Why I Hate Cliffhangers

So last night I did something really stupid; I watched the season finales of three different series.  I started with Castle, moved on to NCIS, and finished with NCIS:LA.  I have decided that from now on, I should just store season enders on my DVR until the new season starts so that I won't be hung out to dry so badly.

Warning:  What may be considered SPOILERS ahead...

Castle:  So, the writers added a pretty much useless case to intersperse with the real story, which was Beckett deciding if she wanted to take a big job in D.C.  That would mean leaving her teammates, and leaving Castle.  I'm not going to go into too many details, but I will list a few important aspects of the episode:
1)  Kate didn't tell Castle she was going to Washington to interview.  Kate, you chided Castle about trust in an earlier episode and then you pulled this?  Bad move, girl.
2)  Both Kate and Castle got advice from their parents as to what they should do.
3)  Castle proposed to Kate.
And there's the cliffhanger.  It isn't a case to solve or anything like that.  The writers left us with Castle offering Beckett and engagement ring.  Really?  That's okay with you?  Leaving that one until September or October just plain sucks.  You could have let her answer, and then leave us waiting for the next steps.  Instead, you use a lame plot device and just ticked everyone off.  Grade:  D

NCIS:  We continued the two-part episode of Gibbs being threatened with a lawsuit by the government for his past actions, including shooting the man who killed his family among others.  We got an irradiated head in a box (no ... really), the team turning in their badges, and Gibbs showing up four months later about to kill his ex-wife's ex-husband who is also a government agent.  Screen goes black just as Gibbs is lining up his shot, and then we hear a "bang".  Again, what??  So we have no idea what happens with the 3 who resign, where Gibbs is, why he is shooting someone he knows, and if that is really his target.  Frankly, my guess is that he was waiting for the real target to get out of the car, and that's who he shoots.  Still, lame way to end the season, although marginally better than Castle.  Grade:  C

NCIS:LA:  The team is still trying to track down some stolen nukes.  I'm not going to go into detail here, but the big thing is that we have numerous cliffhangers:
1)  Sam's wife hanging out of a window by a tarp, trying not to fall to the pavement 20 floors down.  Kenzie is in the room, but we don't know if she has seen her yet.
2)  Callen has just been told that Sam was betrayed, and he can't do anything to help.
3)  Sam has been tortured, but won't give up the info on his wife's agent status.  Just unnecessary to show him being electrocuted to get him to talk.  He is still strapped to the chair, watching,
4)  Deeks in another chair outside, about to be tortured to get the information that Sam won't give.  This was wholly unnecessary, as we see Deeks' mouth being locked open and a power drill about to be taken to his mouth.  Come on now!  Gratuitous at best!  And this is after Deeks kissed Kenzie to show how he feels about her.
So, writers ... why isn't Hettie being tortured, too?  Who else could you have put in danger?  Didn't you leave some people unscathed?
So much unnecessary drama and violence.  The torture scenes especially should have been eliminated, as they were just creepy.  Grade:  D-

Seriously....from now on, I think I'll pass on these finales.

Except for Doctor Who on Saturday.

What?