When a psychopath commits murders based on novelist Castle's books, Detective Beckett seeks his help to solve the case. He decides to work with her and uses his experiences as research for h... Read allWhen a psychopath commits murders based on novelist Castle's books, Detective Beckett seeks his help to solve the case. He decides to work with her and uses his experiences as research for his novels.When a psychopath commits murders based on novelist Castle's books, Detective Beckett seeks his help to solve the case. He decides to work with her and uses his experiences as research for his novels.
- Nominated for 4 Primetime Emmys
- 20 wins & 26 nominations total
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAccording to Andrew W. Marlowe, Nathan Fillion read with 125 actresses to find the perfect Beckett.
- GoofsIn many episodes detectives track somebody by using the entrance/exit information from their MetroCards. In NYC the card is only swept once at the entrance but not on the exit (except on Staten Island where card is swept at the exit only), so the person can travel almost the entire subway system with only the entrance recorded. Exit swipes are in use in Washington, DC and San Francisco's BART where zonal fares are in use.
- Quotes
[repeated season 2 episode open]
Richard Castle: [v.o] There are two kinds of folks who sit around thinking about how to kill people: psychopaths and mystery writers. I'm the kind that pays better. Who am I?
Richard Castle: I'm Rick Castle.
Richard Castle: Castle.
Richard Castle: Castle.
Richard Castle: I really am ruggedly handsome, aren't I?
Richard Castle: [v.o] Every writer needs inspiration, and I found mine.
Kate Beckett: Detective Kate Beckett.
Kate Beckett: Beckett.
Kate Beckett: Beckett.
Kate Beckett: Nikki Heat?
Martha Rodgers: The character he's basing on you.
Richard Castle: [v.o] And thanks to my friendship with the Mayor, I get to be on her case.
Richard Castle: I'd be happy to let you spank me.
Richard Castle: [v.o] And together we catch killers.
Richard Castle: We make a pretty good team, you know. Like Starsky and Hutch, Turner and Hooch.
Kate Beckett: You do remind me a little of Hooch.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Wright Stuff: Episode #15.115 (2011)
CASTLE wants to be a mix of all three, and fortunately one of the most valuable weapons in its arsenal is the rakish charm of its featured lead actor, former FIREFLY star Nathan Fillion. I can count the number of actors on one hand who can pull off the "charming rascal" vibe in a way that never gets old, and Nathan can do those guys in his sleep. (And probably has.)
But he also knows how to modulate them as the occasion warrants, and where in his former role as Captain Mal Reynolds he could definitely play the bad-ass card when needed, here as womanizing bad-boy, party animal and bestselling novelist Rick Castle, he's a whole lot less serious. Bored with the cop character who has been his bread-and-butter for a string of chart-busting crime thrillers, Rick has decided in his latest tome to blow his hero's brains out, thus making a continuance of the series a little difficult to say the least. It wouldn't be a problem if the laid-back Lothario weren't suddenly faced with a major case of writer's block. But inspiration is coming in the most fortuitous if unlikely of ways.
A serial killer has decided to rehash some of the more gruesome deaths from Castle's earlier novels, and it's up to the very attractive (of course!) and no-nonsense detective Kate Beckett (newcomer Stana Katic) to crack the case...which of course will require the assistance of a certain writer of whose books Detective Beckett is a closet fan. But a fan of smart-alecky guys who like to make very unsubtle passes at her? Not so much. Let the games and one-upmanship begin!
At first blush, you could easily accuse CASTLE of trying too hard, especially since matched with the seasoned experience of Fillion, the jury was out on Katic's ability to keep up with him in the first few episodes (at least it was for me.) And to enhance its credibility, the pilot even threw in some heavy hitters in guest cameos - James Patterson, no stranger himself to the crime fiction genre, and Stephen J. Cannell, who used to crank out pilots for series just like CASTLE over breakfast.
But creator Andrew Marlowe left nothing to chance with this one, knowing full well that no matter how great a character is, he's nothing without a good backstory and some fascinating support players. Here these come in the form of Rick Castle's teenage daughter, Alexis (Molly C. Quinn), whom of course is the real 'adult' in their relationship - probably her way of rebelling against her lovable father who nevertheless lives the lifestyle of a guy half his age, and their temporary roommate who also happens to be his mother, former stage and screen star Martha Rodgers (Susan Sullivan in a turn that makes Shirley MacLaine in POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE look like a dowdy matron). Once you meet Martha, suddenly Rick's personality makes perfect sense.
As with any new series, this one will take some time to really settle into the groove it needs to capture a wider audience, but with the growing ease of the push-and-pull relationship between Fillion and Katic's characters, it could very well become the next "MOONLIGHTING" or "REMINGTON STEELE"...which wouldn't be a bad thing. Crime procedurals have been missing that fun element of late, and CASTLE could very well bring it back, without having to resort to a less-successful springboard of surrealism to build from (sorry, LIFE ON MARS).
Details
- Runtime43 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.78 : 1