Each season, around the holidays, TV shows really go for it in order to bring in as many viewers as they can. We're talking deaths, shockers, first kisses, first times, massive fights, etc. etc. You know the drill.
But sometimes, it can just be a little too late. Some fan favorite shows have seen some pretty jawdropping declines this fall season. Seriously, you might just be surprised to see the series that are way down in the ratings. However, it's not all doom and gloom as some shows, including a bunch of newbies, have managed to increase their numbers. So basically, the TV version of riding a unicorn on a rainbow.
So do you want to know which 15 shows are soaring or sinking this fall season? Find out now...
UP: Oh, what a final ride Kurt Sutter is having! Currently in its final season, SOA premiered to record-breaking numbers and is on track to have its highest-rated season ever. While we're pretty sure Jax (Charlie Hunnam), Gemma (Katey Sagal) and the club will probably not see too many happy endings, it's comforting to know the series will ride off into the sunset in style.
DOWN: It looks like the mirrorball trophy lost some of its luster as the ABC hit returned to series-low numbers in its 19th season.
UP: Daddy's home...and he brought the viewers with him! Not only was David Clarke's return from the dead the perfect decision for a creative resurgence for the ABC sudser, it also reinvigorated its audience. Viewership is up, with the show hitting its highest numbers since March. Doesn't Revenge taste so sweet?
DOWN: Uh-oh, is TV's most-watched comedy in trouble?! LOL, no! But it is down in the ratings from last season, which averaged an insane 19.96 million viewers. This season? Well, the premiere brought in 18 million, while the most recent episode attracted 16.7 million. Still, no one is complaining over those numbers.
UP: Huzzah, Homeland is back, baby! After a polarizing third season, Claire Danes returned in top form in season four, and has the ratings bump to prove it. The Showtime series has steadily improved with each outing, and is currently averaging 5.6 million viewers. Looks like Homeland can surive (and thrive!) without Brody after all. (Still miss you, ginger-boo!)
DOWN: Does the CW's vampire hit need to be put on life support? Once the network's golden show, TVD recently hit a series low in the all-important demo, and attracted just 1.5 million viewers. Sure, for the low-rated network that isn't a completely awful number, but Elena, Damon and Stefan averaged 2.68 million viewers in season five.
UP: OK, not to be all dramatic but HOLY AMAZING RATINGS! The CW's latest show based on a DC Comics property debuted to the network's highest-ratings ever, bringing in 4.5 million viewers and a 1.8 demo rating. Sure, numbers have faltered slightly since the premiere (which is to be expected), but The Flash is still the network's most-watched series, and is averaging a 1.4 demo rating. Keep running, Barry. Keep running!
DOWN: As if we needed more to cry over in the show's sixth and final season?! The Braverman clan's last hurrah is currently bringing in the series' lowest numbers, which is just a shame because their final season may just be their best ever. On the plus side, fans don't have to worry over cancellation!
UP: Is there any stopping the power of AHS? The FX anthology series' fourth season, Freak Show, debuted to the franchise's best premiere numbers yet, attracting 10 million total viewers with Live+3 DVR playback factored in, making it the most-watched telecast in the network's history. Business is a-boomin' for Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk!
DOWN: Before its season two return, we had concerns that the Fox breakout hit's extremely long hiatus (its finale aired in March) would seriously impact the ratings. And sadly, we were right to be concerned. After averaging 8.6 million viewers last season, Sleepy's premiere attracted 5.5 million viewers, and numbers have only gone down since. But fans shouldn't be too concerned as Ichabod and Abbie's adventures tend to be a top DVR performer.
UP: Turns out, people really do want to know how you get away with murder as the ABC drama is one of the breakout hits of the fall. Not only did HTGAWM improve on its buzzy lead-in Scandal, but it brought in 14 million viewers and a whopping 3.8 demo rating. Numbers have since dropped a bit, but Viola Davis and her Keating Five are still ABC's new favorite group of Shondalanders.
STEADY: Is OUAT suffering from Frozen fatigue? Nope! It's tough for a show to maintain its ratings these days, but Once has managed to stay a Top 20 show, and has actually slightly grown year over year in total viewers and in the demo. And it's still Sunday's best performing show in the 18-49 demo. Magic, indeed!
UP: Zombies really are taking over! Once again, The Walking Dead has managed to break its own insane ratings record, with the season five premiere attracting 17.3 million viewers, the show's highest ratings ever. 11 million of 'em happened to be in the coveted 18-40 demo. And yes, we've basically already written our story about how the season five finale will once again shatter that record.
DOWN: Looks like new coaches Gwen Stefani and Pharrell Williams weren't too much of a draw for new viewers as the NBC reality hit's season seven opener (12.95 million viewers) was down from its season six premiere (15.86 million). It also saw a drop in the demo, falling from a 4.7 to a 3.9.
UP: So how do you know a new show is good? Like, really, really good? It goes up, not down, in its numbers each episode. Which is exactly what this Showtime drama is doing each week. Slow and steady wins the race, right? The first season is currently averaging 3.8 million viewers, and we're thinking that number will be even higher given all the buzz surrounding it.
CLICK: And the best and worst new shows of the season are...