last episode (Castle TV show). They did perk up a bit for Castle and Becket’s long awaited
marriage in “The Time of Our Lives, (7.6). Writers tried a number of unsuccessful story lines to
stem the decline in ratings in season 7.
Season 7 featured all five Castle genres: serious, procedural, pop culture, showcases, and
relationships. There were seven serious police crime solving shows including one in which
Castle saved a hijacked airplane and two episodes featuring sinister villains, Dr. Kelly Nieman
and serial killer Jerry Tyson. Popular culture episodes focused on a Western theme, Castle’s
fascination with action heroes, and a murder on Mars. Dever and Huerta starred in their own
episodes. Weddings, babies, and farewell parties were the only things that kept shippers glued to
their televisions.
Castle and Beckett married. Reviewer Orlando observed that shippers like herself, “got what
they had waited for, from the first episode of the first season” (Review 7.6). She liked the bride’s
blouse, but had some doubts about her pants. In Orlando’s discussion of the wedding with fans,
Francesco noted she forgave the writers for not spending enough time on the wedding when
Becket told Castle, “When I was vulnerable, you were strong” (“The Time of Our Lives” 7.6).
Shipper Kathleen observed, “Loved it, loved it, and loved it. I guess I was one of few people who
didn't hate the season 6 finale as I was hoping the writers would make up for the ruined
wedding” (Review 7.6).
The question of whether Castle and Beckett should have a child came up again during the
wedding. Orlando answered this delicate question of whether Caskett should start a family as if
these fictional characters were real people, “Yes, just not right away. I’d prefer to see the
newlyweds enjoy their time together for a while…and a little one could make the crime fighting
more difficult” (Review 7.16).
Aside from the wedding, critic Laura Akers thought the show looked tired. “It was as if the
writers created a random TV procedural dialogue generator and took most of their inspiration
from that” (Castle Season 6). The writers reprised and reworked stories from past seasons. They
lost the humor that held the various genres together. Relation shippers grumbled at the delay in
holding the wedding. Nothing seemed to lessen the ratings slide.
The finale of season 7 provided the perfect opportunity to end the series with a crescendo of
congratulations at an award banquet. Writer Michael Connelly presented Castle with the Poe’s
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