(Photo: Colin Bentley/CBS)
John will be out of work for the 2026-27 TV season. CBS has cancelled Watson so it’s not returning for a third season. The network show’s second season of 20 episodes is currently airing.
A medical mystery drama series, the Watson TV show was created by Craig Sweeny and is based on characters from the Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle. The series stars Morris Chestnut, Eve Harlow, Peter Mark Kendall, Inga Schlingmann, Ritchie Coster, and Rochelle Aytes. Kacey Rohl, Bethany Brown, Tika Sumpter, Ashleigh Burke, Robert Carlyle, Matt Berry, and Noah Mills recur. The story takes place in modern times, six months after Holmes died fighting his archenemy, Moriarty. Holmes’ friend, Dr. John Watson (Chestnut), resumes his medical career as the head of the Holmes Clinic in Pittsburgh, a clinic dedicated to uncovering and treating rare disorders. Watson’s old life isn’t done with him however as evidence surfaces that Moriarty is still alive. Other characters include enigmatic neurologist Ingrid Derian (Harlow); infectious disease and functional medicine specialists Stephens Croft and Adam Croft (Kendall); rheumatology and immunology specialist Sasha Lubbock (Schlingmann); former criminal and administrative aide Shinwell Johnson (Coster); and Mary Morstan (Aytes), the clinic’s medical director and Watson’s ex-wife.
The second season of Watson averages a 0.17 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 2.86 million viewers (includes some Fast Affiliates data). Compared to season one, that’s down by 57% in the demo and down by 44% in viewership.
The cancellation comes as little surprise considering it was the network’s second-lowest-rated scripted series with massive season-to-season ratings declines. It was also one of the few series that hadn’t already been renewed for 2026-27. The series finale airs on May 3rd.
What do you think? Have you kept up with the Watson TV series? Are you disappointed this CBS drama hasn’t been renewed for a third season?
Hello, I think once Watson started dating the other Dr things started to change. Love the show!! Watch faithfully every week. We look forward to the new episodes. We think if he would’ve got back with his ex-wife, it would’ve made it so much better and if Sherlock would’ve been in it a little bit more.
First sadden that Watson was canceled. Season 2 was good, only problem was the writers introduced Sherlock Holmes. And didn’t develop John Watson friendship with Sherlock during the season.
You had two good storyline, talking about Sherlock coming back to Watson. But then you list it with Sherlock show up and then leaving.
Then finally you decide Sherlock was never there. Maybe the was ide.
But Sherlock and Watson are a teams. season 2 should have gone made with them together. You could kept the medical story.
I am a faithful Watson viewer. Best medical show on TV of late. It’s innovative with outstanding actors. I am so dissapointed.
I’m beyond disappointed with this cancellation. Due to the show having a delayed start time in the season and the fact that it rarely started on time due to 60 minutes, then Marshalls, then Tracker running overtime due to sports by the time it came on many people had to get to bed for work in the morning. I’m so sick of good shows getting cancelled due to CBS’s inability to give good shows a good time slot. In my family alone three generations were loving this show. And tried to watch it in three separate households but again when… Read more »
Should have never cx. Watson!!! Such an intriguing story mystery show with all Fantastic Actors!! So CBS musts like Cop and fire shows! This was a mystery/ to help find actors get well. Very Very interesting show! Too many reality and cop shows on CBS! Also need more 1/2 sitcoms . After a hard day you want to come home and laugh a a good comedy. Where’s Chuck Lorre he had great 30min of fun and laughs. Please reconsider!
Watson is one of a very few tv shows that are really good. Please don’t cancel the show. .give Watson another year on a different night.
CBS shouldn’t have moved it to Monday without properly advertising it. A lot of people didn’t find it on Monday. When they moved it back to Sunday the ratings increased quite a bit but being on so late people had to get to bed for work on Monday. CBS has always had a problem with scheduling. It’s like they deliberately ruin shows with their inability to properly schedule. Not sure who’s making the scheduling decisions but they should be fired. They need someone who’s capable of scheduling good shows in good time slots which CBS has never been very good… Read more »
Why Watson canceled
Most of the characters were likable and intriguing from the start. I hate that this show has been canceled
I hate that Watson got cancelled. I loved this show! I loved Rosewood too!
I just knew all along it was gonna get cancelled & this Sunday at 10 is not a very good slot, think of it folks, NCIS Los Angeles, CSI Vegas, The Equalizer & now this being all cancelled & feel CBS should be doing encores instead of putting another show in danger at that time. They can’t get the numbers & it’s their own fault not realizing it.
NEVER liked this show from episode one. Glad to see it go! About time
I liked this show and cast. That’s CBS for you though.
I liked this show and sorry to see it cancelled.