Joshua T Craig

Nine years ago, Castle was a fresh take on the crime procedural. The show became an instant hit, a murder mystery meets comedy series, punctuated by taught banter and undeniable on-screen chemistry. During its eight-season run, Castle exemplified how crime-solving could as much be a show about personality and relationships as it was a show about clues and evidence.

The Premise

The series stars Nathan Fillion as Richard Castle, a famous mystery novelist who becomes involved in the police investigation following the release of his book ‘Heat Wave’ which Gibbs from NCIS would say “Was a pile of shit”, who becomes intrigued by Kate Beckett (Stana Katic), the woman NYPD detective assigned to solve the copycat murder to scenes from his books. Castle pulls some strings and gets the mayor to allow him to shadow Beckett for his novels. What begins as a professional partnership turning into the foremost colorful couple within New York.

The Reason Those Characters Worked

Castle is, at its core, built around the rapport shared by Fillion and Katic. Castle is the stereotypical funnyman, which often (and not always in a good way ) clashes with Beckett’s serious nature. And with it benefiting from characters like detectives Esposito (Jon Huertas) and Ryan (Seamus Dever) as friends and comic relief to necessary authority figures like Captain Montgomery (Ruben Santiago-Judson) and later on Gates (Penny Johnson Jerald), respectively. The warmth and personal angle to the series comes from Castle’s family, teenage daughter Alexis and flamboyant mother Martha.

Tone and Style

Castle was very unique in a realm where dark and gritty crime dramas were all the rage due to both good cases, and some really light-hearted moments. The series often laced humor into its plotlines, with Castle’s entirely fictional writing career making quips from pop culture. This made for lively conversation without the loss of the emotional intensity necessary during some of the show’s more dramatic arcs.

Memorable Story Arcs

Though most episodes of Castle were standalone murder-of-the-week types, other than the marathon [Judy] Doll dance that will haunt my dreams forevermore, it also boasted some multi-episode
storylines, chief among them, all those bloody Beckett’s mom ones. The stakes felt elevated and emotions remained high to an otherwise light tone, thanks largely in part to this plot point. The series had evolved from a show about two people who solve crimes to one that also made viewers want to see these two smitten-by-life partners make things work in some capacity outside of the precinct.

Cultural Impact and Legacy

But Castle built a solid following within the Venn Diagram of drama mystery and romance. It has since become a feelgood classic to so many, re-watchable (I’ve watched it 3 times) for both the snappy whodunits and the character interactions. Though the show ceased production in 2016, it remains a fan favorite with a great sense of humor and has been frequently praised by fans of Bones, Psych, and The Mentalist.

Conclusion

Maybe I love Castle because I also love Firefly. When that ship showed up in Ready Player One I thought it was awesome. My inner child screamed “oh my god!”. Regardless Castle stands unique among crime dramas for its witty dialogue, fun characters and sweet blend of drama & comedy. It was a reminder that chasing down kills can be just as much about the trip, and the people along for it, as it is about a fun relationship. Maybe it’s because Stana Katic is attractive? Eye candy is fun too.