Looks Like “Casket” is Coming to an End…
This news has already hit the trades. But knowing that Stana Katic (Kate Beckett) and Tamala Jones (Lanie Parish) won’t be coming back to CASTLE is heartbreaking. CASTLE has been one of my favorite shows of late, and one of the few that I will make an effort to watch live, and not leave it to the DVR. Definitely sucks that the show will be losing such integral parts to the show. There are differing reports as to what happened, both from the actresses leaving, and ABC not renewing their contracts.
Me? I’m leaning to the latter.
According to moviefone, not renewing the actress’s contracts is an effort by ABC to shake up the drama. Which, according to the site, is not uncommon to mix-up the cast in a long running series. But they continue to say it is odd to let go one of the co-stars.
And I have to agree. The whole premise of the show is that a crime novelist is following a NYPD detective as his muse for a new series of novels. But to be fair, the show has been drifting from that setup, with Castle starting a P.I. agency, and then this whole conspiracy storyline with LOCKSAC… the show may have already jumped the shark. But what always had me coming back, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels this way, was the relationship between Castle and Beckett. For me, that’s the core of the show. And not to renew the contract of half of that relationship is mind-boggling.
There have been reports that in addition to wanting to shake up the show, there have also been budget concerns, as well as a rumored poor working relationship between the 2 stars, Nathon Fillion & Stana Katic, to the point where Fillion requested to work with Katic only 2 days a week. That, and I’m sure some would make the argument that since the show has drifted from it’s initial premise, that maybe you didn’t need both stars?
Which is bullshit. Regardless of whether or not the show has drifted from it’s initial premise, you can’t forget about the relationship between the 2 lead characters. Beckett serves as such a great foil for Castle and vice versa. And to remove half of that, regardless how much I try and think about where the show could go, without half of that relationship… I have a haunting suspicion that CASTLE is just going to feel empty. And Tamala Jones’ departure as well is just adds to the concern about the show’s future.
The show’s cast have all taken to Twitter to give their love and support for their departing cast mates, and expressing their hope that viewers will still turn in for whatever form the show will end up taking.
But all of this might all be moot, as the show has not yet been renewed for a 9th season. And I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s not. I mean, like I said, it feels like the show has already jumped the shark. But whatever form the show takes, I’ll tune in… but I am definitely not hopeful.