‘Castle’ season 9 poll: Would you watch without Stana Katic, Tamala Jones?
If you’re like us, you are probably still struggling to process the crazy news from earlier in the day: Stana Katic and Tamala Jones are not going to return to “Castle” in the event the show is renewed for a ninth season. This is an enormous shakeup for a show that has, to us, always been about the relationship between Castle and Beckett alongside their prowess as crime-solvers.
Could you argue that Nathan Fillion is the marquee star? Sure, given that he had the high-profile credits going into the show. We’re one of the biggest “Firefly” fans out there, so of course we’re always going to support him. However, this show to us became as much about Beckett as it was Castle, and while we’ve thought that the Beckett-lite (or even Beckett-less) episodes this season have worked okay, it’s hard to imagine a full season without her. How do you write that in a way that makes sense? If you split these two characters up, you fundamentally change the entire structure of the show in some ways and you invalidate the show in so many ways.
Also, Beckett has fundamentally been the rock of the show, and grounded the Rick character to help him from becoming too much of a cartoon.
We also don’t want to minimize the exit of Tamala Jones, someone incredibly talented but often not given enough to do, especially through much of the past two seasons.
The truth here is that ABC has already confirmed the exit of the two actresses, so we don’t necessarily see this as a situation where they are just “thinking about” making the move. Still, if you are unhappy about the twist, it doesn’t hurt to make your thoughts known, right?
Alana
May 9, 2016 @ 2:13 am
No way in HELL I am watching beyond Season 8! To me the show should be called Caskett. I watch the show for Beckett and her interactions with Castle. I have zero interest in watching anything without Beckett. Castle alone bores me. Going ahead with a Season 9 without Stana Katic is a complete insult to the actress and to the character she plays. From a story line perspective I couldn’t think of a worse case scenario.
Leo
April 20, 2016 @ 8:36 am
Sure, I’ll continue watch the rest of the season and the new version if and when that materializes. Nathan Fillion, Jon Huertas and Seamus Devers are excellent actors, now if they can get decent writers ABC might give them a full season.
Rick Montross
April 19, 2016 @ 2:11 pm
For me, this is very simple. The last episode of Season 7 (the awards banquet for Rick) was the actual end of Castle. That’s the way I choose to think about it.
In season 8 we fans were jerked around by a stupid plots (LocSat) until finally they started some very good individual episodes. So kill Beckett or send the two of them on a round the country motorcycle trip — it doesn’t matter. Most of us watched for Caskett and not intricate police procedurals.
End the show (officially) with dignity for the characters and the fans.
georgee
April 18, 2016 @ 6:58 pm
We are going to miss Stana ( Kate Beckett) . Does Abc think so little of the fans that watch these shows that they don’t even ask her to stay on. ABC if want to save more money do not resign Fillion, Just let the show go out with a very bad taste in everyone mouth. Thank you Stana Katic and Tamala Jones for a wonderful 7 seasons. You wonder if ABC know this day was coming from the beginning of season 8 and just played us fans? If you think anyone going to watch the Rick and Haley show you are wrong, it is a non starter. So you ABC can save some more money, just let Castle go away. Do you think we will get an apology from Hawley and Winter for giving us the worst last season every. I do not think so they are just too arrogant. God Bless you Stana Katic may life be go to you.
Leo
April 20, 2016 @ 10:11 pm
Sure, Caskett shippers are gone, but not all fans were shippers, and you saw that with the Loksat arch when Beckett chose to leave RC, there were many demanding that he dump her and move on.