So there you have it, television viewers.
THAT is how you royally screw up the end of a beloved series.
Several weeks ago, word leaked that Stana Katic would not be asked back for Castle Season 9, were ABC to pick up the show for a ninth season.
Once it became known that star Nathan Fillion had signed a new deal, and that Season 9 looked like a strong possibility, Twitter took action.
Long-time fans of the drama aired their grievances over the social network, actually urging ABC to cancel Castle because they preferred to see the show come to an end than to watch it without one half of its two main characters.
Especially when the only plausible way for Kate Beckett to be written out would have been for her to be killed off.
Proving the power of social media, these complaints were clearly heard and Castle was officially canceled just a few days prior to Castle Season 8 Episode 22 airing on Monday night.
The final centered on Rick and Kate finally tracking down the mysterious LokSat, who turned out to be Gerald McRaney’s Mason Wood, who they killed, along with shady lawyer Caleb Brown.
But Brown was shot and killed by Beckett only after stormed Castle’s residence and got into a shootout with our heroes.
Beckett ended his life, but multiple sources confirm Castle Season 8 would have ended with Beckett’s life hanging in the balance, were ABC to have picked it up for Season 9.
Instead, the hastily-put-together alternative ending was filmed, which featured a seven-year time jump and a look at Castle and Beckett as the parents of three young kids, happily sharing coffee and breakfast with them in the morning.
And that was it.
Perhaps aware that fans would be aghast of the rushed conclusion, one that they clearly hadn’t planned on airing because they anticipated a ninth season, executive producers Alexi Hawley and Terence Paul shared an open letter immediately after the finale wrapped up.
It read as follows:
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.
SOUND OFF BELOW AND GRADE THE CASTLE FINALE: