The series finale of Castle aired last night, and showrunners Alexi Hawley and Terence Paul Winter have written a heartfelt letter to fans of the cancelled ABC series, TVInsider reports.

Last week, we reported ABC had cancelled the long-running detective series after eight seasons and some last-minute cast shakeups.

In the letter, Hawley and Winter thanked the fans, the cast, and the crew for all of the show’s success:

While we’re still trying to process all the emotions stirred up by recent events, the feeling that stands head and shoulders above all else, is gratitude.

Eight seasons. A hundred and seventy three episodes.

None of it would have been possible without you — our loyal and passionate fans. You are the reason this show survived and thrived. Without you carving out “Castle Mondays” every week, we would never have been able to make the show we love for as long as we did.

So thank you.

And thanks to Andrew Marlowe for creating such a delightful world, centered around a love story for the ages. It was an honor and privilege to shepherd the story of Castle and Beckett this season.

And finally, thank you to our cast and crew, who have been our family for these last eight years. Who elevated every script by investing the best of themselves into each episode. We will miss you profoundly.

Alexi and Terence”

Earlier, we posted star Nathan Fillion’s response to the series’ cancellation.

 What do you think? Are you a fan of Castle? Did you find the series finale satisfying?