In honor of the bittersweet week that is the week of season finale week, I am going to (try and) post something everyday talking about the insanity that happened the night before. For today, I am going to talk about Castle and boy did it ever deliver on the insanity. I am going to issue a huge SPOILER ALERT if you are following the show, but if you aren’t just know this: For three seasons, Castle and Beckett have been doing the classic “will they/won’t they” game (which I am a total sucker for) and last night as Beckett lay dying from a gunshot wound, Castle held her in his arms and told her not to leave because he loves her. Game changer! They wouldn’t kill off Beckett, right? And if she stays alive this is a huge elephant in the room for them to try and ignore, as they have done with other tender moments in the past. END OF SPOILER ALERT!
This climatic ending got me thinking about my feelings regarding the classic ploy of the cliffhanger used by those crafty show runners to drive me crazy for three months. If the mission is to leave me so utterly flummoxed that I am rendered speechless when I call my mom for our post-TV roundup, than mission accomplished, job well done.
However, seeing as how I can’t remember a finale that hasn’t ended with a finale, I can’t help but wonder if I would be equally, if not more, satisfied with some resolution. Isn’t that the foundation of story telling? You build and build and build until you reach that precipice and bring the audience back down by tying up all those loose ends. Imagine, if you will, that you are a child hearing Cinderella for the first and your mother ends the story with her running from the ball and losing her slipper? What? What about the prince? Will they ever see each other? What about her shoe? Hey, stay cool daddy-o, we still have 10 pages left. Your mother wouldn’t have shut the book and made you wait three months to find out that they lived happily ever after.
Now, I am fully aware that television is a business and that they need viewers to come back, but if I am left happy, I’ll come back anyway. You can count me in.
I’ll leave it open to you guys now. What was your worst cliffhanger? Do you need a cliffhanger to feel satisfied with your finales? Did you watch Castle? If so, what did you think about the ending?
4 comments:
ok, i have been dying to talk to someone about castle. i cannot believe this. if she dies - (which i agree, i don't think they could do that... they would have to completely start over with a new story line and characters)- i will be so pissed. i loved that he finally told her he loves her. i think i am going to watch it again when the kiddies go down.
i agree though, some shows do end the season nicely tied up, and i have to say that sometimes i am a fan of that. it frustrates me to no end when they have cliffhangers and i have to wait 3 months to find out what happens. but it does keep me coming back.
Well, you already got my rundown on this stuff. I like there being some cliffhanger to make you want it to hurry back, but does it always have to be someone getting shot?!!? Isn't there other ways to get us back in the fall. I'm sure Beckett isn't dead, but isn't the cliffhanger of a new boss and them professing their undying love enough of a cliffhanger. She better not die or I am going to "cliffhanger" a few people myself, starting with some TV show writers.
Hahahaha good one Julie. I don't watch Castle, but I think I maybe should...
Wowza this was a crazy episode. I felt so bad for Ryan and Esposito when they found out about Capt Montgomery. Who saw that coming?? I agree that there was a little bit too much fanfare in this finale. I know Beckett won't die, they couldn't do that to us. I can't wait to find out what happens next!! BTW where has her doctor boyfriend been all season? Not that i'm complaining, I love the time Castle's been getting with Beckett :)
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