Stitchers started two seasons ago on ABC Family. The network, in an effort to sound more hip and relevant to the younger demographic it wanted to appeal to, changed its name to Freeform. Regardless of the name change Stitchers has stayed the same. An entertaining procedural crime show set in a high tech world of science fiction. As fans wait anxiously, Freeform has yet to confirm a third season for this excellent show.
The reason for Freeform dragging their feet on a decision could be blamed on live viewership dropping in the second season. This could have been down to the fact that the network changed the slot for the show. Marketing also shifted. A lead-in show finished and it seems that Freeform was, and still is, more interested in its summer replacements.
(For the record these are the London based “Amanda Knox” style murder mystery Guilt starring Daisy Head, Emily Tremaine and Billy Zane – Anthony Head, Daisy’s dad, also has a role in the show. The second is Freeform’s answer to MTVs Scream; “Dead of Summer.”)
Thus far neither show has performed overly well in live views. In the opinion of this reviewer “Guilt” never will garner a huge audience for a number of reasons and unless the body count and humor increases in the Friday the 13th homage, neither will “Dead of Summer.”
Regardless of whether the network is hedging its bets with the two new shows or not, fans of Stitchers have busily started petitions to get the show brought back for a third season. There are two petitions online right now.
The first was started by Alyssa Lemke on Petitionbuss.com (click on this link and sign the petition if you have not already) and the second is on Change.org. The latter petition was started by Stitchers fan Tyler Parker. (Head over and sign this one if you have not already.) Both fans have managed, between the two of them, to garner over 9,500 signatures.
Why do the shows fans care so much?
It could be down to the personal chemistry of the show’s stars: Emma Ishta (Kirsten), Kyle Harris (Cameron) ,Ritesh Rajan (Linus), Allison Scagliotti (Camille) ,Salli Richardson-Whitfield (Maggie) or Damon Dayoub (Quincy Fisher).
It could also be down to the ongoing storyline of Kirsten Clark…Or the brilliant writing, or the characters or the pop culture references that make the show so much fun.
Having interviewed the show’s creator and executive producer Jeff Schechter on more than one occasion as well as the cast, on-set it is easy to say that Mike’s Film Talk can be counted as a huge fan of the show. (After finishing this article we will be heading over to sign the petition as well.)
In our humble opinion the show’s fans love much more than the romantic possibilities of “Camsten.” Stitchers has so much more to offer. Strong female characters and men who appreciate them for starters. A running mystery that begs to be solved and of course the question of the real reason behind developing the “Stitch” program.
The show tells of Kirsten Clarks ability to be “stitched” into the minds of the recently deceased. The lab and the program are part of the NSA and no one has revealed just what the agency really means to use this technology for.
It is inconceivable that Freeform have not yet given a third season the greenlight. Surely the + 7 figures have come in by now and shown that the live views are inconsequential. The way the world watches television has changed. DVR, VoD, Hulu, and Internet streaming are all avenues that viewers can use to watch their favorite programs.
Other networks have realized the fallacy of this old fashioned ratings system. Freeform should step out smartly and do the same. Bring back Stitchers for another season. So many things need answers and the fans are crying out for the show’s return.
So come on Freeform, it is time to get off the metaphorical pot and make your move.
We were going to post a survey on this article about what you, the fans, want to have happen if the show comes back. Instead we urge everyone who loves the show to head over to either (or both) the petitions and leave a signature. Let Freeform know how you feel. So many of you already have but more can never hurt.
Follow those links and sign. Help to bring “Camsten” and Stitchers back.
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