CASTLE: Andrew Marlowe Teases the Finale, What it Means for Castle and Beckett, Who Will Be Returning and More
April 4, 2012 by Marisa Roffman
Right now, it’s a little rough to be a CASTLE fan. Beckett and Castle aren’t on the best terms. (Heck, they didn’t really even work together last episode.) And of course, the breaks between new episodes isn’t helping matters. But hopefully, what I have here can help make the wait for the next new episode, “Headhunters,” a little bit easier.
As you guys know, I talked with CASTLE creator Andrew Marlowe on Monday, and while what I posted then was more focused on “The Limey” and a potential season 5, there was of course more to our conversation.
Take a look at what Marlowe had to say about the season finale (including that title), who is coming back, which characters will be getting some big moments as we head towards the end of the season, and what he has to say to the fans who are currently unhappy with where Beckett and Castle are at in their relationship…
It’s reported that the season finale, as of now, it’s being called “Always.” Is that the 100% confirmed title?
Andrew Marlowe: It’s my title for it. The studio and network haven’t told me to change it yet!
Well, with that title, there’s bound to be a level of expectation from fans. Was there any extra pressure as you guys were writing the episode to be like, “Okay, if we name it this, it needs to have a certain amount of X in it so the audience doesn’t get disappointed”?
AM: I think there’s always that obligation and there’s always that obligation to be both satisfying and maddening in a season finale. And we know that’s our obligation and that’s what we’re hoping to live up to. And it will be up to the fans to tell us whether we’ve achieved what we wanted to achieve.
Will Castle’s secret for sure be out before the year ends?
AM: Yeah. Yeah. We have a case that is going to steer us back into — a case seems to touch on Beckett’s mother’s murder. And so it’s going to force him to confront all of those issues.
I assume that will be taking place in the season finale?
AM: Yeah, that’s the season finale.
Will Beckett’s father be back in that episode?
AM: As of now, unless he ends up on the cutting room floor, it is our intent. [Laughs]
Yeah, I know the poor guy has ended up on the cutting room floor before.
AM: Yeah, he has.
What can you say about what he’ll be bringing to the table when he returns this time?
AM: I can say nothing about that, because I don’t want to give away anything.
Okay, fair enough. Will we be discovering who shot Beckett?
AM: It’s quite possible. The case we deal with in the finale takes us back into Beckett’s shooting and her mother’s case and in an indirect way it turns everything on its head a little bit and is the catalyst that forces Castle and Beckett to really confront all the issues between them.
In past years, the pattern has been that the season has ended with Castle and Beckett not on the best terms and splitting up — or in the case of last year, it was revealed they split up shortly after we last saw them. Will that be repeating itself this year, or are you going to change things up?
AM: I’m not clear on what you’re asking me. [Laughs] No, I know what you’re asking me. [Laughs again, before taking a long pause] Let me say this — in past years, there have been some near-misses and misunderstandings that have ended the season. And this is the season where we put our cards on the table. But I’m not going to give you an indication as to which way the chips fall. But we do deal with things directly.
That’s good to hear. Aside from the last couple episodes, there really hasn’t been as much time paid to the secrets the two are keeping from each other (aside from the occasional winks to the audience). Do you ever wish you had touched upon it more early on, or are you happy that you guys got to tackle it full-steam heading towards the season finale?
AM: You know, it was never our intent to make the show overly serialized. We want the show to be friendly and if people are coming to revisit the show, they can visit their favorite show without the weight of all the relationship stuff. So we did have plans to touch on it in a few key episodes along the way, and we’ve gone according to plan, for better or for worse. Our audience members have different opinions about that. Some people think we’ve handled it well, some people get frustrated, some people have wanted more overt declarations. We get that. We get that we’re not going to make everybody happy. But we’ve been doing what we think is right for these characters, what is appropriate for these characters.
Beckett is somebody who has never worn her heart on her sleeve and we’ve known that she’s been working on some of these issues behind-the-scenes. We know that she’s been seeing her therapist, we know that she’s been making progress, and those are some issues that we’ve dealt with and we will continue to deal with leading up to the finale.
And we know the weight that’s been on Castle’s shoulders the whole time. We know how he feels about her. So he’s been in this bizarre Catch-22, where she said to him that she’s not going to be ready until she’s able to solve some of these issues. So we felt if we had touched upon it [more], we would have gotten into a situation where we were just repeating the same beats. And that the real way to deal with it was when it was the appropriate time, to bring it to the forefront, watch the fireworks and see what happens.
Absolutely. I’m very interested to see how those fireworks play out. Now, with Montgomery’s murder last year, the team banded together to keep his secret. Will that be addressed before the season ends. or is that something you’ll be picking back up on next year?
AM: Yeah, we’ll be dealing with that a little bit before the season ends.
I know when we spoke earlier this season, you mentioned 3XK and Castle’s father might also figure into the later part of the season. Are you going to be squeezing either figure in to the show before the season ends?
AM: We have a 3XK thing planned for next year. We had thought about doing it, but our actor was on PAN AM earlier in the season. So sometimes the realities of casting and scheduling preclude you from doing the things you want at the time you want. But we have an idea of how we want to bring him back. So that’s something, assuming there’s a next season, fans can hope to see.
And we wanted to touch on the mystery of Castle and his father’s identity before the end of the season, and we felt like we did that in a pretty compelling way in the two-parter, and it gave us some great stuff to pick up on next season.
See, and I was still hesitant to trust Jennifer Beals’ character. Obviously you would know if we should believe her, but we saw she’s a liar…
AM: You can’t trust her. But it’s certainly an interesting bit of bait for her to dangle out there.
Oh, yeah. That’s one of the obvious subjects Castle’s vulnerable about.
AM: Yeah. And he’s always talking about CIA conspiracies, so it certainly fits in with everything he talks about. [Laughs] But then again, he talks about ninjas and zombies. And we’re tackling zombies this year, so maybe next year it will be ninjas.
Speaking of Castle’s family, we know that Alexis is currently set to go to school. Have you guys made any decisions about how you’re going to handle her character going forward or is that still up in the air for now?
AM: No, we’ve talked about it. We have some interesting ideas about how to deal with her in the storytelling. And a lot of the stuff leading up to the end, she has some significant scenes because she’s dealing with what all kids at that time are dealing with — college acceptance letters, where am I going to go, what am I going to do with my life? All leading up to her graduating from high school and that emotional scene. So we have some fun stuff coming up for her.
Do we actually get to see her graduate from high school?
AM: There may be a graduation speech in the final episode. Stay tuned.
Fair enough. One of the earlier concerns this season was from Castle’s family about his safety while shadowing the NYPD. If he continues to do this, is there any talk about him getting some sort of training so he isn’t as vulnerable as a civilian would be?
AM: Don’t you think a little bit of training would actually make him more dangerous?
Probably.
AM: You always have to be careful with that. One of the things we love about Castle is that he operates outside the system. And if he got training and he became a junior detective and he was forced into the same constraints as everybody else, we feel it may cut off some of our fun storytelling.
Understandable. Gates probably won’t be too thrilled about that, though. Will we be seeing more from her as we head into the final stretch of the season?
AM: We have some plans for her for next season. We don’t expose as much about her; she’s somebody we have to open up slowly. But she has a significant role playing in the finale.
Right now, Esposito and Lanie seem to be in this off-on couple phase. Do you think that when Castle and Beckett inevitably get together they could fall into a same kind of pattern? Or do you anticipate that when they get together, it’ll stick?
AM: [Joking] Oh, so you want me to give away the secrets for the next couple seasons?
Hey, if you feel like doing that, that’s totally fine!
AM: [Joking] Okay, so this is exactly happens with Castle and Beckett for the next two or three seasons… [Laughs]
If you feel like being that generous and sharing your plans, I’m not going to turn that down.
AM: [Laughs] I think I’ll pass for today. We want to have something to talk about next year!
On that note, is there a frustration over spoilers? Inevitably, people talk about what’s coming up, which can lead to out-there expectations and actual surprises being ruined. Are you okay with things being discussed and revealed — to an extent, of course — or is your instinct to try and lock everything down?
AM: You know, some of the spoilers we’re fine with. We do want people to watch, we do want people to be excited. We know that — or at least I know that I have to tease the two of them are going to put their cards on the table and confront things at the end of the season, because I think for our loyal fans, the next couple episodes could try their patience if they don’t know it’s leading to something.
But I’m not going to reveal everything about if or whether or what it’s like or whether they’re going to be satisfied or disappointed. But I know there are certain promises we have to make to keep them engaged. And then moving forward, we’ve always tried to honor the characters and what their relationships are. And you can’t listen too closely to the fan base because what they say they want isn’t necessarily what they want. And I think that our characters declare what they want more loudly than our fan base does. And as long as we’re honoring them and not violating who they are, we feel like we’re doing a good job. And it’s less anxiety-ridden for us here because we know where we’re going. So if you know how the game ends, you’re not as worried when your team is down by 20 points.
As a sports fan who often watches games on DVR, that’s a hilariously appropriate metaphor. But look, there’s a gap between “The Limey” and the next episode, “Headhunters,” and I think it’s fair to say “The Limey” may stress some people out…
AM: Yeah, I think that’s fair to say.
So is there anything you really want the fans to know so they don’t let the angst of “The Limey” get to them too much?
AM: There are only three more episodes left of the season. A little bit of patience will go a long way. And I promise you that by the end of the season, Beckett and Castle will be confronting the secrets they have between them directly. And they can see how that turns out.
–
Feeling any better? Worse? (Hopefully not worse.) Let’s hear it…
Related:
CASTLE Photos: Nathan Fillion Reunites with FIREFLY Costar Adam Baldwin in ‘Headhunters’
CASTLE: Andrew Marlowe on Audience Reaction, Castle’s Knowledge about Beckett’s Secret and a Potential Season 5
CASTLE: Jon Huertas Talks About Esposito’s Relationships with Beckett and Lanie
CASTLE: Seamus Dever on Wanting to Hold a ‘Love Intervention’ and the Huck Finn-Tom Sawyer Relationship Between Ryan and Esposito
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Filed under #1 featured, Castle
I never actually felt bad/worried/frustrated to begin with, because I had full faith in Marlowe’s plan from the get-go of this story arc…but this makes me feel even better because it confirms my suspicions about Marlowe and his characters. What he is doing IS organic to the characters, and I am SO EXCITED to watch this play out. #nMArloweWeTrust
before any negativity starts I would love to say that I adore this man! tell it like it is!
Marlowe is clearly showing he knows what he’s doing and he’s right – we don’t always know what we really want. I personally LOVED The Limey because it was well written, beautiful acted and directed, funny, serious and frustrating all at the same time…and THAT is what great drama is all about!
I am so thankful he takes the time to assure the fans that progress will be made but they HAVE to remain true to the characters and sometimes that means making your audience feel frustrated or even like giving up – don’t you think that’s how Castle and Beckett feel right now?
Well done, Marlowe!
“And you can’t listen too closely to the fan base because what they say they want isn’t necessarily what they want. And I think that our characters declare what they want more loudly than our fan base does.”
This one fan wants continuity, character-driven plots (not plot-driven characters), and communication between the two leads. That’s what I want. What I really, really want.
Since he thinks it isn’t necessarily what I want – if I ask for the opposite, will it come to pass?
“And you can’t listen too closely to the fan base because what they say they want isn’t necessarily what they want.”
Fans are stupid. Gotcha.
Ditto, “sigh”, ditto. I remember when I thought AM respected fans. That was nice. I miss it.
Great interview! Thank you Marisa!
I think that only Stana’s comments on shippers feeling pleased by the finale are keeping me confident. Whenever he talks about “card on the table” and what way it might go, I get quite nervous. I have faith they will end up together… somehow, but it still makes me nervous, cause he’s blindsided us before.
Ooooh, I love this show.
Also, I agree with his comment on remaining true to the characters regardless of the audience.
“they HAVE to remain true to the characters”
Then why have they written Beckett as a coward all season? I don’t think that’s who she is at all.
finally I see where this is going.
it always seemed to me the ‘always’ is ironic. would be perfect for a character dying, for instance.
not this case. but a daughter going away to college might fit the bill.
if his own secret investigation is blown, he might as well end up alone, which would fit the bill.
except they are very conscious about making progress on this front (i call it the bones syndrome – it’s not b/c they don’t want to, but doing it would make them just like bones and they need to differentiate themselves)
so my twist would be, they making it look like they are pulling apart, as it has been going on. but in reality they put the cards down and begin to have more secret communication between them – a foreshadow of a secret affair, at least in as far as working together, if not a secret love affair for real.
the only problem is that this would twitch the banter setting they are so comfortable with. i don’t see them going to that much trouble just to accommodate change.
one thing I’m sure, it is going to be less than what fans expect
Marisa, you always ask the best interview questions! Thank you for this!!
So why does Marlowe think it was “right” to show Beckett instantly giving up on Castle and calling the Badly Accented Boy for a date?
Especially after Castle passed up on Natalie Rhodes, Serena Kay and Sophia teh Evulz KGB Agent, because he was waiting for Beckett?
Honestly? The minute a showrunner tells me I don’t know what I want is the minute I know he’s completely lost the plot. Not all the criticism is coming from fans, a lot of it is from “legitimate” sources. Maybe if Marlowe got off his high horse and listened this season would have worked. Instead, we’ve been bored since November, and now all we’ve got is two people causing each other unnecessary pain because the showrunner won’t let them have the simplest of conversations. What’s remotely clever about that? What part of that is fun to watch? I was totally on board for the journey, but this journey has become unbearable to watch.
I know what I want, Mr. Marlowe. And it’s not this.
@luzmelain: I was never much of a fan of Joss Whedon’s “I’m going to give you this for your own good” approach to writing, and I’m not happy to see it show up on Castle.
Sometimes I think that this new era of TV writers and fans having constant access to each other is a bad idea. Writers should quit writing to game the fans. I don’t want to be pandered to, but I don’t want writers deliberately frustrating the fans because they think it’s fun, either.
I love this interview… Marlowe is as honest as he can possibly be. He reveals enough,but he does not provide misleading information unlike you know who (Hart).
What I think happens with fans is that they read a spoiler, and they develop a theory. Other fans do the same, and they read other fans theories. Eventually after much theorizing about the spoilers, they lose sight of the original spoiler from the interview, so when things don’t pan out they blame the writer. In reality, they should be blaming themselves for not separating their theories and the theories of other fans from the original interview.
Just recently in the Castle forums, I got into a discussion about a spoiler from last year. The fan quoted ad nauseum previous posts and quotes from other fans, ultimately I had to find the original interview form GMMR and show what Marlowe actually said.
For this reason in my post now, I ask other posters to give me links to the original interviews. If they can do that, then I dismiss the theory.
@Luzmelain
I disagree… The way TV works now days is that by the time the premiere episode of the season airs, the writers and team have already map out the first half of the season. It is possible that 10 to 12 episodes have already been written or are more than half way to completion.
By the time you start noticing whether your plan works, you could already have some plans for your 12-14 episode cycles.
It is even possible that you are half way through the season, and it is at that point fans begin to turn on the show. By then though, you are already working in the lead up to the finale…..
If the cycle time between the idea/ plan of each episode was less than a month, I could see writers adjust to viewers complaints more quickly. As often happens in TV, the cycle time is for each episode is near 12 weeks. From idea to the actual airing of an episode.
I don’t actually think writers adjust specifically to viewer complaints, but there seems to be this attitude that “if I’m pissing off the viewers, I must be doing something right, because they care so much.” And yeah, we care (although less and less all the time), and you can’t please everyone all the time, but sometimes we’re pissed off because of lazy plotting and character development. “I have a secret I’m not going to tell you” is just not enough to carry a relationship arc for a year. That’s not interesting. It’s lazy. And it’s exactly the same kind of lazy stretch-out-the-sexual-tension-for-another-year plot device that’s been used on a gazillion other shows and yet somehow we’re supposed to think that THIS time it’s compelling.
As a Bones fan, I have to say i have more faith in AM in telling a story, the whole story, and making it worth the wait. I am really enjoying his season nd look forward to it playing out.
His comments are typical for a show runner do not get worked up. I enjoy all aspects of the show besides C & B, like his family. I look forward to her graduation and a father daughter grandmother scene.
So excited about the rest of the season.
Great interview.
“Oh, Marlowe, I love you but don’t go quoting David Shore. You don’t want to alienate your audience.”
Thanks for the interview, Marisa. You really covered all the bases. And this particular question was very poignant “On that note, is there a frustration over spoilers? Inevitably, people talk about what’s coming up, which can lead to out-there expectations and actual surprises being ruined.” I just hope that if the finale doesn’t live up to our expectations because we hoped those spoilers were leading to something else or more but they didn’t we don’t go mad at producers.
So one of the things I got from this interview is that Castle and Beckett will still be at odds with each other in the next two episodes, well, my shippy heart is already broken so I can bear this…no :`( my anxiety levels are through the roof.
As a Bones fan, I have to say i have more faith in AM in telling a story, the whole story, and making it worth the wait. I am really enjoying his season nd look forward to it playing out.
His comments are typical for a show runner do not get worked up. I enjoy all aspects of the show besides C & B, like his family. I look forward to her graduation and a father daughter grandmother scene.
So excited about the rest of the season.
Great interview.
Great interview.
I read what he said and I don’t agree how he going to get out of this hole they have dug it deep and to get C & B on a I love you and you love me terms you know not say in the sack but have an understanding that they have some kind of loving relationship along with fighting crime and Molly and her Mother and his faher . now Castle is hurting bad and he is moving on Beckett can’t just come up to him and say I love you. He should say kiss off. you lied to me. and now Lanie talks to her and she wakes up and says Wow. and in ten second they fix everything. Idon’t agree with hanging the fan out with down and ups. This Show is about Castle and Beckett and solving crimes.this Limey show was a zero it went no place thing got worse thats a deep hole.And we fan make the rating go up or down. on a scale 1 to 10 I rate this show a 4.
Marisa, cn you delete my duplicate entry
@eridapo, great post at 4:09pm, I completely agree with you
Another insult to the intellect of the audience, it’s the second in a week, thank you Mr Marlowe, you really appreciates us.
Some parts I really liked:
“We want the show to be friendly and if people are coming to revisit the show, they can visit their favorite show without the weight of all the relationship stuff.”
– Maybe it would be good to convince us to watch it at least once, not otherwise it will not be a favourite.
“We know that she’s been seeing her therapist, we know that she’s been making progress, ”
– We knew she SAW her therapist – back in November. That she had made some progress then. But since then we haven’t got any clue about it.
“So we felt if we had touched upon it [more], we would have gotten into a situation where we were just repeating the same beats. And that the real way to deal with it was when it was the appropriate time, to bring it to the forefront, watch the fireworks and see what happens.”
– The appropriate time would have been not later than one-two episodes after Kill Shot and close enough their scene in C&R. Only because there were no other idea for the seson and he wanted to live on this only one till the finale, it doesn’t make this time appropriate, just the opposite. It was appropriate only to him, not for the show, not for the characters and not for the audience.
If they will “honor the characters” we will get a shouting match with insinuations and assumptions then they will back of and won’t say out anything – S3 finale welcome again! Maybe there will be some angry sex, because he thinks that’s the only thing what those idiots who watch this show wants.
@JAA: “I just hope that if the finale doesn’t live up to our expectations because we hoped those spoilers were leading to something else or more but they didn’t we don’t go mad at producers.”
Remember, the producers put these spoilers out for a reason; they want us to get all excited so we’ll tune in. The problem is, if you deliberately build up people’s expectations, you need to deliver something worthy of those expectations. (How many times has AM teased that “this is going to be a major development” and then practically nothing happens?) If the same thing happens with the finale, the producers aren’t victims.
Wow talk about arrogant, the guy is not only telling us we aren’t going to get what we want, but he is also telling us we don’t know what we want even to begin with.
Hey Marlowe if your so all knowing then please explain why ratings this season have tanked. You can feel like your doing a good job all you want, but what you feel you are doing doesn’t mean a thing. I have no respect for him and personally I don’t think he deserves to be in charge of Castle anymore.
I often wonder if people are so bitter about the creator of a show and their ideas why bother watching their creation. It’s a bit preposterous to believe that just because I don’t like how the story unfolded everybody is discontent with the show and more preposterous to think that I know the characters better than their creator or what it’d be more appropriate for the show. Here’s an idea, create your own show.
I think show runners in the future will tend to deal with the wt/wt quicker, the angst no longer help the show SUSTAIN itself, and the payoff is already discounted. And if the payoff isn’t near perfect, even the payoff irritates people. Plus, the way the showrunner playbook reads, the angst is heaviest, just when the show is trying to do its best work, but the angst, overpowers the plot, and largely the show is being watched with 30% of the fan base angry. Marlowe’s pleading for patience, more or less confirms this. I simply do not think this is a formula for success, even if done with complete excellence.
and halaci, thank you for the insult “because he thinks that’s the only thing what those idiots who watch this show wants”. I can’t with the bitterness.
My thoughts:
I think that in a misplaced sense of, “I never had her anyway,” Castle will spill the beans about knowing stuff about her mum’s murder.
I love this man! I do, and I think he’s writing it very good!! Of course it’s frustrating, but it’s real and for us it’s frustrating because we know both stories. There’s a reason in real life that we don’t know all the stories. If we knew all the stories in real life we would be frustrated too! But I think he’s doing it great and this show is so good!! <3
But (no, no i'm not gonna complain, don't worry) I really hope that they will end up together, reading this, knowing andrew you think no. But thankfully Stana and Nathan told us that it's gonna get naughty real soon 🙂 So I'm positive it will all turn out to be fine.
And, I also think it's more fun that people first have this sort of fighting thing/frustration thing and then they hook up, instead of it just going better and better and that leads to a relationship or sex or whatever. I think it's more beautiful that you have all these problems and fruststration and anger but still in a situation that we're gonna get in 'always' you're willing to put all the cards on the table just because so feel so much love and you don't wanna let go, I think that makes it more beautiful and unique too! I just really love it!
x
With all respect, Mr. Marlowe, but I don’t trust you. Not anymore. You seem a little lost. I wish I’m wrong about that, but I guess we’re walking to a depressing and frustrating season finale. And, honestly, this is just ridiculous after an amazing season 4. And me, like a fan, want to see Castle acting like a real man who confronts Beckett about that secret and tells her about her mom’s case. I’m a fan who want to see two adults get together after 4 years. This is what I want and I’m sure that i’m not the only one who thinks like this.
Wow, the pettiness and nastiness of some these posts is pretty appalling. Andrew Marlowe is right, a lot of viewers don’t know what they want. And many fans, although they may think they know better, really don’t know a lot about how a story should be told, particularly one limited by the constraints of TV. It’s to soon, it’s not soon enough, he’s dragging it out, they should never get together. He’s doing it wrong, he’s doing it right, blah blah blah. Give me what I want right now!!! And, no matter what he does, odds are, he’s going to be vilified for it. At this point, he could claim that the sky was blue and someone would call him a liar.
He knows exactly what he’s doing, and the show’s ratings are doing fine. It’s very typical of a show to ramp up the angst, have their characters hit rock bottom and then have the resolution. It’s called storytelling. From all the recent interviews, the Paley event, Andrew’s comments, Stana’s comment’s, Nathan’s comments, it sure sounds to me that we will be getting something pretty significant on the relationship front in the finale. Calm down.
Thank you Marisa for your interview, I always enjoy hearing what he has to say. I think that he’s one of the more thoughtful show runners in the business, both creatively and with how he treats the fans. Is that all of it, or do you have any other tid-bits up your sleeve for later?
“And it will be up to the fans to tell us whether we’ve achieved what we wanted to achieve.”
“Our audience members have different opinions about that. Some people think we’ve handled it well, some people get frustrated, some people have wanted more overt declarations.”
“And you can’t listen too closely to the fan base because what they say they want isn’t necessarily what they want.”
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
So…which one is it?
“And you can’t listen too closely to the fan base because what they say they want isn’t necessarily what they want.”…… until the ratings start falling so we do a hash job hooking the leads without really letting the audience in on what happened but u know it happened ’cause she’s suddenly pregnant even though the chemistry is gone and it’s like watching siblings make out…yeah, I’m thinking Bones all over again OR…. The show gets canned so they just rush the story lines wihout really answering any of the questions they posed throughout the serious, they leads share a kiss in the final scene and the audience and left to believe they lived happily ever after….. I’m really REALLY hoping this show can be different but originality and sustained audience satisfaction in hollywood is almost non existent.
@Shelly actually ratings are down a very large amount compared to every other season go look at them.
I have looked at them. They are on par with last year. Castle ratings have taken a dip mid-season in season 2, season 3, and now, season 4. I would imagine that it has more to do with the Bachelor lead-in than anything else. Now the DWTS is back rating are, predictably, rising. As they do every year at this time. This last Monday they did well against a basketball game that drew in a 7.6 demo and close to 20 million viewers. I’m not sure why everyone think that they are down, numbers don’t lie. ABC having a reliable show at 10:00 on a Monday night, something they haven’t had in years? It’s probably one of the safest shows on ABC for a renewal.
wow that’s a great interview! And I really trust Marlowe and his storytelling so I’m just here enjoying the ride.
@Shelly So true. I really don’t get where people get this idea that the numbers are bad. They’re very in consonant with the other seasons numbers and the fact that It’s a 3 year old show in its 4th season makes it look even better.
Loved the interview. Marlowe always has us guessing with any interview he gives lol. It will be an interesting ride for the finale thats for sure.
@Shelly @Mari No ratings are actually down quite a bit if you look at the one that matters most, the 18-49 demographic. Advertisers don’t pay for the total viewers, they never have, instead they pay for the demographics. So Castle can bring in their total viewers as much as they want, but if their demographic points fall the show is still in threat of cancelation. This isn’t my opinion but rather how the industry works. If you want to verify this go to websites like tvbythenumbers that talk about what is important when looking at ratings.
Castle so far is down and down by a significant amount. During this time last year Castle was averaging a 3.0, so far the highest episode is a 2.3. That is a .7 point swing. Castle this year is averaging a 2.3, last year it was at a 2.7. Castle is at an all time low in the most important demographic it needs, the one that makes them money, the 18-49 rating. I don’t make the rules on that when I say it, but that is how the industry works.
Go to the website jimmyryan.co.nz/castle and look at the rating statistics, they are flat out down this season worse than season 1, 2, and 3. I’m not making this up one bit but it is the fact of the matter. Even journalists who comment on Castle only put it in the likely to be renewed Category because of syndication next year, other than that it would be a definite toss up.
Like I said look it up ratings are down and they are down significantly compared to previous years. That isn’t an opinion but that is a fact and the fact is that while total viewers are on par or maybe higher than previous years the most important aspect, the 18-49 rating is down a significant amount.
@JAA: “and halaci, thank you for the insult “because he thinks that’s the only thing what those idiots who watch this show wants”. I can’t with the bitterness.”
I’m pretty sure halaci was saying that this is what AM thinks of the fans, not what halaci him/herself thinks.
Castle is cited as certainly to be renewed. While it’s true that ratings are down it’s not as dramatic as you make it seem Migachloud. Relax
@MigalouchUD Sorry gotta disagree. The most important thing to ABC is not the demographic, it’s revenue. They get revenue from advertising, yes, but also from on-line sites, Hulu, GetGlue, Viggie amongst others. They get it from sales on iTunes and Amazon. They get it from foreign markets and DVD sales. From syndication. From merchandising, Castle has a board game and trading cards coming out in the Fall (I think it’s Fall). In the case of Castle they also get it from books, all of which have been NY Times bestsellers. Four more of which are coming this summer and Fall. Money is the bottom line, not advertising. Any one who really thinks that the 18-49 demographic determines the fate of a show is out of date. Websites that sight the demo and only the demo as criteria for a shows success or failure, probably do so because it’s their bread and butter, not because it’s reality.
If we want to look at the demo, the overnight demographic that TVbytheNubers touts as the end all and be all? It’s not the number that’s used to determine advertising dollars. As DVR penetration is now estimated at about 42%, the overnight numbers are becoming increasingly irrelevant. I have read numerous articles talking about the changing ways in which networks measure the success of a show. The number that is used to determine advertising dollars is the C3 number. The C3 number is the overnight demo plus three days of DVR. I have seen articles that have sighted figures as high as 96% when talking about the C3 numbers and how many viewers they “capture” when comparing the C3 with the +7 day figures that are published by TVbytheNumbers. If you want to look at the demographic that is actually used for advertising dollars it’s probably much closer to the +7 than the overnight. The +7 numbers are not used monetarily, but are used internally by networks to assess the success or failure of shows.
Castle is fine, it’s going to be fine. It does skew older in the demographic, but does well for ABC at the 10:00 hour. They haven’t had much success in that time slot before Castle and Castle performs for them. And, no, I’m sorry journalist don’t only sight syndication as the reason Castle will be renewed, look at TVGiude.com, TVLine.com, or E On-line for three examples.
Now it you want to actually talk about the popularity of a show, it’s success or failure for the viewers why would we even be talking about the “demo”? The popularity of a show is measured by how may people watch it right? Not how many people of a certain age group watch. Because a person is 50 they are, what, invisible, don’t count, don’t exist? A viewer is a viewer, is a viewer, whether they are 10 or 100 years old, when you want to look at the popularity of a show, or whether a show is “failing” it’s viewers. When you look at total viewers Castle is pretty consistently right up there. The last episode I think I saw figures for was 4X18 (not sure but I think that that was the episode), 7th most popular show for the week with around 14 million viewers. Doesn’t sound to me like viewers are leaving. That argument just doesn’t hold water.
JAA: Sorry (honestly, not sarcasm) if you get this as as insult, I didn’t meant that way.
To make it clear to yo and everybody who could misunderstand:
The ones who watch the show aren’t idiots (though after this interview I ask myself, why do I do it any more?). He thinks that we are, as we don’t even know what we want. So I should have written
“because he thinks that’s the only thing what the idiots he thinks we are wants”
Thank you Lydia for coming to my defense and I apologize again for my bad wording
@MigalouchUD Sorry got cut off for some reason. Wanted to add and edit a bit. Didn’t get to finish.
Although I would agree that the 18-49 demo is important, with all the other revenue streams available for a show to make money, I think that it’s just part of what is considered when evaluating a shows success or failure. At least that is my very strong impression after reading numerous articles on the subject. And from what I have read, networks are increasingly looking at the overnight numbers (which is what websites like TVbytheNumbers use) as only part of a whole when determining how many people are watching a show.
I love this show. I love this relationship and think it’s THE sweetest romance written on television right now. I have total faith in AM & crew for taking these characters down paths that might be uncomfortable for us as fans, but I feel like it’s organic and something I personally can relate to. Kudos to the Castle team! Do what YOU guys think is right, because you’re not going to please everyone. I’m along for the ride and I’m in for the long haul. I can’t WAIT to see what’s in store for everyone on this show!
Fans need to get over themselves! If you think you can write a better show, by all means, YOU go out there and create a show yourself and we’ll see if it’s “perfect”! Oy, I hate self-righteous types who think they know the ONLY way to write a relationship. *rolleyes* I want to enjoy this show, I’m not constantly looking for faults in it. Are there faults? Of course! NOTHING IS PERFECT!!! But just let it play out and try to look at the positives instead of the negatives all the time and you might just get more out of the experience. 😉
Wow. It really sounds like he’s stepping back from Stana’s “shippers are going to be happy” thing. Wonder if that was a lie too? Yawn. Caskett spend another summer apart. Whoopee. I hope I’m wrong…
Maybe the writers shouldn’t listen so much to the fluffing from reviewers who make money with fansites (and so, “trust the writers” even when they take the show off a cliff) and listen to the fans a little more.
I hope all fans who spent the past two years with decoding subtexts from the episodes, making theories on them, tried to connect their words and actions in one to another because hey, they are in an emotional story together – so I hope everybody else feels the same embarrassment as me, letting to be laughed around by the world greatest con.
“We want the show to be friendly and if people are coming to revisit the show, they can visit their favorite show without the weight of all the relationship stuff. So we did have plans to touch on it in a few key episodes along the way, and we’ve gone according to plan”
Sorry guys, we were cheated. There were no subtexts at all. We were not weighted by the relationship stuff, we just imagined the things we gave into their mouths. There were no connections between those scenes we thought to be connected, no emotion came as a reaction of an earlier one. 80% of the season was just red herring and I’m surprised Marlowe isn’t limping from the heavy laughing, I now my side would aching.
@halaci said “I hope everybody else feels the same embarrassment as me, letting to be laughed around by the world greatest con” seriously? why would you hope such a thing? I get it, YOU don’t like the storyline, YOU feel cheated, blah, blah, blah, but hoping WE all feel the same way YOU do, thinking WE just imagined things, that’s a bit rich don’t you think?
@JAA: Uhm, sorry why? Hoping is forbidden? Yes, I hope. You don’t. 1:1
Marlowe said clearly that the episodes between the “story” episodes has no connection to those ones and he didn’t intend to have at all. So the connections what we saw into the episodes were not there.
If you didn’t think those episodes as part of their story or haven’t ever thought about what could some of those moments mean you didn’t imagined anything into it – but in this case your are not among the people I talked about anyhow, so what’s the problem? It is also your right to be happy with this revelation, who am I to tell you how to feel about a con? I can hope though that most people don’t like it.
No, hoping is not forbidden, you still don’t get it, do you? it’s the “since I feel cheated, miserable and bitter about a show or a storyline I hope everybody feels like that” attitude that I don’t like, because why would I wish people felt happy? Oh, I get it. I also need to feel validated. I wonder why you’re watching a show or reading an interview that makes you feel like that. Wouldn’t it be healthier to just move on and find something that makes you feel better, happier? Marlowe is not out there to get you.
As Stana Katic said “Be Zen, be happy”
@JAA: Would you deny the satisfaction from Marlowe? He expects at least one third of the audience to be angry about what happens, another third to be frustrated and “it will be up to the fans to tell us whether we’ve achieved what we wanted to achieve”. Well, I’m (or I was) in the angry one third and just wanted him to know he managed to achive this.
But your advice came late. I’m not Zen, but after the initial anger I learned how good this article was to me. It’s not easy to give up hopes on things you love, but he helped a lot.
@Shelly you make some solid points I will definitely give you that however not all of them ensure a show is safe from cancelation. The most important thing for ABC is not revenue, thats only the first half of it, its their profit margin. ABC wants the best profit margin possible so maximize their use of resources, all businesses run this way and thats why we don’t see almost anything sold for near its actual production cost.
You are definitely correct iTunes, Hulu, GetGlue, Viggie, DVD Sales, and syndication are all big players for money. Specifically in that category Syndication is the most important thing they have going for them without a doubt. However when it comes to board games, books, comics, etc well that is a different story. Those mediums don’t actually require Castle to be on the air to be made and sold, kind of wierd since they are about a TV show but its true. Take for example Buffy, Angel, Firefly, and Farscape to name a few. Each of these shows has comic books being made (presently) along their story arcs, yet each of these shows is also out of production. Point being ABC doesn’t require Castle to be airing to sell them, just for a core fanbase since they are vastly cheaper to produce then the show.
Now advertising is hands down the biggest money maker for any TV show. Sure the accessories and merchandising help boost revenue and increase the profit margin but in comparison to television advertising this is a small amount. According to adage Castle charged roughly $121,914 for a thirty second spot in its 2010-2011 season. There are about roughly 8 minutes of commercials during an episode so that is around $975,312 in revenue an episode. So just the point I am trying to make here is that commercial times as of now, maybe not in the future but as of now, are the most important lifeblood of any TV show and if they wanted to survive off them budget cuts would have to be abundant.
In regards to C3 you are right that is absolutely what advertisers now look at since I believe the 2007-2008 season when Nielsen compensated for DVR penetration. 42% is roughly what I have seen for DVR penetration as well. Where I have seen differing reports is in the terms of how much of C3 differs from +7. I have seen reports that it is a lot, and then reports that the changes are very small. I’ve read ones that the Live+SD are vastly better predictors of what C3 numbers are going to be. Normally we only get to see those C3 numbers for one week of the season. However if you go and find the Live+SD vs C3 vs Live Only of 2010 (latest I could find) published by Nielsen you can see that the jump isn’t that signficant compared to that of the +7 jump. Now of course networks want to push the +7 numbers, because they are always the biggest, however what is important is what advertisers see. Either way I think about half the country doesn’t have DVRs and for those with DVRs there are numbers from 30%-70% actually watch commercials on recorded entertainment. Live commercial viewing will always weigh more, because its guaranteed commercial watching, but you are right C3 is what advertisers pay for.
Bottom line though is the shift out of Live+SD is pretty drastic for Castle compared to season 3 and since we don’t know for sure those C3 numbers the best we can do is hope that they are getting caught by that. I do know though that when I stop watching a show its gradual and I start DVRing it and watching it later and later in time before dropping it completely. Not having live watchers, which if you look at Ad spots charge premiums for more live viewers, is always a bad thing. Castle has bled a lot of live viewers in the past season which is just fact.
Now here is the real problem that Castle is in. They are going to get a 5th season, I never questioned that with their syndication coming, however its beyond that where its very questionable. ABC currently has over 20 pilots in the pipeline and is probably going to look for a 2.0 rating or higher in those to put on the air. Since ABC has a full schedule they are going to replace shows. Now some have been canceled, Desperate simply ended, they are going to have some space. The real question is going to be are they going to see more up and comers that are doing better than that 2.0 then slots they have? If so then they start axing borderline shows. Add in the fact that SK and NF will probably be renogotiating contracts (I believe 5 years is what they initially signed) and most assuredly going to ask for more money and Castle is going to have a production cost increase. Without increased ratings, which if you look at Live+SD are decreased, the profit margin is going to shrink on them.
The bottom line question is will Castle be able to maintain a good enough profit margin, or will an up and comer that ABC thinks can do better take its spot? Ratings are indicating Castle is on a downslope, AM is indicating he has no intention of changing the show, ABC knows they need at least half of season 5 for syndication (88 episodes full season for 100 is perferred) but after that they don’t need anymore for syndication and that money maker is off the table for awhile. This puts Castle in a precarious position for after season 5 that I think we would be remiss to not realize. Normally a show creator tries to shake things up when ratings fall, but AM is basically IMO saying he has been doing a great job so far which Ratings aren’t exactly agreeing with.
Now popularity wise yes Castle is very popular and one of the most viewed shows on television, that isn’t up for debate by any measure of the imagination. The only problem is popularity doesn’t necessarily equate to profitability and advertisers pay for the demos first and foremost not viewers. I have a marketing background I went to school for this and I deal with advertising in my job and I can tell you marketers don’t care how big the group of people is they just need their target market and if they aren’t there they will go somewhere else with their money regardless of the overall reach.
Let’s put a hatchet in this greta discussion though.
Newsflash: I do NOT want to watch something that is maddening. Maddening is not entertaining. Maddening is annoying and irritating. I do NOT want to be irritated and annoyed watching tv. So, Marlowe, I will turn your show off. And you can take your condescending, patronizing attitudes and cuddle with them.
I don’t subscribe to the idea that fans have to just sit back and passively accept what they’re fed on TV shows because the creators of the shows are successful and therefore know best. I may be a nobody, but I can tell when I’m bored and frustrated, and I can even tell why. Hint: it’s not because I’m too stupid to understand what the writers are trying to do.
@MigalouchUD I agree with some of what you say, and disagree with some. But, you’re right, we’ve gone circular with this discuss, so lets drop it. I did enjoy discussing it with you.
@halaci Bitter much? I’m sorry but your being disappointed with the show does not mean that Andrew Marlowe is a liar, and it does not mean that he’s “conning” us. It does not mean that we were “cheated”. You may feel that way, many other people don’t, and I don’t appreciate being included by your use of the word “we”. Hoping that people won’t like the show? Hoping that people will feel embarrassed? Wow. Your “victimization” has a very simple solution. If you’re that unhappy, that upset, that angry, turn it off and walk away. It’s pretty simple.
I really don’t get the incredible animosity that this interview is generating. I think Andrew Marlowe is doing exactly what he should be doing as a show runner. He’s teasing, he gives a bit but does not give it away, keeps us guessing, keeps us wondering. Did anyone really think that he would give an interview and then tell us what we want to know? Not. Gonna. Happen. His views regarding the viewers and how he tells his story? Whether you like it or not, what he has to say does have validity.
Take a deep breath, calm down, and watch. As JAA said, quoiting Stana Katic, “Be Zen, Be Happy”. I have a feeling that good things are in store.
@Shelly:
First the rightful point: Yes, my opinion is mine, so any “we” is exaggeration even if I know a lot of people sharing my opinion.
To the criticism: Yes, I’m disappointed. Yes, I think AM cheated me. What you probably missed that in my comment there was a third point beside these two: I told exactly why I feel this way. I know it’s easier to join him and brush off the criticism simply with a “disappointed bitter fan” shrug.
Yes, I hope that those who feel the same as me, will express their opinion.
I didn’t even mentioned anything about his teasing. I have my opinion but as this kind of teasing is what he always does, I wasn’t surprised. I criticised what he said about the pace of the show and mainly the integration of the episodes, but after reading my posts the third time I can’t find saying anything about why doesn’t he gives away more.
“Like it or not, what he has to say does have validity”: You felt being insulted because my “we” could have included you. May you provide the same right to me, because his view regarding the viewers definitly includes me? I pretty much know what I want, know when I like something and can tell the reason when I stop liking something I liked before.
@Shelly, @JAA: just one final advice.
You don’t need to persuade me it’s better for me to give up on this show, I realized this. Andrew Marlowe hovewer expects that at least two third of the audience is angry or frustrated. Try to show more empathy towards them, because if they also listening to you and leave the show, it will be cancelled in a blink.
@halaci You said “I pretty much know what I want, know when I like something and can tell the reason when I stop liking something I liked before.” Absolutely, I agree with you. You, and only you, are the one who can tell and who knows how you feel. You are entitled to your opinion and any other feeling that you may have.
But what else did you say. You said that Andrew Marlowe thinks we’re “idiots”, that we’ve been “cheated”, that’s he’s the “worlds greatest con”. And that he must be “limping” from laughing at us. That all the relationship stuff all took place in our imagination. That he’s insulting the intellect of the audience. That the subtext was meaningless, 80% of the season was just a red herring etc etc…. And, you know, I have no problem with you having your opinion. I’m perfectly fine with understanding that you have the right to your opinion and your feelings, just as I do. What I object to is your use of “we” thereby making your opinion all encompassing. So, thank you for the clarification that you meant “yourself”. And, when your opinion is voiced in such a way that I feel is insulting to my intelligence, I have a hard time not responding, as I very strongly disagree with you. That may not have been your intention, but that is certainly the feeling that I am coming away with. But, that’s my problem and not yours.
And, I don’t understand what it is that he has said that would make you react with the opinion that you hope that other viewers will start to feel embarrassment for, what, liking the show, enjoying the subtext, believing in him? Or, that you hope most people don’t like it. Are you implying that other opinions are not valid, that we all should feel the same as you? Again, I don’t think that that was your intention, but that’s the feeling that I am getting. Why do you want me to feel as you do?
I read the interview, and I see a thoughtful show-runner, he seems to understand the dynamic of the audience, and understands and accepts that there will be frustration and anger on the part of some viewers. I see nothing that would indicate that he’s trying to make people angry or frustrated or that he get any particular enjoyment out of it. Frustration is part of the game, not always being happy is part of the game, having the finale have a maddening element is part of the game. He’s a dramatist, that’s what he does, it’s called TV. When he says “And you can’t listen too closely to the fan base because what they say they want isn’t necessarily what they want.”? How is this being interpreting as Andrew Marlowe is trying to tell me what I want, or he thinks I’m too stupid to understand what I want? I think he’s absolutely right. He can’t listen to the fan base too closely. Which part of the fan base is his suppose to listen to? The “fan base” is schizophrenic. Does he try to please the frustrated fans, does he try to please the angry fans? How does he make everyone happy. He can’t. No matter what he does, how he does it, someone is going to be angry, someone is going to be frustrated, and someone is going to be happy. So, keep your characters true, tell the story. He knows what he’s doing and, IMO, he’s doing well.
And really, if I was feeling the type of anger that I’m seeing in some of these posts, I’d turn the TV off. I really gotta wonder at why some of you are still watching when it makes you so unhappy.
How are we interpreting “what they say they want isn’t necessarily what they want” as “they’re too stupid to know what they want”? I think the answer to that is kind of obvious.
I agree that the fan base is not a monolithic thing, and if he had said, “you can’t listen to the fan base because there are a ton of different people with different opinions and you’ll make yourself crazy if you try to please everybody,” I wouldn’t have a problem. But that’s not what he said. He said we don’t know what we want (or I guess, alternatively, that we know what we want but for some bizarre reason we say something else). Does it really not bother you when people tell you they know your mind better than you do? I admit, it’s a hot button for me.
The possibility that some fans might be annoyed because he’s delivering a subpar product this year is apparently not even worth entertaining — the problem has to be with US. It can’t be with the show. Which, OK, I guess is a pretty human reaction, but that doesn’t mean that we fans have to be happy about taking the blame.
@halaci Sorry I didn’t see your post at 2:03. I’m not trying to persuade you to do anything. It’s your choice to watch or not. As I said in my last post, I don’t understand why you continue to watch will all of you apparent anger.
And you know I wouldn’t underestimate the viewers. Even with feeling anger and frustration, that anger and frustration can exist side by side with enjoyment, and curiosity, and wanting to see what happens next.
I remember the anger and frustration during the Demming arch. I remember the pitchfork and torch mentality at the end of Countdown when Josh didn’t make an exit. I remember the fan explosion after the season 2 finale. The show survived the fans survived and the story went on. I’m confident that the show and the fans will survive this arch too.
@Lydia You’ve chosen to interpret it one way I see it as another. You have made the decision that he’s calling you stupid, I have chosen to think better of him. I think about the context of the whole interview, this one and the one earlier this week. I think about all the things that he has said though the years. ComicCon, Paley, Ned Fest, writers workshops etc… I think about the situation he has put Beckett and Castle in. He thinks the viewers are stupid? Really? Seriously? Sorry, don’t buy it.
No, it wouldn’t bother me if he told me that he knows my mind better that I did We are taking within the context of a TV show. I’m not a story teller, I’m not a person who knows how to present a story on TV. He does. I’m a viewer, I’m a listener, I’m a reader. Enjoying a TV show, enjoying a good book, doesn’t make me knowledgeable about how it should be done or how it should be told. He knows the end game, he knows what he wants to happen before he gets there, he knows Beckett and Castle better then I do. He knows when to do a reveal, when to keep a secret, how to increase the tension, how to release it, how to plant a seed for a future storyline, how to leave me wanting to know what happens next etc…… I don’t. I’m perfectly willing to entertain the idea that I may not know what I want.
As far as blaming fans for a sub-par season? Where is that coming from? Do you think his acknowledgement of the fact that some fans will be frustrated and angry translate into blame? If so, no matter what he does, no matter how he does it , he can’t make everyone happy. As he seems to be very straightforward with that, where’s blame? I’m not sure what you are referring to.
I’m wondering if you think it’s ever appropriate for mere fan to think that a professional storyteller isn’t doing such a great job. Is it always the case that if the peons don’t think a story is being told well, that we are the ones who just don’t get it? I don’t buy that.
@Lydia Sure I think that it’s appropriate for fans to think that a professional storyteller isn’t doing a good job. Now flip that around. If that’s the case, why isn’t it appropriate for a professional storyteller to suggest that fans may not really want what they think they do. That door swings both ways.
Whether a story is being told well is a matter of opinion and perception. And, it’s not the case that bad story telling is always attributed to the “peon’s” not getting it. Case in point, look at Smash, the EP been kicked out and they are claiming that the series will be getting a re-vamp, due to bad story telling. Is that the “peon’s” taking the blame? Or is it the storyteller?
I said that I was willing to entertain the idea that I didn’t know what I want. Not that I didn’t know. Maybe I do, maybe I don’t, maybe (and probably) Andrew Marlowe has a better idea of how it should be done. Why should I take on the role of victim? Why should I chose to believe the worst? I’m willing to keep an open mind, give him the benefit of his expertise. He hasn’t failed my yet, and I have no reason to think otherwise now.
What? I don’t think “thinking someone isn’t doing a good job” and “thinking someone doesn’t know their own mind” are comparable at all.
I’m fine with you giving AM the benefit of the doubt. Really. I hope you’re right (although even if the resolution of this season is spectacular, which it may well be, it won’t erase the pacing and character issues of the rest of the season). I’m just saying that even though we’re just fans, fans have the right to criticize what I think has been ineffective about the storytelling this season, and I resent being told that there’s something wrong with us if we do.
er, what *we think has been ineffective
@Lydia I have no problem with criticism. I have no problem with complaints. What I do have a problem with, and I want to emphasize that this is not directed at you, because I don”t think that you have engaged in it. What I have a problem with is the name calling and character assassination that so many posters have dog-piled on since this interview was posted. I don’t think it’s called for and it’s undeserved. I try to follow the rule of never posting anything that I wouldn’t say to someones face. Perhaps I’m in the minority.
My opinion is different than yours and you have asked some questions that I have tried to answer. If you have been given the impression that I think there is something “wrong” with you for your criticisms or opinions, my apologies, that was not my intent. I think that we have different opinions and I don’t agree with you, nothing more and nothing less I imagine that you probably feel the exact same about me.
As far as the comparison of criticizing someones writing, with “thinking that someone doesn’t know their own mind”. I think that the root of our difference is in the interpretation of what Andrew Marlowe said. I don’t believe that he was telling you that you don’t know your own mind, you think he was. Fair enough, we don’t agree and I doubt that anything will change that.
@Shelly: “If you have been given the impression that I think there is something “wrong” with you for your criticisms or opinions, my apologies, that was not my intent.”
I appreciate it. 🙂 But no, I didn’t mean you, and I’m sorry if it came across like I did. I meant Marlowe in this particular instance, and in general it’s something I’ve seen showrunners do before. “If you don’t like it, you just don’t get it.” AARGH. Drives me nuts.
Hey Castle fandom, you’re nice and all but holy fuck you’re impatient.
Did it ever occur to you that what he meant by “the fans don’t know what they want” is that you all want them to get together NOW, but if he did that, he’d know you’d be a bit disappointed? It’s not an insult.
Woooaahh … Okay! I loved this one… And mostly, this man is damn honest and straight .. No nonsense guy .. I really really like it very much when it comes to talk about future .. Its perfect how he shared little and kept little a secret .. and left us wondering what actually he wanted to say. LOL.
But from talks, I think “Always” will be worth THE WAIT. I personally love Castle and I believe AM will not disappoint me, as he never did! I have always loved the slow paced, funny, serious and subtle romance in the story!
And regarding, the famous, “FANS” quote ..:P Honestly, I am still thinking about it, I don’t understand it completely, coz I know what I want! but then if I don’t get it, I am not stupid enough to blame writer and creator coz its their show and they know better than me, coz I sit on the couch, eat popcorn and watch the damn show, while they CREATE it! So, I can’t say much, honestly! I have not substantial right to complaint about this and that .. LOL.
All I know is that, I am madly, deeply, crazily in love with Castle and Caskett! So, I am WAITING, I am just waiting patiently, not frustrating and not even angry .. The Limey was good one .. just coz we didn’t get Caskett that does not mean entire 40-42 mins episode was not good! So, I am FINE with everything, this Interview and I am really very sure that by the end of S04, I will be the ONE screaming out loud, “Castle and Caskett ROCKS!” 😀
I was-am-will be ‘Always’ hopeful for the show and now that Amazing title revealed, so I am hopeful for “Always” too .. 😀 and I know my WAIT will be WORTH it! 🙂 [ ‘Always’ is my word!]
Thank you for the Interview .. 🙂
Madz.
First of all, I am a big fan and would like to continue to watch a show that I love for what it gives best : fun and entertainment. I can watch again without problem many episodes from the past seasons. Would I watch again “The Limey” : I don’t think so ! Not much fun or entertainment. I hope we will get them back next season …
“Did it ever occur to you that what he meant by “the fans don’t know what they want” is that you all want them to get together NOW, but if he did that, he’d know you’d be a bit disappointed? It’s not an insult.”
Yes, yes, we know, the pacing of the show is PERFECTION ITSELF, and fans who think otherwise are the problem.
I’m not reading any more interviews or interacting with anymore forums on this show for the rest of the year. This crap is ridiculous.
to Danny, you have it all wrong. Castle didn’t go home with Natalie Rhodes for two reasons; because of Beckett and because he had a girlfriend!!! Serena Kaye, refused to go out with him because she noticed he wasn’t hers to have. Sophia was not interested in him like that and neither was he!! You need to check your facts before you go downing someone.
to Lydia, there’s a difference between being and coward and being scared enough to want to wait. She made it clear she does want something with him, but she’s scared right now. She’s never had a relationship built on love and it scares her. She doesn’t want to be pushing him away when they’re finally together and something comes up in her mom’s case or her own that drives her to the edge and causes her to pull into herself. Cowardliness is if she had told him she remembered and didn’t want to try. She wants to try but only when the time is right. What’s so wrong with that?
@JayJayNicola Actually, …Poof! You’re Dead! (where Castle ends it w/Gina) was filmed & intended to air BEFORE Nikki Heat. ABC changed the order for some reason. Had it aired that way, Castle rejecting “her me, not me me” was more meaningful. I think that’s what Danny might have been referring to.
This was a GREAT interview. Kudos to the interviewer and to AM. You’re both amazing, so thanks for the great questions and the great answers.
(and, i gotta say, as a former House md fan, it’s refreshing to have someone who’s really worried with the truth of their characters and with their fan base such as Malowe when we compare him to Yaitanes…)
@halaci
My only comment is you’re completely taking his quote out of context. You’re taking issue with:
“You know, it was never our intent to make the show overly serialized. We want the show to be friendly and if people are coming to revisit the show, they can visit their favorite show without the weight of all the relationship stuff. So we did have plans to touch on it in a few key episodes along the way, and we’ve gone according to plan, for better or for worse. Our audience members have different opinions about that. Some people think we’ve handled it well, some people get frustrated, some people have wanted more overt declarations. We get that. We get that we’re not going to make everybody happy. But we’ve been doing what we think is right for these characters, what is appropriate for these characters.”
And completely ignoring:
“And we know the weight that’s been on Castle’s shoulders the whole time. We know how he feels about her. So he’s been in this bizarre Catch-22, where she said to him that she’s not going to be ready until she’s able to solve some of these issues. So we felt if we had touched upon it [more], we would have gotten into a situation where we were just repeating the same beats. And that the real way to deal with it was when it was the appropriate time, to bring it to the forefront, watch the fireworks and see what happens.”
There was development in the relationship, they just didn’t want to make a big song and dance about it because for the most part, the situation would be the same.
Also, not sure if you made this comment, but someone mentioned we didn’t know her seeing the psychiatrist behind the scenes:
“Beckett is somebody who has never worn her heart on her sleeve and we’ve known that she’s been working on some of these issues behind-the-scenes. We know that she’s been seeing her therapist, we know that she’s been making progress, and those are some issues that we’ve dealt with and we will continue to deal with leading up to the finale.”
If we get shown that Beckett is in fact seeing her psych regularly at the start of the season, I generally take it as implied that she’s carried on seeing him regularly until the show tells me different. Just because we don’t see every meeting doesn’t mean it’s stopped.
Andrew Marlowe and the shows writers have done a masterful job of creating a sweeping love story for nearly four seasons. You can say what you want but I feel the show is a good crime procedural but a great love story. But it seems to me that the years of building a relationship between Castle and Beckett should not be undone over a secret like Becketts. Andrew Marlowe has commented in interviews that Castle in maturing and that is what Beckett needs to see for their relationship to move forward. Castle knows she is in a delicate state with her personal relationships and the fact that he isn’t more understanding of her feelings is, I feel, a failure of Andrew Marlowe and the rest of the writing staff. It seems to me that it a rather simplistic device to bring conflict into their relationship. I expected more from this fabulous writing team.
Before anybody else is wasting their time to address me: to me quitting on something means that I quit. No watch, no discussion about it.
Your loss. Morons.
#patienceandbasicinternetdiplomacylevelshaverunout
That made me feel worse… better in some ways but sad because he still has to make the ending frustrating enough for people to watch the next season. Truthfully, I’d want to watch the next season even more if this season ended with them kissing!!! It’s like Bones… It ended on such an amazing note, and now the number of viewers have skyrocketed. But I don’t think Marlowe can see that… or at least have faith that that will be the outcome. But I know it really would be. I think this is getting simply ridiculous, the off-on-off-on relationship they have going here. It’s taking to long… They have our hopes up and then let us down, time after time after time after time. I’m tired of waiting. Everyone is. Yes, Castle is an amazing TV show, but you can’t go on forever, making us hold our breath… we only seem to be going farther underwater and I need air. I think there is so much story that could come after Beckett and Castle each tell the other that they love them. Directors seem so confident in their decisions, think they’re pleasing everyone, but who ISN’T frustrated by this?! Every person on this Earth knows love, and they want it where they can find it. They don’t like exaggerated waits. I’m getting tired of this.
I am looking forward to a substantial improvement in the Caskett relationship by the end of this season or I am moving on. Too much time this year has been given to too little of interest. Some episodes seem to exist in a void unrelated to those that came before or come after. Now I’m just tired of the tease and not willing to wait anymore.
omg same here, Ann. I’m tired of it.