#kastle text

[mcgills]

Yeah, if I am honest, I’M ON CLOUD FREAKIN’ NINE RIGHT NOW. I was just hoping we’d get maybe one scene with Karen this year, IF we were that fortunate. I knew when they filmed TP2 (mostly) simultaneously with DD3, it would be difficult to get her for TP2. I also knew two other things:

1) The cast/crew/writers/ tptb all love Karen and would involve her if at all possible (and they indicated as such i.e. producer Felicia D. Henderson’s comment that she hoped they could get Karen back for S2).

2) IF they were able to get Deb back, it would be for a short stint and somewhere toward the end of the season given the fact that TP2 only continued filming about 2.5 months after DD3 wrapped. That’s what? The final five episodes of the season, if each takes about two weeks to film? Since Deb was only in four last year, I figured it probably unlikely to be 4-5 straight this year. But, HERE’S THE THING:

There is a reason for the phrase “quality over quantity” and Steve Lightfoot and this reviewer BOTH have indicated this episode is incredibly important for Frank and Karen. I’ll take that in spades over inorganic, shoehorned moments for the sake of more. Not to say they would do this. Like others have said, I actually trust Steve and the writers deeply. They did justice to Karen x100000 last year, AND if they could have gotten her for more, I believe they probably would have. You would not have heard me complaining AT ALL. However, I think this one could be a phenomenal one, if the Luke Cage/Danny Rand scenario is not an exaggeration. Just going by how much care and love the writers and Jon and Deb have for these characters and their relationship, I don’t believe that it is. I could see Lightfoot and Co. writing a barn burner for them (I mean we already got ‘Virtue of the Vicious’ from them snsndiek). He wouldn’t refer to the relationship as “very important,” if that wasn’t the case. Plus, I honestly feel like even if something was off with the writing (which again, I actually trust these writers), Jon and Deb would fight to make it as fitting as possible (Jon is self-admittedly notorious for it when it comes to his characters. lol). So, I don’t really worry. Maybe I’ll regret saying that, but after last year, I truly believe that from writing to performing, Frank and Karen are in the best hands. It may be angsty AF. That is their modus operandi and part of why I love the relationship so much. In fact, in a way, I am expecting that. But if it fits them and fits the story, then GIMME. I DIGRESS.

I get wanting more, ofc I do. I agree! Jon agrees! But I believe that something AMAZING can come from something small. Quantity has nothing to do with value or significance. This relationship was born as something meant to be short-lived and look what happened. We were built on hope and a prayer. We were never supposed to have anything beyond season 2 of Daredevil, and somehow we got TP1. Now, even though Deb was working, they still fought to get her back for TP2. That is nothing but a testament to how much they love Karen and want her to be a part of Frank’s life and story. SHE IS THAT IMPORTANT TO HIM. I’m hopeful, anyway. We have been given so much more time with them than was ever intended. I can’t find it in me to complain too much about how much Frank and Karen have been loved and embraced by all the people involved with bringing them to life, especially knowing they want their relationship to continue and be explored just as much as we do. We’re lucky, yo.

[bisexualbuddie]

I literally cannot wait till Frank and Karen kiss because it’s going to be the most passionate kiss ever. I mean they have been staring at each other’s lips for so long now when they actually do kiss sparks are gonna fly everywhere

And I am gonna be so excited

[mcgills]

It’s a sad day, but it was only a matter of time. To be honest, I’m glad I’ve had a few months to make my peace with it. I’m gutted but I am also oddly okay. I’ve said it before: we were always built on hope and a prayer. What we ended up getting is beyond my imaginings, and I’m so incredibly thankful. We were never supposed to have any of it at the start. I hoped beyond hope we’d get lucky again, but it was always farfetched—and I knew that—and I am very pleased with what we went out with (both for TP as a whole and Kastle). Would I give my firstborn for more? OF COURSE I WOULD. What really guts me is how perfect Jon was in this part, and we won’t see that again. But unfortunately, this is the business and this is how it goes. Sometimes you get everything you dreamed (two more seasons with Frank after DD) and sometimes you don’t.

I love that interview with Jon where he talks about digging the uncertainty of the business (shocker ha love him for that), about making his peace with the entire thing, and that right or wrong, it’s just the nature of the work they do. He just lives thankful for every single moment—so obviously thankful—and I find that pretty inspiring. Therefore, I’m taking my cue from the king.

What I know is that I found a character (and a ship) that means the world to me, when I wasn’t even looking. I went into DD2 never expecting Frank to even be on my radar beyond the season (and I certainly never expected to find one of my dearest ships. I was thinking the other night that Frank and Karen are the only ones who may rival Doctor/Rose for me. They were written that beautifully.) AND HERE WE ARE. TP/Frank is everything to me. Not just my fave NMCU piece, but easily in my top three favorite shows ever (and I watch too much tv). I also found awesome people who feel the same as me about one or both of these things. One of the greatest fams I think I’ve been a part of.

More so, I found Jon. I’d seen him before in a few smaller works of his, but I didn’t realize it. It wasn’t until DD2 that his craft and his talent, his skill and his dedication, his passion and his kindness, his work ethic and respect for the arts and for people, took center stage and blew me away. Then, I got to meet him, and speak with him, and I found out he is just as genuine and generous a person as I had come to see him as. What a gift. That is what will stick with me the most. I cannot say what an impact that experience had on my life. I’ll be supporting him and excitedly waiting for all of the other wonderful things he has up his sleeve for years to come. And I’ll always, ALWAYS have three wonderful seasons with Frank Castle.

So yeah, it stings. But we’ve also been tremendously lucky and I’m so grateful. We’ll obviously see Jon again, and I’m fairly confident we’ll see Jon and Deb again. It may not be tomorrow, but as I have said before, that man is great at finding a host of things to work on with his closest friends/collaborators, and Deb is more than game, so eventually it will happen.

I’ve always looked at this experience as one of constant, unexpected, beautiful blessings. That hasn’t changed one bit. AND I’m not going anywhere. I just started my fourth rewatch of TP2. (Oops.) But I feel it pertinent to say, in the words of Jon: It’s been an honor.

[mcgills]

I would just like to say: KASTLE FAM THAT YEAR AND EIGHT MONTH WAIT WAS SO WORTH IT. WHO DO I HAVE TO GIVE MY FIRST BORN TO FOR ANOTHER SERIES OF FRANK AND KAREN? I WILL DO IT.

As you can tell:

Yes, I finished TP Thursday night.

Yes, I am writing from the grave as previously foretold.

Yes, I am absolutely ecstatic with the storyline/writing etc. for Frank/Karen AND Frank and Karen. SO, SO PLEASED

There is so much between them SO MUCH. And it’s all so wonderfully beautiful and heart breaking and angsty and moving and undefinable and perfect. I CANNOT BELIEVE OUR BLESSINGS. A hug (for a bit too long), heart to hearts, Karen is family, he brought her flowers, cheek kisses, Karen calling bullshit, their mutual worry for the other, TEAMWORK, the white wire, Karen’s handbag and her hand cannon, KAREN DEFENDER OF FRANK, FRANK DEFENDER OF KAREN (aka stfu everyone if you can’t say/do anything nice don’t say/do anything at all bc Karen and Frank are like one unit k), did I mention TEAMWORK, respect and HONESTY, he was legit going to go out and meet the police and she stopped him and helped him get away, “I WILL COME FOR YOU,” AND THEN THEY GOT INTO THAT ELEVATOR AND COMPLETELY LET THEIR GUARDS DOWN. All that terror at losing Karen come to life after the adrenaline rush...LIKE HE HAS NEVER LOOKED THAT TERRIFIED?? and the fact that she’s safe just bleeds out of him with those tears in his eyes; and the tears in hers for all she feels-the heartbreak, the loneliness, the care; and her touching his shoulder and lingering and looking at him until he looks at her and him completely unable to resist leaning his forehead against hers (for a moment I legit thought they just might kiss but I am SO much more happy with this. It was like 1000000% more intimate and fitting for where they are I want a slow burn an TTC stuff so yes - and man oh man, the things to build on from this...bc Deb and Jon filmed multiple versions of varying “romantic” degrees from 1-10 apparently so the show runners/editors could choose the route they wanted to go and it’s hard for me to believe there was a take more simultaneously angsty and romantic than this one aka PERFECT aka I could def see the writers going there in a way that fits how unconventional and undefinable their relationship is eventually just by this one take, which is ALL I could wish for them I CAN’T), closing their eyes, and just finding a moment’s peace and comfort and safety and trust and LOVE in one another away from their loneliness and in the one place they feel safe and calm and RIGHT. She helps him remember those things. Then, Karen waking them up from the moment knowing he has to go and him kind of really not wanting to, but then trying to sober up and telling her to take care. OH LORD AND HER TEARS. Again, the mutual heartbreak and loneliness and the wish for something AFTER (whatever that currently means for her and him). And all I can think is “The people that can hurt you, the ones that can really hurt you are the ones that are close enough to do it.” IT WAS SO PERFECT CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY FOR US, FAM.

I basically loved and adored the entire show, tbh. I mean, every show has tweaks that can be made. Pacing towards the middle-I get that argument, but that’s also an argument for like 99% of the shows out there, so w/e w/e. I was enthralled the entire time. I thought Karen was amazing and wonderful and I adore her sfm (please keep building on this D@redevil s3) and while OFC her in every episode would have been gr9 I actually never thought that was going to happen anyway. The end product was everything I could have hoped for in total over any small things which could have been changed, so I have like a zero negativity tolerance right now for Karen or Frank or Karen/Frank or the show in general. Butthurt fanboys can swerve. Like I just don’t care and am kind of blocking it from my sphere of happy. Not sorry. That said I’ve not seen much negativity (and what I have I honestly can’t take seriously tbh again butthurt fanboys) it’s mostly praise and constructive crit + praise overall which is just gr9.

So, yes. My blog for the next infinity is going to be all about Frank and Karen and this show (((and the elevator scene have mercy))).

Again, not sorry.

All I can coherently provide before I go rewatch the entire series again (lol as if this was ever not going to happen) and surf through everyone’s thoughts and all the pretty gifs is this:

J0NNY BERNT@L IS AN ABSOLUTE STAR. The end. He is so, so great and I love him dearly. I watched the first ep the second it came out and knew I was done-though I kind of suspected this would be the case. Bless.

SAME TO DEB. So. Much. Love. For these talented mofos and the love and discussion and THOUGHT and respect they give to these characters and the Kastle dynamic, plus their sweetest rl friendship and all of the ace that it is. Honestly, I agree w/ Deb. Why can’t they just work together all the time?

Does anyone have any icons of the elevator bc REASONS

Lastly,

I LOVE YOU KASTLE FAM. WE DID IT.

[mcgills]

THE MOMENT IS NIGH. THREE HOURS UNTIL COMPLETE SELF DESTRUCTION. It has been real, Kastle fam. I don’t want any in-depth spoilers (and I want to try to savor rather than binge - LOL this may or may not work out) so my trash can of a blog will be quiet until my soul has been properly decimated by this series. The next time I see you, there’s a 99.99999% chance I will be a ghost. I can’t wait. xoxo - the ash that existed before TP came for her wig

[mcgills]

No but also, if you’d like a RL antedote of the power of Kastle in S1 of TP:

My brother is an eighteen year old who simply loves the N3tfl1x M@rvel U. He especially loved Frank in DD2, and we spent the entire hiatus before this show geeking out together about DD and TP. He thought it was cool Karen was coming in, but I wouldn’t say he gets into shipping. He’s not against it or anything, it’s just not really immediately the first thing on his radar. Moreover, he has no clue the Kastle trash can I am...like not even a little bit. So at Thanksgiving, we are freaking out about how good the show is (again), and with zero prompting or lead in from myself he goes:

“I’m glad Frank and Karen actually care for each other. They’re the only ones I could see [the writers] getting together. She got done wrong by Matt in DD2.”

So yeah, even those without a massive shipping viewpoint see what’s written. Plus, ep 10 was one of his faves. My bro is such a good.