ABC’s ‘Castle’ season 8: Should fans be worried by the ratings?
Commercially, it’s felt as though “Castle” was on the decline in the ratings for a little while now. Season 7 as the first time since the early days of the show in which we wondered whether or not it would be brought back; we were fairly optimistic, but at the same time realized that Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic’s contracts were expiring, and anytime you start to bring a show around longer than seven seasons, the cost can rise to a level that makes doing the show unreasonable.
Now that we are five episodes into season 8, that mild concern has transformed into worry. Monday night’s new episode “The Nose” drew a 1.1 rating in the 18-49 demographic, and while there are some excuses you can make (NFL football / the new “Star Wars” trailer), the rating is not really that different than for any other episode this season. The high is a 1.2, and that is still four-tenths down in the season average from season 7 (1.6). The numbers are even worse when you look at the average rating for season 6 (1.9).
There are some caveats with this data: We’re talking only about the demo as opposed to total viewers, and we’re only looking at live + same-day ratings in an era where many shows are dependent on DVR viewing. However, the reality is that networks still look at viewers 18-49 first and foremost, and live ratings will always matter more than recordings. We’re not really in the business of sugar-coating, and we don’t want to give false hope for a fan base that is already having a tough time with the direction of the story at the moment. If the live ratings in the demo don’t change, the show could be in trouble.
What’s the reason for the drop? – Blaming it on the Castle / Beckett twist would be a misnomer. The ratings really have only dropped around 5% or so since the twist in “XX,” and that’s the expected decline you would see as a show moves on into its season. So all of those people threatening to not watch the show anymore … well, that’s not really happening.
The real problem seems to be that for some reason, viewers either bailed on the show in the spring and didn’t return, or just decided to stop watching / DVR the show this summer. “Blindspot” is competition on Monday nights, and so is Monday Night Football. Also, you’ve got a billion other programming options to watch … which is the same problem that every show has at the moment. “Castle” is far from the only show with a huge drop over the past two years; its is only more noticeable because it has put the show into dangerous territory. It’s now losing a big chunk of its “Dancing with the Stars” lead-in, and only “Blood & Oil” (soon to be canceled, most likely) and “Nashville” are posting similar numbers in the Sunday – Thursday lineup among dramas. (As of this writing, “Wicked City” has yet to premiere.)
What can be done? – It’s really so simple as watching live, and encouraging all of your friends / family to do the same. It’s hard to really do much else. We do think the show could benefit from a few creative tweaks here and there, with the biggest one being either a couple of notable guest stars or simply an interesting episode content that gets casual fans watching again. Really, they need to bring in more of the humor, establish the Castle / Beckett relationship people love (over time), and hope that some people rediscover the show.
In the end, there’s no reason to be gloom-and-doom over “Castle’s” future just yet, but with that said, you do have to brace for the possibility that this could be the final season. If it ends up being the case, we can only hope the writers are told in enough time to craft a proper ending.
If you do want to get some other news when it comes to “Castle,” be sure to head over the link here! Also, you can sign up here to get some other TV scoop on almost everything we cover, sent right over to you via our CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: ABC.)
carolyn
November 17, 2015 @ 11:26 pm
My husband wants to know the manufacturer of ryan’s raincoat on season 8 episode 7.
BK
October 25, 2015 @ 8:25 am
I do agree the ratings drop started after that wedding desaster and that contrived break up is the final nail. Btw many fans were already spoiled about that break up during the summer and decided not to watch. That blind item didn’t gain viewers it pissed the loyal fanbase off.
Bk
October 25, 2015 @ 8:16 am
You should not forget that the blind item was already spoiled over the summer, many ppl already knew about the break up and decided not to watch the first two episodes.
Dan Henderson
October 25, 2015 @ 12:33 am
The 1.1 rating may not appear real bad, but if you look at the audience numbers, there has been a consistent ~30% drop in audience numbers watching the pgm. It has gone from winning its timeslot on Monday nights, to dead last in the 10:00p timeslot. The audience just isnt there anymore, and it has been effectively driven away by the show’s direction and sometimes sophomoric story development. Its so sad, because it doesnt seem to be an issue in acting–only in the development of the story arc.
Jim_Satterfield
October 23, 2015 @ 5:07 pm
My main worry is what will happen to the ratings if they aren’t back together or AT LEAST there has been a major move in that direction (Not what Hawley and Winter consider to be one.) by the hiatus.
Castle fan
October 22, 2015 @ 12:58 pm
I think numbers are down is ABC’s fault also. You never see advertisement for the show. Will never get new viewers or help keep the interest up for the faithful that don’t go on-line.
Leo
October 21, 2015 @ 6:44 pm
The damage was done in 6.23 and compounded in 7.02 when Castle’s abduction was treated as a non event, ignoring it until 7.20 then jamming all the details into 42 unsatisfactory mimutes.
The drop in the all important demo occurred then 1,6 in season 7 to 1.2 in season 8 and sliding to 1.1.
Winter/Hawley were given the task of saving a sinking ship, the drop in viewers and demos was evident at the end of 8.01 before Beckett’s leaving.
All anyone can hope is the demo staying above the .0 mark and hope 6.67 ml lion viewers is enough for ABC although making Beckett a manic obsessive isn’t helping. .
smartsenior
October 21, 2015 @ 5:38 pm
I thought the ratings are based on Nielsen Family Ratings, how can me and my friends affect the numbers they use? I’m confused or you are.
Devin McMusters
October 21, 2015 @ 4:49 pm
The writers are just working within the limitations placed upon them by the feud between Fillion and Katic. They had to come up with some reason to keep the two apart most of the time. It must be heck to work on that set.
Jim_Satterfield
October 21, 2015 @ 4:01 pm
The creative staff has had real problems since the latter part of season 6. The whole storyline of Castle disappearing on their wedding day in the last episode of that season turned off a lot of viewers. So did the stupid idea of her having been married in a drunken haze in Vegas when she was 19. No background check she’d had before showed that? Really? I think not having that wedding at the end of season 6 turned off a lot of people. It’s such a tired cliche. Now you have writers who are doing even worse things. On top of that the show isn’t being promoted by the network very much.
castlefan
October 21, 2015 @ 1:13 pm
I think Fillion and Katic signed only 1 year contracts when they renewed and they are both producers on the show now, so this may be the last season if ABC brings it back in the spring anyway. And I disagree about how Castle is acting. He has always relied on humor to mask his fears, so yeah, he’s concerned, but he probably thinks if he pushes too hard, that will drive Beckett away. It did with his first love. And yeah, Ryan acting inappropriately towards Beckett was just wrong. I have a theory as to Beckett’s choice of clothing this year that I will keep to myself; let’s just say that her style has totally changed. As to Ryan’s incompetence now, he’s probably tired and stressed out from working 2 jobs to provide for his family and his day doesn’t end when he gets home.
Jim_Satterfield
October 21, 2015 @ 4:05 pm
There’s humor and then there’s low humor. Guess which one the show is going for now. They need better writers.
Sue
October 21, 2015 @ 5:44 pm
Agreed, although The Nose was the first episode this season where I actually laughed a couple of times. Knee jerk reaction I think.
frb
October 21, 2015 @ 5:59 am
i don’t claim to have the answers but It is not a good idea to continue the humor aspect, if you can call it humor.
What are they doing? My goodness we have now been subjected to fart jokes From a grown man with an adult daughter in a serious romantic relationship on the verge of ending.
XX had me thinking that the change in direction might get interesting until they decided to pretend that Kate abruptly leaving castle was a source of fun and amusement in the very next episode.
The man actually jumped up and played with a toy and skipped off to work like nothing significant happened. What the Hey???
Beckett new peril has been pushed to the background and consist of her making a phone call or two and a picture of Vulcan. That’s it? Then back to Castle acting like an immature clown.
Now Ryan and Espo are being made to look like bungling idiots and when did they allow Ryan to get suggestive toward his boss.Tthey had always respected Beckett.
Is all this intentional, it seems there is a big effort made to demean and diminish Beckett from that strong, independent female that is the rage of TV today.
All the sense now is invested in Nancy Drew, irritating PI, AKA as Alexis.
Give the audience some credit for possessing a little logic.
BTW, where’s Marlowe? He gave us well written and logical episodes. Who are these people making these decisions. Is it Ace Ventura, Pet Detective?
And why did Stana return to this map of destruction. I gave her credit for good sense.
Charles Neale
October 21, 2015 @ 11:53 am
Frb,yes I agree I gave Stana some credit for good sense,it maybe she got sucked in by the writers also either way I’m done with the show unless they are back together before the extended Hiatus. If not Matt I think you are totally wrong and it might not make it through the whole season.
Dooms
October 21, 2015 @ 2:30 pm
Stana wanted the paycheck. Where else is she going to get the money she’s making on Castle? She doesn’t have a movie career and has a small fan-base. When Castle ends, she has to go right back into a tv series and pray it’s a hit (unlikely). This is likely the biggest payday of her career and she would be dumb to leave that money behind.
Jim_Satterfield
October 21, 2015 @ 4:04 pm
She can do whatever she wants. I think her husband’s income will fill in any gaps in her acting income.
OhNoes234
October 21, 2015 @ 4:44 pm
Totally straight. Most actors only get one huge hit. Judging by what she’s doing outside of Castle, this was it for Stana.
J Gathright
October 21, 2015 @ 5:15 am
Us old folks like these types of shows (some action, not to much violence and romance that we can believe in. I could watch this show all day, now with this story line I’ll find other things to do or watch. At least Bones kept their stars together, writers take note.
J Gathright
October 21, 2015 @ 5:08 am
I understand that viewership of Castle has gone down due to Monday Night Football, and DVR’s according to your statement. I agree about the DVR’s, but I think that a lot of viewers were also watching it live. Now they just watch it on there DVR’s, due to the direction the show as taken. It took the writers 7 seasons to get them together, and after 2 episodes they are not together. I guess the new writers need to review how they got there. They will see what they went through, if it wasn’t for Castle Beckett would never known who killed her mother. Listen to the vows they took when they married you will see that your story line makes no sense. You said they will be back together soon so why did you have Beckett to move completely out. I hope they are back together before the break, otherwise it’s curtains. Also I would look the baby boomers not just the 18-49 year olds.
Jim45
October 21, 2015 @ 3:46 am
Castle show runners only have to do one thing to bring ratings back – put Fillion and Katic in the same breathing space acting Castle and Beckett as they try to out smart each other on their way to solving a crime for at least half of the 42 minutes of each episode. That’s more than 21 minutes of them acting face to face. (Episode 5 had them in the same space for 4 minutes and 20 seconds. Episode 3 was just over 8. Episode 4 was just over 7. Not me, but someone counts.)
It does require that someone with a little talent write some decent dialogue that both actors can say. Maybe that’s too hard. It would help if they could preform some crime fighting actions because TV is an action oriented medium.
Maybe it’s all too hard, but without that the show is dead.
Leo
October 21, 2015 @ 7:02 pm
Once fans leave they don’t return . Castle has lost half it’s viewers and demos since 6.23, none have returned .
Buddy
October 21, 2015 @ 2:02 am
To continue. Matt you are so wrong that it hurt my sensibilities to read your article. As I see it:
I have DVD’s of all seven seasons of Castle. Having watched reruns of all 7 seasons on TNT would I buy the DVD for season 8? Absolutely not!!!
Fans supported (rooted for) the Caskett marriage for 7 years. Do the fans want to root for a reconciliation for even 8 episodes? Absolutely not!!!!
Beckett’s life was threatened in trying to catch and arrest Bracken. Does it make sense to fault Beckett for trying to protect Castle’s life? Absolutely not!!!!
The most important thing facing Beckett and other cast characters is catching Bracken’s partner. Does it make sense to have Beckett and her team work on mundane, inane murder cases when Becket’s, Vikram’s, Castle’s ,etc’s lives are in danger and the inane cases could be handled by any detective in the 12th? Absolute not!!!
Fans got impatient and bored waiting for Caskett to get married. Does it make sense to make the fans wait for any length of time for a Caskett reconciliation? Absolutely not!!!
I had high hopes that the new show runners would be able to stop the decline in fan support and to increase the number of viewers. They said that they had plans to do this and would set the drama, comedic and theme elements for season 8 in the first two part episodes. Does it make sense to continue with their present plan when it has been the object of fan disgust and upheaval? Absolutely not!!!!
Buddy
October 21, 2015 @ 1:19 am
The major difference in being successful and being unsuccessful is making bad decisions in early life or early in other endeavors.we are now in the early endeavors of the new show runners and they have already made their bad decision. They wanted to shake things up by splitting Caskett. This is their bad decision because:
1) It was unnecessary and ill advised because Beckett’s life was threatened when trying to find cause and evidence to arrest Bracken. The current issue is no different.
2)they are forcing the fans to like what the show runners want rather than the show runners providing what the fans want. Rule number one give the fans what they want.
3) they lie. They say that the breakup is temporary and that Caskett will be reunited soon. Then they say that they will be reunited this season (not soon it represents a year in their lives). Then they say that the split is for good.
4)they think that they have 22 episodes in which to succeed in their efforts to fix the shake up. They are wrong. With the bad ratings they only have 8 episodes to fix the screw up and 5 of the 8 episodes are already gone. With the current ratings the series will be cancelled if Caskett are not reunited.
5) not to forget that Bracken was defeated with Caskett and friends working together as a team to maximize their effectiveness. Combine Castle, Beckett, Vikram, Ryan, Esposito, Tok and even Alexis if necessary as a team and find and arrest Bracken’s partner.
6) Stop trying to blame Beckett for the split. If I were in Castle’s place I would appreciate and love Beckett all the more for protecting my life.
Jim_Satterfield
October 21, 2015 @ 4:02 pm
When did they say the split is going to be permanent after all?
Sue
October 21, 2015 @ 5:45 pm
I missed that also.
OhNoes234
October 22, 2015 @ 4:36 pm
Other scoop websites have said it’s not going away any time soon.
Will Thompson
October 23, 2015 @ 1:08 am
Yup. From all the scoops that have been posted and from the interviews of the cast/showrunners, it is not difficult to see that the split though not permanent is going to drag on for beyond the fall finale. Plus the fact that Stana is only in one or two scenes of Episode 9 doesn’t bode well as that would be aired post the winter hiatus.
Sue
October 23, 2015 @ 1:23 am
I think it’s the next episode of Castle, Cool Boys, where she only has 1 scene. She was in Milan for fashion week when they filmed that episode.
Charles Neale
October 20, 2015 @ 10:49 pm
Matt, I would like to tell people to watch, but I honestly can’t. The writers aren’t making it easy with this contrived and forced breakup. Plus we have 3 weeks before a new episode with fans hoping they are back together by the extended fall hiatus. It has gotten so bad that Stana haters seem to have come out which is unfortunate because she is o talented that they have gone so low as to have BUTT jokes., Fart jokes and have Stana run around in sexy outfits and flip her legs at no one in the office. Then to make Nathan a blithering
idiot that passes gas , and is basically a class clown. Woo Hoo to the writers great job.
Jim_Satterfield
October 21, 2015 @ 4:02 pm
I don’t hate Stana Katic. I hate what the writers have done to the characters of Kate Beckett and Rick Castle.
Charles Neale
October 21, 2015 @ 4:34 pm
Jim,I did not mean you hated her I have just read some other comments elsewhere that have been blaming her and Nathan rather than the writers.
castlefan for now
October 21, 2015 @ 5:42 pm
Well, Katic and Fillion are producers on the show now, so maybe that means something? Producers are supposed to approve the scripts, etc.
Jim_Satterfield
October 23, 2015 @ 5:06 pm
Not when it’s actors who get a producer credit. It’s more of a money thing.