Power Book IV: Force’s Cancellation Reminds Me Of Another Starz Underrated Drama’s Demise
The untimely cancellation of Power Book IV: Force reminds me of the demise of another underrated Starz drama. Given the success of the Power franchise overall, I’m shocked such a well-watched show is ending. However, the decision to end Power Book IV: Force is part of a cost-cutting effort across Starz. With fellow spinoff Power Book II: Ghost season 4 also serving as the end of a franchise chapter, I’m concerned about what this means for the Power brand.
Given that the original Power universe kicked off almost a decade ago, I knew it was inevitable there would be a point at which some unpleasant decisions would be made to secure the franchise’s future. However, knowing how another Starz show was treated gives me pause since there’s a good chance the final season won’t play out satisfyingly. Power Book IV: Force has to conclude storylines well because it could be the deciding factor in whether I watch the upcoming Power spinoffs.
Like Power Book IV: Force, Hightown Was Canceled After Three Seasons
Hightown was a solid crime drama that focused on the opioid epidemic in Cape Cod from the perspectives of the police and the people dealing the drugs. Interestingly enough, Hightown came to an end with season 3, meaning Power Book IV: Force will meet the same timeline fate. My favorite part of the series was the sense of dread because it never pulled punches with its deadly twists. Like Power and its offshoots, no character was ever truly safe, which made it difficult to get attached to my favorite characters.
Starz is far more invested in the Power franchise than it ever was in Hightown , meaning the network may stand by its word.
Somewhere along the way, I realized I had a soft spot for the dynamic group of characters at the show’s core. Unfortunately, the series was forever tainted when Hightown season 3, episode 7, played out like a season finale instead of a series finale. The episode arrived mere months after the network announced that Hightown season 3 would be the end, despite the network’s claim that it would reach a satisfying conclusion.
With Power Book IV: Force season 3 already well into production when the cancellation news dropped, I wonder whether a similar fate awaits Tommy Egan and his band of criminals in the successful spinoff. Starz is far more invested in the Power franchise than it ever was in Hightown, meaning the network may stand by its word this time.
Is There Hope For Closure On Power Book IV: Force Season 3?
While the Power brand has a lot of pull at Starz because it is such a heavy hitter, I know networks can make decisions that don’t align with expectations at the drop of a hat. With that in mind, there is a slight chance Power Book IV: Force can have closure at the end of season 3. The character of Tommy has been on the air since 2014, so his storyline is starting to get a bit thin.
Power Book IV: Force has a wide array of engaging characters who help bring new conflicts into the story, but they all stand to be short-changed if the show doesn’t come to a decent conclusion. The good news is that the cancellation dropped while production was underway, so it seems there will be some semblance of a conclusive ending, even if it’s rushed.
Hightown tried to rush an ending and failed miserably, so I’ll reserve judgment on the end of Power Book IV: Force until it airs. However, I know Tommy will return at some point in another spinoff. The Power universe characters that originated in the latest series probably won’t get the same treatment, so their arcs need to reach satisfying endpoints.
