I find this to be a really interesting discussion. On one hand, you've addressed an issue that a lot of people have with parts of the fandom in general, being that some people are never happy and will always find something to complain about. I think we can all understand the frustration you feel in constantly reading negative things from fans who never seem to be happy with the direction of the show.
And you've given a great description of what the journey has been to this point and how each season's tone has had a greater purpose to it and has been dictated by the story itself that ran through that season. You were 100% on all of that and made some great observations on why certain tones were used in certain seasons and how frustrating it can be when others don't understand that and recognize the brilliance in that.
But then the post takes an interesting turn and you basically go ahead and do what frustrates you when others do it; you complain about the tone of the season and you chalk it up to outside forces rather than recognizing the creative reasons for exploring this tone based on where the storyline and the characters are right now.
In fact, you imply that Andrew Marlowe chose this direction to appease the fans who complained about the darkness of season four. And you comment on how they've missed out on opportunities for storytelling or not done justice to the story by going this route.
First, I would find it hard to believe that a creative person like Andrew, who has always had such a dedication to the art of storytelling and has stayed true to that, would go ahead and change the direction of his story just to please a handful of this massive audience. Second, from everything we've heard him say, including most recently at the USC event, it's simply not true at all.
As for the tone of this season, it has nothing to do with consciously trying to rekindle season two's tone. In fact, for as much as people talk about season two being light and fun, there were a ton of really serious episodes or mixed episodes and very little that was light and fun like we're seeing now. Season five is simple. It's that early stage of a relationship, exactly as many here have already stated as "the honeymoon phase". The fun and light episodes are meant to take us along the journey of this first stage of Castle and Beckett's relationship. We're supposed to be feeling that same sense of joy and passion and wonderment about it all.
We're still reminded that there's a real world lurking outside of this bubble that they're able to sneak off to at some points, and that there are issues they'll have to deal with eventually. But for now, they're just taking the time to enjoy their being together and taking it one day at a time, figuring it out as they go.
Each season has had its tone dictated by the characters and the story arcs of that season, and season five is no different. Are there opportunities to go in a different direction? Sure. But just as there was no rush in getting these two into a relationship, all as a means of telling every possible story with them apart before starting to tell the stories of them together, there's no rush in jumping out of this phase of their journey and into the next. Those opportunities are still out there, so just wait for them to come along when the time is right. You assume that they've missed these opportunities or pushed on past them because it didn't fit the tone of the season, and I think that's selling the writers short after you've praised them so appropriately earlier.
My personal preference has always been for the dramatic episodes. I loved the darker episodes of season three as Beckett started to fall deeper into her anger and resentment with Castle there to try to pull her out but could never really get her back all the way. I loved that they were both lost after their summer apart and tried to find ways to find themselves again in other places yet found that the only one they'd be happy with was each other. It didn't mean they were ready for that, but at least they knew it was the case. I loved that arc of self-discovery in Castle and Beckett's arc of trying to discover herself but finding that she was losing herself more and more as the season went on.
I loved everything about season four. The dramatic tone based on everything that had happened at the end of season three and the ramifications of all of it. The arc of Beckett finding this second chance at life and not wanting to waste it, really working hard to find her way down the path she wanted to be on and to let go of the past and just be free. And Castle was giving her space, trying to not push, yet it was Beckett all season who was trying to give him the hints and suggestive comments and being forward like he used to be. It was a nice role reversal between them and it showed that Beckett was trying to tell him to just hold on a little longer because she definitely wanted to be with him but she had to find her own peace within her first.
And now season five has them embracing their love and really being the fun and flirty couple that we expected them to be. They're so playful together and yet you feel how much they love each other as well, how much they would do anything to protect the other. You still get a great deal of heart and soul this season amongst the comedy and lightheartedness. But those early stages of a relationship aren't supposed to be heavy and dramatic and emotional. They're supposed to be fun and magical and carefree.
We've seen hints of the more serious stuff as well. The return of 3XK and the implications of him still being out there. The cloud hanging over them that they have to keep their relationship a secret because they don't know what Gates would do if she knew. Hints of conversations these two will eventually need to address as they move forward. There has been groundwork laid for a more serious tone to present itself down the line, whether it be a full shift in the tone of the season (which I would doubt) or perhaps just a few more dramatic episodes throughout the season that will deal with this seriousness (much more likely).
And just because an episode isn't dramatic, it doesn't mean that it's fun, light, and fluffy either. Castle has always been a show that can balance those lighthearted moments with any other tone for an episode.
Personally, if I break down the season so far, we've only had one truly fun and light episode... the rest have been a good mix of different tones.
5x01 - "After The Storm" - definitely a dramatic episode more than anything else, but there was a great mix of romance and really heartwarming scenes as well. There was a little comic relief here and there, but it was overall a serious episode between the actual drama and the heartwarming relationship stuff.
5x02 - "Cloudy With A Chance Of Murder" - it wasn't an emotional rollercoaster, but it also wasn't a full-fledged comedic episode either. There was a lot here that dealt with the relationship and the possible pitfalls and fallout of both their romance in general and also their secrecy about their relationship. I definitely wouldn't consider this episode fun and light, especially with the jealousy subject matter and implications of cheating and lying and their relationship imploding. It had its funny moments, yes. But most Castle episodes do, regardless of their actual tone.
5x03 - "Secret's Safe With Me" - again, it had funny moments but it wasn't exactly a comedy either. Castle and Beckett start to see how hard it's becoming to keep their relationship a secret, leading to some really heartbreaking yet also heartwarming moments, most of which were of a very serious tone. The handshake = serious, except at the end. The story at the end = serious.
5x04 - "Murder He Wrote" - again, a good mix of light comedy (Ryan and Esposito trying to figure out who Beckett's boyfriend was) and more serious subject matter (the case itself, some of the relationship stuff). This one was a little lighter than 5x03, which stemmed from the whole concept of Castle and Beckett being on vacation in the first place.
5x05 - "Probable Cause" - full-fledged drama.
5x06 - "The Final Frontier" - now THIS is what one could classify as a comedic episode. It was fun, light, goofy at times, over the top at times, and really only had a couple of really borderline moments in it while the rest was very much in the "fun and light" column.
So really, this season has had an overall tone of something a little less dramatic and less serious than most other seasons, but that's just based on the nature of the relationship itself. Castle and Beckett are together now and they'll remain together, so I think that automatically opens us up to feel more fun in everything. But is the tone itself and the subject matter itself really that different?? Not really. Parts of season four were very much like this, just with these two not in a romantic relationship yet. Parts of season three were very much like this as well.
At the end of the day, we all have our preferences. I just found this topic interesting to comment on because it actually presented two very polar views on that, and all within the same post. I think that reveals a solid truth about this topic, that it's easy for us and in our nature for us to find fault with something we don't necessary like as much. Sometimes we just need to step back from it, remove our personal opinions, and look at the situation objectively to find the answers.
