ABC’s ‘Castle’ series finale: Show bosses Alexi Hawley, Terence Paul Winter release statement

If there are two people who have been roughly quiet on the end of “Castle” over the past few weeks, it has been Terence Paul Winter and Alexi Hawley. They’ve at times been the brunt of criticism over the course of the final season, even in recent weeks for some things that they don’t even have anything to do with (such as the idea of Stana Katic leaving). Regardless of what you may think about some of their episodes this year, they’ve still been a part of this show, off and on in Hawley’s case, for some time. We also know they both care about it deeply, and this has to be a strange time for them to see something go that they’ve poured a lot into over the years.

Today, the two jointly broke their silence in a statement (per Deadline), where they look back at the course of the show and also thank fans for supporting it for so many years:

“While we’re still trying to process all the emotions stirred up by recent events, the feeling that stands head and shoulders above all else, is gratitude.

“Eight seasons. A hundred and seventy three episodes.

“None of it would have been possible without you — our loyal and passionate fans. You are the reason this show survived and thrived. Without you carving out “Castle Mondays” every week, we would never have been able to make the show we love for as long as we did.

“So thank you.

“And thanks to Andrew Marlowe for creating such a delightful world, centered around a love story for the ages. It was an honor and privilege to shepherd the story of Castle and Beckett this season.

“And finally, thank you to our cast and crew, who have been our family for these last eight years. Who elevated every script by investing the best of themselves into each episode. We will miss you profoundly.”

Tonight’s series finale ended with an ending that was carved out in the case that this did prove to be the final episode; we flash-forwarded to seven years in the future, where Castle and Beckett were raising a young family and seemed to be happy and content after everything that they have gone through.