ABC’s crime dramedy ‘Castle’ premiered its fourth episode of season five, “Murder He Wrote,” Monday, October 15, 2012 at 10PM EST. Like its previous episodes, ‘Castle’ has been conquering the ratings and this week was no different. Fans have been clamoring to see “Murder He Wrote” ever since it was revealed that the titular Richard Castle and his lovely detective/girlfriend Kate Beckett would be traveling to the Hamptons for a romantic getaway.

Mild spoilers ahead.

Castle (Nathan Fillion) and Beckett (Stana Katic) have planned a secret trip to his home in the Hamptons to spend some quality time together. He drops in on her at the 12^th precinct to pick her up, but then her fellow detectives Kevin Ryan (Seamus Dever) and Javier Esposito (Jon Huertas) intercept them. The detectives do not know that Castle and Beckett are dating, but they have caught on to the fact that Beckett has a new boyfriend. After they leave, Ryan and Esposito decide to use their time off to find out who the new beau is.

Meanwhile, Castle and Beckett make it to the Hamptons and just as things start to heat up, a man with a fatal gunshot wound stumbles up from the beach and falls into the pool. The duo calls the local Hampton police and are met with the inexperienced Chief Brady (David Burke). He identifies the victim as Randall Franklin, a Manhattan resident who is also on vacation in the Hamptons. He was last seen arguing with a woman in a white dress on the beach before he stumbled up into Castle’s backyard. The Hampton police find a meth-addict named McMurray with Franklin’s wallet and assume he is the murderer. However, Castle points out that they didn’t hear a gunshot before he appeared and there is no sign of blood splatter on the alleged shooter. Naturally, he is too distracted by the new case to focus on Beckett so she reluctantly agrees to help him solve the mystery.

“Murder He Wrote” is by far one of the funniest yet romantic episodes of the season. It is truly delightful to see Castle taking the lead in the case and while his insight is often accurate, his lack of subtlety gets the pair deep into trouble. Beckett’s clear exasperation with her excitable boyfriend is hilarious and becomes all the more amusing when she eventually gets caught up in the case as well. For years, Castle and Beckett have gotten interrupted by their coworkers, family members, or criminals whenever they are having a romantic moment, but this time they actually interrupt themselves so it is twice as funny.

It is also endearing to see Castle and Beckett in a domestic environment. The show has always revolved around dead bodies and the city of New York, but out in the Hamptons, we see a different side of these characters. For instance, Beckett expresses a bit of insecurity when they first arrive because she knows that Castle has quite a long list of romantic partners. However, Castle assures her that none of his past girlfriends can compare to her and it is by far the most heartwarming moment of the episode. Fillion and Katic have an undeniable amount of chemistry that makes the love between Castle and Beckett all the more engrossing.

Last but not least, the most interesting development thus far is Det. Ryan’s discovery of Castle and Beckett’s clandestine relationship thanks to a talkative suspect. So far, he is the first person in Beckett’s circle to find out that the two are dating. With a whole season ahead of them, it is only a matter of time before his best friend Esposito and Beckett’s best friend Lanie (Tamala Jones) find out as well.

‘Castle’ is taking a break in the upcoming week, but it will return October 29, 2012 with a harrowing episode that implies that Castle will be suspected of murder. Make sure to tune in at 10PM EST on ABC.

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ABC’s hit show ‘Castle’ premiered the third episode of season five, “Secret’s Safe with Me,” on October 8, 2012 at 10PM EST. So far, the show’s ratings are doing well now that the titular Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) and his lovely muse Detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) have started a clandestine romantic relationship.

Mild spoilers ahead.

“Secret’s Safe with Me” centers around a young woman named Wendy Dupree (Tara Batesole) who wrote “LIE” in her own blood right before she died. This puzzles the team until they later realize that her death is linked to a storage container that is about to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Castle is able to deduce that she actually wrote the number 317 in her blood and they were merely looking at it upside down. Castle and Beckett head to the auction and after some mild hijinks, they buy the contents of the storage container hoping that it contains evidence that will solve the Wendy’s murder.

Meanwhile, Martha (Susan Sullivan), Castle’s mother, tells him she knows that he and Beckett are together and that he should tell his daughter Alexis (Molly Quinn) about the new relationship before she heads to college. However, Alexis seems short with Castle after he tells her and he worries that she is convinced Beckett has “taken her place.” It leaves him in an awkward position as he tries to soothe his daughter’s agitation only to learn that she is not jealous of Beckett but rather upset that she will no longer be living with him.

Unfortunately, after buying the storage room, Castle and Beckett are left with a huge amount of seemingly worthless junk to root through. However, eventually, they catch on to a theory that Wendy and her brother, Wendall Dupree (Alex Arleo), who was also suspiciously killed shortly before her, may have been looking for a priceless bracelet. Thus, it becomes a treasure hunt, much to Castle’s absolute glee, and a race to find the jewelry before the Wendy’s killer recovers it first.

“Secret’s Safe with Me” is nothing short of brilliant. By far, one of the most outstanding moments is the “handshake” between Castle and Beckett at the precinct. Since their relationship is still a secret, they cannot kiss in front of the other detectives so Castle suggests a handshake, but he describes the way he would kiss her if they were in private and she does the same. It is a steamy yet heartfelt scene that proves these two have a love between them that is legendary.

Furthermore, while Alexis’ fears about not being at home feel somewhat silly since she is only five miles away from her father, the scene is very sweetly capped off with nostalgia for Castle and Alexis. She asks him to check under the bed for monsters and he does. He also promises to come running if any monsters show up and it is one of the most adorable things to ever happen on the show. The relationship is well written and certainly well acted by Fillion and Quinn, who have both admitted that they share a similar relationship outside of the ‘Castle’ set.

Next week’s episode will take Castle and Beckett to the Hamptons for a romantic getaway that of course is interrupted by an untimely murder. Catch it next Monday, October 15, 2012 at 10PM EST on ABC.

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ABC’s hit show ‘Castle’ continued with its second episode of season five, “Cloudy with a Chance of Murder”, Monday, October 1, 2012. After the stunning season premiere, Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) and Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) now have to tackle the troubles of hiding their relationship from their coworkers, who are of course detectives. The episode proves that it is easier said than done.

Minor spoilers ahead.

Det. Beckett had been suspended at the end of season four for recklessly endangering herself and her fellow detective, Javier Esposito (Jon Huertas), while they were investigating her mother’s murder. It is Beckett’s first day back on the job with Castle, who is a famous crime novelist who consults on the murder cases, and she is worried about keeping anyone from finding out about them. Castle assures her no one will figure it out and they head to the crime scene.

A local weather girl named Mandy Michaels (Candice Mann) is found dead in a water fountain of a park. The bruises and gunshot wound are consistent with a mugging gone wrong so the duo head to the TV station to talk to her coworkers. While there, a gorgeous talk show host named Kristina Cottera (Jodi Lyn O’Keefe) bumps into Castle and insists that he appear on her show. During the show, Kristina asks Castle out on a date and he agrees, much to Beckett’s horror. Castle later explains that if he pretends to date Kristina, no one will suspect that he and Beckett are dating. She begrudgingly agrees to let him go through with it but things go awry when it turns out his “date” is rather aggressive about getting to second base, much to his dismay.

Meanwhile, Det. Kevin Ryan (Seamus Dever) and Det. Esposito are heading up other avenues of the case but with plenty of friction. In the previous season, Ryan was forced to call their superior in on the case with Beckett’s mother in order to save hers and Esposito’s life. However, Esposito saw this as a betrayal and the two best friends haven’t spoken in months. Thankfully, after Ryan takes a punch for Esposito, the two are able to mend fences and return to their status as friends.

This episode is a return to formula for ‘Castle’ as the last season had a lot of serious, dramatic episodes. While this is certainly a good thing due to the talented actors on the show, many fans have wanted the playful, lighthearted side of ‘Castle’ to come back. “Cloudy” showcases plenty of hilarious one-liners, awkward moments, and a few of Castle’s trademark dorky observations.

Furthermore, it is beyond satisfying to see Castle and Beckett discussing relationship problems like a real couple. They are still both sizzling hot and happy to banter back and forth wherever they go. A few fans worried that the “Moonlighting Curse” might hit the show now that they are together, but the season premiere and this episode put those fears to rest. The careful writing and the undeniable chemistry between Stana Katic and Nathan Fillion have carried the show this far and will continue to allow it to flourish in the upcoming season.

Next week’s episode teases at an homage to ‘Storage Wars’ so be sure to tune in Monday, October 8, 2012 at 10PM EST on ABC for more ‘Castle.’

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When a young woman is mysteriously murdered, Beckett and Castle discover her death may be linked to a repossessed storage unit up for auction. Was the unit connected to her death? Was something inside it worth killing for? The investigation leads Castle and Beckett to colorful “Storage Wars”-like treasure seekers and Manhattan socialites as they uncover the shocking truth, on “Castle,” Monday, October 8 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET/PT) on ABC.

“Castle” stars Nathan Fillion as Richard Castle, Stana Katic as NYPD Detective Kate Beckett, Susan Sullivan as Martha Rodgers, Molly Quinn as Alexis Castle, Penny Johnson Jerald as NYPD Captain Victoria Gates, Tamala Jones as Medical Examiner Lanie Parish, Jon Huertas as NYPD Detective Javier Esposito, and Seamus Dever as NYPD Detective Kevin Ryan.

Guest Cast:  Caroline Lagerfelt as Anjelica Henley, Rob Nagle as Kirby, Chad Lindberg as Marco Vinstrolli, John Littlefield as Joel Pratt, Dennis Cockrum as auctioneer, Kevin Brown as Big Percy Jenkins.

“Secret’s Safe with Me” was written by Terence Paul Winter and directed by John Terlesky.

“Castle” is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC’s selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound. A TV parental guideline will be assigned closer to airdate.

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ABC’s hit show ‘Castle’ returned to the airwaves Monday, September 24, 2012 at 10PM EST with its fifth season premiere, “After the Storm.” The police procedural dramedy posted great ratings with over 11 million viewers during the season opener, which teased at the glorious and long-awaited hookup of the titular Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) and the beautiful Kate Beckett (Stana Katic).

Spoilers ahead!

For those new to the series, ‘Castle’ is about a rich crime novelist named Richard Castle who grows tired of the fictional character, Derrick Storm, who brought him to fame. After killing the character off, Castle seeks a new muse to inspire him. Coincidentally, homicide detective Kate Beckett brings him in for questioning on a case where the murders are staged the same way he has killed several characters in his novels.

Intrigued by the murders and by Beckett’s loveliness, Castle consults on the case, much to Beckett’s resentment. However, she finds out that his extensive knowledge of criminology and his outside-the-box thinking are quite useful for catching bad guys. Castle finagles his way into shadowing her through his friendship with the Mayor and the pair set off on a tumultuous but fun partnership.

In the previous season, Castle and Beckett dealt with the aftermath of Kate’s shooting, which she barely survived. Castle blurted out that he loved her as she lay bleeding in his arms and while Beckett reciprocated his feelings, she chose to tell him she had amnesia because she was not ready to commit to a relationship yet. However, in the season four finale, Castle confronts her about it as they are thrown back into the dangerous case of her mother’s murder, which drove her to be a detective in the first place.

Castle reveals that the conspirators who had her shot forced him to coerce her out of investigating the case so they would not have to kill her. When Beckett finds out, she is furious and runs headfirst into the case, which causes Castle to walk out on her. She catches up with her shooter but he overpowers her and leaves her dangling off a skyscraper.

Thankfully, Beckett’s team member Det. Kevin Ryan (Seamus Dever) and her superior Captain Victoria Gates (Penny Johnson Jerald) show up in the nick of time to rescue her. Due to her instability and disobeying orders, Capt. Gates suspends Beckett and her fellow teammate, Javier Esposito, (Jon Huertas) and Beckett resigns. She then goes to Castle and confesses that she no longer cares about the case and that she wants him instead.

The season five premiere picks up “the morning after” with Castle and Beckett having a brief chat about finally consummating their relationship. However, the tender moment is interrupted when Castle’s mother, Martha Rodgers (Susan Sullivan) and daughter Alexis (Molly Quinn) return home and he has to sneak Beckett out of the apartment without them finding out. He later explains that he wants to keep their relationship private for a while and she begrudgingly agrees.

Soon afterward, Detective Ryan shows up with a new lead on her mother’s murder. Reluctantly, Beckett continues forward with them as they try to track down Cole Maddox (Tahmoh Penikett) and Mr. Smith (Geoff Pierson), who met with Castle to protect Beckett. They find Mr. Smith shortly after Maddox tortured him to find a file with the information about the man responsible for her mother’s murder. They find out Senator William Brecken (Jack Coleman) is the man behind it all and Beckett confronts him, telling him not to send anyone else after her or her loved ones or she’ll release the evidence she has gathered against him.

The premiere is one of the best of the series, showcasing amazing acting from Fillion and Katic, both as they tease each other and as they push forward investigating the case. Katic is on fire as a furious Beckett who has come to terms with her feelings for Castle but realizes that she must find justice for her mother in a way she never could have predicted. Furthermore, the tension between Det. Ryan and Esposito is palpable as Esposito feels Ryan betrayed them by telling Gates where they went. It is a scary thing to see these two best friends at war with each other and it will certainly be an interesting subject to tackle in future episodes.

It is also satisfying to put a face to Beckett’s mother’s murderer as Beckett has been chasing this man for four years. Fans have been coming up with theories and speculation ever since it was first brought up in season one and they were ecstatic to see the showdown between the detective and the Senator in the final ten minutes of the episode.

‘Castle’ premieres Mondays at 10PM EST on ABC. Be sure to catch the next one.

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ABC’s hit show ‘Castle’ made waves Monday, August 27 by showcasing the very first promo with scenes from its upcoming fifth season. The scenes were accompanied by the rerun of season four episode “Headhunters” and sent Castle fans into a frenzy as they ready themselves for September 24^th, when “After the Storm” premieres.

Spoiler alert for the promo and the previous seasons of ‘Castle’ ahead.

For those who don’t know, ‘Castle’ is a crime dramedy about novelist Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) who shadows the gorgeous Detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) and uses her as the inspiration for his novels. At first, the two constantly butt heads as Castle is fun loving, flirtatious, and often irresponsible while Beckett takes her job very seriously.

Still, she discovered his knowledge of criminology and outside-the-box thinking made him a valuable asset to her investigations. As the seasons progressed, the ice around Beckett’s heart began to melt and they became more than just a writer and his muse. She considered him to be her partner, her confidant, and her most reliable friend.

At the end of the third season, while investigating her mother’s murder, Beckett got shot and Castle blurted out that he loved her as she lay bleeding in his arms. She passed out and was taken to a hospital. When she awoke, she told Castle she had no memory of the shooting or anything that happened afterward, but revealed to her therapist that she did hear Castle’s confession. Castle decides not to tell her again and buries his feelings so that they can remain friends and partners nonetheless.

However, this does not last because towards the end of season four, Beckett blurts out to a suspect that she remembered being shot and Castle overhears. Feeling angry and betrayed, Castle decides to start distancing himself from her to avoid getting hurt again, but then another suspect in the case of Beckett’s mother’s murder pops up and the two are thrown back together.

The pair learns that the cover up of the murder reaches higher up than they ever expected and Castle begs Beckett not to look into the case or she will be put in the cross-hairs again. Beckett refuses to back down so Castle walks out. Beckett goes after the killer but cannot beat him and almost dies. As a result, she realizes how much she needs Castle and goes to him after resigning from the force. The two consummate their relationship in the finale of the fourth season.

The promo picks up in the “morning after” with Castle and Beckett taking a moment to deal with the repercussions of sleeping together for the first time. Castle is relieved to find out that it wasn’t just a dream and both of them seem to be happy with how things are going. Still, there are more pressing matters at hand.

The killer Beckett was unable to apprehend in the season four finale is still on the loose and wants to take her out. The promo is rather short so there are only bits and pieces revealed about the larger plot in the works, but Castle fans are sure that the investigation will reach its explosive conclusion by the episode’s end.

The biggest reward of the footage is seeing Castle and Beckett together and being honest with each other. One of the largest hurdles of the show has been their unwillingness to admit that they are in love. It is a relief to see that the writers and creator Andrew W. Marlowe have no intention of cheating the fans by skipping over the “morning after” scene. For once, Castle and Beckett will have an adult conversation with each other and can move forward as a couple.

‘Castle’ returns with new episodes September 24, 2012 at 10pm EST on ABC. Don’t miss it.

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ABC’s hit show Castle is not only dominating the Monday night airwaves—it is also conquering bookshelves all over the nation with the third Nikki Heat novel, Heat Rises. For those who do not know, the Heat novels that Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) based on the gorgeous Detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) are tie-ins to the show. The books are credited to the fictional Richard Castle, but in real life they are written by a mysterious member of the Castle crew who has yet to be revealed. Rises is an intriguing, danger-laced romp through the world of crooked cops, dangerous ex-military men, and corrupt political figures.

Heat Rises was originally released September 20th of last year but was recently released in paperback. It is preceded by Heat Wave and Naked Heat, and will be followed by Frozen Heat, which has been slated for later this year.

The story is centered on homicide Detective Nikki Heat and an investigative journalist named Jameson Rook. The novel focuses around a murder that entangles Heat, Rook, and her co-workers, Detectives Raley, Ochoa, Hinesburg, and Captain Montrose, with many unexpected twists and turns. There are many similarities to the show—a tongue-in-cheek joke for the characters on Castle as well as the loyal Castle fans—but since Rises is a novel, it can take certain liberties with its content. For instance, curse words and sex scenes are permitted as well as in-depth moments between the characters, such as conversations about their day-to-day lives or extended looks into their pasts. It also allows the mystery to unravel at a slower pace since the plot is not limited to 42-minutes like an episode. These elements work to the novel’s benefit as it creates a wealth of tense, action-packed moments as well as funny, heartwarming ones, whether it’s Heat chasing down criminals or kicking back in her apartment with Rook.

Heat Rises picks up with Nikki Heat investigating the supposed suicide of Father Graf, a priest, found dead in a New York bondage club. The bizarre marks on his skin and the strange place his body is found leads Heat deep into the underbelly of New York, where she speaks to all kinds of people, from other clergymen to people who frequent the bondage circuit, to solve the case. Heat is also up for the position of lieutenant in her precinct, which adds pressure from her superiors as well as her co-workers.

Meanwhile, Rook has been on assignment in another country taking down a drug lord, and leaving Nikki feeling a bit lonely, as they had been dating before he left. However, to her shock, she finds out he has been in New York for a couple of weeks when the paparazzi photographs him coming out of a swanky party with his ex-girlfriend. Furious, Nikki pushes aside her anger and continues pursuing the case without trying to contact him to find out why he didn’t call her when he returned to the states.

However, as Nikki examines the events leading up to Father Graf’s death, Captain Montrose steers her away from certain aspects of the case, which frustrates her. She attributes this change in his behavior to the recent death of his wife and the investigation Internal Affairs has put him through, but she learns that Captain Montrose may actually be a suspect in Father Graf’s murder. The case gets heated as she is forced to choose between following the orders of her commander, who had previously been her friend and mentor, and discovering the truth about Father Graf’s murder, whether it deals with her Captain or not.

Later, Rook finally shows up at Nikki’s place and explains himself. She reluctantly accepts his apology and the two reconcile. He no longer rides along with her as he did in the previous novels because she feels it is too dangerous, but he does stick around to help her piece together the odd elements of Father Graf’s death.

The writing style used in Heat Rises is astounding. It has all the best parts of a classic crime noir story, but it keeps everything modern with hilarious one-liners and plenty of fun pop culture references, including a shout out to Nathan Fillion for his role as Captain Malcolm Reynolds in Joss Whedon’s Firefly. There is also a shout out to Stana Katic for her role in the James Bond film Quantum of Solace.

The characters are all vividly depicted and easy to picture both as their fictional selves and as representatives of the Castle characters. Many of their traits are taken directly from the show, but they also have their own hang ups that make them different, which is the entire appeal of reading the Nikki Heat series.

The mystery itself is a pulse-pounding enigma for most of the novel, and there are several dramatic moments that rival the show. It is far from predictable, but some seasoned fans may know where the plot is leading because of their knowledge of the show.

The only thing that detracts from the quality of the novel is the length. It is easier to keep track of suspects on Castle because we are given both faces and names, but in the novel, it is harder for the names of suspects to stick in the mind.

Overall, Heat Rises raises the stakes and does not disappoint by the end. There is no better way to beat the heat this summer.

Grade: 5/5

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ABC’s hit show ‘Castle’ (2009) premiered the season four finale, “Always,” May 7, 2012 at 10:00pm EST. How did it hold up? Let’s just say Castle fans everywhere will have something to keep them company as they wait for season five.

Spoiler alert for the entire series, and the finale, below. You have been warned.

For the new folks, here’s the basic breakdown of the premise for ‘Castle.’ Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) is a handsome multimillionaire crime novelist who grew bored with his character, Derrick Storm, and killed him off so he could start fresh. Soon afterward, Castle meets Detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) of the NYPD’s 12^th Precinct.

She comes to him with a case where a killer is staging his murders in the fashion that characters are killed off in the Derrick Storm novel series. Intrigued by the case, and Beckett’s incredible gorgeousness, Castle weasels his way into her world as a consultant, which he accomplishes because he is friends with the Mayor.

Beckett finds him annoying but soon discovers that his extensive experience in criminology and his off-the-wall but insightful theories are useful and he decides to stick around for more cases. He then bases his next set of novels on Det. Beckett, coining her fictional character Nikki Heat.

Over the course of the four seasons, Castle and Beckett have steadily grown closer. In season one, she sees him as a nuisance but eventually realizes he can actually be helpful. In season two, Beckett starts to accept Castle’s presence in her life and doesn’t mind flirting with him as much as he flirts with her.

In season three, the two have started to bond over the unsolved case of her mother’s murder as well as realizing that there is more to their relationship than a partnership or friendship. In season four, they have to come to terms with a secret each of them is hiding from each other before it rips them apart forever.

In tonight’s finale, “Always,” an ex-thief is found dead in an alley. As they investigate, Beckett and her team, including Det. Kevin Ryan (Seamus Dever) and Det. Javier Esposito (Jon Huertas), find out the thief had just robbed the home of the late Captain Roy Montgomery (Ruben Santiago-Hudson) and stole all his files.

This leads them to suspect that the thief knew about the circumstances before Captain Montgomery’s tragic death, in which he revealed he was involved in the murder case of Beckett’s mother and died protecting Beckett from the people who want her dead. This leads Beckett back to investigating her mother’s murder, much to Castle’s distress as he reluctantly cut a deal with a man who knew about the men trying to kill her. In short, if Beckett stays off the case, she stays alive.

Finally, Castle confronts Beckett and tries to convince her not to pursue the case because the men who killed her mother and Capt. Montgomery will come after her again.

He reveals that he cut a deal for her life and confesses that he did it out of love for her, but Beckett stubbornly refuses to let it go. Castle walks out and she continues investigating without him. Detectives Ryan and Esposito manage to track down the killer’s location and Ryan pleads with Beckett to bring back up but she and Esposito insist they can handle it without calling in their superior.

Distressed, Ryan calls Castle but he doesn’t pick up the phone. Beckett and Esposito track down the killer, but he knocks Esposito out and makes a run for it with Beckett in pursuit. This leads a brutal fight on the rooftop. The killer overpowers Beckett and leaves her dangling off the side of a building. At the last minute, Det. Ryan and a team show up to rescue her.

Det. Ryan had been forced to inform their superior, Captain Victoria Gates (Penny Johnson Jerald), of Beckett’s action and she immediately suspends Beckett and Esposito. Beckett resigns from the force and realizes that Castle is more important to her than her mother’s case. She goes to his place and tells him how she feels and the two at long last consummate their relationship.

For Castle fans, this is truly a monumental episode. Every seed that had been planted in previous seasons comes to fruition with this finale. The emotional weight of Castle and Beckett’s relationship is examined, explored, and strengthened by the trials the two of them deal with over the course of the episode.

It is easy to see that the writers took their time deciding how to design the finale in a way that kept the tension between all of the characters and resolved four years’ worth of sexual chemistry. The show’s creator, Andrew W. Marlowe, has long debated the so-called “Moonlighting Curse”, aka the failure of a show after two characters with sexual tension finally sleep together, and this episode proves that he does not fear for Castle’s success now that Beckett and Castle have come to terms with their feelings for one another.

The writing is superb, as always with this show, but Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic honestly deserve a standing ovation for their parts in this finale. Fillion does a magnificent job of being outraged at Kate’s stubborn refusal to save her own life while still conveying just how much he loves her. Likewise, Katic’s passionate portrayal of Kate Beckett truly shines just as brightly as she fights for her life and reevaluates what is important to her.

‘Castle’ is one of the highest rated and widely watched shows on ABC and is expected to be renewed and premiere season five in mid-September of 2012. Be there.

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The cast of ABC’s smash hit ‘Castle’ visited the Paley Center in Beverly Hills on March 9, 2012 for a fun filled Q&A. Moderated by William Keck, the cast and the show’s creator Andrew Marlowe merrily entertained their fans with hilarious anecdotes and delicious tidbits about upcoming events in the current season.

The attendees included Nathan Fillion, who plays the charming novelist Richard Castle; Stana Katic, who plays the luscious homicide detective Kate Beckett; Molly C. Quinn, who plays Castle’s down to earth teenage daughter Alexis; Susan Sullivan, who plays Castle’s dramatic but loving mother Martha; Jon Huertas, who plays the spicy Detective Javier Esposito;

Seamus Dever, who plays the adorable counterpart Detective Kevin Ryan; Tamala Jones, who plays the sassy coroner and Kate Beckett’s best friend Lanie Parish; Penny Johnson Jerald, who plays the hard edged new Captain Victoria Gates; and creator/writer Andrew Marlowe.

The panel started off with a special screening of an upcoming episode, “A Dance with Death,” which premieres on ABC March 19, 2012, and then Keck brought the stars out to start the Q&A.

One of the best things about ‘Castle’ is the chemistry between each of the actors and actresses. The show has picked people with vastly different backgrounds—from soap opera actors like Susan Sullivan and Nathan Fillion in his earliest role to the U.S. Air Force like Jon Huertas—and the writers have the ability to mix them together in the most interesting ways. They are a tightly knit group both on and off screen and the panel exposed the quirky relationships the actors have built in their four seasons working on the show.

Moderator William Keck brought a very relaxed air to the room that made the questions even more fun for the cast to answer. He nudged Andrew Marlowe for tidbits about upcoming episodes and the creator cheerfully gave him a few cryptic answers.

Marlowe revealed the title for Richard Castle’s next book—“Frozen Heat”—and that it would be hitting real bookshelves later this year. Richard Castle’s novels are in fact actual novels written by a mysterious ghostwriter and have landed on the New York Times’ Best Sellers more than once. So far, there have been three released—“Heat Wave”, “Naked Heat”, and “Heat Rises”—with the fourth coming in 2012.

He went on to say that there are plans to dive into the Derrick Storm world again. Storm was Richard Castle’s first character and his claim to fame before he eventually grew tired of him by the first episode of the show.

Marlowe also mentioned that Castle might start digging into finding out about his missing father. His mother Martha had many lovers around the time he was born and so he never knew who his father was until a Russian double agent dropped a potential clue that Castle Sr. might work for the CIA.

Marlowe continued on to say that by the end of the season, they would once again touch on the deadly case of Johanna Beckett’s murder, which will throw Castle and Beckett back into the chaos they have previously faced.

The questions Keck gave the cast members were varied and excellent. He started by having them read a shortened version of the script from the season four episode “The Blue Butterfly”, which was a shout out to film noir 1940’s classics. The cast engaged in the reading with plenty of gusto, funny accents, and even a demonstration of a deleted fight scene between Seamus, Nathan, and Jon.

Jon and Seamus revealed that they liked to play pranks, and once scared Nathan Fillion half to death in an old abandoned basement in California. Tamala Jones revealed that while her character Lanie is interested in Det. Esposito, she had no trouble kissing Nathan Fillion in “The Blue Butterfly” as part of her cover and hilariously compared his lips to “waves of satin”, which Seamus Dever then confirmed.

Other funny moments came up when Keck asked about Stana and Nathan being handcuffed together for the season four episode “Cuffed”, which Stana replied was “salacious” much to the crowd’s delight.

Keck asked the newest cast member, Penny Johnson Jerald, about if it was difficult to play a rather cold boss who doesn’t quite care for Castle and she expressed her enjoyment of giving Nathan Fillion a hard time, which he cheerfully confirmed.

Keck also talked about some personal thoughts about Susan and Molly’s characters as Richard Castle’s family members. Both were very happy to share how they felt about the progression of the romance and the challenges they faced in the upcoming episodes.

Another great thing about the panel is that it was streamed live on livestream.com for those who were unable to attend. Fans from all over the world gathered to watch and chat about the questions, answers, and reactions from other fans. It was rare opportunity for the cast, crew, and fans of the show to come together to enjoy their work and discover new things about each other.

‘Castle’ premieres Mondays at 10:00pm EST and will return March 19, 2012 with a new episode.

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Fans of ‘Firefly’ (2002), rejoice! ABC recently announced that Adam Baldwin will be guest starring in an upcoming episode of ‘Castle’ (2009), starring Nathan Fillion as the titular Castle. The even better news is that Baldwin will allegedly be playing a roughneck cop named Ethan Slaughter, who teaches Castle the darker side of being in the police, which may be a callback to his famous role as Jayne Cobb on Joss Whedon’s ‘Firefly.’

For those who may not be in the loop, ‘Castle’ is a procedural cop dramedy about a handsome, charming, successful novelist named Richard Castle, who grows bored with his bestselling novels and kills off his main character. Incidentally, a murderer starts staging homicide victims in the manner that they are killed in his books, and Detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) comes looking to Castle for answers.

Castle is instantly smitten with her and decides to base his next set of novels on her, creating the character Nikki Heat. His friendship with the New York City mayor allows him access to tag along with the gorgeous, but no-nonsense, Detective Beckett. As they solve the case, he becomes increasingly more interested in her romantically, and the job shadowing becomes more permanent. Here is a brief recap of the series so far.

Spoiler Alert!

In season one, Beckett and Castle constantly butt heads because he is open and flirtatious, while she is reserved and takes her job seriously. However, as time progresses, Beckett gets less defensive around him when she realizes his extensive knowledge of criminology and his ability to weave theories is actually useful.

Things start to go more smoothly until Castle digs into Beckett’s personal life and finds out that her mother was brutally murdered in an unsolved case, which is what drove Beckett to become a detective. He starts trying to solve the case himself, angering Beckett and causing her to not want him around.

In season two, Castle works his way back into Beckett’s good graces after apologizing for invading her privacy, and the two begin anew. Beckett becomes much more open to flirting with Castle on occasion while still keeping their relationship on a friendship and partnership level. The tension stretches as Beckett becomes romantically involved with another detective at her precinct, and Castle feels scorned.

At the end of the season, Castle decides to head to the Hamptons to write his next novel, and Beckett realizes her feelings for him, but just before she can tell him, he gets back with his ex-wife and leaves Beckett heartbroken over the summer.

In season three, Castle has yet to contact Beckett about shadowing her again, and the two bump into each other at the most unlikely scene: a murder, with Castle as the main suspect. Beckett is still angry and frustrated that he left and hooked up with his ex-wife and wants nothing to do with Castle, but after he apologizes and helps her solve the murder, she takes him back.

It is in this season that the most character development occurs between the dynamic crime-solving duo. Beckett is much more comfortable with letting Castle in on her personal life and her dark background, and Castle becomes much more mature and helpful than in previous seasons.

They share an intense kiss while working a case related to her mother’s death and seem to be getting closer to being a couple. However, Beckett gets shot at the end of the season by a shadowy organization who does not want her and Castle looking into her mother’s murder. Castle confesses his love to her just before she passes out, bleeding in his arms.

In season four, the currently airing season, Beckett recovers from the gunshot with the help of Castle and her friends at the precinct. She claims to have amnesia from the event, thus putting Castle in an awkward place about his confession of love, but in actuality, she does remember.

Beckett states that she cannot truly be in love with someone until her mother’s murder is solved, and Castle reluctantly agrees to stay with her and work through it one step at a time. The two have pretty much become a couple in denial ever since—growing jealous when someone flirts with their partner, going out on lunch dates, inviting each other over for dinner, spending time with their families, and holding hands on several occasions.

Adam Baldwin, who recently starred in ABC’s ‘Chuck’ (2007), will slip right into the action-packed season four with no problem as he has excellent chemistry with Nathan Fillion, both on-screen and off-screen. The cast members of ‘Firefly’ are all still good friends and stay in contact with each other both in real life and on Twitter.

Baldwin played Jayne Cobb, the aggressive, tough, but not too bright muscle, on Joss Whedon’s magnum opus ‘Firefly,’ while Fillion played the harsh, but ultimately caring, Captain Malcolm Reynolds. The two characters often butted heads because Jayne was not a fan of how the captain ran things, but knew he would be outmatched if he ever challenged his authority (see: “Ariel”). Unfortunately, the show was cancelled before the dynamic could be further explored, but the relationship between the two shows the talents of both actors.

Baldwin’s guest appearance is set for later this spring. ‘Firefly’ fans hope it will not be the last cameo of the Serenity crew on ‘Castle’ and patiently wait to see if someone else will get the chance to reunite with their captain.

Image Courtesy of  Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

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