on what sort of magic Happy can conjure.

The InBetween (NBC / TBD) NEW SERIES

About: A woman has the ability to communicate with the dead and help them to resolve issues from when they were alive. An FBI agent enlists her to assist with an investigation he has been struggling with.

Prospects: NBC announced this series last May but has yet to add it to their schedule which could be a bad sign. The network did the same with Reverie last year and ended up casting that one to a burn-off run in Summer before cancelling it.

Into the Dark (Hulu / Streaming) Continues from Fall

About: This series will release one “super-sized” episode a month featuring a horror story from well-known genre directors and/or writers.

Status: Sounds like this show is following a similar concept that brought Showtime’s Masters of Horror series plenty of acclaim and it should be able to stick around on the streaming service for a few years.

Legacies (CW / Thu 9 PM) Returns from Hiatus Jan 24

About: Continuing from Fall, this spin-off from The Originals focuses on the character Hope Mikaelson who is a hybrid vampire / werewolf and who carries on the legacy of the original vampires.

Status: The ratings for the broadcast airings of this show have not been great, though not too bad for the fifth place network. And this one is reportedly performing well in digital viewing so a second season renewal is looking like a good bet.

Legends of Tomorrow (CW / Mon 8 PM) Returns from Hiatus in Apr

About: Returning from Fall, this show follows the Legends as they continue to battle the demons that they have inadvertently released.

Status: The numbers were pretty low for this one in the Fall, but I still expect this one to be back for fifth season season to participate in the Crisis on Infinite Earths cross-over event that will likely bring big changes to the Arrow-verse.

MacGyver (CBS / Fri 8 PM) Returns from Hiatus Jan 4

About: Returning from Fall, secret agent MacGyver continues his work for the clandestine Phoenix Foundation and continues to find ingenuous ways to escape from the predicaments he finds himself in.

Status: This has been a stable performer on low-viewership Fridays and it is entering its third full season which practically guarantees it will stick around for a fourth year because that gets it to a syndication friendly count of episodes (where shows really start to turn a profit).

The Magicians (Syfy / Wed 9 PM) Season 4 Premieres Jan 23

About: In the fourth season of this supernatural drama, magic is back in the world but our heroes do not realize it because they have been given non-magical identities. They must now find their way back to a reality they do not even know exists. Based on the Lev Grossman books of the same name.

Status: This has remained Syfy’s highest-rated show for three years now, so expect this one to stick around for a few more seasons unless licensing agreements become an issue.

Manifest (NBC / Mon 10 PM) Returns from Hiatus Jan 7

About: Five years ago, Montego Air Flight 828 disappeared off the radar and the flight, with its crew and passengers, was considered lost.  But when it shows up again, only five hours has passed for those onboard.  They must wrestle with returning to their former lives while also dealing with the mysteries and implications of their disappearance.

Status: This show started off strong based on its same day ratings but saw those slip throughout Fall. But it regularly placed in the Top 5 among broadcast network shows based on Live+7 delayed viewing, so if it does not slip too much from that it should be cleared for landing for a second season.

Missions (Shud / Streaming) Season 2 Premieres in Spring

About: A privately funded mission to Mars succeeds in landing on the Red Planet, but what they find there could change our beliefs about the origins of the human race.

Status: This French-made series is funded in part by AMC and airs on their Shudder streaming service.  I thought that the second season would debut in Fall, but now it is looking like it will arrive in Spring.

The Orville (FOX / Thu 9 PM) Season 2 Premieres Dec 30 (Timeslot Premiere Jan 3)

About: The crew of the starship Orville is back and will continue their galactic adventures with plenty of the same humor and snarky lines we saw in the show’s first season.

Status: Based on the early numbers, this show is down notably in its second season. But it performed well in delayed viewing last year and if it continues to see those same gains this season then it could be on track for a third season renewal.  But fans should be prepared to stage a Call to Action if the numbers remain low.

Outlander (Starz / Sun 9 PM) Continues from Fall

About: This time-traveling romance continues from Fall as Claire and Jamie brave the challenges of an untamed continent in the New World.

Status: The numbers for this show were down notably in Fall, but it has already been renewed through its sixth season and should stick around for a while.

The Passage (FOX / Mon 9 PM) NEW SERIES Premieres Jan 14

About: Scientists experiment with a virus that could lead to a cure for all diseases but unwittingly create a strain that turns people into vampire-like creatures. One girl may hold the key to saving humanity from the ensuing pandemic.

Prospects: FOX has been developing this show for two years and has finally got it on their schedule. It could turn out to be a Mid-Season hit if it lives up to its promise and if the network supports the show.

Project Blue Book (Hist / Tue 10 PM) NEW SERIES Premieres Jan 8

About: Based on the true, top-secret investigations into Unidentified Flying Objects by the government, a brilliant yet underappreciated college professor, is recruited by the U.S. Air Force to spearhead a clandestine operation called Project Blue Book.

Status: Despite being based on “true” investigations, this one looks like it will be more X-Files than straight-forward procedural. And with Game of Thrones‘ Aidan Gillen in the lead role, it could turn into a sleeper sci fi series.

The Punisher (Netflix / Streaming) Season 2 Premieres Jan 18

About: Frank Castle continues his relentless war against crime which will find him facing off with the villain known as Jigsaw in the show’s second season.

Status: Netflix and Disney seem to be parting ways on their Marvel Universe collaboration with the streaming service having already cancelled Daredevil, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist. Expectations are that The Punisher will face that same fate after it wraps up its second season, so fans should stage a Call to Action to show there support for the series.

Riverdale (CW / Wed 8 PM) Returns from Hiatus Jan 16

About: The gang returns from Fall to continue exploring the mysteries of Riverdale in this Twin Peaks-meets-Archie-comics mash-up.

Status: This series continues to be a stable performer for The CW and also does very well in digital viewing.  Expect it to stick around for a few more seasons.

Roswell New Mexico (CW / Tue 9 PM) NEW SERIES Premieres Jan 15

About: This reboot of the 2002 series takes place in Roswell New Mexico where aliens have hidden their existence and integrated themselves with the humans living in that town.

Prospects: This one should appeal to The CW’s target demographic and I give it decent odds of surviving into a second season on the fifth place network.

A Series of Unfortunate Events (Netflix / Streaming) Season 3 Premieres Jan 1

About: Based on the Lemony Snicket books, this show returns for its final season and adapts the final four books in the series.

Status: This series has had a good run on Netflix and will wrap up with its third season. There is no indication  at this point that the streaming service will go beyond the original series with a new season.

Shadowhunters (Freeform / Tue 8 PM) Returns from Hiatus Feb 25

About: Based on The Mortal Instruments series of books, this show follows a group of “Shadowhunters” who fight demons and other “downworlder” creatures that threaten humanity.

Status: This show is returning for the second half of its third season and Freeform ordered two extra episodes to act as a series finale. Fans continue their Call to Action to convince the network to keep it going, but there is no indication that a fourth season of the show will happen.

Be sure to follow our Cancellation Watch column and the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site throughout the week to keep up with the status of your favorite shows and the ratings results.

Siren (Freeform / Thu 8 PM) Season 2 Premieres Jan 17

About: A mysterious woman–who happens to be a mermaid–shows up in the small coastal town of Bristol Cove searching for her sister who has been abducted by the military.

Status: This show performed well for Freeform in its first season and could stick around for a third year if it continues to play well to the network’s target demographic.

Star Trek Discovery (CBSAA / Streaming) Season 2 Premieres Jan 17

About: This Star Trek prequel series returns to continue to explore the Federation’s ventures into space prior to the events of the original series. And the second season season will bring a young Spock to the crew of the Discovery.

Status: Word is the viewership did not meet the expectations of the CBS network execs in the show’s first season, so this one will need to turn that around in its second year if the voyage of the Discovery is to continue.  Fans may want to stage a Call to Action to bring more attention to the show in its second year.

Supergirl (CW / Sun 8 PM) Returns from Hiatus Jan 20

About: Returning from Fall, Kara Zor-El (aka Kara Danvers) continues to defend National City in the guise of Supergirl against super-villains and other criminals.

Status: The numbers were down for this show in the Fall, but it still did well enough for The CW’s first foray into Sunday nights in over a decade. I expect it will be back for a fifth season season to participate in the Crisis on Infinite Earths cross-over event that will likely bring big changes to the Arrow-verse.

Supernatural (CW / Thu 8 PM) Returns from Hiatus Jan 17

About: This show returns from Fall as the Winchester brothers continue their lifelong mission to combat supernatural forces of evil.

Status: This show remains a solid performer for The CW and will remain on the air as long as the principals want to stay with the series.

Ultraman (Netflix / Streaming) NEW SERIES Premieres Apr 1

About: This Anime series takes place years after Ultraman disappeared when a new hero learns of his connection to the legendary monster fighter and dons the metallic ultra-suit to fight new aliens.

Prospects: As with all of the shows on the streaming services, its hard to gauge where they stand because we don’t see the viewership data. But on the good side, the streamers tend to give their shows at least a couple of seasons to establish themselves.

The Umbrella Academy (Netflix / Streaming) NEW SERIES Premieres Feb 15

About: A diverse and dysfunctional family of superheroes comes together to solve the mystery of their father’s death and also to battle against the threat of an ensuing apocalypse.

Prospects: As with all of the shows on the streaming services, its hard to gauge where they stand because we don’t see the viewership data. But on the good side, the streamers tend to give their shows at least a couple of seasons to establish themselves.

The Walking Dead (AMC / Sun 9 PM) Returns from Hiatus Feb 10

About: The show returns from Hiatus in February as the group must face the threat of the mysterious group known as the Whisperers as well as a newly freed Negan.

Status: The show was at all-time ratings lows this past Fall, but it is still one of the most-watched scripted series on television. Expect it to be back for a tenth season and possibly more.

Young Justice (DC / Streaming) Season 3 Premieres in Jan 4

About: Picking up from the cancelled Cartoon network series, the teenage superheros of the Young Justice squad take on meta-human trafficking and the implications that has to a galaxy-wide genetic arms race.

Status: DC Universe has already given renewals to its live-action shows Titans and Doom Patrol so consider a fourth season renewal for Young Justice to be a good bet.

Shows the Wrapped Up in Fall:

Below is a list of the sci fi / fantasy shows that wrapped up in Fall along with their current status. Click on the show links for more info.

American Horror Story (FX) Renewed thru 10th Season
Castlevania (Netflix) Renewed for 3rd Season
Channel Zero (Syfy) Cancellation Likely
Daredevil (Netflix) Cancelled
Doctor Who (BBCA) Renewed for 12th Season
The Dragon Prince (Netflix) Renewed for 2nd Season
The First (Hulu) Renewal Possible
The Haunting of Hill House (Netflix) Renewal Possible
Iron Fist (Netflix) Cancelled
The Last Ship (TNT) Series Ended
The Man in the High Castle (Amazon) Renewed for 4th Season
Mars (NGC) Renewal Possible
Midnight Texas (NBC) Cancelled
Nightflyers (Syfy) On the Bubble
Origin (YouTube) Renewal Possible
The Purge (USA) Renewed for 2nd Season
Stan Against Evil (IFC) Renewal Possible
Titans (DCU) Renewed for 2nd Season
Travelers (Netflix) Renewal Possible
Van Helsing (Syfy) Renewed for 4th Season
Z Nation (Syfy) Cancelled