CBS’ hit summer sci-fi drama Under the Dome will return for a second season after the network picked up the option to renew the show for 2014 on Monday.
Under the Dome tells the story of the fictional town of Chester’s Mills where a mysterious invisible dome drops over the town one day, cutting it off from any outside contact from the rest of the world.
The show debuted this summer to monster ratings pulling in 13.1 million viewers for the first episode, and a 3.2 rating in the coveted 18-49 year old demographic.
Under the Dome dropped slightly in weeks two and three, but still pulled in very good ratings for a summer release during a time when TV viewers are always less than the more popular fall TV season.
The renewal all but guarantees a huge shift in the show from the source material—a Stephen King novel that locks the town of Chester’s Mills under the dome for a grand total of one week. Producers for the show have already veered away from the book in a number of ways, and with a second season coming up there are plenty more changes that will have to happen to keep the show going.
While Under the Dome started strong, the story and acting have gone a bit off course during part of the season, but as long as the viewers remain strong CBS will stand behind the hit show.
The next episode of Under the Dome‘s original 13-episode order airs on CBS Monday night at 10pm ET/PT.
