VinceW

Recall her last undercover assignment for the NYPD. She asked no questions and took unknown risks for the job and nearly got killed just because she could speak Russian. This story must be CIA related which we know the series does not handle that well.

Good point, but it all depends on what Rita, the stepmother brings to the story. I expect that the producers will be using her role to explain away somehow the need for a separation which they think will keep viewers watching. I expect that the reason will be very weak because we know that Beckett still keeps her full time captain position. It suggests that she will be working outside her change of command unless she becomes a FBI liaison. If it is not a national security issue, then it presents as Beckett keeping some kind of secret from Castle about the stepmother connection in his life and not an actual criminal case.

Code 7 – life (lives) in danger. Whose life was in danger – Vickram or Beckett? If her life was in danger, regardless of her past AG ties, Beckett should have called on all resources available. There would be no reason to lie to Castle. No communication to her superior or team members indirectly caused the precinct shootout later because it was obvious during interrogations with the woman assassin that Espo and Ryan had no idea how dangerous the situation. Also, I question why the AG did not call upon another team to protect Beckett. Ryan told us in 8x1 that the AG had assigned someone to investigate the DC deaths which means that 1PP must have known about the danger to Beckett, but her team was left in dark regardless whether national security issue or just need to know.

There doesn't seem to be any plausible excuse for them living apart(if that actually happens) except show runner arrogance or some kind of mandate from above to avoid showing them with a home life as long as possible.

The sneak peeks are giving away a lot which portends that the big split up angst is coming at the end of the episode. The Caskett dialogue over her missing was well done on both sides for the most part, but Castle needs to understand that his limits dealing with dangerous criminals caused Beckett to respond the way she did which others including Alexis have told him many times. He needs to trust her, but she should have contacted someone at the precinct. The worst case presents that she chose loyalty to her job again over Castle which has been her history and she becomes obsessed with a former FBI case spawned from her meeting with Bracken. I think that Beckett’s last comment “No More Secrets’ will be the reason that she feels the need to “breakup”. She either has more secrets to keep or in her mind if they are split up, she can avoid direct confrontation or lying to him in the future about any danger in order to keep him safe, but it doesn't explain how they still appear together in 8x3 working on other cases unless she becomes a FBI liaison working with the tech analyst. This presents as a very strange story line to pursue for very long because it damages her character after how well things have progressed between them since the wedding in season 7. TPTB can’t expect to keep this kind of angst going for longer than a few episodes unless the 8x1 viewership numbers mean nothing to the network. When Hawley was first mentioned as new show runner, I was reminded about his last script "Headhunters" which was such a mess, but it seems that the story tempo might be moving back in that direction with Castle and Beckett working separate cases and living apart. All these relatives coming out of the woodwork is just too much unless this will be used in the future to avoid Caskett having children together.

The best scene was the shootout at the precinct else it was just a rerun of 'Driven' with Castle the one now looking for answers. It was odd that none of the other officers drew their guns except Espo and Ryan during the shootout. The DC connection suggests something related to classified information. She reacted too quickly to the phone call at the loft to not still be connected to the feds. In 'Need to Know', the gun runners were all foreign, but the bad guys did not look foreign in this episode. It was foolish for her to not call the precinct for help and just go rogue without contacting her superiors unless that is somehow explained next week. I wonder if the feds come to rescue her at the warehouse seen in the 8x2 promo. I knew the reason for the "breakup" would be weak, but I fear it will be worse than I could have imagined. I will hang in there and watch until episode 5 to see what happens, but I am not interested in watching another version of season 4 with the secrets, lies and ongoing high tension between them for an entire season.

The premise of a real breakup came from the TVLine blind item. The show could not survive a real breakup leading to divorce after just a few months of marriage. TVLine always exaggerates Castle issues. Recall that item from a TVLine season 6 article about "Need to Know" and that shining item (flash drive) Beckett hands to Castle in the break room implying that she was giving Castle the ring back. I don't click on that site any longer. The new show runners in the latest TV guide article about season 8 are finally revealing some possible Caskett relationship angst from secrets and conflicts which consequences they might regret if not resolved after a few episodes. IMO.

This is what seems so puzzling about a "breakup". The new producers know that they can't keep the audience watching unless the two of them are working together on screen in some capacity so, why the need for a marriage "breakup" to further the love story. How will the writers explain away no home life, but together professionally for more than a few episodes at most. They could accomplish the same thing having Beckett as captain while working on a task force with Castle consulting and generate plenty of drama. It just presents as a risky way to recapture the great vibes from earlier seasons with a good chance that viewers will drop off quickly. IMO.

The last time Seamus told fans that they would be challenged was in 6x23. That along with TMI forthcoming in the early spoilers about the secondary characters and nothing specific about Caskett except that some incident will affect the relationship means a lot of unhappy fans for awhile. The only question now seems to be how long will the angst last or what will ABC accept in lost viewer numbers. The network can't possibly think that viewers will stick around long if the writers actually have them living apart in order to start over again some kind of WTWT scenario after such a short period of marriage. You would like to give the new show runners a chance, but then I am reminded that Hawley wrote "Headhunters" which was such a mess because the premise by itself made little sense at that point in the relationship. However, he might deserve a pass on that script because it was written after Marlowe had taken over full control of the show. I still look upon 2x12 "A Rose for Everafter" as one of my favorite early episodes which both Hawley and TPWinter did together.

Ratings and Alexis continue as such hot button issues. When Castle ratings are down;ratings mean nothing. When Castle ratings are up and steady in the demo; ratings are everything. Ratings aside, the failure of the PI arc and episodes like “Child’s Play” make it clear that separating the two work-wise is a mistake. The less Castle and Beckett are together, the lower the ratings are in both demo and viewership.

I don't speak for 'most' viewers, but rather I read the actual ratings. The show lost 2.5 million (30%) viewers in the middle of last season. Successful shows don't lose viewers in the middle of the season due to a show aging. Such condescending comments from a 'real life' Castle fan.

Alexis working with her father and theorizing over cases is her hot button. She uses the 'creepy' word to describe it. I think the Castle PI/Alexis connection by itself could tank the viewership numbers. Given the low ratings over the PI arc last season, to add-in Alexis shows real arrogance from the new producers or just real stupidity over what keeps viewers watching.

verdana. Thanks for that link. I think G+G might have grown tired of her perspective on the show, but she has always been very concise and objective with her comments about Castle the series. She is one of the better TV writers/critics out there. IMO. When I read those new comments on G+G about the spoilers, I had to check the author myself because the tone was not at all Joy given her comments during the summer about the direction of the show. In fact, in her last blog on G+G, she suggested for season 8 that the viewers put the episodes to DVR and just skip thru to the Caskett scenes. I still have a copy of her 'Watershed' review and analysis which was excellent. She is convinced that BTS issues have really hurt the show the last two seasons(Insert actual 'Moonlighting' video here).

So True. They have gotten past the lack of communication over issues that have come up since the wedding unless season 7 was just a farce. If the reason for the secret is classified information, she just needs to tell him "it's classified". That is not a reason to "breakup" unless she went rogue at some point working for the feds which might explain Bracken's odd comments to Castle in prison. None of which explains the need to "breakup". Again, I think the show runners are trying to get too clever with the love story at the risk of losing a lot of viewers with this mystery story to start the season.

Exactly. That is why I posted earlier that no matter the reason for the "breakup", the premise will be weak. In the past, the writers have not handled the spy stories well at all especially what was thrown together in "Sleeper". Hayley must have some past experience working against the evil cabal types. I just hope the writers are not using secrets between Caskett in order to cause relationship angst during the entire season which is so Marlowe.

Agree S55. It looks like Beckett's anonymous tip to save that woman from the mob in 6x3 "Need to Know" will come back to haunt her and it will cause some bad consequences. I wonder if Marlowe is still consulting on the show because it looks like once again Beckett is choosing loyalty to her job over Castle (what Bracken tells Castle during prison visit). At this point in the relationship, no reason to keep anything from Castle. Even if Beckett is convinced a "breakup" is needed to keep him safe, there is no guarantee that Castle would not be killed by some member of a criminal group. Those kind of evil organizations don't operate that way. Hawley must be a fan of 'The Blacklist'(secret society,FBI,CIA, cabal).

Not written by Joy. During the summer hiatus, she was not that optimistic about season 8 especially with the Castle PI/Alexis add-in and Caskett working apart. She never did comment about the blind item during the summer. I hope she is still on board at Gossip and Gab because if the season does go sideways early, I will use her blog to keep in touch with the show.

The GMMR interview continues to reveal story plans for both the new and secondary characters, but little about the Caskett relationship except that something will change it. I still expect that the “breakup” will last no longer than 3 episodes past the 2-part premiere. The reason for the split will be weak, but viewers will stay the course until the story reaches a point where the new writers have them actually living apart. That kind of scenario will lose viewership quickly because it just makes little sense after such a short period of matrimony regardless of the danger. The new show runners are trying to be too clever with the love story. I wonder what ABC has set for a floor viewership number before the network will force a direction change. The network can't possibly think that a whole season of them living apart will keep the audience watching given the viewership drop last season.

Hal. I think your input about episodes 3 and 4 finally explains for me the purpose of the split which is that the show runners want to bring back some of the great vibes from the earlier seasons which can be risky if it lasts too long and the weekly criminal cases are weak. The majority(90%) of viewers don't watch spoilers or read blogs which means that the perception of a breakup could push viewers out right away. If the reason (blackmail over Castle's past connections or associations?) for the 'Breakup to Keep You Safe' is not very plausible, it could make things even worse.

I misunderstood your earlier post about the safety issue, but if Castle pushes hard to not accept it that is worth watching. It is good to know that the premiere does not resemble 'Sleeper' with its Chuck Norris references. This must be the role of the new Beckett confidant (Vikram) who helps her to subdue any immediate threats to Castle which alleviates her concerns about Castle's current safety and allows them to move past the incident after a few episodes. Again, it seems a big mistake to keep them apart too long without tanking viewership numbers. In addition, to drag the separation out for very long allows the story to become just another government conspiracy (CIA,cabal) which implies that Beckett gets exposed to blackmail pressure because of Castle's past connections or associations. This kind of story fits more into the template of shows like the "The Blacklist" or "Person of Interest".

Hal. Please tell us that the breakup does not come about because of another Beckett “this is my life “ moment and she uses that reasoning to justify leaving him. It will just lead to more Beckett character bashing on the forums. Someone might act that way if there was a past trouble issue with a relative and the person did not want the spouse involved for legal reasons or risk injury to them, but if the issue is not about Castle’s safety per se, then the ‘breakup’ just does not seem plausible enough to last over more than a few episodes and still keep the viewers engaged especially with the wedding only six months ago and their vows still fresh in viewers minds. I just can’t imagine viewers watching some kind of ongoing angst between them for very long. This premise seems nothing more than Marlowe broken story telling (7x20 "Sleeper"), but now with different people in charge. Even if Beckett needs to go up against some kind of cabal or association from her past, why the need for them to not work together against the obstacle which would provide plenty of drama for a new season? Before the marriage, they both put themselves at considerable risk many times working together to solve cases.

I expect that the 'breakup' angst will not last more than 3 episodes after the premiere because the writers will not be able to keep continuity over it given the past history of the show UNLESS a backstory issue arises for Beckett (blackmail?) which she knows would put Castle in some kind of legal jeopardy.

What has halwideman actually confirmed will happen with Caskett? I know that I have missed a lot of postings, but Castle PI with Alexis full time, Toks replacing Beckett as the new badass, no Caskett at home or work is enough to tank the ratings before the show reaches five episodes. It seems like a big mistake by the writers to reach back into Beckett’s past at this point in the relationship in order to create some kind of obstacle that would cause them to breakup even if it put one of them in criminal or legal jeopardy. It portends too much like the disaster that happened in 6x23. To be honest, the info and spoilers that have come out so far about the new changes don’t seem worthwhile enough to even put any episode to DVR much less watch LIVE. IMO.

I started watching at episode 3 this season and I got interested right away. The writers did a good job keeping the 3 storylines going especially the continuity with the police union loan corruption arc. You knew the cop brother was somehow involved, but it was sad when revealed how he betrayed his sister and the rest of the detective team in the squad during the case resolution in the finale. The Castle writers could learn from that kind of storytelling rather than what looks like the mess that might be coming with the 'NoCaskett' season in the fall.

The task force option would have been a good path for the future of the series, but the concept was wasted by Marlowe with the DC arc. There was no vision to pursue it further since Marlowe ended it abruptly with Beckett getting fired by the feds which hurt the character. There seems to be some kind of underlining need to keep them apart which must be driven by BTS issues because what has been revealed thru the spoilers so far seems pretty bleak for those viewers who want to see Caskett solving cases together which has proven to be successful for the show. Most viewers can appreciate some kind of a professional split, but the added separation angst will sink the ratings if it lasts too long and it will likely present as forced in order that the new show runners can script their ‘Love Conquers All ‘ tale.