Despite being officially canceled about a month ago, *NCIS: Hawai’i* is still making waves. The abrupt cancellation has left fans baffled, questioning why CBS would ax a seemingly successful show with a dedicated following ready to fight for its return. Various fan investigations have suggested multiple reasons, but CBS representatives have hinted at a single, pivotal cause.
Fans are clinging to the hope that *NCIS: Hawai’i* might mirror the fate of another CBS crime drama, *S.W.A.T.*, which was also canceled abruptly but then renewed for a final season after fan backlash. However, the circumstances differ significantly.
*NCIS: Hawai’i* ended its third season with a major cliffhanger, much like *S.W.A.T.* did. However, unlike *S.W.A.T.*, which was ultimately given a concluding season, *NCIS: Hawai’i* seems unlikely to get the same treatment. The main reason is CBS’s tight schedule and the introduction of a new *NCIS* spinoff focusing on Leroy Jethro Gibbs, which the network views as having greater potential.
While *S.W.A.T.* was canceled due to budget cuts, *NCIS: Hawai’i* faced no such financial issues but still lost its time slot to the new Gibbs-centered spinoff. This strategic decision by CBS indicates a preference for investing in shows they believe will yield higher returns, leaving *NCIS: Hawai’i* fans hoping for a revival without much optimism for a similar last-minute save.
