The current era of network TV is rife with lone wolf and super-genius protagonists, but the 2025-26 season may be a crucial one for the single main character drama. It’s certainly not a new framework for TV, but the last few years have seen a surge in new series built around the singular protagonist, including (but not limited to)Tracker, High Potential, Elsbeth, Watson, Matlock, Brilliant Minds, Doc, andWill Trent.
The current era of network TV is rife with lone wolf and super-genius protagonists, but the 2025-26 season may be a crucial one for the single main character drama. It’s certainly not a new framework for TV, but the last few years have seen a surge in new series built around the singular protagonist, including (but not limited to)Tracker, High Potential, Elsbeth, Watson, Matlock, Brilliant Minds, Doc, andWill Trent.
Network TV has undergone drastic changes in the past few years, thanks to streaming, COVID, and the strikes, and it’s gotten much less daring as a result. Barring a few more original attempts, however, it’s been pretty evenly split between franchise spinoffs and single main character shows. While the chances of gaining traction and sticking around for more than a few seasons are smaller than ever before for all shows, the latter group seems to have more of an uphill battle.
The Big Stakes for CBS in 2025-26
CBS is standing at a crossroads. The 2025-26 network season isn’t just another lineup shuffle — it might determine whether one of TV’s most overused trends finally meets its demise or gets a last gasp of life. Viewers are fatigued, critics are skeptical, and networks are betting big. Which trend are we talking about? Let’s dig in.
What Trend Is on the Line?
The Franchise-Adaptation Saturation
Over the past decade, the “adapt it” trend has ballooned. Comics, novels, podcasts, true crime — every content source got a potential TV incarnation. But by 2025, the audience has grown wary of seeing the same blueprint repeated: brand + built-in fanbase = risk mitigation. CBS has relied on this formula heavily.
Why It’s Overplayed
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Predictable formula: Audiences see the pattern and disengage.
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High expectations: Fans of original material are critical of deviations.
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Content fatigue: Too many adaptations dilute the novelty.
CBS faces pushback for leaning too hard on established IP instead of taking creative swings. If their 2025-26 season doubles down — or tries something fresh — that could tip the balance.
CBS’s Historical Dependence on Trend Betting
From CSI Spinoffs to True Crime Ports
CBS has long leaned on dependable formulas: spinoffs, revivals, procedurals wrapped in “true crime” packaging. These reliably attract a core audience, but risk stagnation.
Past Failures & Near Hits
Shows that arrived late to trends or misread audience appetite stumbled. Some worked, but many were lukewarm. So CBS must decide: continue chasing formulas or pivot to something riskier.
2025-26 — Why This Season Matters
Streaming & Cable Competition Heating Up
The streaming wars are fierce. Viewers expect originality and freshness. If CBS leans too hard on worn tropes, they’ll bleed viewers to more daring platforms.
Ad Revenue Decline Pressures
Linear networks can’t ignore metrics. If ratings slump on tried formulas, advertisers will follow. Innovation isn’t just artistic — it’s financial survival.
Two Scenarios for the 2025-26 Season
Scenario A — Doubling Down on the Trend
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Many new adaptations or IP reboots
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Heavy reliance on known brands
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Limited risk, but small upside
This plays it “safe,” but it risks becoming stale.
Scenario B — A Bold Pivot to Original Ideas
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Fresh concepts, original series
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Elevating new voices
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Embracing hybrid genres
It’s riskier — but it offers the chance to reset audience expectations.
Trend Killers: What Can Go Wrong?
Franchise Fatigue
Audiences might simply protest with viewership: skip premieres, cancel subscriptions, or move to platforms with unique content.
Brand Backlash
If CBS mismanages adaptation, devoted fans will call them out — sparking negative press and disinterest.
Splintered Continuity
Too many tie-ins or crossovers risk diluting each brand’s identity. Mashups become messy and confuse viewers.
Trend Resurrections: What Could Save It?
Meta Twists
Taking the adaptation model and turning it inside out. What if CBS launched a show about reboot culture — self-aware, tongue in cheek?
Hybrid Storytelling
Blend original and adaptation: a core original narrative infused with mythos drawn from a niche adaptation.
Format Play
Experiment in format: limited series, anthology, short seasons — break the procedural mold.
CBS’s Options Under the Microscope
Greenlighting Riskier Pilots
CBS can sponsor daring pilot experiments. Many will fail — but a few might break the mold.
Talent-Driven Vehicles
Let creators lead with fresh vision, not script doctors reverse engineering an IP.
Gradual Rollout Strategy
Don’t kill all adaptations at once. Introduce original shows gradually to avoid alienating the loyal base.
How CBS Metrics Will Decide the Winner
Ratings & Live Viewership
Traditional TV metrics still matter for ad dollars. A failed experiment can get canceled swiftly.
Streaming & Digital Engagement
On-demand views, social buzz, retention rates — success must translate across platforms.
Awards & Critical Acclaim
Quality shows that don’t get buzz won’t rescue the trend. Prestige helps.
What Competing Networks Are Doing
NBC & ABC Are Diversifying
Other networks are investing in original dramas, daring concepts, and format hybrids — forcing CBS to match or be left behind.
Streaming Giants Are Usurping the Trend
Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video — they manufacture original content aggressively. Their success makes “safe” network formulas look flat.
Audience Signals to Watch for 2025-26
Pilot Ratings vs. Retention Rates
A strong premiere won’t save a show if viewers drop off by episode 3.
Social Media Conversations
Are viewers excited about original ideas or yawning at another adaptation?
Niche Community Engagement
Certain genres or fanbases will vocalize support or rejection fast.
Prediction: What Might Happen
I believe CBS will attempt a hybrid approach: lean on one or two safe adaptations while launching a bold original flagship that carries the conversation. If that flagship succeeds, they’ll pivot further. If it fails, they’ll retreat — and that overplayed trend will limp into irrelevance.
What This Means for Viewers & Creators
For Viewers
We might see fresh creativity, smarter storytelling, or just more of the same — but a tipping point is coming.
For Creators
This season may be the biggest audition yet: studios could favor original voices, but the safety net of adaptations still looms.
How Fans Can Keep the Trend From Winning
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Support original series with views and buzz
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Voice demand for new stories
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Avoid automatic adaptation hype
If viewers demand originality and vote with their eyeballs, the network might listen.
Conclusion
The CBS 2025-26 network TV season is shaping up as a defining moment. Will the network bury the overexposed adaptation trend once and for all — or grant it a last gasp with high production values and glossy packaging? The decision will ripple across the industry, signaling whether inertia or innovation will dominate the next decade of television. As fans and critics alike hold their breath, one thing is certain: this season could make or break a trend long past its prime.
