Last year, Once Upon a Time got off to a positive start in the ratings but then kept falling each week. It looked like the show would be in danger of being cancelled but the numbers picked up a bit and stopped falling. Will the ratings hold steady this season, rise or sink? It’s not magic but we will have to be patient.

The second season of Once Upon a Time typically airs Sunday nights on ABC. The large cast includes Jennifer Morrison, Ginnifer Goodwin, Josh Dallas, Robert Carlyle, Lana Parrilla, Jared Gilmore, Raphael Sbarge, Meghan Ory, Emilie de Ravin, Giancarlo Esposito, Eion Bailey, Anastasia Griffith, Jamie Dornan, Sebastian Stan, Barbara Hershey, Lee Arenberg, David Anders, Jesse Schram, and Tony Perez.

Here are the TV show’s ratings for the 2012-13 season, the best way to tell if Once Upon a Time is going to be cancelled or renewed for season three.

These figures will be updated as the weeks progress so be sure to bookmark and return to this page:

Final season averages: 2.7 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 8.46 million total viewers.

Episode 02-22: Sunday, 05/12/13
2.3 in the demo (+5% change) with 7.33 million (-2% change).
Season averages: 2.72 in the demo with 8.46 million.

UPDATE: ABC has renewed this show for a third season for 2013-14.

Episode 02-21: Sunday, 05/05/13
2.2 in the demo (+10% change) with 7.50 million (+5% change).
Season averages: 2.74 in the demo with 8.51 million.

Episode 02-20: Sunday, 04/28/13
2.0 in the demo (-5% change) with 7.16 million (-3% change).
Season averages: 2.77 in the demo with 8.57 million.

Episode 02-19: Sunday, 04/21/13
2.1 in the demo (-5% change) with 7.37 million (0% change).
Season averages: 2.81 in the demo with 8.64 million.

Episode 02-18: Sunday, 03/24/13
2.2 in the demo (-4% change) with 7.38 million (-1% change).
Season averages: 2.85 in the demo with 8.71 million.

Episode 02-17: Sunday, 03/17/13
2.3 in the demo (0% change) with 7.45 million (-3% change).
Season averages: 2.89 in the demo with 8.79 million.

Episode 02-16: Sunday, 03/10/13
2.3 in the demo (+5% change) with 7.64 million (+3% change).
Season averages: 2.92 in the demo with 8.87 million.

Episode 02-15: Sunday, 03/03/13
2.2 in the demo (-8% change) with 7.39 million (-3% change).
Season averages: 2.97 in the demo with 8.95 million.

Episode 02-14: Sunday, 02/17/13
2.4 in the demo (+9% change) with 7.61 million (+8% change).
Season averages: 3.02 in the demo with 9.07 million.

Episode 02-13: Sunday, 02/10/13
2.2 in the demo (-8% change) with 7.08 million (-8% change).
Season averages: 3.07 in the demo with 9.18 million.

Episode 02-12: Sunday, 01/20/13
2.4 in the demo (-14% change) with 7.68 million (-7% change).
Season averages: 3.14 in the demo with 9.35 million.

Episode 02-11: Sunday, 01/13/13
2.8 in the demo (-10% change) with 8.24 million (-10% change).
Season averages: 3.21 in the demo with 9.50 million.

Episode 02-10: Sunday, 01/06/13
3.1 in the demo (0% change) with 9.11 million (0% change).
Season averages: 3.25 in the demo with 9.63 million.

Episode 02-09: Sunday, 12/02/12
3.1 in the demo (0% change) with 9.10 million (+3% change).
Season averages: 3.27 in the demo with 9.69 million.

Episode 02-08: Sunday, 11/25/12
3.1 in the demo (+15% change) with 8.82 million (+1% change).
Season averages: 3.29 in the demo with 9.76 million.

Episode 02-07: Sunday, 11/11/12
2.7 in the demo (-23% change) with 8.75 million (-14% change).
Season averages: 3.31 in the demo with 9.90 million.

Episode 02-06: Sunday, 11/04/12
3.5 in the demo (+3% change) with 10.15 million (+3% change).
Season averages: 3.42 in the demo with 10.09 million.

Episode 02-05: Sunday, 10/28/12
3.4 in the demo (+3% change) with 9.85 million (0% change).
Season averages: 3.40 in the demo with 10.08 million.

Episode 02-04: Sunday, 10/21/12
3.3 in the demo (+10% change) with 9.89 million (+5% change).
Season averages: 3.40 in the demo with 10.14 million.

Episode 02-03: Sunday, 10/14/12
3.0 in the demo (-12% change) with 9.45 million (-4% change).
Season averages: 3.43 in the demo with 10.22 million.

Episode 02-02: Sunday, 10/07/12
3.4 in the demo (-13% change) with 9.84 million (-13% change).
Season averages: 3.65 in the demo with 10.60 million.

Episode 02-01: Sunday, 09/30/12
3.9 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 11.36 million total viewers.
Season averages: 3.90 in the demo with 11.36 million.

Year-to-year, the season debut of Once Upon a Time was down slightly from the series premiere, by 3% in the demo (vs a 4.0 rating) and down by 12% in viewership (vs 12.93 million). These were the highest numbers since the show’s second episode last October. It was a very strong start.

Reference point: The 2011-12 season averaged a 3.3 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 9.92 million viewers.

Note: These ratings are collected by the Nielsen company and are the final national numbers. These are different from the fast affiliate numbers which are just estimates of the actual ratings and are reported on by most other outlets. The final nationals are typically released within 24 hours of the programming or, in the case of weekends and holidays, a couple days later.

What do you think? Do you still like the Once Upon a Time TV series? Do you think it should be cancelled or renewed for a third season?