Castle season 8 episode 6: Rick and Kate split; decline in viewership ratings spark cancellation rumours

After a three-week break, Castle season 8 will return with episode 6 on 9 November. However, fans are yet to come to terms with the fact that the popular ABC show has separated its lead characters Rick and Kate this season.

This could also be one of the primary reasons for the decline in viewership ratings of the show, which has led to cancellation rumours. The recent plot changes in the police procedural drama have irked fans who feel the show has turned into absolute boredom.

To salvage the situation, writer Terence Paul Winter has teased a heart-winning reunion of Rick and Kate. "It's [Episode 7 titled Mr. & Mrs. Castle] going to be a greatepisode," he told TVLine. "For the fans who right now are going, 'What the heck and Terence and Alexi [Hawley] doing?!,' when they see that episode they'll understand and see what we're going for."

Meanwhile, the synopsis of episode 6 titled Cool Boys reads: "Detective Slaughter (guest star Adam Baldwin) returns to enlist Castle's help in solving a high-stakes robbery case. But when a body is found linked to the crime, Slaughter becomes the number one suspect in the heist turned murder, while Castle has to determine whether he's guilty or help to prove he's innocent."

In the upcoming episode, Kate will be missing as she has travelled out of "out-of-town". Moreover, co-showrunner Alexi Hawley told TV Line: "He [Rick] does start off the episode going, 'It's getting a little old,' because he does in private struggle with it. So what we really tried to do with him and Detective Slaughter was have a bit of the 'guy conversation' about 'What's happening with your wife?' — but also really flip that guy perspective on its head, in the same way that we try to flip the Slaughter character on its head a bit."

Click here to watch the episode via live stream online. The popular crime thriller from ABC is expected to reunite Caskett to surge the dipping popularity of the once favourite show. Castle season 8 airs every Monday night on ABC network. Episode 6 titled Cool Boys is directed by Paul Holahan and written by Hawley.