NBC has ordered a full 18-episode first season of “Line of Fire,” the network announced Thursday, Oct. 22. The “Line of Fire” full season order expands the drama well beyond its original 13-episode commitment and pushes the show’s run into 2027.
The series had already landed an order for five additional scripts earlier in October, making it the first new broadcast series of the 2026-27 season to have its order extended, according to Deadline. Thursday’s announcement converts that momentum into a full-season commitment of 18 episodes.
Strong Numbers From the Start
“Line of Fire” premiered Sept. 21 and immediately posted strong numbers, drawing a cross-platform average audience of more than 14 million viewers for its pilot, according to NBC. The show followed that debut with a 47% jump in its demo rating in its second week.
The premiere also delivered NBC’s best DVR lift for a premiere episode in more than three years, a mark not hit since the “Night Court” reboot in January 2023, Deadline reported. The Oct. 19 episode hit a season-high demo rating in live-plus-same-day viewing.
A Longer Monday Night Run
The jump from 13 to 18 episodes means “Line of Fire” will run well past its original endpoint and into 2027, according to Variety. That gives NBC a steady Monday night anchor for a longer stretch of the season than initially planned. NBC and Peacock scripted content president Lisa Katz told Deadline that “18 feels the sweet spot,” given the show’s storytelling and the network’s Monday lineup.
“Line of Fire” airs Mondays at 10 p.m. ET and streams the next day on Peacock, giving the network a two-pronged way to capture both live and delayed viewers. The DVR and delayed-viewing numbers suggest the show has been pulling in audiences on both fronts since launch.
Who’s Behind the Series
“Line of Fire” is a freshman action thriller centered on a family of federal law enforcement agents from different branches who become entangled in a deadly conspiracy. Joshua Safran created and wrote the series and executive produces with Jenna Bush Hager and Ben Spector. Peter Krause and Hope Davis star.
Critics haven’t been unanimous. Variety TV critic Aramide Tinubu praised the show as having the makings of a future classic among beloved police procedurals, while TVLine gave it a C-minus. Either way, the ratings carried the case for expanding the order.
What Comes Next
NBC has not detailed a midseason or finale schedule beyond the expanded order, so viewers will have to wait to learn exactly when the first season’s 2027 stretch begins.
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