I disagree.  Cliffhangers are a time-honored tradition in television, and I think having a good one actually increases the chance that there will be a second season.

Take the NBC shows "Chuck" and "Life" as two examples.  Both shows were on the bubble at the end of their second seasons, leaning towards cancellation.  In the season finale of "Chuck" they went for the classic cliffhanger, while on "Life" they tied up as many loose ends as they could.  After both season finales, the buzz was completely different.  With "Chuck" everyone that posted online begged for more, because they want to see what happens next.  As more and more people jumped on the bandwagon, the network started to take notice, to the point that Ausiello of "Entertainment Weekly" has actually upgraded "Chuck's" chances for renewal.

Then there is the opposite side of the spectrum.  "Life" was an excellent show, with a great cast and plenty of long-term potential.  Their ratings were just as good as "Chuck's", (or just as bad, I should say) which put them firmly on the bubble.  In the season finale of "Life" the writers went out of their way to provide a solid ending to the entire storyline, just in case they were cancelled.  The result?  Instead of clamoring for more the way "Chuck" fans did, "Life" fans began saying, "You know, the ending was so good I wouldn't mind it if the series ended there."  And so, it was canceled.

To me, a cliffhanger ending is actually a positive thing:  it means the writers are hopeful of getting another season to tell their story.  It's a story that provides a solid end that I believe is bad…it means the writers have given up and are saying goodbye.  So, kudos to the writers of "Castle" for being positive about their chances.  Let's just hope the network takes notice of the excellent work.

Blackfel     

Mine too.  The thing is, based off of an earlier episode, we now know that Beckett's mother was either A) the victim of a serial killer, or B) specifically targetted by someone who wanted her dead and hired a professional.

This is based off of Castle's speech about the number of victims from the pilot episode.  With one victim you look for motive.  With two victims you look for a connection.  With three victims you look for a psycho, because there isn't going to be a connection OR motive.  If "Dr. Death" is right about there being four victims, then they're after a psycho, or a contract killer.

Next season should be a wild ride.  Beckett isn't going to forgive Castle for investigating despite her warning anytime soon, but as she looks into the murder herself, she'll come to appreciate his help.  I expect the second season to begin with Beckett working a case alone, and Castle persona non grata at the station.

Actually, I think season two will begin exactly like season one:  with the release of the first Nikki Heat novel.

Blackfel