“Rather than distract from what was an amazing experience I would just like to say that I'm very grateful to ABC for giving me the opportunity to be a part of a much beloved show. Thank you to the fans.” – Stana Katic

Upon hearing the news about Stana Katic leaving ABC’s hit show “Castle”, I was devastated. This has been my favorite show and an integral part of my life for such a long time. I know so many people say “it's just a TV show”, but it has been so much more than that. “Castle”, and the dynamic of Caskett, has stolen the hearts of so many viewers over the eight seasons the show has been on air.

Super fans of the show, like myself, were on edge for so long following the end of season seven when Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic’s contracts ran out. Fans were left wondering if the two leads would sign back on for season eight. When Nathan renewed immediately, but Stana didn’t, everyone was worried about the future of the show. Thankfully, only a few hours before ABC came out with their list of renewed shows for the upcoming season, Stana signed on to continue.

Now, before season eight has come to an end, it has been announced that Stana Katic will not be returning for a possible season nine of “Castle”. This has left many of us wondering if there really is a show without one of the lead characters. The entire show has been centered on Richard Castle following around, and writing about, Kate Beckett since the beginning. We agonized over when the two of them would get together, and when it finally happened in the season four finale, our hearts melted. For the next four seasons, we have followed Caskett through their ups, downs, and (many, many) dangerous situations.

So while there are people who believe that “Castle” should continue, I disagree. Yes, “Castle” could continue on without Kate Beckett, NYPD Detective turned Captain, but it wouldn’t be the same show that I fell in love with. The pairing of Castle and Beckett isn’t like other shows. It was never created as a ploy to draw in more viewers; it was the soul of the show, something that was foreseen from the pilot episode. The writers didn’t just rush into the pairing; they spent four seasons magnificently building on the relationship until they were at the perfect place in the story. So, to take something that was so well thought out and loved, and just move on from it, seems wrong.

None of us want to see the story of Kate Beckett and Richard Castle end, and we do not wish to see the characters that we have come to truly love leave, but now it must happen. So, in my opinion, Stana Katic’s last episode should also be “Castle’s” last episode. This way, the story of Caskett can continue to live on in the hearts and minds of the fans who have loved it for eight seasons. Because I know that if Kate Beckett dies, a part of me will die with her.

This show is a legacy that stands for all of the hard work of the writers and everyone else involved in its creation. I hope that the legacy will remain as it is now.

Always.