CBS cancels Stephen King’s Under the Dome

Last Updated on July 22, 2021

Although it had been looking like CBS might order up a fourth season of their Stephen King adaptation summer show UNDER THE DOME, the network has instead decided to bring the series to an end. The season 3 finale, which will air on Thursday, September 10th, will also serve as the series finale.

A plot reminder in case UNDER THE DOME hasn't been on your radar:

UNDER THE DOME is the story of a small New England town that is suddenly and inexplicably sealed off from the rest of the world by an enormous transparent dome. The town's inhabitants must deal with surviving the post-apocalyptic conditions while searching for answers to what this barrier is, where it came from and if and when it will go away.

CBS Entertainment chairman Nina Tassler had this to say about the upcoming ending:

"Two years ago, Under the Dome broke new ground in the summer and became an instant hit on CBS, as well as with viewers around the world. Dome's event storytelling and multi-platform business model paved the way for more original summer programming with the successful rollouts of Extant and Zoo. We’re excited to present the final chapter in Chester’s Mill as the story comes full circle, with the Dome coming down as dramatically as it went up."

UNDER THE DOME still ranks as the #2 scripted show of the summer on broadcast television, but its ratings have slipped greatly since its successful debut in 2013.

Executive producer Neal Baer had been hoping to keep the show going for several more seasons, telling The Hollywood Reporter,

"Our intentions are to tell a great story every summer for as long as the audience wants to watch the citizens of Chester's Mill."

Despite that, the story of Chester's Mill ends now.

I can't say I'm sorry to see UNDER THE DOME go. I loved King's novel, finding it to be one of the most emotionally involving and frustrating (I hated the villains so much) books I've ever read. I was excited for the TV adaptation when it was announced that it would simply be a thirteen episode mini-series, but became less enthused as it grew into an on-going series that drifted away from the events of the book. I watched the show but liked it less and less as it went on. I haven't watched any of season 3 yet because I still haven't finished making my way through season 2. It just doesn't work for me.

Chester's Mill resident Rachelle Lefevre