10 Most Bizarre TV Series Finales In History

6. Beckett and Castle Die?

Beckett Castle dies
ABC

Castle was always a bit of a tonal mishmash. It was a frothy, romantic comedy about a roguish crime writer and a steely detective that also featured grisly murders. It was basically Moonlighting for the CSI generation. Once the series eventually paired Castle and Beckett, played by Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic respectively, they had to find dramatic ways to challenge the relationship.

Rather than infidelity or divorce, there were new careers, kidnappings, amnesia and, in the final episode, a double shooting that left them both bleeding out on the floor of their apartment. This ending was originally intended as a cliffhanger that would have led into the ninth season. When the production team discovered that there would be no next season, they were granted permission to hastily insert an epilogue.

Taking place seven years later, Castle and Beckett are seen to be enjoying breakfast with their three children having apparently survived the shooting. Some fans reacted with frustration at the insulting "happily ever after" climax, whilst others pondered whether or not the ending was an idealised future dreamt up by two dying lovers.

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Contributor

Citizen of the Universe, Film Programmer, Writer, Podcaster, Doctor Who fan and a gentleman to boot. As passionate about Chinese social-realist epics as I am about dumb popcorn movies.