Up until early this month, the reports were consistently rife that the American crime drama TV series “Castle” on ABC has been officially renewed for a shortened Season 9 minus lead actress Stana Katic, who plays Kate Beckett in the show.
Apparently, the news was widely met by criticisms and fan backlash that promised ABC that they will no longer be watching “Castle” come Season 9 because there is no use to having one when there is no longer Stana Katic, despite the fact that Nathan Fillion, as Rick Castle, is the titular character of the TV series.
Rather than risk poor viewership ratings for its supposed Season 9, ABC has decided to forego its erstwhile decision to renew “Castle” and decided to just cancel it after Season 8.
Thus, when the Season 8 finale was aired on ABC on May 16, it actually ended on a lovely note for the fans but some critics saw how it felt forced and not spontaneous.
The finale jumped ahead seven years to reveal a happy ending for Kate Beckett and Rick Castle and their children, details Cinema Blend.
A different ending
Critics are one in saying lately that had “Castle” been renewed for Season 9, fans would have been looking at a different ending during the Season 8 finale.
But still, a happy ending was way better than having a cliffhanger with no answer.
There is also a bit of interesting twist in the Season 8 finale while Castle and Beckett were trying to figure out the mystery of LokSat. It turned out that Caleb was actually the real villain and following the ensuing chaos, Caleb was dead while Beckett and Castle were left holding one another, with both injured.
According to reports, that particular scene would have been the Season 8 finale had there been a Season 9. But instead, the show just jumped ahead to give every fan a happy ending the way they deserved it.
After all, without Stana Katic in Season 9, “Castle” would be hard-pressed to deliver a better happy ending than that.
Creating a firestorm
ABC has decided to retract its decision to renew “Castle” for Season 9 in light of the firestorm that it has created when it decided to let go of Stana Katic and Tamala Jones while giving one-year deals to Nathan Fillion, Jon Huertas, Seamus Dever, and other cast members, reports TV Line.
With the change in its decision, it is possible that ABC would work out a compromise deal with the actors whom it gave one-year deals to for the supposed one more season of “Castle.”
Days before the Season 8 finale of “Castle,” fans were excited to find out how Kate Beckett will bid her goodbye to the TV series which she has been a part of for its full length of eight years.
While it was understandable that the actress had some disappointments, a TV show is still a business above all which is what prevailed in her case and not what she or the fans want.
Before its airing on May 16, executive producer Terence Paul Winter said that the Season 8 finale of “Castle” is going to be an incredibly dynamic and large episode where Castle and Beckett are really tested.
Winter said that they will have to call on all of their friends including Esposito, Ryan, and Hayley, to help them bring down the mysterious LokSat which has eluded them in the past seasons.
Having the LokSat case as the focal point of the episode draws a level of excitement since the series will finally come to resolving a mystery that has really been around the entire season.
But it is also understandable to see why it is hard for the loyal fans and viewers of the TV series to be excited about it because they are about to part ways with one of the most beloved characters, if not the most beloved character, of the show.