'Castle' season 8 spoilers, plot update: Who is hunting Beckett?

Castle (Nathan Fillion) and Beckett's (Stana Katic) relationship appears to be as strong as ever in the upcoming season of the ABC series.

TV Guide reports that life is good for the couple, as seen in the new promo released for season 8. In the clip, husband and wife are celebrating Beckett's new promotion as precinct captain. They even have a cake, complete with sparkles, and a banner in the mini party.

The happy festivity, however, quickly morphs into a nightmare, as someone appears to be hunting Beckett. To get to her, the culprit kidnaps Castle. In what can only be a torture scene, the novelist is shown with a giant tarantula on his face. The mystery kidnapper is threatening to kill him if he will not divulge where his wife is. The trailer also features Beckett in her fiercest as she kicks someone else's butt. Viewers also caught a glimpse of a bloody bracelet that says, "Always."

Meanwhile, the new addition to the cast, Toks Olagundoye who will be playing Hayley, the new security specialist at the precinct, is also front and center in the clip. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, showrunner Alexi Hawley shared what the actress would be bringing for the series.

"Toks plays a really dynamic, fun character. It's a voice that the show doesn't have. What's great about her is Castle has been investigating cases police-adjacent, so it's always about doing things the way police would. She doesn't do things that way, so that fun dynamic," Hawley said.

It appears that fans who worry that Hayley may pose as a threat to the Castle–Beckett relationship can breathe in relief, as Hawley revealed that she would be more of a sister to Castle's daughter. It was previously reported that the novelist would be spending a lot of time with the newbie, with Beckett now working as the precinct captain.

"We like the idea of her as a mentor to Alexis [Molly Quinn] in a way that Beckett has been, but because she's also Castle's wife, ultimately Hayley can play a little bit more of an older sister."

"Castle" season 8 premieres Monday, Sept. 21 at 10 p.m. on ABC.

News
Violence and persecution driving global Christian exodus, report warns
Violence and persecution driving global Christian exodus, report warns

Aid to the Church in Need, which produced the report, called the oppression of Christians "a human rights catastrophe the world refuses to acknowledge".

More than 60 killed in attacks on Ethiopian Christians, Orthodox Church says
More than 60 killed in attacks on Ethiopian Christians, Orthodox Church says

Children were reportedly among the dead as families fled violence in Oromia.

Church mentioned in St Jerome's letters may have been discovered
Church mentioned in St Jerome's letters may have been discovered

Archaeologists in northern Italy have identified the likely site of an early Christian church that St. Jerome described in a letter in A.D. 396, along with a nearby building believed to have been the bishop’s palace in the ancient city of Altino.

Jordan carries out retaliatory strikes in Syria after deadly church attack
Jordan carries out retaliatory strikes in Syria after deadly church attack

Patriarch Theophilos III has visited survivors of the attack in hospital.