Spoilers, Speculation & All Things Media!

[McManda]

I'd love to see an Espo vid with all the "YO's".   My hubby and I have a drinking game when we watch Castle:  We take a swig whenever Espo says "Yo".

 

I'm pretty sure there was someone that did one circa ...season 4? [EDIT: yes, it's here. It only goes through the end of season four, but I'm a little surprised it's only ~4 minutes long.]

 

As far as he goes, looks wise ... it's easy enough to suggest something that's not dad khakis and a bowling shirt. ;) I'll keep the glasses and the scruff, but I'm not really feeling when it turns into something akin to a real beard and mustache.

 

I'm also really impressed with the eagle-eyed ness of placing the different places for the swings. I could tell that they weren't exactly in the same place (but I didn't care much), but I don't think I'd be able to translate that to Google maps. My guess is that the differing placements had to do with where the sun was while they were filming, and also where they got permits to film. I'm not sure they can cord off the whole park, can they? That might explain the different places between Rise and every other episode they used them in.

Edited June 21, 2015 by McManda

[verdana]

I'm pretty sure there was someone that did one circa ...season 4? [EDIT: yes, it's here. It only goes through the end of season four, but I'm a little surprised it's only ~4 minutes long.]

 

This made my Monday morning, brilliant, I'm consistently amazed by what fans find time to do, they desperately need an up-date though and another great thing about this is watching Beckett's changing hairstyles over the years. 

 

 

My hubby and I have a drinking game when we watch Castle:  We take a swig whenever Espo says "Yo".

 

Good job you don't do the same every time Tamala says "lividity" heh, I wish that fan had done something similar for Tamala - any clip should last at least ten to fifteen minutes.

 

Better no baby that a forgettable, disappearing baby in my opinion.

I recall Terri saying Cosmo was played by quads and the mother was calm and composed, that poor woman at least on the bright side if you want a large family you get it out the way all in one go...but yeah better no baby than one disappearing into amazing TV day care. If the baby is going to be used simply as a Cute!Baby prop to replace the standard glass of wine on the sofa routine the awww factor will soon wear off. I don't find babies that exciting to watch on TV shows unless by their very existence they add something interesting to the other characters development and behaviour. 

 

Edited June 22, 2015 by verdana

[verdana]

GMMR TV Awards: Character Most in Need of a Storyline – Vote Now!
 
They could fill their entire list with Castle lets face it all of the secondary cast could do with a story....but forget Esposito I'm voting Martha!
 
Thanks for the article madmaverick and here's another from the Daily Telegraph (Sydney) talking about S8 although it might be easier reading this screenshot below:
https://twitter.com/a_contrario7/status/612862923199901697.

 

He's offering no spoilers since they haven't even started filming yet. 

"But Alexi and Terrance are so excited. They have both been around since the beginning (of the show) and have a very good eye as to what makes Castle great, what built our audience and the foundations of our show. And they are very excited to honour the foundations."

A huge part of those foundations are keeping the characters "real" and "happy'" people according to Fillion.

"My personal theory is that the secret to our success is that it's a TV show that doesn't take itself too seriously," he said. "We are like people you know. I enjoy the fact that the characters on Castle are very much like real people in that they're generally happy, Plus we're lucky to have a cast who are willing to laugh at themselves."

 

Makes me wonder how "real" Fillion thought things got in S7 with Castle's "mythology" storyline.

 

I would agree that one of the show's attractions is the light hearted fun element, if you want dark and gritty then you need to be watching something else but I do find over the years they've gradually moved away from the more subtle, nuanced, witty humor and made Castle especially more buffoonish along the way. There's a difference between laughing with and laughing at a character and the writers seem to forget this sometimes. I hope Hawley and Winter maintain that light heartedness and don't try and turn the show into something else (which other shows can do better) but tone done the crass slapstick - it doesn't hurt to be serious sometimes. 

Edited June 22, 2015 by verdana

[Julia]

I do find over the years they've gradually moved away from the more subtle, nuanced, witty humor and made Castle especially more buffoonish along the way. There's a difference between laughing with and laughing at a character and the writers seem to forget this sometimes. I hope Hawley and Winter maintain that light heartedness and don't try and turn the show into something else (which other shows can do better) but tone done the crass slapstick - it doesn't hurt to be serious sometimes. 

 

Plus many. I've been rewatching the first two seasons, and it's amazing how much less intelligent, sensitive, witty and competent Richard Castle has become compared to that guy. I suppose it was to be expected - Marlowe always did say they were channeling Bones - but wrap it up with a little lecture about what the audience really wants and it's the main thing wrong with this show, JMO. Because my personal theory is that the show is still on the air because a lot of women think Nathan Fillion is pretty and they aren't too particular what they see him in. 

[madmaverick]

I've been rewatching the first two seasons, and it's amazing how much less intelligent, sensitive, witty and competent Richard Castle has become compared to that guy. I suppose it was to be expected - Marlowe always did say they were channeling Bones - but wrap it up with a little lecture about what the audience really wants and it's the main thing wrong with this show, JMO. Because my personal theory is that the show is still on the air because a lot of women think Nathan Fillion is pretty and they aren't too particular what they see him in.

 

I believe the same could be said that a lot of women (and men, of course, but mostly the online crazy fangirling is women) think Stana Katic is pretty, and aren't too particular about what they see her in either (*cough FLO cough*).  That may have played a part in the supermodel Mary Sue evolution of Kate Beckett, at Marlowe's direction of course.

 

I think most people don't watch Castle expecting to be challenged, but hoping to be charmed.  It was that charming likeability factor plus the great chemistry between the leads that sucked me into a procedural for once in the first place.  But I also was charmed by the smart, witty banter in the early seasons of the show; a nascent attraction between 2 different but equally intelligent people who could give as well as well as they got and go toe to toe with one another.  As the seasons went on, the dialogue on the show was markedly dumbed down.  I have found this to be a major problem with the show.  Intelligent banter has been lost.  

 

And as Caskett grew closer and lost the early antagonistic edge and sexual tension to the relationship, the writers did not seem to know how to retain the sharp, edgier, witty banter in their interactions when they got along well.  A lot of it is maybe down to the writers losing creative zest for the characters (and also making some very ill judgments about character turns along the way).  It's hard to believe that the Marlowe who wrote the episodes I so enjoyed in the first 2 seasons is also the guy responsible for the crap that followed.  I could enjoy the attention to character in his early work whereas in the latter seasons, there was hardly any subtlety and nuance, and characterisation never seemed to be a priority, or at times even a consideration, in his writing, as he veered towards indulgent big, melodramatic turns of plot and character.

 

Castle also was more characterised as a doormat, the one laughed at and mocked by the others, and he lost agency on the show as a character, particularly as the mombatross grew to dominate. There was a growing imbalance in the Caskett relationship in that as Beckett was characterised as ever more perfect and attractive and badass in just about every aspect (i.e. also more generic) and having the 'power' in the relationship, Castle was reduced to a reactive character and a less potent guy (no pun intended; we never get consummation from Marlowe anyway ;)).  Beckett always 'won' and perhaps in their desire to make her look good, Castle's character got the short end of the stick, and it didn't come across as much as a relationship and attraction of equals as before.  This didn't have to be the case and shouldn't have been because the most attractive relationship is one of equals, but the writers either did not know or did not care to write 2 Alphas in a relationship.  

 

That said, I haven't found the relationship to be off balance all the time, and not so much especially since they got married, and there have been quite a few episodes where Castle's character had more agency and was portrayed as more like the intelligent, quick thinking man of old.  Cops & Robbers, No 1 Fan,  PI arc, 3XK 2 parter, Alexis kidnapping 2 parter etc.

 

Frasier may be the only show that Castle writers (Rob Hanning) have been a part of that I've watched.  Now granted that was a half hour comedy, not an hour long crime procedural, but that was a show where I loved just about every line of witty dialogue.  The long running show wasn't as strong in its final seasons as it was in earlier ones, but I never thought it was 'dumbed down'.  I never lost sight of the characters as intelligent people.  They mixed up the comedy well on that show, with well done episodes of farce and slapstick, as well as constant verbal swordplay.  Castle could learn from the smart comedy on that show.  

Edited June 22, 2015 by madmaverick

[Julia]

The relationship that drives me nuts is Castle/Alexis. Can you imagine the father who insisted on calling her friend's parents putting up with some of the abuse he took from Alexis in the later seasons, even if you do buy that completing puberty turns sensible young women into irrational shrews? And it's all the more annoying to hear that Castle the bad parent/partner/joke is pretty much consciously designed to be pathetic because he's supposed to remind us of ourselves and our friends.

Edited June 22, 2015 by Julia

[madmaverick]

Castle/Alexis was charming when Castle was occasionally parented by Alexis (while he parented Martha), but Castle was also shown as a good, sensible father who knew how to offer sage advice to a mostly sensible daughter and when to set boundaries at the same time.  Shame they forgot about the boundary part later on as "Alexis knew best" got more disrespectful and Castle endlessly apologetic.  Can you imagine Castle speaking to Martha the way Alexis did to Castle?

 

A big shame that they took all that was refreshing about Alexis and removed it with typically annoying traits in the name of "growing pains".  Plenty of shows do growing pains in a much more balanced, touching, resonating way.  I think I enjoyed that little convo between Castle and alt universe black haired Alexis when they were at odds than the entirety of Castle/Alexis being at odds during the ghastly PI arc.  I'm mostly back to enjoying Alexis again, but that could also be because they've hardly given her anything to do. ;)

 

Since we're on the subject, this was nice.

 

Molly C. Quinn ‏@MollyQuinn93  Jun 21
Hey @NathanFillion happy Fathers Day.
You inspire me and make me laugh, just like a real dad should :)

 

Nathan Fillion ‏@NathanFillion  
Nathan Fillion retweeted Molly C. Quinn
I’m not your real dad, but you’re still grounded.

 

 

Edited June 22, 2015 by madmaverick

[MaryM47]

From Matt's Inside Line at tvline.com:

 

Any scoop about Castle Season 8? –Fred
There’s no good way to say this, Fred, so let’s just rip the Band-Aid off and let the Internet take it from there: As Season 8 gets underway, Rick will be spending a lot of time with Hayley. #JustTheMessenger

 

[McManda]

I've been lax on the spoilers (if they could be called that at this point), but I don't like the sound of this Haley person. Not even because Castle is spending lots of time with her, but simply because she exists. Is she necessary? Doesn't bode well for me liking whatever direction they're taking for S8. (Yes, that's me being quick to judge. I don't like change.)

[KaveDweller]

I don't like anything that has Castle and Beckett spending time with other people, so this doesn't sound good to me either. But that little tidbit seems like he just wants fans to freak out.  Just the other day he said this Haley person wouldn't even be in every episode.

 

The obvious guess would be that if Beckett's captain than Haley's a new person working in the field with the boys (and Castle?).

[McManda]

Barring any giant missteps, I'm in this until the end, so I'll give it the benefit of the doubt ... for now. I was hesitant about the DC arc, too, and that turned out less awful than the tidbits before the season made it out to be.

[McManda]

I wanted season 8 and now I'm getting a whole big bowl of "be careful what you wish for"

 

Can we assume you know more (specifics) than the rest of us? I'm not asking for details, but I just feel like it's awfully early to be making any sort of real judgments. I mean, I thought the DC arc was going to kill the show, and I hated the idea of Castle being kidnapped on his wedding day and all that implied (basically the S6 finale was awful), but both seemed to work out okay. We don't really have any indication

that this time around will be any different.

 

Honestly, if they tightened up the cases [made them less kitschy and themey] and smartened up the writing a bit and threw in some shipper bones I might be willing to overlook the addition of new 2-dimensional characters.

[KaveDweller]

However while one of those things was cringe worthy and one was down right stupid neither of them did the one thing that a show can't come back from for me, and that is defy the internal logic of the show.

 

If you know more details than what's been reported, please share what you can.  I don't think anything I've seen defies the logic of the show.  The only thing I can think of that defies the internal logic of the show would be breaking up Castle and Beckett (and I mean relationship-wise, not just temporarily have them not investigating together like the P.I. arc).  

Edited June 23, 2015 by KaveDweller

[HalcyonDays]

I know a link to a TVLine article about the new series regular has been previously posted, however this link from TVLine has a little extra about the new regular.
 

Any scoop about Castle Season 8? –Fred
There’s no good way to say this, Fred, so let’s just rip the Band-Aid off and let the Internet take it from there: As Season 8 gets underway, Rick will be spending a lot of time with Hayley. #JustTheMessenger

 
Hmmm.....

[WendyCR72]

I know a link to a TVLine article about the new series regular has been previously posted, however this link from SpoilerTV has a little extra about the new regular.

 

Any scoop about Castle Season 8? –Fred

There’s no good way to say this, Fred, so let’s just rip the Band-Aid off and let the Internet take it from there: As Season 8 gets underway, Rick will be spending a lot of time with Hayley. #JustTheMessenger

 

Hmmm.....

 

HalcyonDays, all that you've posted comes from TVLine, not SpoilerTV. Just giving a heads up in case you linked incorrectly or something.  :-)

[verdana]

Can't say I'm surprised at the latest news, Matt does love stirring the pot though so...who knows. Like McManda I'm already disliking Hayley for the same reason. 

 

At this rate the new writers are almost making me wish Marlowe and Amann were back talking about "mythology", so come on writers give me some S8 news that has me excited instead of thinking "uh oh" and getting a bit nervous. 

 

If ABC does want to try and make the show last as long as possible, it wouldn't shock me if Hal's assumption is correct and they're going to do a test run for the time when Stana genuinely does decide to make those annoying end of season instagram "goodbyes" reality.

 

We shall see but if the new showrunners want to get a lot of fans freaked out over very little they're doing a bang up job. LOL

Edited June 23, 2015 by verdana

[verdana]

Hey something to be pleased about a photoshoot!  

Molly C. Quinn ‏@MollyQuinn93  30m30 minutes ago
Molly C. Quinn retweeted Daï
Supposedly July14
:)

 

Daï @Aqualice
@MollyQuinn93 Surreal and very exciting! Hope you get a photoshoot this time though

 

 

 

Molly C. Quinn ‏@MollyQuinn93  7 hrs7 hours ago
So surreal to be gearing up for #Castle Season8!
Thankful for everyone involved.
@OldManWinter14 @AlexiHawley
July15!

 

[verdana]

So this Hayley person, she's a security specialist and former LA cop with a "fractional" role but she's going to be spending a lot of time with Castle initially, this seems to point to him needing additional protection of some kind. What is Castle doing that requires an extra pair of eyes on him? Kate after her initial annoyance was happy to let him go off being PI without her as long as he let her know what he was up to and if he's still at the precinct whilst Kate plays Captain then can't the boys protect him from any possible harm? I'm confused about what transpires to draw Hayley and Castle together unless the dreaded Senator storyline is not dead and buried or Bracken is back in play again. 

 

The obvious guess would be that if Beckett's captain than Haley's a new person working in the field with the boys (and Castle?).

 

I'd rather she wasn't hanging around as yet another consultant, makes the boys seem like they can't do their normal day to day policing properly without hand holding from outside, I wish they'd made the character a lawyer or something rather than a security specialist, may be this is a sign they're going down the special task force route. 

Edited June 23, 2015 by verdana

[Brit Babe]

I'm just speculating and debby downering right now. I won't lie and say it comes from me seeing a script or anything so I can't speak to that. But I can do the math.

ABC didn't announce this as the final season. Therefor once again a season in limbo but the network wants more. I'm not confident in both stars coming to the table this time around. In fact I don't think anyone in charge is. I think "Hayley" is a test run to bring on someone "fresh" and "new" (love those buzz words) and see if the show can go on without one of the two stars. Considering Hayley is female I will let you guys fill in the blanks.

 

When I read this spoiler last night, I though exactly the same as above. ABC and other networks have done this before so many times and it never works. The fact that this new character will spending so much time with Castle and he not with his own wife leads me to a couple of conclusions; one being the above and two - co-stars who cannot work together. The show is built around Caskett as you said and it's a shame that indications at the moment show it going in this direction, although I’m none too surprised to be honest.

[FlickerToAFlame]

I'm not worried yet. While the new character might be some sort of test run to see if Stana can be used less, the new woman is probably starting out as a sort of Sully (hopefully less annoying) or Tori. It seems like she isn't even casted yet, so the network couldn't possibly know if this person could have the type of chemistry with NF to carry the show.

And I don't think NF is expecting to come back for a ninth season anyway. He may take a pile of money if it's offered, but there's likely no show as we know it next year. Maybe a spinoff of sorts with a similar plot but new actors (ie Law and Order).

Edited June 23, 2015 by FlickerToAFlame

[madmaverick]

Similar thoughts here.  There's been much ado about nothing before, so will wait for more info before making any concrete judgments.  

 

Where is this source of Matt's info likely to come from anyway?  He certainly knew to phrase it in melodramatic fashion. ;)  Is it just a piece of a casting side, a completed script of episode 801 if that's even been written yet, or TPTB in the writers' room or from the network who actually knows about the broader plans for S8?

 

I think it's a big mistake not to open S8 with a solid, feel good episode packed full of Caskett.  Like Caskett on holiday and come across a murder something like that.  That's what I would do if I were showrunner.  After ending S6 with that ridiculous cliffhanger, in my opinion, they made a mistake in opening S7 the way they did and lost a lot of viewers that way.  By keeping Caskett separate for most of the episode and not delivering on a compelling story about Castle's disappearance. And none of it was feel good.  I hope they don't make the same mistake in the S8 opener by keeping Caskett apart and giving a new, tertiary character that no one's going to care about too much screentime.  Remember Pi?

 

It's possible that Stana wanted shorter working hours in her new contract and hence the introduction of this new female character.  But surely, the writers can't be so stupid as to want to generate marital strife from this new character.  That would be beyond dumb.  I think it'll pretty much be show suicide if they kill the Caskett love story, but I wouldn't rule out the network wanting to continue/spinoff the show without either of the leads.   I wasn't convinced that the leads would sign on for S8, but here we are, though I still don't see them signing on beyond that.  I really don't think any of this has anything to do with the leads having a problem working with each other because if that really were the case, I don't think they'd be enticed to return despite the money.  They've come back with the understanding that Caskett is still the engine that drives the show.  And unless the new showrunners are extremely stupid, they should be well aware of the same.  

 

I don't like the sound of this Haley person. Not even because Castle is spending lots of time with her, but simply because she exists. Is she necessary?

 

 

Exactly.  But I think the new showrunners are struggling for story ideas with the existing characters, just as Marlowe & Amann did.  Caskett is married, Bracken is done (hopefully), Senate story is not popular, so what are they to do?  Bring in new characters may be the solution in their minds to regenerate the show.  Problem is, they've had a hard time making me even care about the secondary characters anymore, with the possible exception of Martha, so I doubt they'll be able to make me care about new tertiary characters.  

 

Hayley is reminding me of that pop star in S2 (?) whom Alexis was into whom may also have been named Hayley, as well as the ditzy Haley on Modern Family, so right now I can't take the character seriously heh.  Also possible that she is there to help investigate Castle's disappearance or provide more clues.

 

At this rate the new writers are doing a great job of making me almost wish we had Marlowe and Amann back talking about "mythology", so come on writers give me some S8 news that has me excited instead of thinking "uh oh" and getting a bit nervous.

 

Despite the lack of news that has me enthused, I'm definitely not back at the point of wishing Marlowe & Amann back with mythology talk! Change may be good or bad, but I'll take the risk of some fresh eyes and hopefully better writers as showrunners at this point.

Edited June 23, 2015 by madmaverick

[HalcyonDays]

 

HalcyonDays, all that you've posted comes from TVLine, not SpoilerTV. Just giving a heads up in case you linked incorrectly or something.  :-)

 

I found the original link from SpoilerTV, which then linked directly to the TVLine article. By habit, I link to SpoilerTV by default, but this time I guess I just went straight for the article link but forgot to remove the SpoilerTV part.

 

This is where I originally found the article, but then it's just another embedded link. I was trying to save people some clicks. Bad me. I'll remove the SpoilerTV part. *grin*

[madmaverick]

So it's that time of the year again when the showrunners meet with the actors and share their plans with them.  Really makes me wonder how long these meetings were between the supporting cast and Marlowe in the years before!  I mean, what could he have possibly told poor Tamala? ;) 

 

Network photoshoots are probably the only kind of photoshoots we'll have of Caskett anymore because I don't see entertainment magazines being interested in Castle to the extent of doing a photoshoot.  Maybe when the show ends?  But probably not even then with so much newer, hipper competition.  Too bad network ones are so often artistically...photoshopped challenged!  Oh well, it's better than nothing.   Wonder if fractional series regulars get to be part of them.  Could signify her importance, or lack of, in the season ahead.

[KaveDweller]

Can't say I'm surprised at the latest news, Matt does love stirring the pot though so...who knows. Like McManda I'm already disliking Hayley for the same reason. 

 

At this rate the new writers are almost making me wish Marlowe and Amann were back talking about "mythology", so come on writers give me some S8 news that has me excited instead of thinking "uh oh" and getting a bit nervous. 

 

If ABC does want to try and make the show last as long as possible, it wouldn't shock me if Hal's assumption is correct and they're going to do a test run for the time when Stana genuinely does decide to make those annoying end of season instagram "goodbyes" reality.

 

We shall see but if the new showrunners want to get a lot of fans freaked out over very little they're doing a bang up job. LOL

To be fair though, the new show runners haven't said anything yet. This all comes from one sentence by a reporter using who knows what as a source.

To me it seems too early to worry about this new character replacing Beckett. She seems like she's going to fill a hole left by Gates. And honestly Nathan and Stana both only signed for one more season, so why would they only be thinking about trying out a replacement for one of them?

[madmaverick]

Because one of them is willing to do more and one isn't, for now. Everything can change obviously. I just don't like what I'm seeing and hearing, for the first time in forever. That's all.

Hal, can you share whether there are provisions for contract extension in place in their one year contracts?  Or would they have to renegotiate their contracts in their entirety?  Just trying to gauge whether this willingness to do more (or not) is a verbal or written commitment at this point.

[madmaverick]

No it is just one year. It's verbal. Which has meaning or no meaning depending on the day.

Gotcha.  Whatever will be, will be.  Just hope that the new team can show us what they can do without constraints and uncertainties that would really limit them. 

[KaveDweller]

Because one of them is willing to do more and one isn't, for now. Everything can change obviously. I just don't like what I'm seeing and hearing, for the first time in forever. That's all.

I didn't know that it was confirmed one was willing and one wasn't. All I know is that they both signed one year deals, which suggests both aren't sure if they'll want to continue.

I think ABC would be foolish to try and continue with only one of them.

While I am the first one to say fans make to big a deal out of things or read things that aren't there...I also find it interesting that everyone involved in a show someone how believes they have a magic shield and people can't see what is really going on.

Do you mean cast/crew thinks there's a shield preventing fans from seeing there are issues with the stars, or that fans think the actors are shielded from something? Edited June 23, 2015 by KaveDweller

[KaveDweller]

Right, because it's not going to be confirmed anywhere. 

 

Of course they would be foolish, but that has never stopped a network before. 

 

The former. I think everyone involved with a show, doesn't matter which one, thinks the fans can't figure things out. Like it all magically goes away if it doesn't make it into the pages of Usweekly.

So then are you saying there are issues between Nathan/Stana? And that is influencing things?

It's clear they aren't friends, but there is a large range between being friends and hating each other so much they can't film a scene together.

[WendyCR72]

I think Castle continuing without one of the leads depends, naturally, strictly on the revenue ABC gets (and the show is an ABC Studios property) and the willingness of the one remaining. Networks are about the bottom line. Is it foolish to try? Depends, I guess.

 

I was a baby when this show was on but from what I had read, the early '70s show MacMillan and Wife was retitled MacMillan and said "Wife" (in the form of Susan Saint James to Rock Hudson's MacMillan, so sort of stylistically similar here) was killed off when SSJ wanted a pay increase. From what I read, the show went on for two or three more seasons.

 

The NBC sitcom in the '80s, Valerie, with Valerie Harper, was retitled twice to first Valerie's Family and finally, The Hogan Family, when Ms. Harper, like SSJ, wanted more money. So her mom character died in a car crash. The show brought in Sandy Duncan as the aunt/hubby's sister, and the show lasted a long time without the title character.

 

The most recent example of a series able to evolve when the star exited, and I do realize Valerie and this show didn't focus on a romance, is Major Crimes, which evolved from The Closer after Kyra Sedgwick didn't want to continue as Brenda Leigh Johnson after seven seasons. In came Mary McDonnell as Sharon Raydor, and the retooled show is now in its 4th season.

 

But for every MacMillan and Hogan Family and Major Crimes, there is Joey and other failures of shows trying and failing to go forward without its stars.

 

So, with the above, it is possible, but is also historically rare. And with the format, risky. MacMillan and Wife was able to evolve, but that was also over 40 years ago with little competition.

 

It all depends on if ABC has a strong enough schedule to absorb Castle's loss or if it wants to keep the gravy train chugging along.

[KaveDweller]

They also killed off Edith on All in the Family after years of it being about Archie being married to Edith. I think that went on for awhile after that.

It's not like Castle's ratings are all that stellar at this point that it seems worth the risk though. Maybe they make a ton of money off the book tie in and that makes the show worth continuing?
 

[WendyCR72]

Maybe the show supplements the low first-run ratings with syndication (more episodes mean more to add to the package), the books, and the DVDs. I could see this going either way unless ratings really crater during the 8th season.

[KaveDweller]

Yeah that is a large range isn't it? All I'm saying is fans aren't blind and as you can tell from this board they are very particular about what they will and will not accept, which allows them not to be fooled.

Is that supposed to answer my question or are you being deliberately critic? I'm not being sarcastic....I really can't tell.

[Brit Babe]

I also find it interesting that everyone involved in a show someone how believes they have a magic shield and people can't see what is really going on.

 

I have thought this for a while, they seem to honestly believe that no one knows or notices anything. I suppose in their minds as long as the tabloids do not pick up on it, which I have always found strange they have not, everything will be a-okay. I think amongst the hyperbole and histrionics in other parts of fandom, there are fans who hit the nail on the head but there is a lot of fandom itself who help "shield" things by shooting down discussion.

 

So then are you saying there are issues between Nathan/Stana? And that is influencing things?

It's clear they aren't friends, but there is a large range between being friends and hating each other so much they can't film a scene together.

After the debacle that was season 6, I am surprised what is likely going to happen now didn't already happen in S7. Or maybe new contracts mean new terms in addition to money and time off if you get what I am saying.

[KaveDweller]

After the debacle that was season 6, I am surprised what is likely going to happen now didn't already happen in S7. Or maybe new contracts mean new terms in addition to money and time off if you get what I am saying.

I really liked S6 (except the finale) and I honestly can't think of any scene that made me think the actors must really hate each other. They're always very convincing about that. That's not me shielding anything, that's just my opinion about their performance......if they hate each other it doesn't come through with the characters, at least not to me. That's certainly subjective though.

[Cyranetta]

 

halwideman: But you guys haven't ever known me to go to negative place, and I feel like ABC, instead of letting the show go out on a high note, is doing whatever they can to keep it. While I will make a lot of allowances for the way the business works, this is the one thing I hate about it.

Speaking as someone far from "the business" the impression I get as an overall PTB approach (not limited to Castle) is that the things that fans express in terms of what they want or like in a show is pretty much irrelevant. Whoever makes the decisions have their own agenda and are think they can convince the audience to accept it enough for profitability. Is it possible that the new showrunners, being untethered from the "mythology" in all its tentacles, will want to put enough of their own spin on the show that the pulling away from what has make the show appealing (Caskett, earlier season of family interaction) is likely to be even more evident?

[McManda]

If she's a character like Tory (or even Perlmutter), I doubt she'd be present at any photoshoot. If they're going to make her like Ryan or Espo ... or Lanie ... then yeah, she'd be there. Sounds like we'll know more July 15th. ;)

[WendyCR72]

Wasn't it said the new character/actress is a new "regular"? That usually implies a contract role, to me, which means she would be at the photo shoot. But, as was said, time will tell.

[KaveDweller]

For what it's worth I'm still on your side with that. I see the chemistry. To me (which I know is not a popular opinion here) it's a strong as it was the first day.

BUT...that doesn't mean other people aren't catching on to something. 

 

Well it's really two different questions.  1) Do they have on-screen chemistry and enough acting talent to pull off in love and 2) Do they like being near each other.

 

They don't both need to be true/false.

[verdana]

Where is this source of Matt's info likely to come from anyway?  He certainly knew to phrase it in melodramatic fashion. ;)  Is it just a piece of a casting side, a completed script of episode 801 if that's even been written yet, or TPTB in the writers' room or from the network who actually knows about the broader plans for S8?

 

I'm certain having followed the show as long as he has that he already knew the reaction he was going to get. I could almost see him rubbing his hands in glee, you only need to read the comments underneath to see it had the desired result, lots of chat. I presume he got the heads up directly from the writers room or a source very close to it, they seem to enjoy feeding TV line info.

[McManda]

If there's a rift between Stana and Nathan, so much so that they can't stand even working with one another, I'd be most interested in knowing why. They seemed friendly enough when the series started. For what it's worth, I think that they're friendly enough, but at the end of they day they're coworkers with different lives and interests. I'm not BFFs with my coworkers and we have different hobbies and interests, but that doesn't mean I can't work with them or grab a beer or something with them on occasion.

 

Also, if we believe that Nathan is the one willing to continue and Stana's the one looking to leave, I'd like to believe that whatever personal feelings he has for her he's smart enough to know that people aren't going to love the show continuing on without her. I honestly don't see him agreeing to another season if he knows that ratings will decline, especially because he's been pretty adamant that he'd like to see the show go out on a strong note and he's been reportedly struggling with the work schedule for awhile, and mentioning that he'd like to do more than one character. He'd have to have a pretty sweet deal set up to keep going, IMO.

 

Honestly, I'm not really looking forward to another season of speculation on the show's future. If this is it, I'd rather they just announce it and try to capitalize on what they have left.

 

If they want to test a shift in the show with this Hayley, (which, depending on what other information we get about the character I'd believe they'd want) I hope they do it as a spin off. That way I can be done with the show as is and not feel like I have to watch the show I loved be chewed into something else. That said, TVLine is in it for clicks, so I'm hesitant to believe that they're reporting anything with the utmost journalistic integrity.

 

I presume he got the heads up directly from the writers room or a source very close to it, they seem to enjoy feeding TV line info.

 

Yeah, but they've also got something to gain from it: hopefully more viewers. Any press or talk they get is good for them because they're hoping it'll translate into more eyes come premiere day.

[KaveDweller]

It said "fractional regular" and that she wouldn't be in every episode.  But that seems to be like Gates/Lanie/Martha/Alexis, who are always in the photo shoots.  I would say only one of those characters has had a story line or significant airtime in the last 4 years.

[KaveDweller]

If there's a rift between Stana and Nathan, so much so that they can't stand even working with one another, I'd be most interested in knowing why. They seemed friendly enough when the series started.

 

Well, one logical guess would be that they were friendly, hooked up, and it ended badly.  I'm not saying I think that happened, that's just the easiest guess, and why I always hate hearing about co-stars dating in real life. (And yet they so often do.....damn actors).  But anyway, it's irrelevant as long as they don't let it show onscreen. 

 

Anyway, this thread has been depressing me today. I hope we get some real spoilers soon that clarify things.

[McManda]

Except if they truly can't stand each other, I don't think we would have gotten anything like the makeouts in Castle's PI office or during the invisible killer case. It's why I think the whole think is weird, because if it was really an issue I don't think they'd run so hot and cold (okay, maybe not cold, but not as hot as they could be) the way they do. For what it's worth, I think they still do a pretty good job when they're given the opportunities.

 

It's still early, so I'm hesitant to call this the beginning of the end of the show as we know it and there's some big shift coming. There have been plenty of characters that the spoiler press played up for drama. Did TVLine also report about a man Beckett was spending a lot of time with in season 4 (that turned out to be a throwaway line about her physical therapist)? I'll see if I can find that article. But it got people talking, and that's what both TPTB and TVLine want right now.

Edited June 24, 2015 by McManda

[verdana]

7 Things We Really Want From Castle Season 8 at Tell-Tale TV

 

I quite like her suggestion at number 6 "Beckett and the team in court" with some good writing they could make a really intense, character driven episode out of it. 

 

Wonder if fractional series regulars get to be part of them.  Could signify her importance, or lack of, in the season ahead.

 

I hadn't given a thought to the idea this "fractional" (I'm starting to dislike that word) regular will make an appearance on this photoshoot but if she does I won't mind as long as they don't have her looking like she's getting too pally with Castle. Heh

 

I wonder how bad the photoshopping will be?  

Edited June 24, 2015 by verdana

[verdana]

Really makes me wonder how long these meetings were between the supporting cast and Marlowe in the years before!  I mean, what could he have possibly told poor Tamala? ;)

 

With Tamala I figure he didn't even bother to have a meeting, probably stuck a post it note on her trailer door with the words "keep loving lividity" on it.

 

Do the supporting cast need to know anything about their characters for an upcoming season?  There is so little movement in their development and any story suggestions that do get made probably end up getting shelved or downgraded considerably by the looks of it. 

[AntiBeeSpray]

I know a link to a TVLine article about the new series regular has been previously posted, however this link from TVLine has a little extra about the new regular.

 

Any scoop about Castle Season 8? –Fred

There’s no good way to say this, Fred, so let’s just rip the Band-Aid off and let the Internet take it from there: As Season 8 gets underway, Rick will be spending a lot of time with Hayley. #JustTheMessenger

 

Hmmm.....

 

Yuck... no, no, no. Me NO like already.

 

No Hmms for me there. Better not be a Diana Fowley character or false 'drama' going on.

[McManda]

I'm not going to sound like a broken record about Hayley because she could end up being nothing. Tip of the iceberg sort of thing.

 

No, I understand. Mine was more a general statement for the season in general and more of glass half full opinion: we hear hoofbeats, but I'm more inclined to think horses right now rather than zebras. (To mix metaphors with yours.)

 

I'm confused about how it's about who holds the power having anything to do with interpersonal cast relations in terms of another renewal, though. My views are independent of a renewal, and that whatever personal feelings they have for one another, Stana and Nathan seem to do a good enough job convincing me that they don't hate each other and that they're characters are in love, especially if/when the script calls for it. The only reason I say that they either (1) don't hate each other or (2) are professional enough for the job is because I look at examples where we know there was behind the scenes drama (The Good Wife jumps to mind first) and I don't see or hear anything like that, whatever that's worth.

 

The only think I'm hesitant about right now is the drama that comes along with the uncertainty of what's coming re: another season. It would be better if everyone was upfront about the whole thing and either said "yeah, this is the last season" or "no, we want more but in order to have more there have to be giant changes to the show as you know it". This vague clickbait crap is what sucks the most.

[femmefan1946]

I agree with the Beckett in Court suggestion. This is an important part of policework and could continue even if Beckett does make Captain. With the long time it takes for cases to come to court, we could even revisit (and rethink) some of the cases that were solved. All kinds of technical errors, including having Castle in the interrogation room asking questions.

 

And more Alexis. I even like snotty grownup Alexis, because to me that is how she would turn out to my mind.

 

But mostly. More Martha. That conman husband for example....

[McManda]

Revisiting a former case in the perspective of having it gone to court would be an interesting idea for a flashback/bottle episode. It's something I didn't realize I wanted until now.

[KaveDweller]

You would think they both don't need to be true, but if 2) is a negative, then 1) is irrelevant because it's not about "can" it's about "will". 

 

The mistake the network made was waiting so long to renegotiate. Which I said from day one. Never let the actors hold all the cards. 

 

Maybe I'm remembering wrong, but I thought you previously said that the renegotiation started a long time before any of it was discussed in the press, and that Stana's took so long because she wanted the same terms as Nathan.  Which seems different than suggesting one of them included terms about not sharing screen time with their co-lead. So, I'm not really sure what to think at this point.

Edited June 24, 2015 by KaveDweller