Things are not looking so good for The River, which is disappointing. And I said this, admittedly, as someone who has fallen behind on the series, due in large part to my DVR being occupied during the Tuesday night at 9:00 p.m. hour-long block. What I did see of the horror-thriller series, I liked and I have every intention of getting caught up, now that the first season has finished up. And the good news is, there’s a chance the series will survive to see another season, even if ABC decides not to renew it.
According to Deadline, Netflix may have their eye on the ABC drama and that conversations have already been had between the streaming video service and ABC Studios about continuing the series on Netflix.
Sources stress that the talks are exploratory at this point in the context of a larger conversation between ABC Studios and Netflix.
It sounds like the idea is really just a consideration right now, but given The River’s low ratings, it’s certainly good to hear that a back-up plan to keep the show going may be in the works. As Deadline points out, Netflix is also in talks to possibly adopt Fox’s Terra Nova, another thriller series that didn’t earn great ratings.
In the case of Terra Nova the decision has already been made by Fox not to renew the series. The River still has a chance to continue on ABC. The series only just wrapped up its first season, and no official word from ABC has come down just yet. Personally, I’m hoping ABC considers moving The River to ten o’clock, should they decide to bring the series back for a second season. There’s a lot going on at 9:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, with Fox’s comedies, CW’s Ringer, NBC’s The Biggest Loser, and CBS’ NCIS: Los Angeles. The River showed up late to the party, which may have made it destined for low ratings from the start. Of course, if ABC dropped it completely and Netflix picked it up, we wouldn’t have to worry about when it aired.
