Castle TV show changes and other TV *SPOILER* discussions

[Desperado]

Hi TV fans! I know, there are two other TV threads, plus the Good Wife one which will end soon, but I thought it would be good to have a spoiler area where we could freely discuss casting changes, etc.

So thanks to @ballettmaus, I now know that Stana Katic was not signed to do Season 9 of Castle, although her male counterpart (Nathan Fillion) was. Tamala Jones also appears to have been let go. This could all prove to be a moot point however if the show doesn't get picked up for a 9th season.

In trying to find other articles on the subject, I came across the filled with casting spoilers: 'Huntsman,' 'Sleepy Hollow,' And Why It Matters When Female Stars Are Kicked Out Of Their Franchises

It does seem to me like a lot of ladies are being served pick slips while guys keep on but I don't watch a lot of HBO or network TV anymore. What are your thoughts? And will you keep watching?

 

[pat c]

I was a huge castle fan. But the writing this year has sucked the big one, and now that they've let go Beckett and Lanie? I'll let give it a pass. They could have turned it into a show like Hart to Hart or McMillan and Wife, a variety of options, but they didn't.

 

[Angelskates]

I don't like Alexia having such a big role in Castle. I think that's what sent it downhill for me, along with the writing this season.

 

[BaileyCatts]

As much as I love Castle, its kinda not the same show if you take out Kate. I mean the point was the bantering relationship between Kate and Castle as he worked with the NYPD to do writer research. Eight Seasons later that ship has kinda sailed but they could still milk the angle of him being a PI and how he still gets involved in NYPD cases. I actually wish they never would have made Kate and Castle a romantic couple. I liked the earliest seasons best without all that love and relationship crap messing up the humor.

 

[ballettmaus]

To be fair, Marlowe and Miller have always said that Castle and Beckett would end up together and that the show was about their love story. (Which is why I find it even more infuriating that they let Katic go. Hard to have a love story without one half of it).

I think they should end the show with at least some dignity and let it end after this season. According to the showrunners, they filmed two endings, one a cliffhanger, the other a series final. I really think ABC should decide to air that. From what I've read, a S9 wouldn't be very successful anyway and what's the point of doing a 13-episode S9 when you're one lead short? Usually shortened seasons are done to give a show a proper ending but they can do that now, while both leads are still there. You gotta have to wonder what ABC was thinking.

 

[TygerLily]

I'm probably in the minority, but I would actually start watching it again if there's a 9th season. Katic has always grated. Then again, I'd probably have kept up with it if it were available on Canadian Netflix or Shomi. I mainly just stopped going out of my way of watching it when it airs.

 

[MarieM]

So Nathan has succeeded in having her fired? Well well well.

 

[Desperado]

Then again, I'd probably have kept up with it if it were available on Canadian Netflix or Shomi. I mainly just stopped going out of my way of watching it when it airs.

Same thing on my end, I was all into the lost memory thing, then they dropped it and I stopped watching. The rumors of them not getting along didn't help either, it made every romantic scene uncomfotable for me.

On the really shallow end of the pool, Fillion lost is looks and his weight battle and it kept getting to me because they would never allow Stana or any female lead do that, as there was even a problem with her not wanting to wear hair extensions anymore.

I watched a few of this year's episodes after the news. Really like the Javier centered ep. The Hayley character seems to be have been inserted to replace Stana. Wasn't a fan - why does Castle's daughter love her so much? Did she save her life or something?

 

[ballettmaus]

On the really shallow end of the pool, Fillion lost is looks and his weight battle and it kept getting to me because they would never allow Stana or any female lead do that, as there was even a problem with her not wanting to wear hair extensions anymore.

As far as I know, he has a thyroid problem and is less than happy with the weight gain himself. Apparently, that's the reason why there were no bare upper body scenes (up until this season)

I'm not a fan of Haley either. Not sure why she was needed. I don't mind Alexis but I definitely mind the way they dressed her! She's 21/22 for crying out loud! And you don't have to look like that to be considered an adult. It's not about the clothes, it's about behaviour and Alexis has always been responsible and mature.
Though I wonder how much ABC meddled with all of that and my guess would be, more than they should have.

 

[Coco]

This has clearly been in the works for a while, it's the only explanation for the daughter's role being expanded over the past few seasons. It stinks.

At this point, I'd take a show about Javi and Ryan. Castle (the character) without Beckett is just silly

 

[Rob]

Oh, well, I am kind of tired of it. Sick of the whole Locksat thing. I was planning on dropping it next season.

 

[ballettmaus]

The Castle saga gets curioser and curioser. Apparently, the renewal deadline has been pushed back. http://deadline.com/2016/05/abc-castle-renewal-season-9-nathan-fillion-1201750300/ (I still think they should renew The Catch and invest in that show and cancel Castle )

 

[danceronice]

At this point, I'd take a show about Javi and Ryan. Castle (the character) without Beckett is just silly

I actually enjoyed this most recent episode (minimal Beckett, Castle was funny) and my biggest takeaway was "I'd probably like a show just about Ryan and Esposito because more or less the rest of these people bore me." I actually didn't like the memory loss, serious-drama stuff.

Really, I'm sadder about Mike Weatherly leaving NCIS, but otoh that's a long-runner and I can't blame him for wanting to move on. I haven't watched much since Cote de Pablo left (though enough I've sort of accepted Ellie or at least am numb to her) and I'm hoping they manage it so at least Tony and Ziva have a chance.

 

[Desperado]

I don't know much of TV renewals, but I don't understand the delay. Are any negotiations ongoing outside of the talent?

 

[ballettmaus]

I don't know much of TV renewals, but I don't understand the delay. Are any negotiations ongoing outside of the talent?

As I posted in the TV thread, part of the hold-up for Criminal Minds was licensing fee, so there's that. Also, pilots. Networks screen them, decide which they think have potential, and then make decisions which to pick up and which other shows to cancel. And, according to the internet, that happened until Thursday and Friday was the earliest that ABC had time to discuss. I also read that studio and network are separate and that the actors sign with the studio but the network greenlights the production.
I don't know what else goes into the decision or what exactly the hold up is. Maybe there is none and it's strategy. The outrage for letting Katic go has been pretty bad, more than average, I'd say, the number of articles etc has been pretty overwhelming. So, who knows what's really going on.

 

[once_upon]

Castle without Beckett is not Castle.

The whole memory loss thing and no real story line with that one or resolution ended the series for me. My husband still watches, but he has definitely lost interest this season. It's probably the end. Just end it gracefully, not stretch out the death watch.

 

[ballettmaus]

Well... it doesn't seem like ABC has any intention of letting the show go. I don't know what they're smoking but it certainly seems to make them oblivious of everything's that's out there on the internet because you have to use a magnifying glass to find the comments who say that they'd watch a potential S9 and even then you'd still have difficulties.
But Deadline just reported that Dever has reached a new deal, too and they are claiming that the hold-up is due to negotiations. I don't know if I believe them or not. After all, they just let their co-lead go and now they are claiming they can't renew the show before the less important supporting cast has re-signed? http://deadline.com/2016/05/castle-seamus-dever-return-season-9-1201751170/

 

[Desperado]

I'm trying really hard not to see this as a "we're keeping the boys at all cost while getting rid of the girls" scenario, but darn. I feel really bad for Tamala Jones who seems to be caught in the Fillion/Stanic crossfire. I only started watching the series again recently after taking a few years off (yes, the controversy drew me in) and I wouldn't bat an eye if Esposito and/or Ryan left the show, but I really liked Lanie (I even liked her with Esposito).

I guess it would've been too much trouble to create another show for Fillion, but I don't see anything keeping me interested here.

 

[ballettmaus]

What puzzles me is the fact that the show lost a million viewers at the end of S6/beginning of S7 with that wedding-that-wasn't, then another million at the beginning of S8 with the separation. They've dipped below 6 million several times this seaso and one of the times was a Beckett-less episode, the other Beckett-ess episode had only barely more than 6 million viewers and the ratings jumped back up after Castle and Beckett got officially back together (You gotta have to love the internet ) And ABC still thinks it's worth renewing the show without Katic/Beckett? They either have a kick-ass ace up their sleeves or someone at ABC did even worse than me in math in school

 

[skatesindreams]

Castle without Beckett is not Castle.

This!

Their relationship "made" the show.

 

[Coco]

There is a petition calling for the show to be cancelled because they are eliminating the female lead.

https://www.change.org/p/abc-network-cancel-castle-no-season-9

There are of course more serious causes, but then again, signing a petition is hardly a radical act. I hope this gets a lot of support.

 

[ballettmaus]

There is a petition calling for the show to be cancelled because they are eliminating the female lead.

https://www.change.org/p/abc-network-cancel-castle-no-season-9

There are of course more serious causes, but then again, signing a petition is hardly a radical act. I hope this gets a lot of support.

With what I'm reading, I'm under the impression ABC gives a f*ck about anything that's out there. https://tvline.com/2016/05/08/castle-season-9-cast-seamus-dever-jon-huertas-returning/

 

[Wyliefan]

I'm glad I gave up on "Castle" a while ago. Not sure I could take watching yet another show royally screw itself over. These days it almost seems to be a requirement, at least for U.S. shows.

 

[ballettmaus]

I think these few sentences sum up one of Castle's problems nicely (very, very mild spoilers for tonight's episode) http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/...tonight-castle-damien-season-finale/83884514/

 

[Desperado]

Watching episode 21 now. Is it me or has Nathan Fillion lost a lot of weight? Either he's been preparing for months to go back out into the casting pool or TPTB have promised him the revamp Castle will be a more adventurous/sexy role.

Or maybe I'm bored with watching and just musing about nothing...

 

[ballettmaus]

Watching episode 21 now. Is it me or has Nathan Fillion lost a lot of weight? Either he's been preparing for months to go back out into the casting pool or TPTB have promised him the revamp Castle will be a more adventurous/sexy role.

Or maybe I'm bored with watching and just musing about nothing...

I haven't watched an episode since the announcement Katic was leaving. I wasn't under the impression that he had lost weight in the episode up until then but who knows.
No news on the renewal/cancellation front, by the way. Media sites are now speculating there might be a decision by Friday. (Others say they won't make an announcement until after the finale has aired) Who knows. Fact is, none of the other ABC shows which are still outstanding have had an announcement either.

 

[Skate Talker]

Stana has a Producer credit on the show - does that not give her any power over her own status in the cast? Wondering about that. Also wondering if perhaps she actually wants to leave the show - is that possible or does someone know for sure this is not what she wants?

 

[ballettmaus]

Stana has a Producer credit on the show - does that not give her any power over her own status in the cast? Wondering about that. Also wondering if perhaps she actually wants to leave the show - is that possible or does someone know for sure this is not what she wants?

Her representitive has (allegedly) said that it was not her choice http://www.etcanada.com/blogs/etc_1...series-decision-to-leave-not-hers-says-rep/tv and several Websites have reported that she was not even approached by ABC.

 

[4skating]

Cancelled.

http://tvline.com/2016/05/12/castle-cancelled-season-9-beckett-stana-katic/

I really wish that they had called it quits at the end of last season. This seems right to me. If ABC wants to find a new vehicle for Fillion, they should do it and leave the Castle story to end with Beckett.

 

[Desperado]

After all the hype, this is quite anti-climactic.