Lucifer News

[shapinglight]

Okay, this show and its scheduling is officially doing my head in.

This means - after a two month hiatus, Lucifer comes back for only five episodes. Then what were going to be eps 19-22 of season 2 will become eps 1-4 of season 3.

Okay, fine. But seriously, who plans an 18 episode series (which is what co-showrunner Joe Henderson claims they planned)? Surely it's either 13 or 22, right?

Weird.

Comments

[yourlibrarian]

Um, yeah, definitely weird. But I guess it's good that there will be a S3?

[shapinglight]

Oh yes, of course. But I still don't understand it. Why give them 22 episodes for season 2 in the first place?

[yourlibrarian]

I'd guess because it's the standard order and perhaps once they agreed to order the second set of episodes (after the initial 13 in S2) that they may have been contractually obligated to order an additional 9 rather than just 5.

However, clearly they are having scheduling issues during their midseason replacements. Perhaps some things did better than expected or were not ready on time, or there were sports playoffs, or some other issue which was going to break up the schedule.

This is also just a guess but I'm thinking that Lucifer may be showing its strength in DVR viewing rather than initial viewing, which is one reason it can survive despite multiple schedule changes and the delayed release of its final episodes.

[shapinglight]

Yes, I should think it probably does do quite well there, though the ratings seemed to be going up when the show went off air, which you'd think might give the network pause before putting it on hiatus for so long etc.

[shadowkat]

Welcome to US television programming. They've been doing that for a while. I blame cable and streaming for it. We now have 6 episode series, 13 episode series, 10 episode series, 22, 18, 15...basically whatever they think works for them.

GoT last season is being split into two halves..five and five, I think.

And tracking when they'll pop up, hard too. If I didn't have a DVR that digitally recorded and tracked these shows for me, I wouldn't be able to find or watch anything.

[shapinglight]

I sympathise. ;(

What I really don't get is why Fox gave Lucifer season 2 22 episodes in the first place. If they weren't going to show four of them, why not just give them 18?

Very odd.

[shadowkat]

Well, it's Fox. They do crazy stuff like that.

They'll order a certain number, then change their mind and cut it off at half season because of some other shiny new thing. Makes it very hard to get invested in television serials. I prefer Netflix and streaming...more contained and less worry.

[shapinglight]

Ah. I didn't realise they did that stuff all the time.

[sandy-s.livejournal.com]

Huh? That's so confusing and illogical! Why are they doing it that way?

[shapinglight]

I have no idea. I have asked on Twitter but I doubt anyone will answer me, and even if they do, I suspect I won't believe what they say.

[rahirah]

:sideeyes: I would bet there's network shenanigans going on and no one wants to admit it.

[shapinglight]

Yeah, I suspect that too. Joe Henderson is insisting that they always planned an eighteen episode season, that the last four eps were given to them late in the day and that they are all standalones, so can be slotted in anywhere in season 3 (which he says could now be 26 episodes instead of 22, but I don't believe that for a moment), but I have never, ever heard of a US network show that was eighteen episodes. Why would they ever do that?

It may, or may not, be connected that episode 22 recently had a name change.

[kazzy-cee.livejournal.com]

I suppose it's because it's not governed by any network rules on Prime? I still don't understand why it went on hiatus (I hate that US shoes do that!).

[shapinglight]

Well, it's not an Amazon original show. It's made by Fox, so it is governed by network rules. It's all very weird.

[kazzy-cee.livejournal.com]

Ah! That makes more sense, but I agree they are usually 22 episodes, although I seem to remember some - shows having 23 sometimes. It's all rather strange to us isn't it - our home grown shows with only 6 or 8 episodes (and that's a long run!).

[shapinglight]

Yes, though six episodes always seems terribly short to me, have to say.

[sueworld2003.livejournal.com]

Maybe It's budgeting thing?

[shapinglight]

Can't be. They've already written and shot the episodes.

I dunno. It's all very odd. This Joe Henderson bloke claims they were given the last four episodes at the last minute and that they're all character-driven standalones that can fit in anywhere. Also, that the story arc they planned for the season will end in episode 18, like it was always supposed to.

But it's all very weird. Doubt we'll ever get to the bottom of it.

And at least there's going to be a season 3 (unless the network changes its mind).

There's a possible explanation here to do with scheduling hours. It's certainly true that if Lucifer had run for 22 episodes now, it wouldn't end till late June. Maybe that messes up Fox's summer schedule?

[frelling-tralk.livejournal.com]

Seems like an odd way to run things! It sounds like they're cutting the season down to 18 episodes because they don't want the show to run as late as June, but in that case why didn't they just start airing the final nine episodes earlier in the first place?

[shapinglight]

I was wondering that. I'm also wondering what they'll do with these four episodes if Fox pull the same trick in season 3. Does that mean they only have 14 episodes to tell the entire story?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_androgynous_/]

Sleepy Hollow which is on the same network as Lucifer had 18 eps for seasons 2 & 3.

Fox probably trimmed Lucifer season 2 because they don't want ratings to tank if the show had continued on in the summer. Perhaps it is better to end the season with the main plot rather than a bunch of filler.

Let's hope episode 18 will be just as good as episode 13.

[shapinglight]

Sleepy Hollow which is on the same network as Lucifer had 18 eps for seasons 2 & 3.

Ah. I didn't know that.

Fox probably trimmed Lucifer season 2 because they don't want ratings to tank if the show had continued on in the summer. Perhaps it is better to end the season with the main plot rather than a bunch of filler.

Well, I agree that it is, but I'm really puzzled as to what will happen in season 3. They have these four episodes left over that they can slot in anywhere next season, but if Fox trim them back to 18 episodes again, then it means the main story of the season will have to be told in only 14 episodes, or else the final four just don't get shown at all.

Why give them 22 in the first place?

I'm just puzzled.

[snogged.livejournal.com]

That is super weird.

[shapinglight]

It really is, and I'm no nearer really understanding it than I was when I made this post. ;)