Launching in 2016 may have doomed poor Quantico more than anything intrinsic to the show. Ultimately, it wasn't the quality of the content that led to its early cancellation, it was a combination of the complex narrative structure and lack of live viewers. In 2016, the networks weren't quite ready to embrace the changing viewing habits of consumers, so while Quantico had excellent numbers with delayed viewing factored in, at the time, ABC was primarily concerned with live-plus-same day ratings.
When the axe dropped on Quantico, Deadline noted that, "Quantico has done well in delayed viewing and has been a solid international seller for ABC." These days, even the networks have embraced that streaming is a way of life for consumers, and while drawing in viewers on the night of a show's premiere is certainly welcome, delayed viewing can save otherwise doomed series from cancellation. In October 2019, The Hollywood Reporter wrote about how shows like CBS' SWAT and NBC's Chicago PD have their total numbers boosted by viewers accustomed to watching TV on their own schedule.
If only Quantico had premiered more recently, it may have stood a better chance of making it past its abbreviated third season. That would have been good news for fans, because after the show was canceled, showrunner Michael Seitzman shared with Deadline that he had big plans for season 4.
