‘Watson’ Canceled: Drama Will Not Return for Season 3
CBS already has over a dozen shows set for its 2026-2027 lineup, but Watson is not among them.
The network renewed 10 of its primetime shows in January — including dramas Tracker, Matlock, Elsbeth, Fire Country, and the three NCISes — to join Boston Blue, Sheriff Country, FBI, Ghosts, and new series Cupertino and Einstein in its lineup next season. And sadly, on Friday, March 27, CBS canceled Watson. The current second season will be its last.
Read on for everything we know so far about the future of the Morris Chestnut-led drama.
Is Watson renewed for Season 3?
No, the series was canceled on March 27. The news comes just ahead of the 15th episode of its second season airing on March 29.
We knew the decision had to come soon because, per Deadline, CBS will be releasing its 2026-2027 schedule on April 15 and was “expected” to decide if its shows will be coming back in time for that.
What is Watson about?
The medical drama is a modern take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic characters. Morris Chestnut stars as Dr. John Watson, after his best friend and sleuth Sherlock Holmes’ death — or so he thinks. Played by Robert Carlyle, Sherlock has seemingly resurfaced after faking his death, though there seems to be more going on than meets the eye.
Watson uses his skills as a great detective to now solve medical mysteries, working alongside a team of fellows. The “doc-tectives” investigate and treat the world’s most rare diseases for their clinic’s patients.
Who’s in the Watson cast?
Watson stars Morris Chestnut as Dr. John Watson, Eve Harlow as Dr. Ingrid Derian, Peter Mark Kendall as twins Dr. Stephens Croft and Dr. Adam Croft), Ritchie Coster as Shinwell Johnson, Inga Schlingmann as Dr. Sasha Lubbock, and Rochelle Aytes as Dr. Mary Morstan. In Season 2. Robert Carlyle has recurred as Sherlock Holmes.
Conversation61 Comments
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T
Sorry to see Watson go, but not surprised. Excellent show with a terrific cast. But the show is apparently too intellectual for the average viewer's taste.
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L
Please keep Watson. I enjoy this show. Waiting for return of Shinwell!!
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M
CBS has done it again canceling Watson, but leaving America's Culinary Cup-should be on the Food Network -, Elsbeth and Matlock on. Watson was different because cases were hard, but watching them find the right drugs to cure the person.
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S
I loved that show. usually the good shows are canceled. I hope another network will keep it on air
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B
Course they canceled it because it’s intelligent, entertaining not stupid enough for dummies to like. I enjoy the cast detective work plus the medical intrigue of Watson. Have always this type of show. Figures it would be on chopping block.
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M
I’m really upset. It’s a far better show than many of the networks others. It’s interesting and entertaining.
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G
I had a feeling it was going to be canceled. I really liked it though and here’s hoping it doesn’t end on a cliffhanger
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J
Thoroughly enjoyed Watson (even though the Sherlock twists weren't needed). Found the medical detective plots fascinating. which together with the UHOP staff relationships and marvellous casting made this my favourite series so far this year. Very sad to see it discontinued. Hope somehow it can be resurrected somewhere 🤞
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A
I watch regularly through stream and when the season ended so did my streaming. If it doesn’t comeback then there's no need for me as well.
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A
I'm sorry to hear that Watson has been cancelled. I think it has been one of the better TV shows that we have had available. So many shows on today are simply shallow and silly, but this one had such wonderfully complex characters. It was such a wonderful modernization of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. I will miss it and the characters very much.
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J
Oh No! I hate to hear Watson is not renewed. I love all the characters and the roles they play. It is one of the most intellectual story lines on TV today. Please reverse the cancellation. We Want Watson!!
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K
We love this show !
Interesting plots, engaging characters and some intellectual brain usage makes it one of our favorites each week.
Why on earth would you not add another season? Maybe we’ll get lucky and a smarter network will pick it up!
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O
Why are they always cancelling Morris Chestnut shows that he has been in I have watched a lot of his shows & they are really interesting and once to look forward to watching every week. I don't understand why another one of his shows gets cancelled when it's getting really interesting even the actors he works with have their own stories of which are interesting it going to be a sad day again when they drop his show again
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C
I really enjoyed watching Watson. It was a very interesting show! I loved him in Rosewood, also. I hope, somehow, another network will pick Watson up.
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K
It is a shame especially being unique, unlike the multitude of police and csi shows.
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L
Why do the good shows always get canceled?
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T
Bring Watson back!! It's the best show!
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D
CBS
Cancel Broadcasting Service perhaps one of the worst networks for cancelling programmes I have come across they cite viewership figures but even with shows performing well they still cancel.
Another good show cancelled am not surprised
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J
Well, this is the comments section, so here is mine! I just noticed that a lot of shows are being canceled that people of color are featured in a "lead" role. Sorry, Mr. Chestnut!
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E
Shame on CBS!
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L
I'm very disappointed. It was one of my favorite shows. Another good show gone.
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C
I am sad to hear that Watson has been canceled. What are you thinking? We really enjoy feeling a part of the show because yoiu become so involved. Great cast.
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L
I’m not happy. I really like this medical drama. It’s not soapy and the premise is different from other medical shows. The Pitt is number 1. This is number 2.
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K
Watson is one of my favorite shows. Why would they cancel it. It is sooooo good!
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T
i am a big fan of sherlock holmes, i wasn;t sure if i would like the show, but as i watched i came to like it. it's so sad that good programs like this get cancelled while there are so many silly shows are still staying on. maybe another network might pick it up.
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D
I'm so so sorry to hear Watson has not been renewed. It was so good. Intriguing. I enjoyed the characters and the story content. It had some suspense. I was anxiously waiting until fall but, see it will not return. So sad 😔
Please reconsider.
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G
This was one of the best shows on network TV. So disappointed this is cancelled next season and really hope another network picks it up.
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K
I loved the plotlines and the characters. I wish there had been another season
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H
I enjoyed watching the show on Sundays night. I hope you not trying to consider cancelled the show. I really enjoyed watching Watson show
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S
I think disappointed that they hasn't used Robert carlyle as Sherlock Holmes. I thought youvwod be have John Sherlock working cases. But it look like you always have to wait. Now we are back from winter break. Episode 11, 12 no Sherlock in the story.
I was hoping we would be looking for Sherlock with Shinwell help..
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B
I watch it regularly. It's new and exciting to watch, it should be renewed with the others that were named, which aren't nearly as exciting nor interesting.
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W
I enjoyed the show I’m sorry to see it was canceled.
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V
BRING BACK WATSON!!! I want to see seasons 3, 4, 5 6, and so on!!! This is an EXCELLENT series!!!!
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C
Great show with a great cast! It was interesting and well written.
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L
It should have been renewed! It was very interesting
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D
Sure hope its picked up by a streaming service. Very engaging show
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A
I’m so sad that there’s not a season 3!
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B
Why do they cancel all the good shows?? Who makes these decisions certainly not the viewers!
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S
Why do they always cancel shows before they get a real chance? Paramount+/cbs is as bad as the other networks, especially Disney on canceling shows after 1 or 2 seasons.. very irritating..too bad this was a good show.
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K
Yeah, especially shows like Matlock and Elsbeth that are terrible shows.
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K
I really hope so. I need to look at all these comments and see that they would have the fan base.
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K
That would be so awesome. They need to ask the fans.
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K
Ditto
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K
I love Shane well too. I’m gonna miss him and Dr. Watson so much he brings tears to my eyes and I’ve been crying over it. You’ve made a fan very sad. I didn’t think there was any doubt that they were going to bring a season three and when I saw it, I was shocked.
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K
They made a big big mistake. They’re going to lose a lot of fans I believe and they won’t have people watching CBS
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K
I’m so upset about the show being cancelled. I love every character except for Ingrid and Leila. I couldn’t wait to see each episode and I was almost at the end of season two and thought I would check to see if there’s a season three when I seen it. It was canceled after season two I cried like a baby. I loved loved loved this show. It was one of my favorite shows but then you will keep shows like Elsbeth and Matlock, which I think were horrible shows. I think it’s a big mistake. You’re going to lose me a CBS as a fan of your shows and I will not be watching CBS as much anymore. I will probably be going to other stations because your lineup for the season coming up looks horrific and I don’t care what anybody else thinks. I don’t need anybody else’s opinions. I’m just saying to CBS how upset I am. I love seeing almost every character. Including Dr. Watson and Sherlock Holmes Dr. Watson is such a good looking guy and I love looking at him and watching him. He is a very very, very good actor. Please consider bringing them back next year.
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W
I thought Season1 was excellent with the dual story going on with Moriarty in the background and the unfolding of Watson and his new life in the foreground. Season 2 was milking it. There was no counter undertone storyline barely if you consider Holmes coming back but that should have been midseason, not end of season. Also it was getting old that every episode was a hospital prediction game of what the patient has and how to fix them. It was getting boring when the core of Sherlock Holmes was solving mysteries this series got too focused on solving aliments. Overall the acting was excellent but the 2nd season lacked the crisp story telling and dual story lines resulting in a too little too late scenario. Season 2 could have been 10 solid script episodes that moved the story forward and opened the door to getting to know the characters even more but like Halo since it got the green light did not have a story to tell but a cow milking to be had that unfortunately killed the show. I loved the show but was disappointed in the season 2 meandering scripts. That is the issue with TV series they have no beginning, middle and end and if they can be milked keep the story going so we can continue to get a paycheck. Season 1 was stand alone excellent writing and Season 2 should have been the same but wasn't.
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C
Not sure how Watson is cancelled and programs like Elsbeth keeps going? Great show, as someone else said perhaps too intellectual
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N
bring Watson and cancel Elsbeth!!! Watson is at least interesting, where as after 3 shows Elsbeth got old and same thing, the only difference is how the murder happens and who they get to play the murderer. Since they show the murder, not guessing just that irritating Elsbeth who grates on every nerve !
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L
I think it should be renewed - you guys hook us up and then that's it
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B
CBS does it again! They have a bad track record of cancelling great shows, in particular shows have lead actors who are black. Also, why were all of the black characters on FBI removed? Why was The Neighborhood cancelled? This is happening too much to be coincidence. CBS, Caucasian Broadcasting Station.
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C
They are renewing Sheriff Country which is silly...Wow...then cutting a cerebral one like Watson
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P
A good show, but hard for some people to get into.
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D
It was just a rehash of the former House.
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J
I didnt' think this was a great show, but I respect the network for giving it a chance and the actors for doing their jobs well with whatever the scriptwriters gave them.
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B
Get Eve and Inga on any show and I will watch.
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G
The cases were always intriguing but the subplot of the regular cast members was frustrating, difficult to follow and often ridiculous. The show lost itself.
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M
I watched it but think it may have done better if it didn't try to be a part of Sherlock Holmes' universe. That was way far fetched. I didn't think it would be renewed - maybe reinvented.
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H
i watched it many times. Could never really get into it. While the actor who plays Watson is a great actor, i dont care how he plays him here. The other doctors are so so. The twin doctors played by the same actor are unappealing, the punky dr who killed her father is annoying. The only decent person on the show is the Asian doctor with the southern accent. The Moriarty storyline was unappealing and honestly stopped watching it until it was resolved.
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J
I do watch this show regularly (nothing else on opposite, lol) but I have to admit it has never grabbed me, and it's not a 'must-see' for me. I appreciate the fact that this show is supposed to be something different, not the standard hospital show, and it's supposed to be different, but for the most part it just doesn't land. So if it's cancelled, I won't feel too badly about it.
Except sometimes I get stuck watching the two Doctor Crofts, played by the same actor.
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M
*** all signs point to "Watson" coming to end following season 2's conclusion barring a transfer to Paramount+ ...
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