Question: So inquiring minds want to know —how will Kate respond to Rick’s proposal on Castle? —Rita
Ausiello: Sources confirm to me exclusively that she will say yes… or no… or something in between. Molly Quinn (Alexis) is pulling for a yes, arguing, “Castle is the best man out there and absolutely loves her and is devoted to her.” Should an engagement and wedding come to pass, don’t expect a certain three-letter word to ever come out of Alexis’ mouth. “I don’t think that Alexis will ever see her as a stepmom because a stepmother has authority,” explains Quinn. “There’s no way that Alexis would be OK with that. She’s used to running the house. And not even her dad has that much authority. So she would see Beckett as an equal and she would totally appreciate [her]. But I don’t even think Beckett would ever try to [parent]. Alexis is an adult now. She’s 20. If this had happened when Alexis was 16, that would have been a totally different story. I’m very glad that it didn’t happen because that would have been a lot of rebellion and a lot of trouble.”

For the full article check out TVLine.

This is the first Friday after the Castle season Finale and like many of us, we, too, are sad that the season is over this time. To lessen the ache for the new episodes, we will certainly continue doing Flashback Fridays to introduce you pictures of “Ancient Castle times”.  Are you still with us?

This week, we feature one important character in the show - the 12th precinct. The set is so brilliant and so sweet at the same time. If there would be no scenes in this set, we would miss it sorely.

Here are the tweets, videos and pictures about the most beloved character of the series.

“@becks_booth: castle or beckett or espo or ryan are taking coffee in precinct, coffee is real?” Sometimes. Props makes great coffee I hear

— Andrew Bikichky (@AndrewBikichky) January 14, 2013

The music friday in the precinct:

How they shoot in the precicnt:

Now the most fun part – the pictures. Now you truly see the character of the precinct!

Until next week, Castle folks!

We do all the moves in interogation on the floor.

Chris’s point of view. Shhhh. Rolling

Castle grips working with the interrogation room lighting

Shooting a scene in interrogation

The glass surfaces.

Tearing out the walls in the interview lounge

Hallways in the precinct

Working in the Interview Lounge.

Getting ready for our first scene after lunch…

Dance floor for two dollies

Ye Olde Interview Lounge

It’s quiet time in the precinct.

“Hope I don’t need to move to the right on this slider…”

Bringing most of the light from the bullpen windows…

The source of the heavenly glowing bullpen windows…

Big dance floor laid for 2 cameras, a walk and talk.

Upstairs, ready for camera.

Cameras sleeping during the lunchtime.

Daddy time in the precinct

Starting the day in a dark set.

In the halls of the precinct

From behind the dolly

Don’t tell the captain

Chillin’ in Capt. Gates office – Andrew Bikichky

Steve the prop guy testing new Iphone

Goodbye, 12th Precinct, for summer.

Things you see in the precinct tables.

Finally found a happy floor plank in the 12th precinct.

Saddest board in the 12th Precinct.

Most indifferent board on the 12th Precinct

South entrance of our sweet Precinct

Scenes echo and words mirror each other in “Castle” as always, scenes so integral to the progression of their love story. “I don’t know what we are? We kiss and then we never talk about it; we nearly die frozen in each other’s arms, but we never talk about it; so I got no clue what we are.” Will they ever be able to speak the truth?

In her apartment Rick confronts Kate, pleading with her not to throw her life away. Finally Rick is able to speak, to try to tell her of his love for her, to no avail. She always claims he doesn’t know her, but he does; at times she doesn’t know herself it seems, with good reason.

Instead she cries out: “Well, the last time I checked it was my life not your personal jungle gym, and for the past three years I’ve been running around with the school’s funniest kid and it’s not enough.” This is always her fall- back position.

She is right. It is her life. Perhaps Kate knows not why, but she has not had the time and the space to try out different personas, styles, and dreams, to live her life, for she is searching always for her mother’s killer, locked in, engulfed, cramped, duty bound, abandoning her own personal search for her truth, forsaking her own life story.

He tries to tell her some truths about her, how she has buried herself in her mother’s case, too afraid for love. He whispers: “You deserve to be happy, Kate.” Rick’s voice breaks, for in lashing out, he has not truly conveyed what she means to him. So gifted a gabber, Rick is so silent and stricken when it matters. He wants to be the one to make her happy. But she knows. Hurt and afraid Kate tells him what they are and it is …“OVER.”

Kate’s door shuts. Rick retreats home to have a drink, and in his anger and frustration throws his glass at the dominating poster for his next Nikki Heat novel “Heat Rises.” Not so! It is over and he is grieving. Recognizing his anguish, Martha advises her lovelorn son, the wordsmith, too tongue-tied to speak his words of love to Kate: “From someone who is better than half way through the movie: Don’t waste another minute of it.” And Martha comes through for her son.

Finally he tells Kate. As she lay, bleeding, nearly dying, Rick begs her not to leave him; to stay with him: “I love you, Kate.” And she sees him; she takes strength from him. She hears him. And she is afraid.

“Always” mirrors this scene, for they live in a half- illuminated world of love spoken only in subtext, in loving parallels, of hungry looks, or actions, in longing, waiting for each other, for Kate to heal. Waiting. Rick’s hope rests in tomorrow.

In Kate’s apartment, once again, Rick pleads with Kate to stand down, for they will kill her. Kate cries out vengeful, deeply hurtful words: “Why should I listen to you; how am I supposed to trust anything you say.”

They trust each other with their lives every day, but not their hearts. “I love you Kate, and if that means anything to you, if you care about me at all just don’t do this.” Right or wrong, Rick secretly tries to protect her life, and she cries out in anger: “…My life, MINE. You don’t get to decide.”

Rick can only say: “Okay, yeah, you’re right Kate, it’s your life; you can throw it away if you want, but I’m not going to stick around and watch you, so this is OVER. I’m done.” And he is. The scene of love gone wrong continues to repeat. Maybe someday they will get it right.

He goes home to grieve, steadies himself for Alexis, for one who needs him still, but for how long. “Everything you know; everything you will know is what is true for you.” But Alexis is afraid for everything is changing and she is “so scared.” So, too, is Rick.

Andrew Belle’s lyrics and plaintive- soundtrack, commiserate, echo: “Everything is changed; nothing stays the same.” Rick erases Kate’s file from his screen and from his life. The song ends: “I cannot get you.” A grieving, tear-struck Kate comes to Rick. He opens his door. Sorrowfully Kate pleads: “I just want you.” The door closes on two lovers as hands, heart and lips unite and love is born.

And so we move to another beginning or ending, another echo… in “Watershed,” such an apt title. Decisions must be made. Here they face the watershed, the turning point of their lives, their life’s course together or separate. How can they part; how can they remain together? Tears flow; hearts once healed now break, for they can barely contain the overflow, the anguish apparent. What will they decide?

Anne Murray, noted Canadian singer, recorded this beautiful love song many years ago, and it still sets the standards for its truth of a love that stands the test of time.

“I cried a tear, you wiped it dry; I was confused, you cleared my mind; I sold my soul, you bought it back for me; and held me up and gave me dignity; somehow you needed me.”

Kate pursues a future in another city without Rick. She needs a chance to grow, for she has spent one third of her life chasing her mother’s murderer. Once again they are in her loft and their confrontation escalates. They have been lovers for a year, but where are they going; they don’t talk enough. Angry Rick lashes out: “What’s wrong with it is that you hid it from me. In fact you lied about it; I wouldn’t do that to you.”

Kate cries out her explanation and it hits so hard to everything Rick thought they were to each other: “Castle, this is not about you. This is about ME. This is about MY LIFE.” Kate rationalizes that this is not about them. But how can it not be about them for their lives are intertwined, and distance spells the end of their relationship?

To Rick it shows a lack of caring, of regard for him, of love, for: “It didn’t occur to you to include me or worse, it did occur to you and you chose not to. Now what does that say about us?” But he may rush to decision, not thinking but only reacting.

Once again Rick cannot stay there in her apartment. He sees the end of their relationship and Kate’s supposed disregard for him. He leaves her. Can their love be over? He is totally grieving.

Stepping back into the story, “Watershed” is about a young woman Ericka Albrook, a Harvard scholar, and a computer expert on a mission to solve the murder of her friend Pam Bonner, an intern in a legal firm which caters to political personages, wealthy clients and other notables. Erika dons the disguise of a prostitute and proceeds to hack Banks and Bauer’s records, not knowing exactly what she is looking for but “on a mission” to quote another friend of Erika’s. However, Erika is murdered and her body is found in the watershed.

The parallel story is Kate’s and Rick’s, for yes, Kate has gone to Washington D. C for an interview to work for the AG. Later she gets the job. All she has to do is say yes. What is Kate’s decision? She returns to work late and her body language most of the time bespeaks guilt and regret for what she is about to do.

Nervously Kate tells Lanie of her golden opportunity. Would you go she asks Lanie? And then she confesses to Lanie that she and Rick “never talk about where they are going.” When Lanie says, “Maybe it’s a good thing,” I construe her comment as meaning, it is a good thing for now the two of them will finally talk about their lives, their future.

Gates is excited for Kate and tells Kate that “she gave her the highest recommendation.” She also informs Kate that it is “work you were meant to be doing. This could be your last case.” This is Kate’s story, her chance at something big perhaps.

Is she ready to make the sacrifices and give up Rick, for that is what it will amount to? But it is Rick’s story too, the engine. The finale is Rick’s coming to grips with who he is and what he wants, and facing the truth about himself and about his love for Kate.

Ryan and Esposito are very concerned about the situation, sensing the undercurrent. They work the case only to find another man dead, a lawyer for the firm, fired in the previous year.

Ultimately it seems Pam and Erika and the lawyer Ian Blaylock are murdered in a conspiracy cover up for a young lawyer, Rigsdale, son of a wealthy prominent man and the younger man being groomed for a political future. While drunk and carousing, he crashes his car killing the young intern Pam, and then calls his lawyer for advice. Ian Blaylock is silenced along with investigating friend Erika Albrook.

Esposito and Ryan have a meeting of the minds trying to deduce what the difficulty is between Rick and Kate. Ryan suspects Kate is pregnant. Amusingly, commitment phobic Espo stammers and cannot even conceive of such a thing. Well, Ryan’s mind is on pregnancy and he tells Javier the good news. He and Jenny are expecting.

Meanwhile Rick consults his mother for commiseration and advice. How can Beckett leave him after all they have been through? And Martha sides with Katherine. “She should be interviewing. Neither one of you knows where the relationship is going.”

Martha thinks the situation is about as absurd as Rick’s reluctance to sign a check for Alexis to go away for six weeks to a rain forest to study and work. Of course, Rick is still afraid for his baby, given all that has happened to his daughter in Paris.

Give a hand to Martha again, for mama knows Rick is holding back with Kate, despite his claims to love her. She questions the prolonged courtship and Rick’s tendency to run when the least problem arises. She knows why. “You don’t think this is really going to work.” And Rick is dumbstruck with the truth. Where is the hopeful man who chances and believes in tomorrow?

Confiding in her dad Jim Beckett, Kate claims she is “standing at a crossroad and has to choose between two possible futures.” She tells her father: “I don’t know what we have been doing.” …She refers to their time together as the dance. “I don’t know if it is real.”

Jim knows his Katie and knows that “she has never allowed a relationship to get this far.” He reveals her to herself: “When you get scared, you hide in your work.”

With her phone ringing and the precinct calling her back, Kate leaves her dad. She returns to end the case, her last case. She is grieving and so aware of the finality, seeing her desk and Rick’s empty chair is heart wrenching just like last year.

Talking to Alexis, Rick explains why he seems so sad: “There comes a time in our lives when we have to stop fooling ourselves into thinking life’s going to be the way we want it to be and start seeing things for how they really are.” It looks like he has accepted Kate’s probable decision and is prepared to let her go, despite his deep love for her.

“You gave me strength to stand alone again; to face the world out on my own again; you put me high upon a pedestal; so high that I could almost see eternity; you needed me; you needed me.”

Rick and Kate speak and agree to meet at the swings, and it looks to be a sorrowful and somber meeting, two people in love going their separate ways.

Three times now Rick and Kate sit on the swings, a symbol of strength, of honest reflection, not touching but communicating, of moving forward, of commitment, of direction, of life and love’s decision. In “Watershed” the swing- picture, painted, speaks volumes. Kate walks towards the swing set, ultimately Rick faces one direction and Kate faces another.

Their swings seem distant, far apart and they are not together, they are not in concord, all rhythm gone. How will they reconcile their love and its journey? How can they ever go the same way, stay their love’s course? What is it they need, what is it they want from each other?

In “Rise” they meet, for the first time on the symbolic swings, putting love’s hurts to rest, the chains binding and forging their love so strong. They agree through subtext that they will wait for love. Kate speaks of walls, Rick’s nervous energy manifests at first, then all movement stops; they cease to stir yet move together.

Although wanting love and a relationship, Kate cannot pursue love until the walls that distance her and separate them come down; “until I put this thing to rest.” So forgiving, the kindhearted Rick agrees, and he decides: “they will find these guys and take them down. But he also adds: “Doesn’t mean I’m not still mad.”

Kate returns alone to the swings, in “Always,” through the rain and foggy, blue mist to try to think, to decide what is true and what means the most to her. She weeps and all nature weeps with her. The tears, the waters shed and overflow. Kate runs to Rick, drenched in the waters and heartened, yet worried, asking for forgiveness for her harsh words and lack of understanding.

Opening the door, angry, hurt, distancing himself from her, and loving her so much, Rick gives in to the desire and need for her. He only loves her. Through her kisses, their first shared, and her words of sorrow, Kate tries to tell him what he means to her. She has found her course; and she only wants him.

Rick is hurt and angry now, in “Watershed,” when Kate tells him she withheld the information because she knew how upset he would be. Hurt, he cries out: “Yeah, you’re damned right I am upset.” One other memorable time he repeated the same words, in “Rise,” just after he and Kate reunite after the book signing, before he follows her to the swing set to talk.

“You’re damned right I am angry.” Indeed their conversation sheds some light on so many issues they both have and perhaps Rick’s fear of losing her. Rejecting him in the hospital when he wants to tell her of his love, she leaves him, bereft and broken. Yes, she is recovering, but I often wonder if he suffered post traumatic stress then, and still the stress piles on for him also.

“I watched you die in that ambulance, did you know that? You know what that’s like to watch the life drain out of someone you…care about? “I wonder how long he grieved without anyone to help him, without a word from her, without a care for his heartache. Did he cry himself to sleep, or pace at night, shaken and fearful? How has he come to be so fearful of losing her; so hamstrung.

He came every day to the precinct to help Javier and Ryan. And still no word from Kate for better than three months. I understand her; it is about her recovery; I truly do. She was gravely injured. I wonder, though, how it hurt him to be cut off, how much he suffered. It might explain many things relating to his fears and failures.

Rick has lost in relationships, Meredith’s cheating; Gina’s indifference; Sophia’s duplicity and his own failure with Kyra, his first love. He is closed off, too, despite all of his bonhomie and outward happiness. A lonely only child never knowing a father, he undoubtedly has fears of failure and lack of self worth, traits he tries so hard to hide. But Kate is drowning too in indecision. She needs commitment from Rick.

Now he reacts to Kate’s leaving him and sees it, no doubt as desertion or worse. He is not enough. Will he ever be enough for Kate? What else can he do to prove his love? He is afraid to ruin what they have. How can he endure her parting; change is good but not this change. He lashes out.

Kate knows what it is like to be considered last, to have a man choose a job over her and easily leave her standing there, alone. Will Sorensen chose Boston, leaving her to come or not with nothing for her to do and no sense of place for her. Josh chose the rainforest.

As Rick has said, how can one compete with a doctor on a mission to save the world? Ironically Rick questions Kate’s relationship with Josh. Indeed, how can one plan a life with one foot in the door and the other foot outside, no security no sense of continuity or stability he reminds Kate. Kate needs stability and Rick should consider his own words of advice and step up in his relationship with Kate.

“And I can’t believe it’s you I can’t believe it’s true; I needed you and you were there; and I’ll never leave why should I leave, I’d be a fool; ‘cause I finally found someone who really cares.”

Some closure in her mother’s murder comes early in season 5 for Kate with most factors working out and in a holding pattern. But for Rick it is a year of turmoil, and fear, winning and losing, and always distress.

I don’t imagine he has ever recovered from Kate’s virtually dying in his arms or Sophia’s head blown apart before his very eyes, with him so traumatized all he can do is kneel there transfixed with the horror, a scene replicated when he meets his own father. Why is he so afraid to win? Does he believe it will never work out?

Alexis leaves for college, a new step for her and her father, a new relationship forging. His mother’s world and options are changing. With neither knowing the rules of love, he and Kate are navigating a secret love affair. Alexis’ mother returns to devil Rick, causing him to relive and to expose his many failures, inadequacies and some strengths. Does Rick ever tell Kate about Meredith’s cheating and sleeping around? Do they ever talk truths?

Arrested for a heinous murder committed by 3xk with every intention of destroying him, Rick is consumed with fear for his daughter and for himself. Kate remains steadfast, and loving him, but things look very grim and he is frightened like a little boy according to Kate.

Who wouldn’t be terrified? But still he perseveres. Then Rick must stand up and defend himself and Kate, against 3xk’s final attack and Rick kills him although he doubts it, another source of worry.

Enemies of Rick’s unknown father kidnap Alexis, the horror and worry torturing the devoted Rick. Used to solving his own life problems, digging deeply into his darker self, he cannot enlist Kate for various realistic reasons and some destructive, given his own personality and fear of relinquishing his daughter’s care to others. Old patterns die hard.

Meeting a father, a spy, a noble man, everything Rick might have been proud to know, in France, far away from home and safety, Rick learns that his father has kept a distant eye on his son, has pictures and knows him. Rick knows nothing about him. Yearning to learn more, to talk to his father, to have a relationship, to have time, to know this will never be, still Rick bounces back for his loved ones.

Rick needs to talk to his father, to have more time and some reassurances. A child’s need, but do we ever get over abandonment, real or imagined. What heartbreak a fearful child might have; what heartbreak for a man who is stunted in so many ways and yet expected to appear so adjusted and happy, the image he always projects. I wonder if he ever tells Kate the truth.

Does he ever tell anyone that he almost dies when the conspirators attempt to kill him, execution style? The image of Rick kneeling there waiting to die, shuttering and flinching as bodies drop all around him is breath-taking in its horror.

He, too, almost dies in “After Hours,” and still he reassures Kate that he will always be there for her. He will never leave her. Things have been out of control for Rick for quite some time this year. He has acted manic, out of character too many times, flitting around from week to week, often ridiculous; not always funny.

His grip on their relationship slips and their relationship seems one sided with Kate the one who shows affection and love, well before he does. Who can blame Kate for not knowing what is in his heart and where they are going in their relationship.

With no model before him, has he ever known how to act in a loving relationship. Sometimes he seems adrift with no compass. Well accomplished in it, the one- time womanizer well knows the chase. What does one do when one attains the greatest gift of all…a beautiful, most desired, woman he cannot live without?

Kate is the woman for him.

“You held my hand when it was cold; when I was lost, you took me home; you gave me hope when I was at the end; and turned my lies back into truth again; you even called me friend.”

During the past few years the heavy episodes are about Kate’s trauma and overpowering problems. But this year Rick needs Kate and Rick needs to tell her what he needs. Still, newly free of many of her burdens, she is truly trying to find her own way. A man who will die for you rather than live life without you is no ordinary man. Rick is enough.

A parable, “The Human Factor,” the penultimate episode, begins with a man retrieving a toy, a plane and restoring it to a young child, so sad to see this image for he never has time for his own son. Tanner, a crusader, forsakes his loved ones and breaks his family’s heart. At what price glory?

Kate knows Rick’s true worth; he stands by her. He would die for her. For life without her he cannot imagine. They love each other truly and need each other more than ever.

“When lives are at stake, we need a man who sees the roses; we need the human factor.” Kate needs this man. A few years earlier a letter from her dead mentor and friend Royce advises her not to let the job get in the way of life and love, not to let the job come between her and Castle, for he sees then that they are in love. If she denies love, sacrifices love for a job, she will always wonder, “If only.” And she will shrink.

Kate is a source of strength for Rick, a self-absorbed man at times, redeemable, an unlikely hero filled with hope, believing in tomorrow, in always and needing Kate to anchor him.

For love of Kate, however, Rick, often a walking dichotomy, a blend of so many traits, endearing, annoying; inane, profound; brilliant and clueless as his daughter describes him; childish and wise, grows and changes.

Rick becomes the man he always wanted to be. He helps free Kate to become the woman she always wanted to be: happy, self-sufficient; needed and valued; wanted and loved. They support each other.

Rick is the human factor Kate needs; “I only want you”: Kate cries to Rick before their love making in “Always.” Now she knows why.

They ground each other; they anchor each other. Their love is imperfect and true, fragile and strong; forged from doubt and pain and a love for always.

“You gave me strength to stand alone again; to face the world out on my own again; you put me high upon a pedestal; so high that I could almost see eternity; you needed me; you needed me; you needed me you needed me.”

Kate walks over to Rick, sitting at the swings alone and saddened. They sit facing opposite directions. “I’m sorry” Kate says as she has said in Always.” I shouldn’t have kept secrets.”

“It’s who you are,” Rick sadly acknowledges.”You don’t let people in. I had to scratch and claw for every inch. …I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about us… I’ve decided I want more. We both deserve more.” And Kate agrees.

No matter what happens and what she decides or how it ends, Rick wants Kate to hear him and answer the most important question. On bended knee, his heart and love exposed, and ready to take the chance, rather than run scared, Rick speaks Kate’s blessed full name and asks the woman he loves: “Will you marry me? “ With love and honor Rick holds an engagement ring before Kate, an intimate moment, one might say.

And I know she will accept. Perhaps four months is but a day away. As they work the case Kate smiles as she hasn’t for a long time, many times. She is proud of Rick, and shows it, smiling and caring as he carries a lot of the theory building; the old sharp, funny, wise Rick.

They still wear their love smile, and their words overlap; they respond in rapid fire, reading each other as only they can do and loving each other and the thrill of discovery they share. They are excited and engaged, and Kate knows what she will lose if she leaves him. It is written on her face.

Ryan and Esposito stand amazed as always at how they work effortlessly together, made for each other oblivious of others. And Kate sees this. Javier smiles benevolently and knowingly. Truly Rick and Kate have regained their old style as they announce together: “The laptop’s in the basement.”

Lost in each other’s theories and words, they rattle off answers and ideas, their own brand of verbal foreplay, and they are joyful. Ironically Kate has so much on her mind, but this is home; he is her home; she wants him and she needs him. How can she leave? He is her one and done.

At one point he asks her why she sounds so cynical and she says: “It is part of my job description.”

“That’s why you need me.”

She needs the man who sees the roses, an imperfect man who fails and succeeds, fragile and strong, witty and wise, loving and beloved, imperfect and perennial.

She will say yes. Perhaps she thinks of marriage vows from long ago:

“To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part.”

Castle once said that “relationships aren’t math problems. You don’t solve them by being practical.”  Nothing could be more true with regards to Castle and Beckett.

It has not been a completely smooth year for the partners.   They have made mistakes.  They’ve lived with the questions.  They have tried to find their way.

But now, they face an enormous bump in the road.

In ‘Always’, Beckett was willing to choose Castle over her job.  One year later, she is torn by being forced to choose between them again.

However, Beckett is no longer defined as a crusader trying to solve the mystery of her mother’s murder.

As she did in ‘Always’, Alexis is the character who expresses the words that define the status of the Castle-Beckett relationship.  One year ago, she delivered a valedictorian speech that spoke to the heart of the partners:  “There are some people who are so much a part of us they’ll be with us no matter what.  They are our solid ground, our north start, and the small clear voices in our hearts that will be with us… always.”  As Beckett hung from her finger-tips, facing her imminent death, all she could hear was Castle’s voice.  She then realized what she wanted.  What she needed.

And for a year, she and Castle finally engaged in a loving relationship, but they both came to the same realization that they’d been engaged in a dance for five years and both were terrified about what might happen when the music stops.

Thus, out of the mouths of babes, Alexis highlights the aspect of their relationship that both Castle and Beckett were avoiding:  “I don’t want to let fear win.”

Beckett is terrible at committed relationships.  Castle has been divorced twice.  They are swimming in uncharted waters… and both of them are terrified of drowning.

In ‘Cops & Robbers’, Captain Petersen told Beckett that “sometimes no move is the best move.”  Evidently, Castle and Beckett adopted this policy with regards to the status of their relationship.   They have both been willing to dance, but neither one of them has had a desire to take the lead.

And though neither one of them wants to define the direction of their relationship, Beckett is suddenly realizing that she is going to be forced to have a conversation with Castle that she’s not yet ready to have.  However, Lanie points out the obvious:  “Maybe that’s not such a bad thing.”

We have always known Beckett to be reluctant to talk about things going on in her life.  Also, she has always “kept one foot out the door” when it comes to her relationships.   As her father highlighted:  “You’ve never had a relationship go this far… when you get scared you hide in your work.”

Yet, unlike her past relationships, she’s never had issues choosing between a guy and her job.  The job won every time.  Suddenly, things have changed.  Suddenly, she is no longer in a relationship with a man she doesn’t love.

Castle once advised Alexis to “follow your heart… follow your heart and you can’t go wrong.”  And although Beckett’s heart is pointing her towards Castle, another part of her heart is pointing her towards Washington.

However, it’s not the fact that Beckett is being forced to choose between Castle and the promotion that is heartbreaking.  It’s the fact that Beckett kept the truth from Castle.  For five years, he’s had to scratch and claw his way into her affections, into her life, yet she still cannot let him in fully.  She still cannot keep herself from withholding truths from him.  “It’s who you are.  You don’t let people in.”

In ‘Once Upon a Crime’, it was stated that “secrets are like time bombs… eventually, they explode.”  But once in a while, explosions are necessary to demolish protective barriers.  To break down walls.

As Castle told Beckett three years ago in ‘Deep in Death’, “sometimes we do the wrong things for the right reasons.”  Beckett doesn’t want to tell Castle the truth because “he’s going to hate [her].”

But having never been this far into a relationship, she failed to realize that her choices are no longer just about her.  She doesn’t want Castle to “make this about [them]” because it is her life.  A year ago, Beckett told Castle: “My life. Mine. You don’t get to decide.”  The difference is that, at that point, they were not a couple.  Now they are, yet Beckett is still living by the same philosophy:  “This isn’t about you… this is about my life.”

She honestly doesn’t think that this is about them.  But an obviously hurt Castle stresses that her making decisions that are all about her doesn’t say much about how she regards him.  About how she regards them.

Although Alexis tried to reassure her father (in ‘Squab and Quail’) that Beckett was fully committed to their relationship, Martha pointed out that that wasn’t entirely true.  There is no ring on her finger.  “[He] wants her to put [him] first when neither one of [them] know where the relationship is going… and now at the first sign of trouble, [he’s ] ready to run.”

So Beckett has decisions to make, and Castle does as well.

Castle mentioned to Beckett in ‘Food To Die For’ that “the heart wants what the heart wants.”   Beckett thought she knew what her heart wanted.  She believed that “she needed a change.”  Yet at the same time, she feels that she’s “standing at a cross-roads and it’s like [she] has to choose between two possible futures.”

The Department of Justice offers her a job.  A fantastic professional opportunity.

Castle offers her himself.  Love.  Forever.  Them.

Thus, she needs to make the ultimate choice that will define her future:  is the “change” that she needs one that is professional or one that is personal?

Beckett said it best when she reminded Castle that “things have never been easy between you and me.”  But as Castle reminded her:  “Maybe that’s what makes it all worthwhile.”

In ‘Nikki Heat’, Beckett said that she’d prefer it to be intimate, and Martha once advised that “what a woman really wants is a man down on one knee, tears in his eyes, ring in his hand.”  And so it was.

And while Castle must be patient and wait for an answer to his loaded question, so must the audience…

Congratulations to the Castle Cast and Crew.

Writer: Andrew W. Marlowe, Director: John Terlesky

Rick knew Kate’s heart, her story, an ending scenario, the denouement that could complete the narrative, now their love’s story… and its possible end. Indeed he helped her find the solution, risked life and love for her, diving into her life completely to solve her mother’s murder.

Ironically the clever writer knew the question to ask and the reason long before he fell in love with her, read her story etched on her lovely face and inscribed in her heart.

Now years later and loving each other, full circle, come choices, and decisions that could lead to renewal or heartbreak for both. The denouement begins. The human comedy, the human factor unfolds its truth. Now Kate can leave or stay.

Will a resolution be an ending or a new chapter together in their love’s journey?

Infinitely smug in his own knowledge and perceptive brilliance, Rick reads Kate’s face and heart that first time together on a case:

“There’s always a story, always a chain of events that makes everything make sense. Take you for example. Under normal circumstances, you should not be here. Most smart good looking women become lawyers, not cops. And yet here you are. Why?”

“I don’t know, Rick. You’re the novelist. You tell me.”

“Well, you’re not bridge and tunnel. No trace of the boroughs when you talk. So that means Manhattan. That means money. You went to college, probably a pretty good one. You had options. Yeah, you had a lot of options, more socially acceptable options.

But you chose this. That tells me, something happened. Not to you. No, you’re wounded, but you’re not that wounded. No, it was someone you cared about, it was someone you loved. And you probably could have lived with that, but the person responsible was never caught.”

“And that Detective Beckett is why you are here.”

“Cute trick! But don’t think you know me.”

“The point is there is always a story you just have to find it.”

Motivated by his dogged need to complete the story and offer her solace, and offer her solace, and by his growing awareness of Kate, Rick strives to solve Kate’s mother’s murder. Once smothered in the rabbit hole searching for the murderer, on the edge of depression and despair, almost destroyed, Kate cannot go back, and she demands that Rick leave it alone or never return to her again.

But honor bound now, armed with his new knowledge, Rick reveals to Kate his information, knowing he has destroyed their blossoming relationship with his seeming betrayal. Still they press on every year to a startling denouement advancing the end of their story, but each page now he writes, inscribed with Kate’s name.

The penultimate episode for season five harkens back to “Undead Again” with Rick and Kate off chasing the unusual, this time other kinds of zombies…drones, non humans, with Rick enjoying himself with his wild theories and war games.

“The Human Factor,” a curious story begins with Rick at home playing with his robotic tanks, setting up scenarios for this episode to mimic and parallel, while Kate dresses for work. But Rick has an eye on Kate, scantily clad, and Kate declares him a pervert. Off they go to a crime scene ripped out of the pages or off the screen of Rick’s game.

Dale Tanner, a whistle-blower who investigates banks, big oil, dirty politicians, various corporations and individuals is blown up on the city streets by what appears to be a bomb but is a missile, a drone. Tanner posts documents on his website and according to his wife and son is harassed by Homeland Security.

Kate’s investigation is terminated and Ryan believes the Feds are covering up. Insightfully, Kate goes around them and begins their own investigation starting with “the manner of death.”

Tanner’s girl friend Monica Lane is questioned, but she was spying on him. Off to Fort Drummond, a drone training facility, Rick and Kate go for more information and, of course, Rick annoys and entertains with his many wild theories about the military industrial complex and drone strikes, and…the rise of the machines. Stonewalled at Drummond, Kate promises to find out just what is going on.

A man watches Kate surreptitiously, the same man who watched her at the crime scene.

Now knowing what evidence Kate has, after playing her on their wasted trip to Drummond, the Feds move in to seize all of her forensics evidence and fragment samples. From Tanner’s son Sean, Kate learns that Omar Dickson worked with Tanner, and Sean is persuaded to arrange a meeting with Omar and Kate. They meet. Omar knows nothing, only that he set up web sites for Tanner.

Still the man follows. Kate takes him on without hesitation and arrests him. Who is he? His id is faked; he has no records. Kate interviews him. Impressed with Kate’s techniques he remarks: “You are tenacious; I respect that.” However, he informs her he will be out of there in five seconds. And he is.

Jared Stack is a Special Investigator for the Attorney General’s office. And Kate receives an impressive call from the A. G. She must release Stack. But Kate bargains for information.

The plot thickens. Rick knows a lot about plot; just how to structure a story.”The Human Factor” lays the foundation for another story line which will greatly affect his and Kate’s own story, but for now unbeknown to him. But I flash back to earlier episodes.

As a matter of fact, as a writer’s child interested in plot structure, Alexis’ first word uttered, Rick jokes, is denouement. We, examine words of plot construction, the asymmetrical triangle of back ground or exposition, Act I of the saga, getting to know you, the long narrative, exploring who you are and who I am

Kate and Rick increasingly delight each other, their relationship building and blossoming in a forward, rising action of adventures in Act II, with some set- backs and always love in the sub-text. Life is carefree then.

The “I love you” so dear so obvious is revealed at the end of season three: “Knockout!” Kate hears Rick’s tearful declaration and his profound risk of exposure and rejection, his raw emotion, gut- wrenching; and Kate runs away: so afraid of its demands.

All he can do is wait for her, for he loves her with a steadfast passion he never knew before. Not to decide is to decide. Unsure, she cannot speak of such powerful emotions. In “Rise” they agree, no words spoken only love hinted; avoid the commitment for now; heal, but silently try to thrive in the love. Love sitting on a powder keg becomes so confusing.

Sub-text, words never spoken reveal and define their love’s passion. Lover’s glance, stare in wonderment; eyes speak and always longing and painful need underscore. Once it was I need you, I love you; now it is I love you and I need you. Love’s paradox explodes in subtext and ironically does not.

Through cases and verbal foreplay as always, the asymmetrical plot triangle climbs. Moving in to each other’s space, finishing each other’s sentences, in their own world, Rick and Kate know who the killer is, but cannot speak of their love, doing their best in this holding pattern, too afraid of the outcome.

Words and patterns repeat as they speak in subtext and in metaphor. “Tomorrow” is code, theirs, secret and open, intense, filled with hope and fervently spoken, eyes speaking; breathe suspended. “Always” is born through icy, near-death and dangerous dark-threats.

“Stay with me Kate,” Rick cries so often; “Don’t leave me,” words spoken, and unspoken, “I love you, Kate:” the wordsmith tongue- tied, speechless.

Hanging around with the school’s funniest kid for three years is not enough. It is not enough; for he is not enough. Waiting for four years for her to finally see him right there is too much. He is everything. She is everything.

On mystical symbolic swing-sets they speak of walls, sitting together, moving at first, then still, the chains that bind between them. They whisper in metaphor.

Afraid to lose, so afraid to win, then finally nature weeps and understands. Kate cries through the rain and blue, foggy -mist to insight; the mist lifts; a door opens and the door shuts.

In love’s great paradox she knows he is enough, and only in giving of herself can she hope to have enough. The climax comes, the highest point of the action, the peak of tension, the turning point, in “Always,” in their love story.

She only wants him. He has moved heaven and earth for her, to be enough. They cannot part, for life without him looms too lonely, too heartbreaking; too empty. Not enough becomes all she wants.

In echoes of previous moments, we look for symbols like Beetles fans playing the recording backwards; did Paul die? Searching for the ethereal “always,” some hear Kate whisper it, as Rick leaves in “Still,” maybe so, stoking the flames of our mythology. We search the symbols, the parallels.

In last year’s penultimate episode “Undead Again,” Kate and Rick’s love speaks again in subtext. With her walls coming down, she wants him there, both believing again in tomorrow. Even in zombie makeup, a man accepted as he is, an unlikely hopeful hero will make it work.

On a different playing field, “The Human Factor,” the penultimate season five episode, still searches for meaning, the nature of the human factor, human fragility, the push and pull of death and humanity, here on Earth, no finer place to be. The human comedy plays anew, for alone we search for roses, for meaning and together we draw strength.

“There are four questions of value in life: What is sacred? Of what is the spirit made? What is worth living for, and what is worth dying for? The answer to each is the same. Only love.”
Johnny Depp

But Jared Stack is an eerie, stoic and singular man, dismissive of Rick’s contributions, fancying Rick is only good to close the blinds. He reminds me of Sophia Turner, and her dismiss of Kate, another driven person, not a prime example of the best in humanity, emotionless, and rather forbidding. He sics Kate onto Simon Warburg.

On a video tape Warburg reveals his opinions about drones, and well he should know. “I’ve seen the future.” He mentions surveillance, the use of security drones, armed drones and, voila, too late, for like the frog in the pot of slowly heating water, it is too late to survive. He will stop it, for he will frame the government and cause a shutdown of drone production, testing and use. Drones kill innocent people.

In a cute bedroom scene, Kate has a little pay back with Rick for his early morning adventures, and stages a rise of the machines; Wild-eyed Rick attacks the drones, to no avail. On second thought maybe he will try to save Kate. Kate is hysterical. Not one of Rick’s stellar moments. …She cries: “You fell for it and you bailed. I saw the look.”

Another great moment is right out of Hitchcock’s “North by North West.” I remember seeing this first hand in the theater with Cary Grant hitting the deck as a crop duster swerved and dived attempting to kill him.

Well, this was not quite so, for Warburg’s plane was firing blanks, but Rick certainly felt he dispatched the drone, saving Kate and heroically redeeming himself for his early morning cowardice, although how I can say that is extraordinary, after watching Rick come to Kate’s rescue every week it seems. But still he does spook a bit, but so do I, I am loathe to say,

While tracking down Warburg, Rick and Kate travel to a used book store and Rick simply loves the place until “love fades” when he spies his “Storm Season” relegated to the bargain basement and the half price bin. Wow, an ominous sign from the universe in so many different ways, and they pile on.

“Seriously!” Rick knows signs, symbols and subtext and so do we. He’d better be looking out.

Cloaked in subtext, metaphor and meaning, in a scene in “Heroes and Villains,” Rick enlists Kate’s help as always in understanding his child Alexis who is pulling away from him. Rick’s age-old parent’s cry: “I’m just not ready,” a lover’s cry, too.

“Well, she is. You two are just not on the same page.”

“So what do I do?”

”Let her go. Trust me. If you hold on too tight you just drive her away.

The words of early season four echo through our memory. It is, after all the human factor, the human comedy. Kahlil Gibran’s words, though often used, and risking cliché, still speak:

“If you love somebody, let them go, for if they return they were always yours. And if they don’t, they never were.”

Rick helps Alexis understand some of the intricacies of living and loving, but words repeat in parallel and echo for evermore. “Things change and change is good.”Rick tells Alexis.

For all Kate’s worldly cop experience, she is inexperienced in love’s inner working, as is the twice married Rick. Kate lost years, emotionally shut down, so, too, has Rick. Now, walls down and bound in love, she is free…and vulnerable. Each can choose the next road. “Follow your heart and you can’t go wrong.” Rick advises Alexis.

Afraid of loss of losing Rick, Kate cries out in “After Hours:” “I was afraid I had lost you.” And Rick renews his pledge to be there always. “Never Never Never,” will I leave you. Indeed, “the heart wants what the heart wants,” despite the obstacles. He helps her find freedom and risks his own chances.

And he wants her, needs her near. Once the assured player, seldom at a loss for words before, Rick is shy and hesitant now. Consumed and confused with love, he forgets how to act, or perhaps never did know and seems indifferent. He is different with her; his touch is gentle, easy, not the Rick of crazy ex- sex. He cherishes Kate, a path he has never successfully trodden.

“When we are in love we seem to ourselves quite different from what we were before.”
Blaise Pascal

Rick once advised Kate in plot detection or construction; “You have an ending; you want to know the rest? You have to work backwards. You need to finish the story…. Sometimes when I am trying to figure out how a character of mine does something, I will walk the crime scene.” It is time to know, to walk the scene, to recount just what can be gained and what lost.

Kate’s own story-end shines so hopeful, although it needs finishing, for always we have unknown factors; we are human and not machines. Rick loves her and would die for her; such a man is a keeper. She loves him. Must she leave him to find herself? How can he set her free?

“Any relationship…is going to have challenges, but if a relationship doesn’t work out, it’s usually not because of the challenges; it’s usually because the relationship wasn’t strong enough to begin with.” Again Rick advises Alexis as to the ways of life and love.

“I promise you this: If two people really believe in something, anything, even the impossible is possible.” Rick knows the words and now must believe them. Love speaks, risks, dares, tries and reveals the heart.

Diverse roads call Kate, paths impacting place, partner and lover; husband, career, all unclear now. Their year of happiness comes to an anniversary. It is time to make tomorrow and always a reality, part or simply gather some space. But uniting in marriage spells lost to Rick, for he has no compass here and no success.

“In love, the paradox occurs that two beings become one and yet remain two.”
Erich Fromm

So much has changed between not enough and everything I want;

“None of them were you.”

“I just want you.”

Simon Warburg of “The Human Factor” is a man of principle who would appeal to Rick’s generous, kind side. He shows Kate and Rick a picture of a car with dots of red, roses bedecking a young couple’s wedding limo, innocents. The next generation of drones won’t even have pilots, a thinking sensitive, caring human factor to discern proper targets from innocents.

“When lives are at stake, we need a man who sees the roses; we need the human factor.”

Warburg is innocent and Omar Dickson is apprehended through lots of Stack clout, and Stack invites Kate to interrogate, to “do the honors.”

Next two men watch Kate at her best, through the glass, their images reflecting, Rick proud of Kate and Stack coveting Kate. Stack whispers to Rick: “Look at that; how she uses silence; she’s a force to be reconciled.” Rick agrees. Then he sees Stack’s intense, smug, feral gaze and Rick looks worried. This man has an agenda and it includes Rick’s love.

Privately, Stack seduces Kate’s psyche, intrudes in her soul, and I use this strong word because it feels that way to me: “Where do you see yourself in five years from now? Where is your heart? I think you’re exceptional; you’re smart; you’re an asymmetrical thinker.” He gives Kate pause, and hits upon things she has been considering; her life; her future.

Denying him, she says:”Who says I want bigger things?”

“Practically everything about you screams it. Stakes are high and outcomes can affect history. Not everyone has what it takes. I think you do.” And Kate takes his card and the number to call.

Kate understands Alexis’ bid for personal freedom, for her inner space as we see in “The Final Frontier” The Nebula 9 dress-up picture Kate acquires harkens back to another safe time for Kate, a time when a young girl could immerse in her own adventure, her own fantasy drama and test and try out different identities, different personas.

“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.”
Carl Rogers

This was just before Kate’s mother was murdered and left to die in the street, before a young girl’s promising world fell apart. Kate needed to feel safe and now she does. Rick has helped her, the best paradox of all.

The roles, the costumes, the dress up and pretend provide a modicum of safety then. After all, “that’s not who you really are.” You are free to try on an identity. Rick has had his share of role playing, failing twice as a husband and in other roles; he would be the first to admit it. Afraid to risk love in total commitment, still despite some rejection he writes. The lives of others are so easy to tell.

“So what if we don’t make sense on paper,” he tells Kate. “We don’t live our lives on paper. And if we did, we’d never be astounded or surprised.” As viewers, writers, watching fictional characters, a writer talk about their lives not lived out on paper is quite astounding. And still we care, of all things ironic.

At the Super Nova 9 Convention Rick assumes command of the star ship and then relinquishes it to Kate. She smiles and takes her place at the Captain’s seat for she can dare the dream and Rick loves it and her.

Kate tries to explain why people love the show, and then she acquiesces: “You’re right, okay? It was a stupid show. It was cheesy and melodramatic…a handful of academy cadets are on a training mission, and suddenly, the Earth is destroyed and they’re all that’s left of humanity.”

Haven’t we all seen ourselves in that light; remarkable, noble, brave and on a mission to save the world?

For Kate and Alexis, and Rick, too, the conventions, the dress up, the various personas are, as Kate says, “about leaving home for the first time, searching for one’s identity and making a difference.”

Rick validates Kate’s identity, her dedication, one who honors life and the victims. He helps her dispel the burden carried for more than one third of her adult life, chained to memories, seeing some joy, but weary, even rejecting Christmas celebrations for lost memories, presents unopened, and loneliness, adrift from family ties.

For Kate, Lt Chloe “did not care what anyone thought about her.” Though insecure at times, seeing someone sure and confident lifts our spirits and guides us to realize our better selves also. Kate realizes as a young woman: “I could be anything, and I didn’t have to choose.”

“Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.”
James Baldwin.

Numerous times Kate has spoken about her desire to be a lawyer like her mother even on The Supreme Court. But she shelves the dream and honors past commitments.

Is love enough? Does she need more than his love?

In this penultimate season five case, Rick and Kate identify the murderer, but it truly takes the human factor to arrive at the answer. And the human factor is Rick. Hopefully Kate eventually recognizes that human factor. But is one of life’s little ironies.

She wants more and Rick will help her find more as he has always done; but she has been driven down rabbit holes before with intense situations that cut off life and love. The loneliness and lack of emotions such as this agent exhibits will strip her of her humanity and destroy her.

Rick is not a drone, a devil in disguise to buy her soul, but a sometimes silly man who loves life and who would share his with her. He stops to see the roses or smell the roses or coffee; he loves humanity; he will never seduce her or lead her wrong; he will die to save her; he loves her. Kate has struggled for so long; she needs the human factor; other doors will open, safe ones; healthy ones for both of them.

Drawing out young Sean, Tanner’s son, Rick learns the story of a father’s neglect, of a father who put everyone else first; a crusader who cheated on Sean’s mother, an absent father with a son crying out for recognition, a young man so human and so hurting.

>From so many vantages Rick knows what it is like to be driven, to be a father, to be a lonely son, to be human and care. Sean has no friends, no money no life and no family any more. “He broke her heart and he broke mine, too,” Sean cries. Rick knows. And we know Rick is special.

“Still,” the ultimate homage for all “Castle” fans, celebrates what we love about “Castle:” honorable people, searching for love and meaning in an often hostile world. No dark clouds hover on the horizon while I bask in the glow of this episode; the romantic in me can end the season’s journey right here.

Storm clouds hide in the subtext, however. Many debate the logical sequence of “Still” and “Squab.” How can “Still” come before “Squab”? Why is Kate so hurt and Rick so inattentive? Why would Kate look at another man after what she and Rick had been through?

And how could Erik Vaughn begin to out Castle Castle with Castle’s own words, in Castle’s own territory or on Castle’s own game board? The discussion is endless, but this I know. “Still” can work either way.

Metaphor explodes in this episode, if we look in this direction. Trapped, Kate must stand still. Where is her relationship with Rick going? It is a downward ticking time bomb, time not on her side. She is unable to move, but for how long can she stand still?

She loves him, but can she remain constrained, encircled by his love, closed in his arms, not going anywhere? Each may have different needs now, though love prevails. It is the inertia that hurts and stifles her.

Yet, in another paradoxical way, close to my heart, “Still” moves forward in love’s affirmation, without a step. Two people, who talk all the time, now speak truths, of deeply personal impressions, embarrassing or otherwise, perhaps for the first time. They understand.

They proclaim their love out loud and remain together until the end as always. Hidden inadequacies and egos strip down to only love and the truth. He will not live without her. She will die rather than risk his life to save her.

Rick breaks her free from the circle that entraps Kate. He frees her to let her go; they work truly together. She sees the man who remains steadfast and is there for her. He encircles her in his protective arms and loves her. He must ask her to wear another circle, this time one of love.

Hope may waver, but our hearts are open to prospects, to tomorrow, to always, to hope, and this is life- affirming, to being real and only too human. Kate and Rick must search their inner spaces, their final frontier the human factor. This test will be their watershed. And we hope they set a course together.

Some lyrics from a power ballad by Survivor come to mind: “I was living for a dream, loving for a moment; taking on the world; that was just my style. Then I touched your hand, I could hear you whisper; the search is over, love was right before my eyes.”

We all face a climax; the thrilling peak in our own story; then our narrative seems to spiral down the denouement. Is this all there is we ask? To question is natural, a part of growing. The resolution can be breath-taking, and life-affirming, the beginning of something exciting and fulfilling. The resolution is the beginning. The story starts a new chapter.

The final frontier of space, of life on Earth, of machines of humanity is still and always the human factor, the human touch, as we search our inner space for love and peace, meaning and hope for a new tomorrow.

At home in this “Human Factor” case Rick and Kate talk of the rise of machines, the irony perhaps unknown to Rick, (but I would not bet on that), for he was not privy to Stack’s and Kate’s discussion; but still he must sense something wrong.

Yes, the rise of the machines is still a few years away, but we still have human care and touch. So cloaked in irony Rick says:

“With people all decisions are personal where one might see roses another might see a person.” We hope Kate sees Rick standing right there as always.

“The human factor,” Kate remarks.

“The human factor,” Rick proclaims.

And still Kate ponders. As to her talk with Stack, she tells Rick, “I’ll be there in a minute, and it was nothing, nothing.”

And it isn’t nothing. I’ve heard Rick say that in “Rise.”

Poet and philosopher Maya Angelou writes about love’s paradox and love’s redemption, what it means to be human; about love, its power, its sacrifice; its goodness and humanity and filled with hope.

“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles. Leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.” We believe this.

The proceeds from this auction support The Antaeus Company a theater group in Los Angeles that all three cast members belong to.

The lunch is valid for 4 people and will run for approximately 1 ½ hours and will be arranged based on actor’s availability. The lunch will be in Los Angeles and travel and accommodations are not included.

Donated By: Seamus Dever, Arye Gross and Susan Sullivan

For full details and to bid go to www.charitybuzz.com

Any big Lanie, Ryan or Esposito stuff going down in the Castle finale? — Leslie
Not particularly, according to executive producer Andrew Marlowe. While all the supporting players have had some time to shine this season (three cheers for “The Wild Rover”) the boss man says the last few episodes will set us up for the Caskett-heavy finale. “My intent was for the last couple of episodes to turn the focus back to the Castle-Beckett relationship because that’s really what we’re exploring as we go out of the season,” he says. “And there’s certainly more storytelling to come with our secondary characters and stuff that we’re looking at in terms of positioning us next season. [There's] some really fun and exciting stuff that we have planned.”

For the full post of the EW spoiler room, please visit EW site.

Fans ask him a lot about his camera and his work methods. As Andrew posted a picture of the filters of his camera, inquiring minds wanted to know what they do – it corrects daylight to look white/neutral on tungsten balanced film. The hair in the gate looks like a small squiggy hair that might vibrate on the edge of the frame. Camera assistants usually check the film gate before filming to avoid any problems. Also, the reason for using 400 instead of 1K for corner camera is to allow space for operator to lean over camera – lower profile. Andrew also notes, that like his camera is rented from Panavision, his equipment is rented from 3ality. Panavision cameras are maintained routinely by the assistants (oil/silicone) and occasionally they require a set visit from Panavision tech. Castle uses two Panavision cameras for capturing the series. TV industry is fast paced and multiple cameras are a normal sight – more footage, more to cut.

Castle films mostly with camera on dollies – they don’t have to carry around the camera. They do it, when it’s necessary and when direction needs it. Cameras are moved both on tracks and on wheels, the usage of them depends on how good the floor is and how good the long lense is. Andrew himself has no preference on handheld or dolly – the usage depends on the story and vision of the director (what is right for the shot). Camera settings and functions are usually handled by 1st AC. The shots are set up initially by either director of photography or camera operator depending on a shot and how complex the shot is. Andrew also says that if you know what director wants, camera operator can contribute a lot with framing and composition, specially when sorting out shots. Camerawork and direction are organic in an essence. Director and first assistant director prep the shots – they don’t alternate directors, so those two are the ones who prep the look of coming episodes.

Andrew says he isn’t usually the one who arrives first on set – he works from camera call to camera wrap. No setup or takedown for him – his 1st AC carries/moves the camera into setup. If the camera needs to move and if it’s not during the shot, 1st AC or 2nd AC moves it around. Andrew’s responsibility is setting up the shots, protecting the frame (keeping stuff that’s not supposed to be in a shot, out) and operating the camera. Anything technical is his 1st AC job. The crew works at all hours, no 9-5 work on Castle set.

Briefly during the filming of “The Squab and the Quail” Andrew met up with the legendary 1st camera assistant – they were talking about concerts (he was the lead 1st AC for The Last Waltz). Andy also says he was the lead camera assistant for the 1984 olympics for which he designed the zoom control Andy uses today.

The organizing of the locations of the shoots falls into the hand of Location Manager – he finds the places for different shots. Also, choosing between location vs. set depends on how expensive one or the other is. Sets can be cheaper over a long run, like a TV show. Choosing downtown LA over Paramount lot for outside city shots depends on how much control is needed for the shot. If its short and simple shoot, it can be arranged in DTLA, if its an elaborate shot with stunts, they usually do it in controlled environment like Paramount lot. Also, shooting outdoors can be tricky – with a subtle wind shifts and different camera angles, it can be difficult at times.

Usually the props like NYC taxis and mailboxes and like most of the things on set – are rented. On locations like the woods in the episodes “Scared to Death” and “The Fast and the Furriest” they use man-made fog to create more creepier sets. Andrew says, during the shooting of 5×17, it was very cold outside, going down to 28 F, quite rare in LA. Instead of being scared to death, they were frozen to death. The “haunted” video from 5×17 was made by Richmond, a video playback tech and his colleagues.. Richmond is also the one who creates the cheeky faux news playing in the bullpen during shoots. We also found out that the writer of the episode is usually on set while they are shooting the said episode.

In Andrew’s opinion, the biggest difference between shooting TV shows and movies is time and money – the feature films usually have a lot more of both. Andrew’s first gig in the film industry was grunt work during a pre-production on a low budget action movie. His favourite Bond movie is “Casino Royale” and he likes the work of artists like Peter Saville and designs from Tomato. Andrew’s favourite part of his job is operating the camera and making great shots of everyone.

“@palesparks: Hi Andrew! Have you got any advice for someone wanting to get into TV/film behind the scenes?”Find a student film to work on

— Andrew Bikichky (@AndrewBikichky) March 26, 2013

“@liverfool2: in one word, what has been your take away from filming 100 episodes of castle?:)” Marathon

— Andrew Bikichky (@AndrewBikichky) March 7, 2013

“@aussiecate16: Hi Andy over the 100 eps what has been biggest change you’ve seen?”The hair

— Andrew Bikichky (@AndrewBikichky) March 7, 2013

“@serybisco: Who is on set today?

“@stana_katic:Ran thru woods yesterday @ work.Character wears heels…And evidently moonlights as a rototiller.” Heels didn’t slow u down

— Andrew Bikichky (@AndrewBikichky) March 14, 2013

“@rebhuns: The chemistry between the whole cast do you think they are the best”Yes, like most ensembles that work, the chemistry is there

— Andrew Bikichky (@AndrewBikichky) March 15, 2013

Here are some pictures that Andrew has tweeted during the month of March:

Another look at the behind the lens gel/filter; it’s the orange surface.

A fan: Could you tweet us something for helping us to wait for the next ep?

Coming out of the lights at the beginning of the shot in the morgue

Technocrane w/ 3-axis Libra head

Handle wrapped in blue is the Hollywood handle

Guerrilla art on the back of a set wall

Pounding the light in with a 10k light

Ep 517 The Cabin in the woods…. Very cold night!

Ep517 thearea where Beckett tackles the shadowy figure

Bill Roe wearing the huge warm furry hat.

Ep517 another angle on the cabin in the woods

Ep517 Beckett tackles shadow area

Guru barista is back for a scene, with a rather tasty work of art I must say

Setting up opening shot Ep518

Just above the cupcake shop. (Ep518), this what the interiors look like in the buildings of the Paramount backlot.

Corner pocket shot Ep518

Sound Mixer Ron gets all the lines

As we head into our last 24 days of S5, our schedule will seem more indistinct and mysterious…

View from 1st setup E518

Shooting for E519

]]> http://castletv.net/behind-the-scenes-with-andrewbikichky-march/feed/ 3 http://castletv.net/castle-flashback-friday-archive-files-24-the-blue-butterfly/ http://castletv.net/castle-flashback-friday-archive-files-24-the-blue-butterfly/#comments Sat, 04 May 2013 05:11:40 +0000 Trinxy http://castletv.net/?p=22122 This week’s archive files brings us back to the episode of The Blue Butterfly.

Here’s what’s Andrew, Terri and Stana have to say about this episode:

@andrewwmarlowe &producers had a screening of #BlueButterfly 4 castncrew 2day.@mollyquinn93 & rest look fantastic.what a fun ep!Enjoy 2nite.

— Stana Katic (@Stana_Katic) February 7, 2012

Almost Blue Butterfly time. It’s a super special episode. One of my all-time favs. #castle #TheBlueButterfly

— Andrew W. Marlowe (@AndrewWMarlowe) February 7, 2012

RT @incompletesong:Was the ’40s mention in Cuffed a foreshadowing to Blue Butterfly?” Most stuff I do on purpose, except when it sucks.

— Terri Edda Miller (@TerriEdda) March 3, 2012

RT @j_stille:What is your favorite episode so far? This season: Rise-Cuffed-Blue Butterfly (personal faves)

— Terri Edda Miller (@TerriEdda) March 1, 2012

 

A little behind the scenes video from @Castlegrip (Christopher Brow) – from the set of the shooting of The Blue Butterfly.

We are bidding farewelll with some neat behind the scenes pictures from Castle Art Department, Luke Reichle and Castle ABC.

Andrew and his camera.

It gets COLD on the set!!!!

Luke and Molly on the set.

Luke’s sketch for the #BlueButterfly made by the amazing Maggie at Studio Art Metal in LA.

Now this girl can wear a hat!!!

On set

PennyBaker club

PennyBaker club

Robert Duncan playing the piano

Alfred Sole

PennyBaker club

PennyBaker club

PennyBaker club

PennyBaker club

Nathan and Stana on set

Nathan and Molly on set

Molly and Susan on set

 

]]> http://castletv.net/castle-flashback-friday-archive-files-24-the-blue-butterfly/feed/ 1 http://castletv.net/spoilers-season-finale-scoop-from-tvline/ http://castletv.net/spoilers-season-finale-scoop-from-tvline/#comments Sat, 04 May 2013 05:10:16 +0000 Trinxy http://castletv.net/?p=22120 Matt Mitovich from TVLine shares some spoiler scoop with the fans:

Any scoop on Castle? Are there any scenes coming up with Alexis or Martha, or Lanie with Kate? –Valentina
I like your thinking, that as Kate gets to wondering about her and Rick’s future, she might consult with her gal pal. So I am happy to confirm that we will get another of the all-too-rare Kate/Lanie scenes before this season is over.

Will the Castle ‘shippers that have a vested interest in the Caskett relationship be happy or angry at the end of the season finale, “Watershed”? –Gary
The Castle ‘shippers that have a vested interest in the Caskett relationship will… have a very strong reaction at the end of the season finale, “Watershed.”

For full article and more spoilers, please visit TVLine.

]]> http://castletv.net/spoilers-season-finale-scoop-from-tvline/feed/ 9 http://castletv.net/spoiler-sneak-peeks-for-episode-5x23/ http://castletv.net/spoiler-sneak-peeks-for-episode-5x23/#comments Sat, 04 May 2013 05:09:02 +0000 Trinxy http://castletv.net/?p=22118

]]> http://castletv.net/spoiler-sneak-peeks-for-episode-5x23/feed/ 2 http://castletv.net/castles-new-novel-storm-front-preview-digital-download/ http://castletv.net/castles-new-novel-storm-front-preview-digital-download/#comments Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:21:12 +0000 Admin http://castletv.net/?p=22088

In addition to writing the next Nikki Heat novel “Deadly Heat” (due in September) Richard Castle has been hard at work on his latest Derrick Storm novel “Storm Front”.

Each week ABC is releasing a new chapter of Storm Front free or charge up until the release of the hard cover edition on May 21st. If you can’t wait that long after reading the two preview chapters below you can go ahead and purchase the digital version of the book released today.  You can order via Amazon or other popular book stores.

You do not need a kindle or other specific book reader to be able to download the novel you can use the kindle app on your mobile device or download via Amazon to read right on your computer!

Four years after he was presumed dead, Derrick Storm–the man who made Richard Castle a perennial bestseller–is back in this rip-roaring, full-length thriller.

From Tokyo, to London, to Johannesburg, high-level bankers are being gruesomely tortured and murdered. The killer, caught in a fleeting glimpse on a surveillance camera, has been described as a psychopath with an eye patch. And that means Gregor Volkov, Derrick Storm’s old nemesis, has returned. Desperate to figure out who Volkov is working for and why, the CIA calls on the one man who can match Volkov’s strength and cunning–Derrick Storm.

With the help of a beautiful and mysterious foreign agent–with whom Storm is becoming romantically and professionally entangled–he discovers that Volkov’s treachery has embroiled a wealthy hedge-fund manager and a U.S. senator. In a

heated race against time, Storm chases Volkov’s shadow from Paris, to the lair of a computer genius in Iowa, to the streets of Manhattan, then through a bullet-riddled car chase on the New Jersey Turnpike. In the process, Storm uncovers a plot that could destroy the global economy–unleashing untold chaos–which only he can stop.

You can download the first two chapters of  Storm Front for free here.

• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2

Quick Links:

• Storm Front (Derrick Storm Novel)
• Deadly Heat (Nikki Heat #5) (pre order)
• A Calm Before Storm (Graphic Novel Hardcover) (pre order)
• Castle Season 5 DVDs (pre order)

]]> http://castletv.net/castles-new-novel-storm-front-preview-digital-download/feed/ 4 http://castletv.net/member-article-still-always/ http://castletv.net/member-article-still-always/#comments Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:52:58 +0000 Trueheart http://castletv.net/?p=22078 This is a member contributed article. Would you like to submit an article or episode review? Use our submission form to contribute.

———

“There’s always a story,” Rick tells Kate on their first case together, sifting through Rick’s fan-mail to find a copy-cat killer. Kate suggests that the killer just could be psychotic.

To prove his premise, Rick makes some educated guesses as to Kate’s story, why she is a cop, bringing pain to the beautiful detective as he comes too close to the truth, causing Kate to say: “Don’t think you know me.” But he does.

For Rick the writer, not surprising, there is always a reason, a cause; he, they just have to find it to solve the puzzle. Four full years and many stories later, in “Still,” in the most important mystery of all to solve, they must “find the story that makes sense,” as Rick describes it. “The answer’s in Fosse’s story; something must have set him off, but what?”

“Castle, why does his story matter?”

“The story always matters. That is why we make such a team. You find the evidence; helps me build a story. The story points us to a solution. See the story. It’s our secret ingredient.”

This time Kate’s life depends on it; Rick’s life does, too, for he will never leave her to die alone.

In “Still” their story unfolds. What a love story it is and what an episode: mind blowing, so heartfelt and simply magnificent, so enthralling and rewarding a viewing experience, homage to fans and to five seasons of wonderful writing and acting.

What led them, two such opposite people, to mean the world to each other? When does love start and how does it grow? We behold the many scenes and stages of this extraordinary journey to love.

Neil Diamond wrote and sang these words of truth so long ago. It embodies Rick’s story; it is Kate’s story; it is theirs:

“The story of my life; is so very plain to read; It starts the day you came; and it ends the day you leave.”

Today’s story “Still” begins in the loft with Kate still, asleep into the morning after a long night’s investigation. He has been waiting for her to awaken from her slumber; he has been there all night. Tenderly Rick stares down. Kate opens her eyes and smiles, like the sun radiating its light and warmth.

He serves her, morning coffee, decorated with hearts of rich foam. As lovers often do, they jokingly discuss their relationship. Rick claims: “You are powerless to resist me, you always have been.”

“I thought you an ass,” Kate claims. They snuggle, they sweetly kiss, so smitten with each other. Their discussion will continue later. They are on the case of Archibald Fosse who has bombed and killed a number of people in revenge, and as he attempts to escape the police dragnet, he is arrested immediately, but not before he detonates another bomb.

It is a pressure bomb set in his apartment, and Kate steps on it and is trapped. If she moves a hair’s breadth, the bomb will go off, bringing the entire building down. With the bomb squad at work, Kate tells Rick: “If I have to be stuck not standing on a bomb, than I’m glad I’m stuck with you,” reminiscent of their time cuffed together facing a tiger.

Kate must stand absolutely still. To keep her company Rick loyally stays with her to distract her and uplift her spirits. He knows he is “essential personnel.” With endless hope he describes himself as her “bomb buddy.”

Fearful for his life, Kate urges him to leave and Rick taunts: “I’ll leave if you admit to me you had feelings for me when we first met.”

“Fine, I did have feelings when we first met. I couldn’t stand you,” Kate’s answer to this bit of provocation and distraction. The flash backs begin, the story, a montage of pictures and scenes from episodes we die-hard fans regale in, love and know so well; some of us chapter and verse. The screen fills up with their story. This is the ultimate fan video, so wonderfully crafted around their love’s progression.

We laugh in recognition. Kate remembers and we do, too, when Kate cuffs Rick in the library or how he “kills her patience.” How about the self- described, “ruggedly-handsome” man’s date with the prostitute or the lonely women looking to get…”Castle!”?

Rick’s calling her “muse” drives Kate crazy, and, of course, Rick confesses to just how very shallow he is regarding crazy ex- sex. Yep, she couldn’t stand him! He was a horse’s behind.

It’s Rick’s turn to get her back. Then: “Why couldn’t you keep your hands off me?”

We see the flashes of nose grabs, apple-safe words, ear grabs, hands held and the huddle or cuddle (it depends who’s describing it) in the freezer, facing the icy, blue death. And Rick is concerned with “her unwarranted touching in the workplace” and her “inappropriate remarks” about positions and posing without clothes not to mention the sexy sounding words “veritable and fallacious.”

“Is that all you got” Kate fires back.

And now Rick delivers one of the funniest comments of all:

“I was momentarily distracted by your dizzying array of hair styles over the years.” Yes, from chopped-off reddish, to darkish, to bobbed-brownish, to maybe an extension, to long…ish, lighter brownish; from curls to straight and back again for a few rotations, to hair that looks quite light and rather…you’ll notice I said rather,… blondish. We can tell the seasons by her hair…Almost.

Rick relates a few more of Kate’s “unwarranted” sexy remarks: “Let’s just stick this in and get this over with.”

Kate retaliates: “I can’t help it if you get off putting things in my mouth.”

“See, like that,” an offended Rick motions and rests his case.

Their own brand of banter continues, Kate somewhat distracted with Rick. “Like you’ve never been inappropriate?” Oh, Kate has too many scenes to prove Rick’s inappropriateness. “I find that hot… and strangely arousing…the sex is unbelievable…thongs and commandoes.” Never mind how Rick is so “happy to let you spank me.” We see it all.

Then Kate asks Rick the central question, the elephant in the room question: “It’s gonna be okay, right?”

It isn’t. They need the right five digit code to disarm the tamper-proof bomb. The arrested bomber, Fosse, gravely ill, will not talk and ultimately commits suicide.

Now Kate holds Rick to his promise. She wants him to leave. But Rick challenges her with another premise: Even her friends and others knew she was crazy for him.

And as proof Rick reveals the following sights: Lanie: she cracks about the sex scene he writes in the Nikki Heat saga; Natalie Rhodes: she knows the score about them, especially his Kate fantasies, she calls “verbal masturbation”; Maddi: she thinks Kate is hot for Castle babies; even Kyra tells Kate:”He’s all yours.”

Then, of course, Rick mentions all the times Kate “dressed up in revealing outfits to try and turn my head.” The scenes flash by: sexy red and all legs at the book reading; Herve Leger slinky blue at the book signing; mysterious black in the precinct; sexy blue, undercover, club hopping and…the bathing suit, a Rick eye- popping, drink-sputtering, gasping true ten.

“The story of my life; begins and ends with you; the names are still the same; and the story’s still the truth.”

Rick’s responds:”I found you not unattractive, occasionally fun to be around…into you? NO!”

His reason for following Kate: “I was having so much fun playing cop.” Well, the scenes were quite fun, especially the one when the body drops on his windshield and Rick turns on the scraper to repel the tough guy. We see lots of face pounding and punches exchanged over the course of the four years with Rick’s face getting the worst of it all, here in living color.

Finally the second funniest scene in this great remembering involves a phone call to Javier who is busy trying to save Kate: “Who liked who first?” Kate asks. Now the guys are supposed to settle this little argument while listening in as they often do to Rick and Kate finishing each other’s sentences, often over the phone?

The conversation ensues as Rick and Kate detail names and reasons for jealousy: Rick: his ex girl friend’s wedding; Kate: jealous over Deming; Rick: his ex-wife and Serena Kaye, Sophia CIA; Agent Shaw.

Javier sets the phone down to talk with Ryan about saving Kate’s life while Kate and Rick are still arguing in the background. The guys are quite hilarious in their dead pan humor. Well, this isn’t getting anywhere on the most crucial question at hand: Just who did like who first?

Rick now consults the bomb squad and learns that the bomb will go off in 30 minutes and 47 seconds. Rick slightly blanches with the words 47 seconds, remembering the death and the destruction of the previous year in the 47 seconds of a bomb explosion and also the death of his relationship with Kate. They urge Rick to be realistic; he cuts them off. The red sign standing out in the hallway ominously says NO EXIT.

They will get out of this because they have been in so many life and death situations, Rick assures. Which scene shows their greatest danger? Is it the plunge to the bottom of the river? The tiger encounter? 3xk’s revenge? And others such as the truly terrifying time when Martha returns unannounced, and the bedroom-scramble ends with Kate’s hiding in the closet. fuming tentacles of hair.

Always I remember the freezer scene, the icy, blue-mist, eye-lids frozen; hair and hands frosted. Rick holds Kate in his protective arms, encourages her: “Stay with me, Kate,” words repeated a few months later as he holds a gravely injured Kate in his arms and begs her not to leave him to stay with him.

“In situations like this it is important to have faith,” Rick tells Kate. The scenes are riveting and flash by in remembrance of all they are to each other and how much they would risk to save the friend, the partner, the beloved, the lover, all words to define what they are to each other:

“I was alone; you found me waiting and made me your own; I was afraid; that somehow I never could be; the man that you wanted of me”

Rick wants to consider the story, Fosse’s. Why would this man bother to sell a baseball card collection; why was Diego Jimenez lured to the apartment?

Kate has ten minutes left; so, too, the episode. She asks for a moment alone with Rick. “It is time to say good-bye.” Is there a dry eye anywhere in Castledom? Rick will not leave her. But Kate holds him to his promise to do something for her when the time comes. The time has come for her to let him go, for him to live.

“I wish I could kiss you,” Rick whispers, heartbreak in his voice, and I think of sensual handshakes, earth-shattering, which now might set off the bomb. “I wish so many things,” a teary Rick tells the woman he loves. And we know he has regrets of his life sometimes carelessly lived and of their times apart.

The heart breaks with Kate’s next unselfish words of love, echoes once again from their icy- blue, near-death: “No there is no regret. All in all I think we’ve had a great run.”

The piano begins a tender tune, their theme variation. Kate urges Rick to go, and he turns to leave as promised. With tears in her eyes, Kate speaks her final words to him, words never spoken before:

“Rick, I love you.”

With a last look back at Kate, the love of his life, Rick speaks his heart-wrenching words:

“I love you, too.”

“You’re the story of my life; and every word is true; each chapter sings your name; each page begins with you.”

Kate is alone.

She makes a last message on the phone, to her dad, recorded forever: “I want to tell you I love you.”

With minutes left to live, what images would flash before you; what would you see or dream? Would you see your Mom or Dad and pray to be united when death comes? Or see a child’s face or a friend’s and think of words unspoken, of birthdays, graduations and weddings, life’s adventures; lost chances gone or opportunities gained; love reborn; now left behind.

Kate closes her eyes, looks up and drifts off in reverie. Flashes, images of loved ones envelop her. The Captain’s voice, her mentor and father figure, who sacrificed his life for her sounds clear: “We speak for the dead…That’s the job…We owe them that, but we don’t owe them our lives.”

Johanna Beckett tells her truth through Kate’s Dad: “Your mother always said that life never gives us anything that we can’t handle.” I don’t know, Mom.

Another voice so loved now tells her he would take her away to safety. Rick comforts her, but she fears she will never be safe. Still, he would stay with her.

Captain tells her to “make her stand” for there are “no victories only the battle.” Who will stand with her? Who already stands with her still, today, tomorrow and always? Kate knows the answer as she sits alone on the swings, in the rain and the foggy, blue mist.

Echoes in her heart, remind her even the worst days have possibilities of joy; Kate sees Rick on the swing set, as they pledge their promise and hide their love in subtext and talk of walls. He will be there. He loves her.

Rick’s beloved face smiles before her in a dozen scenes of love and possibility: in the Hamptons, to rejoice in the new found power and beauty of love, still secret; in LA, to talk of love without speaking, still hearing; in the library to reunite, embracing where passion began, long ago. And other well remembered and loved scenes.

Kate hears the gun report; she hears Rick scream “Kate.” She sees him bending over her so close, touching her, holding her, begging her not to leave him, holding back his fears; she sees his tears and hears him. He restores her courage to fight and live.

“I almost died and all I could think about was you. I only want you.” Kate’s own voice cries out to Rick when love was born. Her mind skips back and forth. He cradles her as she lies so gravely wounded. Rick breathes life into her, wills her to live and cries:”I love you, Kate.”

Behold! What is this? Miraculously Rick appears, now, in the room. He returns for her; her vision’s reality. Was it only moments ago he left after saying: “I love you, too.”? She remembers his words from two years ago: “I love you, Kate.” And he appears upon those remembered words; the circle of his words of love is complete.

“It’s the story of our times; and of never letting go; and if I die today; I wanted you to know.”

Rick brings coffee. Kate cries out, “You promised.”

“I promised I’d leave; I didn’t promise I would not come back.” He plans to defuse the bomb, and only a few minutes remain.

And the most hopeful of all heroes, the believer in tomorrow and always, still believes he can save her: They can save each other. “While there is still a chance I’m not giving up.” He will not leave her. He keeps another promise to never leave: “Never! Never! Never!”

“Stay with me here; share with me, care with me; stay and be near.”

They do what they do best in detection, theorize. In their way, a kind of verbal foreplay, they set up the scenario. And once again it is the phone. Ryan and Javier settle down to listen, used to their style. Why is the bomb so far away from the door if Fosse were trying to kill the police?

The target is Diego the card collector. Diego works for the NY State Education Department, another searching avenue for the terminally ill Fosse who was looking for someone, the whereabouts of his old girlfriend Dorothy Novak, witness against him and now in witness protection. Kate gets it, and Castle says a poignant: “Right there with you.”

Fosse, a dying man, was trying to leverage information, lashing out, using any means, including the card collecting, education official to locate his child, killing those in his way, so desperate to see his child one last time.

Time runs down, seconds vanish.

“I told you we would figure it out. He has to.” They wait for Ryan to come through with the child’s name, the word, the code to dismantle the bomb. Kate urges Rick to leave. He won’t.

Less than a minute remains, so much like “Countdown,” with two lovers ready to live or to die together.

They stand still and face each other.. Does time, too, stand still? Ryan searches the names with Javier by his side. The circle, the barrier, not a rectangular wall but something more fluid is about to free Kate. They wait together, hopeful for tomorrow.

“And when it began; I’d lie awake every night; just knowing somewhere deep inside; that our affair just might write.”

Ryan sends the name: William, too long, but Billy is right. Fifteen seconds remain. Kate agrees and Rick types in the name.

Zero time left. The bomb unlocks, and released, Kate steps across the circle to life; to Rick’s open arms and whispers once again “Castle.” He is there.

Hand in hand they walk out from death’s trap. “Thank you for staying with me.” Echoes from across the years say thank you for being there and diving into it with me.

“Always” Rick replies and they both know it is true. Once again Kate finds the man to stand with her. He was always there still, today and tomorrow.

“The story of my life; is very plain to read; it starts the day you came; it ends the day you leave.”

Rick and Kate are greeted in a fond embrace by their two dearest friends; Kate’s confidant and brother in arms and other self, Javier, and Rick’s alter ego Ryan, another dreamer.

Next we have Sir Gates’ revelation, or not. Happy to see Kate and Mr. Castle…too, she compliments Rick: “I don’t know too many men who would have done what you did.”

“Neither do I” Kate shyly says, twirling her hair in the way we know suggests enchantment.

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, kiss the man,” Captain Gates decrees.

Well, wonders of wonders; Captain Gates is not the clueless wonder some suspected. “What do you think I am, an idiot?” As long as they act professional all is well.

My mind flashes back to Valentine’s Day and Rick on the carpet for “garnering favor” as Captain describes it, to say the least. Did he have to swallow that one, and Gates, “a married woman with her own Valentine at home” must have cracked up after she left the precinct. Did she ever rattle his cage?

Rick preens a bit in anticipation of the reward; the open demonstration of their love.

But Kate stops him mid-air or mid-kiss. Groans are heard across Castledom, but not to worry. Kate is simply thinking about all of the many other times they have kissed: “And I was trying to decide on the best one.”

Be still my heart when Rick replies: “And what do you think?”

First the piano gently tinkles their theme, the Robert Duncan “I Only Want You.” Then we see the sexy undercover kiss or lip lock which Rick did declare to be amazing at the time. The music begins to ratchet up the deeper tones, full, thundering, enriching the moment. Many kisses are displayed; fandom sighs.

The Hamptons’ candle-lit, bedroom kiss is quite sensual, and the Christmas one is a bit naughty and nice, played in slow motion; but I leave that to you. Then we relive the kiss that rocked the world, copies of it undoubtedly worn out: “Always.”

Even in dark tones, such passion and longing revealed; it still plays well, although some have brightened it up a bit, and slowed it down, but I suggest played reverse in slow motion has possibilities…

The best kiss for Kate: “I think we’re just getting started.” Chimes ring out around Castledom. They kiss once more; she swings her leg a la ladies in high heels of long ago.

Relieved and rejoicing for Rick and Kate, we extend thank you sentiments to Andrew Marlowe and Terri Miller, creators, for their dedication to excellence and also to the writers, the entire stellar cast and the crew, to Robert Duncan’s for his sound tracks and original music and to Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic.

Their love and care of “the story” shines through in this presentation, a montage of seasons and scenes. The “extra” episode is an extraordinary homage to all who love “Castle.”

All of the Castle characters grow more every year, making us care for them despite and because of their all too human follies and foibles. Rick and Kate’s love story is a work in progress, and we are so thankful to have more time with them and their story. As in our own lives and une grande histoire d’amour, periods of excitement and some inertia develop, but life and love are ever evolving before our eyes.

In Rick Castle, Kate has found a gem or rather a diamond in the rough; he would, however, be loathe to think this of himself, but that is Castle. Truly he was an ass when first they met, and no doubt he will continue to show this side, an imperfect man, but an honorable man.

One thing shines through every situation and scene: Rick and Kate have always loved each other. They just didn’t always know it. We did and it added to our love for them. Their secret was and is safe with us.

Rick is a most unlikely but hopeful hero. Together they have broken down some of their own walls and barriers to love and life’s fulfillment, and together they each are so much more than they ever knew they could be, learning love’s secrets and intricacies without a manual.

Still, Rick and Kate are strong individuals who need to grow more, and we eagerly await next season and this season’s finale. We want their story to continue.

Still, as always, a man who will stay for love, no matter the price, who glows and radiates hope until the end, who believes in tomorrow and who will not leave Kate to face death, alone, is a hidden treasure and a keeper.

The saga for Rick and Kate still sings:

“You’re the story of my life, and every word is true; each chapter sings your name; each page begins with you.”

“The story of my life; begins and ends with you; the names are still the same and the story’s still the truth.”

We look down upon the final scene, shot from high above mere mortals:

Two lovers walk hand in hand, still, as it has always been with them; the story’s truth revealed: l’univers d’accord: the universe agrees.

]]> http://castletv.net/member-article-still-always/feed/ 64 http://castletv.net/member-article-boom/ http://castletv.net/member-article-boom/#comments Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:50:59 +0000 Shena http://castletv.net/?p=22077 This is a member contributed article. Would you like to submit an article or episode review? Use our submission form to contribute.

———

‘Still’ means quiet.

‘Still’ means don’t move.

‘Still’ means always and forever.

In ‘After the Storm’, Beckett uttered the words:  “Don’t move… don’t even breathe.”    Those words were never truer – both literally and figuratively.

It is said that when you come face to face with death, your life flashes before your eyes.  I have no idea if this is true, but it certainly was for Beckett (and in turn, Castle as well).

When she steps on a detonation plate, Beckett is forced to remain immobile, and Castle (ever by her side) refuses to leave.  After all, she needs a “bomb buddy.”  But Castle had always been more than that for Beckett.  He is her lover, her partner, her everything.  He has always had the right words at the right time.  Whenever she has needed it, he’s always been able to “say something reassuring.”

In ‘Cuffed’, Castle admitted that diluting tense situations with humour and wit is “[his] coping mechanism.”

And now, faced with this particular situation, Castle distracts Beckett by reminiscing about their past five years together – how they antagonized each other, teased each other, tempted each other, flirted with each other, theorized together, finished each other’s sentences, and saved each other (in every sense of the word).  And as a wink and a nod to the fans, Castle too was “momentarily distracted by [Beckett’s] dizzying array of hairstyles over the years.”

Thus, he successfully takes Beckett’s mind off the dire situation for a couple of hours.  His distraction works so well that she momentarily forgets completely about the bomb as she and Castle even drag Esposito into the debate.  But as much as Beckett likes to think she’s been completely secretive about her feelings for Castle throughout the years, she realizes that she was quite transparent not only to close friends such as Lanie, but also to complete strangers, including both Kyra Blaine and Natalie Rhodes.

His humour, however, can only diffuse a tense situation for so long.

As the fatigue sets in, Beckett begins her process of making peace with her imminent death.  She starts to accept her fate.  She starts to give up.

Yet, no matter how dire the state of affairs, Castle never gives up on her — on them:  “Still… as bad at the situation gets, we always find our way out.”

We know that, when it comes to saving Beckett’s life, Castle is not above “grasping at straws.”  He did it in ‘Countdown’ when he pulled all of the wires out of the dirty bomb; he did it in ‘After the Storm’ when searching through Smith’s filing cabinet, and he does it again now, believing that the name of the bomber’s son is the code to deactivate the bomb.

And as always, Castle’s grasping at straws yields positive results… saving Beckett’s life, and in turn, his as well.  Because even though Beckett didn’t want “Alexis to lose her father, or Martha her son,” that wasn’t enough for him. His life is so entwined with hers that they complete each other.  She is his life.  He is hers.  They are each other’s missing piece.

Furthermore, they finally come to realize that they haven’t been fooling anyone but themselves with regards to their relationship.  Not only has Gates always known about their relationship (“What?  Do you think I’m an idiot?!”), but Beckett finally brings herself to say the words that Castle — and the fandom — have been dying to hear:  “I love you.”

Martha once stated in ‘Cops and Robbers’:  “Facing death demands celebrating life.”  And celebrate they shall.

They’re still here.

They’re still them.

They’re still together.

And as Beckett stated so succinctly… they’re “just getting started.”

]]> http://castletv.net/member-article-boom/feed/ 46 http://castletv.net/spoiler-andrew-marlowe-speaks-about-emotional-cliffhanger-for-season-finale/ http://castletv.net/spoiler-andrew-marlowe-speaks-about-emotional-cliffhanger-for-season-finale/#comments Tue, 30 Apr 2013 06:29:15 +0000 Trinxy http://castletv.net/?p=22038 Matt Mitovich from TVLine had time to sit down with Castle’s creator Andrew Marlowe and discuss about the season 5 finale and his thoughts for the next season:

What story were you wanting to tell with these last few episodes, leading into the finale?
Andrew Marlowe: The last couple episodes are about how [Rick and Kate] have been in a relationship for about a year now, and that’s about the time people start asking questions, about where things stand. They’ve been living in this fun bubble, but there comes a time where real life intrudes and things come in from the outside and force the characters to ask questions about where they’re going. By the time we get to “The Human Factor” (airing May 6), those questions will start aiming us towards some complications that come in our final episode, challenges to the relationship that both characters are going to have to confront.

With “The Squab & the Quail” airing ahead of schedule last week, what did viewers miss out on not having seen “Still” first?
Andrew Marlowe: Not too much – and I will let them discover that. But there are a couple of really important relationship moments and serious moments in “Still.” As you know, that episode, the 24th episode, was added very late in the game, so we took a very particular point of view on how we were going to get it done. And it turned out, I think, in spectacular fashion. It’s a great gift to our loyal fans. There are a couple of moments in there that they have to look forward to, that they’ll really enjoy.

For more discussion and spoiler scoop, please visit TVLine.

]]> http://castletv.net/spoiler-andrew-marlowe-speaks-about-emotional-cliffhanger-for-season-finale/feed/ 12 http://castletv.net/spoiler-tvline-talks-about-castle-finale/ http://castletv.net/spoiler-tvline-talks-about-castle-finale/#comments Tue, 30 Apr 2013 03:15:28 +0000 Admin http://castletv.net/?p=22042 TVLine discussed the Castle season 5 finale with creator Andrew Marlowe. Here’s what he had to say about the consequences of Beckett reconsidering what she wants out of her job and her relationship with Castle.

“It’s only human to ask those questions at this point,” series boss Andrew W. Marlowe explained as part of TVLine’s in-depth finale preview. “I don’t think it signals that there’s anything ‘wrong’ with the Castle/Beckett relationship, but I do think that she wonders what comes next — and as we get towards the end of the season, Castle himself is going to wonder what comes next. As a guy, he is somebody who doesn’t rush into commitment if things are working well the way they are.”

Elsewhere in the episode, the body of a young woman is found inside the water tank of a flop house — but one of many strange things about her death. “We have a great case,” says Marlowe, “but it kind of takes a back seat to wrestling with the bigger life issues that [Rick and Kate] are in the midst of.”

Source: TVLine

]]> http://castletv.net/spoiler-tvline-talks-about-castle-finale/feed/ 7 http://castletv.net/spoiler-season-finale-insights/ http://castletv.net/spoiler-season-finale-insights/#comments Thu, 25 Apr 2013 22:19:06 +0000 Admin http://castletv.net/?p=22032 Tell us Castle and Beckett are not breaking up in the finale! OK, I know you can’t answer that, but give us something to make us feel better? –Rida

Hmm. Would it make you feel better to have insight into how Andrew W. Marlowe decided wherever it is that Kate and Rick end up at 10:55 pm on May 13? When first planning a finale, the series creator explains, “You have a great map, but it’s like driving through fog a little bit – the closer you get, the clearer it gets. So about seven or eight episodes out, I knew ballpark where I wanted to land.” And versus yet another capper tied to Beckett’s mother’s murder, “I wanted a quieter, more emotional finale, without the fireworks,” he says. “In this one, something comes out of left field that both characters have to wrestle with, something that would be a challenge to any relationship.”

Source: TVLine

]]> http://castletv.net/spoiler-season-finale-insights/feed/ 32 http://castletv.net/spoiler-andrew-marlowe-talks-about-season-finale/ http://castletv.net/spoiler-andrew-marlowe-talks-about-season-finale/#comments Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:16:49 +0000 Trinxy http://castletv.net/?p=22022 Entertainment Weekly’s InsideTV had a chance to talk with Andrew Marlowe about the season finale. Here’s the scoop:

Should Castle/Beckett fans be worried?

Aside from a few bumps along the way, this season of Castle has been filled with lots of joy for Castle and Beckett — the “honeymoon period,” as executive producer Andrew Marlowe calls it. But will the May 13 finale bring an official end to this honeymoon?

“I think the finale’s goal is to ask some hard questions, and take a look at some preconceived notions and some assumptions that both characters may have that may or may not be accurate,” he elaborates.

Judging from the questions you fans sent in, though, I know there’s one question that’s been plaguing your minds: Should you be worried about Castle and Beckett’s relationship status. The answer? Well, it’s complicated: “I think whenever we go into a finale episode, of course, the fans should be worried about things,” Marlowe says. “But what we’re trying to do is find honest organic storytelling that’s more complicated than ‘should we be worried’ because I think ‘should we be worried’ implies a binary outcome — either X happens to Y happens and I think we’re trying to tell a lot more complicated story than that.”

For full article, tune into EW’s InsideTV.

]]> http://castletv.net/spoiler-andrew-marlowe-talks-about-season-finale/feed/ 17 http://castletv.net/spoilers-still-watershed/ http://castletv.net/spoilers-still-watershed/#comments Wed, 24 Apr 2013 19:52:47 +0000 Admin http://castletv.net/?p=22019 TVLine shares some spoilers about the remainder of the season.

On April 29 fans will get what the show boss hails as “a great gift”-slash-”trip down memory lane” in the form of the episode “Still,” which was postponed a week. A “bonus” episode added “very late in the game” by ABC and fleshed out with clips from many memorable scenes, Marlowe says it turned out “in spectacular fashion” and in real-time offers “a couple moments for our fans to look forward to.”

MAY 13 SEASON FINALE | Explaining the capper’s title, which was conceived by his writer-producer wife Terri Edda Miller, Marlowe says, “Every so often in life, you face a ‘watershed’ moment, and that’s an absolutely perfect title — especially since in our A-case we find a body in a water tank! It speaks to both the personal and professional aspect of the storytelling.” So… what sort of “Watershed” moment is on tap for Kate and/or Rick? “It’s an emotional finale,” Marlowe teases, serving up “a bit of a cliffhanger that I think will propel us into some great, complicated, interesting storytelling as we head into next season — assuming the TV gods are kind and grant us one!”

Source: TVLine

]]> http://castletv.net/spoilers-still-watershed/feed/ 12 http://castletv.net/member-article-the-squab-and-the-quail-game/ http://castletv.net/member-article-the-squab-and-the-quail-game/#comments Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:26:24 +0000 Trueheart http://castletv.net/?p=22000 This is a member contributed article. Would you like to submit an article or episode review? Use our submission form to contribute.

———

“So you think you got me figured out.” Kate remarks.

He cold reads her: “top of your class; youngest woman to make detective in New York City; highest closure rates; bucked protocol to save a Senator’s life.” Kate is impressed with the cold reading this time, for she has attained some closure in her mother’s case and is in a relationship; she is more mature and less susceptible to exposure and hurt.

Kate is very aware of him, his dynamic presence, accent, clothing, sophistication and charm. He recognizes Kate’s femininity and her talents. What woman would not be enchanted if only for a few moments with this powerful man whose attention is smoldering like a heat missile, so sexy so commanding?

“Do you have any idea how remarkable you are?” He asks. Kate remains silent and he concludes: “You don’t, do you?” He uses Rick’s own singular word.

He appreciates that she is beauty and intelligence personified. Why is she a cop? He wants to know why she pursued this occupation when the world could be her oyster, such a woman as she. His potent charm engulfs her.

Kate explains: “Someone close to me was killed; it changed things and it changed me.”

Pointedly he responds with charged words: “It’s amazing how fate changes lives.” His life, too, was changed by sorrow.

He is handsome, and debonair. Wealthy, distinguished, he is brilliant and profoundly successful. He exudes charm, silkily. The Commissioner orders Kate to personally protect him or at least stay with him, for he has requested her and only her, and with friends in high places he is not to be denied.

If you think this is Rick Castle speaking, the first time he and Kate worked together, you are wrong? Indeed, while they sifted through fan letters, Rick had much the same conversation with the beautiful detective. It’s all there. Rick was less polished then, but just as earnest, intrigued with a younger, beautiful Kate. This time, however, Kate encounters “uber Castle” as Andrew Marlowe describes Erik Vaughn.

Vaughn is a billionaire industrialist, investor, and inventor, genius, selected as one of the 100 most interesting people. Rick admires him, lists him number 8 of the people he would like to know or meet, or seriously respect. Kate certainly is not on that list, but is an afterthought. No thanks, Rick. “He’s impressive,” Kate reassures a jealous Rick. “But he’s not you.”

Yes, he isn’t Rick Castle, he out Castle’s Castle although Rick does say that this man would like to know Rick Castle, even be Castle… and Rick adds: “Lesser men aspire to be me.” Doesn’t every one?

Rick’s pomposity and insecurity, imagine both, make me feel for him. He is funny, but he is also acting pretty dense. And I cannot blame Kate at all; although I thought I might become annoyed with her.

Actually the episode was hysterical; I laughed out loud seeing Rick’s extreme nervousness and antics. I understood his jealousy and attempts to get Kate away from this poacher. And Gates was rude to him, more so than usual. I was sad for him trying so hard and only making things worse. How do you shut up when you hurt so much. And still risk exposure and appear ridiculous.

But Kate meets this handsome man at a very vulnerable time especially in her career outlook and in her relationship with Rick. Where is she going, so many concerns to sort out?

It should have been a clue; a sign from the universe, the GAME OVER screen- screaming headline, but Rick seems to have gone clueless the past few weeks. He lacks passion, and intensity around Kate. I thought they were comfortable in bed, last week in their cute cut offs and tee shirts and their discussions were real, but they should be edgy and more intensely aware of each other. Kate seems to initiate every cuddle or kiss.

Their undercover kiss of a few years ago rocked the Castle world, so, too, the “Always” shut the front door love scene. I’m not one for over-done lip lock, but it’s been pretty cool between them since “Murder” even “Santa,” a long time. I only mention this because Kate is feeling this lack of interest on Rick’s part.

The opening home scene begins with Rick playing the game with a kid in India. Rick talks to the gamer kid and is so involved in shoot ‘em up, a kid’s game that Kate cannot even get him to look at her, or get away from his play time. “I’ve got something for you,” the most beautiful woman with legs that don’t quit, siren-sings sweetly, enticing her man.

Rick hesitates to respond; he has to finish his play time. “Would you rather play with a kid in an imaginary world or one in a real world?” Rick considers that reprieve. “OMG, you actually have to think about this.” Kate is ticked off to put it mildly. What happened to the romance, the yearning, the passionate desire and love?

Then Rick decides to grant her an audience and says “Come over here.” Too late, Castle. And he answers his playmate in India: “NO, it’s not my mom; it’s worse.” Doesn’t that say all?

Kate cannot let it go despite Rick’s apologies on the way to work. But here she is at her sexiest and he cannot bother. “Are you saying I’m taking you for granted?” Well, yes, Rick; I love you like a mother, everyone will vouch for me, but this was not your greatest moment.

Kate gets a little pay back when Vaughn takes Rick down a peg when he commented to Rick’s grand introduction of himself his I am Richard Castle routine: “My mother loves your novels.” I’m not sure he gets that, and that must be a first. Rick is quite full of himself. But he notices Kate is impressed with the guy. “The things you notice when you’re paying attention, Castle.” Zing. And he deserves it.

Now squabs and quail are elite ways of saying pigeon or perhaps crow. Don’t take me to task for this, but the difference between these darn birds has eluded me ever since I heard the title. I know; I looked them up and can’t remember or decipher the definitions. One squats; the other nests or one is something else. Crow and drab to me. I don’t remember.

I guess that is the why even the waiter could not tell them apart and the wrong guy got poisoned. Apparently Erik was the target, but because of the crow mix up, corporate raider and investor Arthur Felder was poisoned. Yes, there is some metaphorical meaning here, squab and quail, crow, birds, fancy names, Rick and Erik, and I will leave you to it.

Of course, Rick tries to redeem his less than stellar performance by serving Kate a lovely coffee with a heart design; I was impressed at Christmas, but not so much this time. Kate asks him: “Is this you being jealous?”

“Yes” And is he ever. He runs down clues like a man mainlining caffeine, which he does do when sobering up the homeless man who saw the vest in the alley, proving that the busboy Cory Anderson was involved. Rick is on target and very resourceful. He truly wants to get rid of Erik.

Checking Anderson out, Ryan, Espo and Rick find the man shot dead. A bottle of the toxin is found in his possession proving he was involved in ‘Felder’s murder a go-for retriever of the deadly toxin and involved in the poisonous plot against Vaughn.

Rick’s jealousy hits the roof when Kate stays in the Presidential Suite in order to protect Vaughn from further attack: “One thing to be following him around, another to be shacking up with him,” Rick asserts. Kate cannot believe him and concludes: “You don’t trust me.”

At this point all it takes is for the charmer to say to Kate as he invites her to leave with him: “Shall we.”

“Yes!” No comment needed for that response.

Vaughn knows how to treat a beautiful woman and it starts with room service which Kate sends back and champagne which Kate agrees to taste, although Kate is all duty at first until Erik pops the cork right into his charming eye and is in need of a little ice and TLC

I don’t like this smarmy guy.

At this point they had the Vaughn and Kate discussion already mentioned, the one echoing Rick’s and Kate’s first talk.

Vaughn actually says: “I feel completely safe in your care.” It is getting piled on a bit at this point. Kate is edgy but still receptive. Erik asks the big question: “Are you and Castle…”

Kate hesitates and then says: “Yes.”

But she cannot tell this man if her love affair with Castle is serious when asked. She answers: “We’ve never really talked about it, that’s all.” That is enough. That is still the same problem Rick lambasted Kate for in “Knockout” before they were a couple. They kissed and they almost died in each other’s arms and he has no clue what they are. It hasn’t changed.
They have to talk to each other about what they mean to each other.

He has said he loves her several times, but she has not reciprocated. These two have no idea what they are to each other. And Erik only illuminates what Kate has been thinking about. Erik is “the Limey” scenario, déjà vu all over again as Yogi says, although I am not quite as nuts as I was with the dreaded Limey antics, for this episode is funny and Rick is clueless or hiding, afraid. Now that is a conclusion.

The scene shifts to Rick fuming and fussing while Alexis is trying to sooth his ruffled feathers with a calming tea, to no avail. Alexis understands when she reminds Rick: “Give her a little credit…Beckett is a professional and totally committed to their relationship.”

Floating in on a grand-diva entrance, Martha counters Alexis’ conclusion and really sends Rick over the edge with this observation: “Well, not totally committed.”

“What do you mean?” Rick’s whats are spoken like nothing else; so revealing and endearing, especially when he is caught at his clueless best. Someday I am going to track them down and have a field day; but I digress.

You have to hand it to Martha or sound the hallelujahs and clap. Finally: “Well, there isn’t a ring on her finger is there. Technically she’s not really committed at all.” You go girl.

Mama hit him over the head with the obvious, and still he is hard headed: “I’m going to need more of that tea,” he informs his daughter.

Indeed things get worse. I admit, I am prejudice and cannot stand this Prince Charming who moves in for a kiss. Kate declines, yes she does, and shots come flying through the window into the suite. Naturally Ryan has to question Kate, and it isn’t about when they went to bed as it was jokingly when Kate’s house blew up, but it’s bad enough.

Castle concludes that the trajectory of the bullet proves that Kate and Vaughn were mighty close when the bullets were flying. Finally Kate confesses that Vaughn kissed her. Ryan runs away from that one.

As it turns out Erik’s manager or lawyer David was embezzling millions of dollars, and before he was exposed, he had to dispose of Erik, only the squab and quail got interchanged, and the business investor Arthur dies instead.

Erick and Kate bid each other a fond goodbye next to Rick’s and Kate’s elevator, and as a territorial mother hen (enough with the darn birds), I did not like this landing at all.

Eric pronounces at his prophet best: “It’s amazing how you can know someone for ten years and not know them at all.” The subtext is killing me.

Kate tells him: “It’s over.” Have to think about that one.

“It’s an extraordinary woman you have there,” this guy tells Rick, using Rick’s and Kate’s word, the word Rick inscribed in his novel and in her heart, condescendingly teaching Rick a lesson. I hope he did

Rick agrees: “I know?”

“Do you?

At home Rick is planning on a treat just for Kate, to atone for his inattention. “Tonight it’s all about me,” he announces and I want to smack him although Kate laughs. Have you learned anything, Castle?

“Me, giving you a romantic full body message.” And the room is engulfed in candlelight and color, truly sweet.

“Where are we going?” Kate asks the man she loves. Didn’t they used to read each other’s eyes and talk in subtext? Where have these two soul-mates gone? Have they disappeared for a while to drive us singularly crazy only to return to make the angst all worth it. I know, not to worry. Marlowe and Miller et al. can turn a steam roller around in under two minutes and rather spectacularly I might add.

“To the bedroom.” Rick answers, unaware of Kate’s real needs.

Kate has that profoundly worried look on her face, the one she had at the end of “Significant Others.”

Will Castle get it, finally? I believe so.

I hope they both realize as they learn more about each other that love has many speeds: fast, slow; steady. It is sexy; it is comfortable; it is patient and kind; it as no ego.

Love faces life question and finds some answers, but all is not reveled in this mystery. And we would not want it to be that way.

Love hopes and endures opens and blossoms like the green shoots in snow, searching for the nurturing warmth of a new day.

]]> http://castletv.net/member-article-the-squab-and-the-quail-game/feed/ 64 http://castletv.net/member-article-the-squab-and-the-quail-where-are-we-going/ http://castletv.net/member-article-the-squab-and-the-quail-where-are-we-going/#comments Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:21:17 +0000 Shena http://castletv.net/?p=21999 This is a member contributed article. Would you like to submit an article or episode review? Use our submission form to contribute.

———

The most obvious of definitions of squab and quail are small fowl.  However, they also have other meanings:

Squab   [skwob]    noun

• Slang – to fight, when two or more physically express their feelings of indifference.

Quail  [kweyl]  verb

• Feel or show fear or apprehension

It’s Pride and Prejudice … Castle style.  When considering Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy, both are too proud and too prejudice against each other at various times.

When considering Castle and Beckett:  who is the Squab and who is the Quail?  At times, both are angry with the other, and at times both fear where they stand in their relationship.  Each of them is a squab at times, and each of them is a quail during other moments.

And Vaughn is the catalyst for Beckett and Castle taking a good look at what they mean to each other.

What they have been taking for granted.

And when Vaughn uses his connections to get close to Beckett, Castle can’t believe that the department is making Beckett “hang out with some womanizing rich guy against her will!”  Oh, the irony.

It was almost five years ago when Castle used his own connections with the Mayor to weasel his way into Beckett’s life, but her walls were high and hard to climb.  She was closed off.  Ryan pointed out in ‘Hell Hath No Fury’ that Beckett wasn’t “exactly what you’d call a ‘sharer’.”  She’d admittedly “built up this wall inside.”  And Castle made it his personal mission “to build a door in that wall, or put up a ladder, or dig a hole” in order to get her to open up.

Apparently, he did a better job than he thought.

A year ago, when Inspector Colin Hunt asked her about why she became a cop, she simply replied: “I guess it was just my calling.”  However, it’s now one year later and Castle has left Beckett without a protective wall, so when the charming billionaire Eric Vaughn asks her the same question, she readily admits that “someone close to [her] was killed, and that changed things… changed [her].”

Without her protective wall, her defences are down.

And due to their squabbling, Beckett is distracted, which allows the charismatic Vaughn to opportunity to kiss her.

Vaughn sees in Beckett what Castle saw in Beckett from day they met.  Like the way Castle profiled her in ‘Flowers For Your Grave’, Vaughn does the same thing.  He’s done his homework.  He knows that she “graduated at the top of [her] class, [she’s] the youngest woman in the history of the NYPD to make detective, [she] has the highest closure rate of anyone in the department, and … [she] bucked every protocol to save a Senator’s life.”

However, what really throws her is how he compliments her using the same words Castle used for years.  A few months ago when they were pouring over threatening letter written to Senator Bracken in ‘Recoil’, Castle noted that Beckett “really [is] remarkable.”  Now, Vaughn is making the same observation about her: “Do you have any idea how remarkable you are?”

One of the first times Castle sincerely complimented Beckett was in the hospital after Sorenson had been shot.  He called her “extraordinary.”  It’s a word that means so much to him that he wrote about her in the Heat Wave dedication.  And once again, Vaughn uses Castle’s own word to describe Beckett.

Essentially, Eric Vaughn is noticing those same aspects about Beckett that so many of her past relationships overlooked about her.  He seeing in her what Castle has always seen.  But because she has been feeling neglected by Castle lately, she struggles with how she should respond to Vaughn’s (not entirely unwelcome) attentions.

When Scott Dunn was gunning for Beckett back in season 2, Castle charmed his way into her apartment with a bottle of 2000 Châteauneuf-du-Pape.  He was “there to protect [her].”  But since her wall was firmly surrounding her heart, she declined the drink.  Now, three years later, she is in a hotel room (much as she was with Castle in L.A.) with an attractive, charming, wealthy man for reasons of personal protection, and again she’s offered a drink – this time champagne – but this time her wall is down, and she accepts.

When Castle discovered the champagne flutes – much like when Espo pointed out the wine glasses in Beckett’s apartment in ‘Tick, Tick,Tick’ – it is obvious that he wonders if something happened between Beckett and Vaughn.  However, it doesn’t appear as though she drank much, if anything, since the glasses are still pretty full.

But this doesn’t settle Castle’s nerves at all.

The green-eyed monster rears its ugly head within Castle once again.

A wealthy billionaire who he “aspires to be” is attracted to his girl… and she was in the presidential suite with said billionaire… and said billionaire kissed her.  And although she insisted that “it didn’t mean anything” to her and he says he trusts Beckett, Castle’s body language says something entirely different.

And she doesn’t know how to deal with everything she’s feeling.

Kate is afraid.  She’s afraid of her own feelings.  It has been almost a year since Castle told her that he loves her.  She has yet to say it to him.  From her perspective, Castle no longer seems to be as attracted to her as he had been.  “It wasn’t too long ago that [her] in a sexy outfit would get an immediate response from [him].”  She doesn’t know where she stands.  She’s afraid of the possibility that Castle may no longer feel the same about her as he did last year.  She’s afraid that he’s now settled and bored with her.

Castle once said that “the heart wants what the heart wants.”  Yet Vaughn struck a chord when he pointed out that “we’re all misled by our hearts sometimes.”

And in the end, Beckett’s face reveals the conflict going on within her – within her heart.  She admits to Vaughn that what she has with Castle is “complicated.”   Castle once tried to say the same thing to his mother in ’47 Seconds’, and she pointed out what is so obvious to everyone else except them:   “‘It’s complicated.’  So you say. Only it’s not. It’s not.”

It’s not.

They just have to “find their way.”

]]> http://castletv.net/member-article-the-squab-and-the-quail-where-are-we-going/feed/ 54 http://castletv.net/spoiler-season-finale-spoiler-scoop/ http://castletv.net/spoiler-season-finale-spoiler-scoop/#comments Tue, 23 Apr 2013 03:27:24 +0000 Trinxy http://castletv.net/?p=21974 In it’s recent photo gallery, TVGuide counted ABC’s Castle as “Much-Watch Finale” of this year. With that, there also was a little bit of spoiler talk:

Unlike Castle‘s previous two season finales, this year’s case, which involves a body found in a hotel water tank, has no direct connection to our heroes’ personal lives. But the episode will still pack an emotional punch once Beckett drops a bombshell. “They face the biggest challenge to their relationship that we’ve seen so far,” creator Andrew W. Marlowe says. “We find Castle and Beckett forced to confront the hard questions about what their relationship is based on and who they are. Questions start bubbling up, [like], ‘Where are we going?’” And the answers could impact everyone at the precinct. “The finale could potentially change everyone’s lives forever,” Marlowe teases.

For full photo gallery and more scoop on the season finales, tune in to TV Guide.

]]> http://castletv.net/spoiler-season-finale-spoiler-scoop/feed/ 19 http://castletv.net/video-interview-nathan-fillion-discusses-castle-and-his-character/ http://castletv.net/video-interview-nathan-fillion-discusses-castle-and-his-character/#comments Tue, 23 Apr 2013 03:12:08 +0000 Admin http://castletv.net/?p=21987 Nathan Fillion discusses Castle with ABC’s News 10 at the 100th episode celebration party in this extended interview.

]]> http://castletv.net/video-interview-nathan-fillion-discusses-castle-and-his-character/feed/ 7 http://castletv.net/interviews-superman-unbound-starring-stana-katic-molly-quinn-autographed-poster-giveaway/ http://castletv.net/interviews-superman-unbound-starring-stana-katic-molly-quinn-autographed-poster-giveaway/#comments Tue, 23 Apr 2013 02:18:42 +0000 Admin http://castletv.net/?p=21979 “A destructive force is devastating planets across the galaxy – with Earth next in its sights – and even Superman may not be capable of halting the destruction alone.”

The animated film “Superman Unbound” had it’s world premiere at Wondercon in Anaheim and Molly Quinn, Matt Bomer, Andrea Romano & Bob Goodman talked to us about the film.

Superman Unbound stars Castle cast members Stana Katic as Lois Lane and Molly Quinn as Supergirl and will be available on DVD and Blu Ray on May 7, you can Pre Order a copy now.

To win a copy of the Superman Unbdound poster signed by Molly Quinn tell us why you would like to win in the comments below.

Here are some photos of Molly signing at Wondercon and from the Superman Unbound panel.

 

]]> http://castletv.net/interviews-superman-unbound-starring-stana-katic-molly-quinn-autographed-poster-giveaway/feed/ 30 http://castletv.net/castle-flashback-friday-archive-files-23/ http://castletv.net/castle-flashback-friday-archive-files-23/#comments Fri, 19 Apr 2013 10:18:32 +0000 Trinxy http://castletv.net/?p=21964 Castle has returned from the hiatus and now we are drifting to the season end in full speed. only 4 weeks to go, are you ready, people?

This week, we are posting tweets from both Nathan and Stana.

Nathan, what this means?

ƃuıɥʇ ǝɥʇ :ɹǝʍsuɐ

— Nathan Fillion (@NathanFillion) December 6, 2010

Stana, during the shooting of the episode “Close Encounters of the Murderous Kind”

Mr Lyle Lovett is guesting on the show this wk. Yesterday he interrogated me. A 1st for Beckett. He’s lovely.

— Stana Katic (@Stana_Katic) October 14, 2010

This week’s video is from Christopher Brow @Castlegrip – about setting up a shoot in pullpen.

“Its really hard to do videos that doesn’t give away the show”

This week’s pictures are from Marta Evry @venice4change, Stana Katic  and Luke Reichle @RedCarpetLuke – featuring the bullpen and actors getting ready for takes.

Peaceful weekend for you all!

Lighting the #Castle precinct set.

Marta: One last #Castle set pix. Hope you guys enjoy season 4!

Luke: Here we see Nathan Fillion – having just come out of makeup, enjoying a (pre-empire) cup of tea with Seamus Dever.

Stana: Got a new notepad 4 my desk!!

]]> http://castletv.net/castle-flashback-friday-archive-files-23/feed/ 3 http://castletv.net/video-jon-huertas-on-home-family/ http://castletv.net/video-jon-huertas-on-home-family/#comments Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:43:49 +0000 Admin http://castletv.net/?p=21962 If you missed Jon on Home & Family when it aired here it is.

]]> http://castletv.net/video-jon-huertas-on-home-family/feed/ 3 http://castletv.net/behind-the-scenes-with-the-guest-stars-of-after-hours/ http://castletv.net/behind-the-scenes-with-the-guest-stars-of-after-hours/#comments Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:39:01 +0000 aamanda_88 http://castletv.net/?p=21929 The filming of “After Hours” brought us a new behind the scenes view of Castle, provided by the guest stars of the episode.

Tony Denison, better known to us as Mickey Dolan, tweeted about the filming and even promoted the episode.

https://twitter.com/RealTonyDenison/status/254356517392904192

https://twitter.com/RealTonyDenison/status/270769489828773888

https://twitter.com/RealTonyDenison/status/312284729468649472

While Patrick Fischler, who played Leo, gave us both tweets and pictures which are shown below.  His very first tweets were even about Castle since Stana introduced him to it or as he said “it’s all Stana’s fault!”

https://twitter.com/PFischler/status/257036474724253696

https://twitter.com/PFischler/status/312352820584124416

https://twitter.com/PFischler/status/270928583768285184

Patrick had nothing but good things to say about the cast.  He tweeted one night, “Finishing up shooting Castle_ABC. Pleasure to work with @Stana_Katic & @NathanFillion. Great crew. Great experience!”

He even joined fans watching the episode, when it aired, by tweeting about his character’s actions.   Finally, he gave us a sneak peek of Stana in the movie Big Sur which he is also in.  The picture can be seen below.

https://twitter.com/PFischler/status/270575687352586241

https://twitter.com/PFischler/status/270761934377345025

Jamison Haase, who played Agent Lucas, also teased the episode with a few tweets.

https://twitter.com/JamisonHaase/status/270628850172567553

For more behind the scenes tweets follow Jamison, Patrick, and Tony on Twitter.

“Shooting #Castle with the very lovely & very talented stana_katic at 2:30am.Could think of worse ways 2 spend a night!”

“Same prop guys on Castle_ABC as another little show I was on. #nostalgic “

“Finishing up shooting Castle_ABC. Pleasure to work with Stana_Katic & NathanFillion. Great crew. Great experience!”

“The luminous stana_katic in the trees of #bigsur “

]]> http://castletv.net/behind-the-scenes-with-the-guest-stars-of-after-hours/feed/ 0 http://castletv.net/minor-spoiler-abc-reschedules-mondays-episode-of-castle/ http://castletv.net/minor-spoiler-abc-reschedules-mondays-episode-of-castle/#comments Thu, 18 Apr 2013 05:36:52 +0000 Admin http://castletv.net/?p=21905 In the upcoming Castle episode titled “Still” Beckett’s life is on the line when she steps on a pressure sensitive bomb. After the devastating bombing at a marathon event in Boston last week which resulted in three people losing their lives and many more suffering horrific injuries, ABC has made the decision to move the episode which was due to air this Monday to the following week.

This means fast tracking the next episode “The Squab and the Quail” to air this Monday.

Fans should be aware, as Castle’s Stana Katic points out, that this last minute switch in schedule may result in some chronology inconsistencies between the two episodes. We hope fans will be considerate when discussing any continuity issues that may result from the schedule change.

https://twitter.com/Stana_Katic/statuses/324746967831965697

The schedule for the remainder of season 5 is as follows.

Episode 5:21	The Squab and the Quail (moved forward 1 week)	ABC	Apr 22	10pm
Episode 5:22	Still (delayed 1 week)	ABC	Apr 29	10pm
Episode 5:23	The Human Factor	ABC	May 6	10pm
Episode 5:24	Watershed (Season Finale)	ABC	May 13	10pm

]]> http://castletv.net/minor-spoiler-abc-reschedules-mondays-episode-of-castle/feed/ 16 http://castletv.net/spoiler-heading-towards-end-of-season/ http://castletv.net/spoiler-heading-towards-end-of-season/#comments Wed, 17 Apr 2013 07:24:34 +0000 Trinxy http://castletv.net/?p=21885 TVGuide’s Megabuzz article featuring Castle in there shares a bit of information about where the season is ending:

What can we expect for Castle and Beckett’s relationship as we head to the end of Castle‘s season? — Dana
TVGuide: The bumps that we’ve hinted at before will be exacerbated by two men who come into Beckett’s life. First, Beckett will be assigned to protect multimillionaire inventor Erik Vaughn (Ioan Gruffudd) — in his private hotel penthouse. “If Castle aspired to be someone, he’d aspire to be this guy,” creator Andrew W. Marlowe says. “Castle’s really determined to solve the case and get his girlfriend away from him.” During their alone time, Erik will ask Beckett some tough questions about where her relationship with Castle is headed. Unfortunately, as  Beckett wrestles with those questions in the season’s penultimate episode, she’ll cross paths with a federal investigator (Carlos Bernard) who might offer some different answers. “He opens Beckett’s eyes on other possibilities that might be out there for her,” Marlowe teases.

To find out more, please see TVGuide article. 

]]> http://castletv.net/spoiler-heading-towards-end-of-season/feed/ 24 http://castletv.net/castle-season-5-finale-has-a-title/ http://castletv.net/castle-season-5-finale-has-a-title/#comments Wed, 17 Apr 2013 05:37:25 +0000 Admin http://castletv.net/?p=21873 Fans went crazy last year when we revealed the title of the season 4 finale “Always”.  Now, a year later we are excited to be able to share the title of this year’s finale.

The 24th episode of season 5 will be known as “Watershed“.  Series creator Andrew W. Marlowe credits Terri Edda Miller with coming up with the title via twitter.

The title “Watershed” will surely motivate fans to begin all manner of wild speculations about just what the season finale will entail.  The final airs May 13.

@terriedda Thanks for the perfect title!

— Andrew W. Marlowe (@AndrewWMarlowe) April 17, 2013

Watershed Definitions:

• “the area of land where all of the water that is under it or drains off of it goes into the same place.”
• “an important point of division or transition between two phases“

]]> http://castletv.net/castle-season-5-finale-has-a-title/feed/ 51 http://castletv.net/behind-the-scenes-the-castle-crew/ http://castletv.net/behind-the-scenes-the-castle-crew/#comments Wed, 17 Apr 2013 03:16:55 +0000 Trinxy http://castletv.net/?p=21688 We know a lot about Castle’s actors. We see them in pictures, videos and interviews all the time and we are used to their faces. But what we don’t see is the hundreds of people behind the scenes who are actually producing the series what we know as “Castle”. Without the hard work of every one of these people Castle would not be the great show that it is and they deserve to be recognized.

When you go to the IMDb page of Castle and you look all the names who have been in one way or another connected to making of the show – there are hundreds of names there. We owe them all a big thanks, because they are all the reason we have the show in the first place.

This article consists only of people introduced to fans through social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram).

Firstly, we should all be familiar with Andrew W. Marlowe @AndrewWMarlowe . As the showrunner and creator of Castle, Andrew keeps a watchful eye on all things (writing, filming, editing, music, post-production, novels etc) to ensure there is a sense of consistency and to keep the characters true to themselves. In addition to the day to day running of the show Andrew has written many amazing episodes including the pilot episode “Flowers For Your Grave”, “Cuffed”, “Always”, “Hunt” and more.

Rob Bowman (Director of “Flowers for your Grave”, “After the Storm”, “Murder He Wrote”, “Hunt” and many more) is an executive producer and director on Castle and together with Andrew, he has kept the show running since day 1. Rob frequently directs the episodes Andrew Marlowe writes. In Rob’s own words (from Castle Con 2012), Andrew usually writes something really difficult to his scripts so Rob will always have a puzzle to solve while figuring out the direction of the episode. Rob says that Andrew does that for just pure fun to see him squirm. To daate, Rob has solved every puzzle that Andrew has thrown his way.

 

Terri Edda Miller @TerriEdda has worked as a Producer and writer on Castle since season 2. She has written the episodes “Poof! You’re dead”, “Pretty Dead”, “Cuffed”, “Always” and “The Lives of Others”.

As a producer Terri has contributed to almost half (51) of the episodes to date.

Terri was one of the first from the Castle team to actively reach out to fans, frequently responding to fan questions on Twitter giving them a sense of value and letting them knowing the Castle team care about their opinions.

Because Terri is married to Andrew Marlowe you can often spot them in photos together (see below) and fans have been enjoying their Castle-Beckett like banter on Twitter.

Bill Roe has been working on Castle since 2009, primarily as Director of Photography but he has taken on the role of Director and together with John Terlesky is one of the most called back directors on Castle, he has directed over 15 Castle episodes including “Target”, “Undead Again”, “The Limey”.

Some of the less known crew members include Editors Marta Evry @venice4change and Warren Bowman @warrenbowman,  (not related to the “other” Castle Bowmans: Rob, Chuck & Stephen).  Both Marta and Warren work as editors in Castle and they are also married to each other. Marta is a very avid tweeter, so many of you may know her from there. Marta has edited the episodes including “Always, “Undead Again”, “Cops & Robbers”, “Cuffed”, “Rise” and more. Warren’s episodes include “Murder, He Wrote”; “The Limey”; “The Blue Butterfly”, “Heroes and Villans” and more.

Jonathan Frakes @jonathansfrakes is a guest director who has visited the Castle set for at three episodes “Kill The Messenger”, “The Final Frontier” and “The Fast and the Furriest”. He also made a cameo appearance in “The Final Frontier” as Richard Castle’s “biggest fan”.

 

Every episode of Castle is usually filmed with 2 cameras (A and B cameras). Depending on the episode, they can rent more cameras with the crews, but most of the time, there are 2 cameras around. Lets meet the men behind the cameras.

A-camera crew consists of cameraman Steph, his first assistant camera - SuperDave and dollygrip Chris @castlegrip. Steph took over the work of Mark (A-camera cameraman) who worked for Castle until the end of 4th season.

Meet Steph:

Meet SuperDave:

Meet Christopher:

Meet Mark (former A-camera cameraman):

The B-camera crew consists of our favourite cameraman Andrew (@AndrewBikichky), first assistant camera Chris and dollygrip Pete.

Meet Andrew:

Meet Chris:

Meet Pete:

If you didn’t understand how the crew works, here’s something that may help you:

Kate Sargeant is a writer on Castle and we know her as @LilAngelK8. Kate has written 3 episodes for Castle, the most recent one being “The Final Frontier”. “The Mistress Always Spanks Twice” was the first episode Kate wrote for any TV show, she wrote the episode while she was on staff as a writer’s assistant in season 2 and she became a writer in season 3.

Meta Valentic works in production staff in Castle and we all know her as @MetaV on twitter. Sometimes she posts amazing behind the scenes pictures of Castle and communicates with Castle fans.

Around the camera, there is electrical and lighting department at work, making sure that everything runs smoothly. Let’s meet the crew!

Jono (the chief lightning technician):

Best boy grip Joe:

Key grip Tony:

Grip Gor:

Grip Graeme:

Here are videos of Grips working or in their free time:

Meet the non-camera crew, working behind the scenes of Castle.

Castle costume designer Luke Reichle (@RedCarpetLuke):

 

Castle’s first assistant director Rich Sickler:

First assistant director Barry K. Thomas:

Associate producer Lisa Schomas (@lisaschomas):

First Assistant Director Rich Sickler:

Music supervisor Tricia Halloran and script supervisor (Queen of continuity) Tricia Ronten:

 

Nathan Fillion’s stunt double Paul Scott and frequent actor in Castle playing uniformed officer L. T. Tolliver @Oftenbob.

Production sound mixer Ron Cogswell, sound utility Ben and boom operators John and Howie.

Prop guy Steve and Camera AC Tyler (known from the bloopers):

Post production team Stephen Bowman, Mark, Bart and Justin:

The people shown in this article are only minority of the people who work for Castle. The crew and the energy behind our favourite show is way bigger than we imagine. I hope this article made you understand the scope of the work that is put in to producing the show like Castle and how much it really takes. We are forever thankful for cast and crew members that actively communicate with the fans in twitter and post awesome those awesome BTS pictures, used in this article.

Finally, here are some group pictures of Castle crew’s everyday works:

Check out JR, Dan, Richie, Romy & Drew, badass PA staff!

A few of the #castle women behind the scenes

A-camera under the stairs (Chris, Rob and Steph).

Grip brothers ready to unload a truck.

Castle’s grips.

Friday in the park. It’s great being outside (B-camera).

A-camera crew in Season 4, resting under the umbrella.

B-camera crew.

Warren Bowman, Rob Bowman and Andrew Marlowe.

Camera crew (Both A and B cameras in one picture).

Camera crew rolling poses.

Griptrix has been taken over by camera crew.

Camera crew “Always” (Mark, Chris, Andy, Pete).

Bill Roe, Marta Evry, Luke Reichle.

James Patterson, Stephen Cannell, Rob Bowman and Nathan Fillion.

James Patterson, Andrew Marlowe, Stephen Cannell.

James Patterson, Andrew Marlowe, Stephen Cannell

Castle writers with People’s Choice award!

“Have u ever seen 7 grips fly?” Overheard on #Castle set!

]]> http://castletv.net/behind-the-scenes-the-castle-crew/feed/ 10 http://castletv.net/member-article-what-do-you-believe/ http://castletv.net/member-article-what-do-you-believe/#comments Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:50:58 +0000 Shena http://castletv.net/?p=21795 This is a member contributed article. Would you like to submit an article or episode review? Use our submission form to contribute.

———

No matter how hard they try, neither Scooby nor Daphne can manage to keep Shaggy out of trouble.

Certain cases are definitely Beckett-flavoured… because “she likes the freaky ones.”  Others are most definitely Perlmutter-flavoured.  He began by collaborating with Lanie on the “strangers on a boat” murder in ‘The Double Down,’ and eventually, he ended up landing all of those cases that seem to intrigue and amuse Castle the most — much to his annoyance (including a liquid-nitrogen frozen Chef Wolf;  a strangled beauty-pageant contestant;  a zombie attack; death by “laser blaster”;  and a DVD possessed by evil spirits).

And now, Perlmutter lands another winner — a murder involving Sasquatch.  Though Permutter always manages to humble Castle via his cutting wit, this time the capricious writer finally one-ups the often-sordid medical examiner.  Although Perlmutter insists that anyone who believes in Big Foot “is an ass”, Castle reminds him that “is a common assertion amongst the uninformed.”  (Point, Castle.)

Drawing upon episodes such as ‘Demons’ and ‘Scared to Death’, Castle and “Castle Jr.” are at it again in their belief in the supernatural as they face off against Beckett and Esposito’s belief in what is tangible.  The two skeptics have no idea who Darrell Meeks is, while “the believers” can’t even fathom that they don’t know who Dr. Darrell Meeks is!  (Doesn’t everyone know the foremost expert on Big Foot?)  Moreover, Ryan fills in very well in Castle’s place to be a source of annoyance to Perlmutter by focusing on the claw marks.

Furthermore, in true Castle fashion, “he touches things” again — including examining the rare Yeti finger and making friends with Moonshine the gorilla.  Also, the mystery-solver in him is determined to discover who might be stealing his food.  Thus, in a very Castle-esque move, he booby-traps his refrigerator.  In ‘Last Call,’ he admitted that a successfully booby-trapped fridge is how he “protect[s] [his] stash from G-men and mobsters.”  Alexis fell victim to his trap once, and she falls victim to it again – this time being forced to embrace her inner-smurf  (no Avatar jokes from Castle this time).

And while Castle manages to capture his food-thief, the mysterious Big Foot continues to elude him.

Apparently, people have “been hunting Big Foot for over four-hundred years.”  Castle even notes that both President Theodor Roosevelt and Dr. Jane Goodall were open to the possibility of the existence of a Sasquatch.  However, no matter what Castle suggests, Beckett insists that his theories are “ridiculous,” and she refuses to give much consideration to “the giant clown feet.”  She refuses to believe in Castle’s theories.

And this is the theme that is so beautifully woven throughout the episode:  What do you believe in?

All of the characters are passionate with regards their individual views and beliefs.

Alexis gave all of her money to a cause she believed in – creating green space on the roofs of buildings to help reduce the effects of pollution in the city.  She believes in people and what they can accomplish. When she was first interning with Lanie, Alexis stated that working in the morgue “is the first thing that’s made [her] feel like [she’s] doing something important, valuable.”  Essentially, she believes in making a difference in the world.

Beckett has revealed time and time again that no matter how many crazy theories Castle concocts, she is always going to hunt the person responsible for murders… “emphasis on the word person.”  However, with regards to life itself, Castle has had an effect on her.  In ‘He’s Dead, She’s Dead’, Castle tried to have her realize that if she doesn’t “even believe in the possibility of magic, [she] will never ever find it.”  The change has been gradual, but she finally feels safe enough to admit to Castle that she does believe in magic… the everyday kind of magic.  The magic she can touch, see, taste and feel: “The green shoots that pop through the snow in February… the Flat Iron building… the way that [she] feels when [she] hears Coltrane.”

Admitting this belief is a big step for her, especially considering it took her almost five years to acknowledge to Castle: “You are ruggedly handsome.”

Conversely, Castle admits that he wants to “reach for the unknown.”  He likes to believe in the possibility of the impossible because there are so many things in the world that have already been explored, examined and explained.  There are so few mysteries left in the world.  There are so few mysteries left in life.  But life can still surprise you. For Castle, people need to be open to the possibility of anything because that’s “what makes us grow.”

But of course, no matter how logical Beckett is in her views, she still can’t logically explain the mysterious phenomenon that is “us” (that indefinable connection between herself and Castle).

And although they may differ with regards to various beliefs, over the past five years, they have revealed that they fundamentally agree on the idea that as long as there is a dream, there is hope.  As long as there is hope, there is joy in living.  And though it has been a long journey, the hope they both held on to has led to joy.

They believe in each other… and that is magic.

]]> http://castletv.net/member-article-what-do-you-believe/feed/ 21 http://castletv.net/member-article-the-fast-and-the-furriest-believe/ http://castletv.net/member-article-the-fast-and-the-furriest-believe/#comments Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:49:46 +0000 Trueheart http://castletv.net/?p=21798 This is a member contributed article. Would you like to submit an article or episode review? Use our submission form to contribute.

———

“It is possible; you just have to be “open” to it, because at any moment life can surprise you.” In “The Fast and the Furriest,” Rick exhorts Kate to believe, to be open; this is the code that guides his life. Open to life’s possibilities, magic, myths, inanities and truths, a hopeful person, Rick gradually becomes the perfect partner and man for Kate…always.

When Rick appears on the literal trail along with Kate, searching for a murderer aka Bigfoot or Sasquatch, Rick, dressed in his hunter jumpsuit and cap, enthralled boy scout or hunter, loaded with supplies to capture Sasquatch, I recall the many times Rick and Kate were on the trail of something…unusual, and what fun and chemistry the two lovers, Rick and Kate exude, a fine tribute to the writing, acting and fans.

Now we know that Rick is a happy, believer in all things surreal or perhaps unreal, the dreamer, and Kate, real, with her eye rolls and exasperation is a “disbeliever.” They do pull each other’s chains, tease and joke but with love. However, we need to look deeper into what Kate does believe in. And we find out in this episode.

How many times has Rick mentioned magic, Santa, or the super-natural? And Kate responds:

“Why is it so important to you that I believe all this stuff about fates, psychics, and Santa Claus?”

“Because, if you don’t even believe in the possibility of magic, you will never ever find it.”

Seeing is believing skeptics say, but Rick might adhere to Dr. Wayne Dyer’s teachings: “When you believe it, you will see it,” in love and all life endeavors. But Kate sometimes has a smile on her face when she seems to discredit her own beliefs in Santa and magic. She has freed herself and given herself permission to enjoy life again.

Kate does believe; her grandfather takes her as a child to a magic shop every week we learn, and young Kate thrives with delight. Kate tells Rick he would have liked her grandfather when she spies Rick, head encased in a magic box found in a magician’s lair. Rick is thrilled with the compliment.

Kate isn’t a total naysayer. Rick brings out her softer side, the one she hides for most of her adult years, not enjoying the luxury of free- spirited play since her mother’s murder, hurting, building walls, to block, separate and shatter her life. But Kate’s walls have fallen with counseling, and with Rick’s help and steadfast presence.

Captain Montgomery tells Kate in” Knockout:” “I could’ve kicked Castle to the curb years ago, any time I wanted to. The only reason I kept him around this long was ’cause I saw how good he was for you. …you weren’t having any fun before he came along. We speak for the dead. That’s the job. We are all they’ve got once the wicked rob them of their voices. We owe them that. But we don’t owe them our lives.”

Rick, a sunny man, most days, lightens her burdens, eases her heart, giving Kate the gift of shared laughter.

At first Kate complains about Rick acting like a nine year old child on a sugar rush, which does describe his behavior at times. Indeed, the man who must explore everything: “He who touches things” does just that, everywhere, sometimes to his detriment, or amusement, ours and Kate’s that is; to wit: wagging the Sasquatch finger or firing the Thorian blaster, then afraid of radiation damage and hair fallout.

Indeed we laugh at his knocking on wood and vocalizing, and his technique to lure Bigfoot, (Kate so patient), but, of course, Alexis can really do the wookie calls just perfectly. I wonder if there is a police code for BIGFOOT in the phone system. Perhaps Perlmutter, in his pure grouch mode, might know, but he doesn’t know much about it when it comes to zombie arising from his slab in the morgue.

Their cases always seem to garner the unusual, unbelievable. Rick “close encounters” with UFOs and “They’re here,” ESP, psychics, voodoo, magic, ghosts, Ghostbusters, and demons. ”Believe.” Rick beseeches Kate in “He’s Dead, She’s Dead,” leaving Ryan and Esposito to wonder just what is going on here.

Years ago a psychic predicted that a beautiful woman would come and live in Rick’s loft with him. Yes, Rick does mention his mother comes to live with him. But beautiful Kate parks her clothes and personals in Rick’s loft and is very comfortable in the kitchen and the bedroom.

The psychic reveals to Kate that an Alexander will be very important to her and one day will save her life. Richard Edgar Castle delights in revealing his birth name to Kate: Richard Alexander Rodgers. (And Castlefreak49 knows this is a sign.)

Vampires, zombies, mummies, curses, super heroes, haunted horrors, tigers, missing heads, numerous frozen ones, never fail to appear, to spook Rick and/or Kate, providing some fears and laughter.

In “Undead Again” Rick proclaims to all: “My friends; that is a zombie. The killer is a zombie.” And he high fives it and high tails it out of the precinct. He is a believer that’s for sure. However, later he confides to Ryan: “I believe in annoying Beckett.” Ryan knows; he sees how they are getting along again.

This is not Rick’s last case with Kate, for Rick knows they are bound together for tomorrow and for always.

In the end Kate confides to Rick that she has been in counseling and doing the work to heal. Kate wants Rick to be there by her side when the wall that separates them comes down and Rick promises to be there “only without the zombie makeup.”

Kate’s response is very telling. She wants him to wear the make- up; she likes him in it; she accepts him for who he is. Rick then responds: “I’ll make it work.” They both are learning. To make it work.

In other cases an axe murderer cleaves the victim in two, for others an axe in the back will do. Don’t forget eyeball prints, and Gemini dolls, and gun battles and duels of epic proportion even the one with 200 year old bullets.

Serial killers, and phony thespians, not to mention in the same breath, mind you, Indy fedora Jones, Rick Castle Blanca, mobsters and Russians and their tats, pompous idiots, card playing authors and misguided ones of all sorts make the scene.

Play within a play, other’s lives, betrayal and strangers on a train/boat, or rear window views, and Kate’s wrecked loft.

Then add four arcs: bombs, fire, ice, water and a touch of Frost wisdom:

“Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if I had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.”
Robert Frost

Uncover Rick’s and Kate’s first and second loves; the Rick repeats. Love’s poor timing disheartens, and destroys, so star crossed. Heartbreak takes its own time to heal. Love comes slowly but dispels the loneliness.

“CIA is a popular choice with you,” Kate accuses, Bond, too, author, spy, father included choice now, on so many levels. With radiation, locked isolated storage- lockers, frozen or otherwise, spies; fools and fakes and some super con fanatics, freaks or devotees, we take our pick, enough dilemmas, and villains to go around.

“The butler did it.” What else is left?

BIGFOOT!

Who else could direct this episode but Jonathan Frakes of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” fame and also director of “The Final Frontier” of “Castle” fame, another episode about believing in one’s self and taking on interesting personas and challenging one’s beliefs and horizons.

Additionally, Mr. Frakes once hosted a television series entitled: “Beyond Belief” wherein the challenge is to discriminate between fact- based tales and fabricated tales. Does this fact ever fit? Also, the episode was fantastic. I screamed with laughter and could not wait to see what would happen next.

Indeed, now I must begin to unravel the story of “The Fast and the Furriest” or the wild and the woolliest. The body of Anne Cardinal, renowned doctor in Evolutionary Biology is dumped at a hospital, savagely bludgeoned, her face ripped apart.

In a juxtaposed scene, Rick is scrounging in his refrigerator for leftovers, meat to cook for breakfast, only to find the steak is gone, and Martha accusing him of sleep eating. Rick, however, claims he never “sleep “ated” or eaten or whatever. Alexis never took the food. Just how does this tidbit tie into the general plot or theme?

A Castle, Beckett investigation lead brings the two soul-mates to Haven House, a primate sanctuary for retired, movie- star apes, and there we observe the funniest, furriest scene between Rick and the gorilla Moonshine.

Naturally, he who must touch or see all makes contact with the gorilla, fortunately through the glass gate. Moonshine tears the head off a baby doll, raps at the glass for Rick’s attention, threatens and scares the heck out of him.

Back and forth Rick and Moonshine interact until Moonshine makes the throat slicing gesture, signaling enough of this human or maybe not enough attention. The face- off didn’t go too well as Rick retreats jumpy scared.

On the way back to the station Rick decides the monkeys are taking over a la the “Planet of the Apes” and Kate, knows Moonshine simply lusts after “the ruggedly handsome” Rick. The joking, the patience, the respect between Kate and Rick and the ape’s antics, the monkey face off are really quite hilarious.

Next we track down the owner of Bad Ass, a pit bull, Eddie Maslon, not the killer but the man who dumped the body at the hospital. He tells them where to find the location.

In the alley Rick discovers footprints, giant foot prints. Along with her blood and the wound, “It all adds up to one thing,” Rick concludes. So obvious: “She was killed by Bigfoot,” a perfectly sensible deduction. But Kate sticks with the normal footprints also found.

Next on the list is Dr. Daryl Meeks, another Bigfoot expert whom Anne calls before she dies. From him we get the lowdown, not surprising, but his wife is a skeptic, and Rick sure sympathizes with the strange doctor.

Rick is all agog with the Yeti stories and the already mentioned finger or something similar he removes from a glass case and proceeds to wag before Kate and the good Doctor. Kate struggles to keep a straight face with the loonies, and so do we.

Meanwhile Sasquatch stories, entrance Rick, Kate rolls her eyes, and we learn that Anne was being pressured to participate in a television show offering one million for locating and capturing …BIGFOOT.

At his sardonic best, Doctor Perlmutter informs the B team, that Anne swallowed a pendant, a most worthy clue.

Thanks to Espo’s and Ryan’s hunting skills, another culprit gets thrown in to the suspect pool, a big Yeti hunter and Australian adventurer aptly named Chase Diggins, he with a prosthetic arm and hand. Claw anyone? According to semi- believer, Castle bud Ryan, Diggins is a cross between “Crocodile Dundee meets Indy meets Ted Nugent.”

Fear accompanies Espo’s and Ryan’s descent into Diggins’ dark, lair, terrifying jungle noises screeching and belching out, as they nab the mighty hunter. But on the q t Ryan has a secret interest in “Bigfoot among Us,” on the computer. He’s been doing some research. Espo would be embarrassed for him if he knew.

Apparently Chase came to New York City to hunt Sasquatch out of revenge for his severed arm and finds Anne stamping fake Sasquatch foot prints in the alley way. Diggins then informs Kate, to Rick’s delight that she, Kate, is “squatting under the wrong bush.” When Chase finally sees the picture of Anne’s body, he blithely cries out: “Little bitch found my Bigfoot.”

With great skills a technician using Anne’s cell phone, and the tower pings, locates the crime scene, deep in the woods of a 10,000 acres Nature Preserve, even narrowing the search down to 2 square miles. Oh, Castle, do you want to take a hike?

Back at the fort the B team has been working hard catching Kurt Wilson Justine’s boyfriend and a prime suspect.

Before the great Bigfoot expedition, Rick and Kate sit comfortably in bed in Rick’s loft, Rick reading “My Walk with Bigfoot,” a title too hilarious, the scene so domestic and endearing. Darling Kate asks her lover: “Is there anything you don’t believe in?”

Hard pressed for an answer Rick responds: “Can’t think of anything.” In an honest discussion Rick acknowledges that Kate doesn’t believe in Bigfoot, zombies or ghosts? He then asks:”What do you believe in?”

Something important is happening. Kate opens up to Rick. “I believe in every day magic of life. Things I can see and touch.” Kate loves “green shoots that pop through the snow,” and the way John Coltrane’s saxophone makes her feel…alive.

In a heartfelt exchange Rick tells Kate that he too can appreciate the everyday, but “why not live in the possible.” Rick believes that there are “no mysteries left with everything mapped out.” But Rick does that mean you have solved all of the mystery that is Kate, the mystery you thought you could never solve?

“Still people reach for the unknown; that’s what makes us grow.” Rick concludes.

And as Robert Browning once wrote: “Ah, a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for?”

Kate has a better idea and a revelation to be savored and examined: “There is still one unequivocal, mysterious phenomenon that I still believe in …us.”

Rick agrees. Also he understands: “There are plenty of mysteries in the everyday.”

The next mystery is a bit more difficult. Rick and Kate briefly kiss and are disturbed by a trap snapping. Alexis is caught stealing the food and runs out of the house, the unraveling denouement to come later, of course.

As it turns out Anne was involved with solving the murder of her friend Justine Bollen and assisting her boyfriend Kurt Wilson, who was hiding from the authorities in the woods. Where do we get the names, Justine and Kurt, so appropriate?

Back to the woods we go our intrepid explorer and stalwart cop. They traipse through the woods, Rick talking a blue streak, vocalizing for Bigfoot and beating logs along the way. His orange shirt and hunter jump suit including cap and back pack show a man ready for anything, including Bigfoot. Kate’s eyes are in serious jeopardy of rolling out of their sockets.

Rick and Kate, Nathan and Stana are masters of sight gags and comedy. A book will be written about them somewhere down the road of life. But swoosh; they fall into a trap; Rick mentions his supplies, none of which I remember, except the fact that he can make a fire.

Next Kate climbs on Rick’s shoulders, mashing and squashing him, and his cap, a bit more intimate than “Cuffed” or “Demons” and sweetly reminiscent, Rick pushing Kate’s legs, Kate barking at him to stay still.

Finally Kate flops on the top, but how does Rick get out he truly wonders? Before Kate sets off for the car to get a rope, she does manage this dig about poetic justice: “You set a trap for Alexis and now someone or thing has set one for you.”

“Promise me you’ll come back. Seriously, hurry back.” And Rick replies to himself a weak “ok.”

Would you believe the monster returns growling at Rick…It looks like Sasquatch, smells like Sasquatch; it must be the Bigfoot himself. Kate returns ready to shoot the monster; the monster falls backward into Rick’s trap, and all is revealed.

Daryl Meeks is the Bigfoot impersonator. He is still a believer; he just wanted to follow Anne; and certainly the mating calls he heard an hour ago prove Sasquatch is in the area. But he does know the exact whereabouts of a bloody club.

To end the abuse, Justine was about to report Professor Devlin who ran the Primate Haven for Moonshine and the apes. It seems that he was obsessed with Justine and stalked her. He had been release from four schools over the past six years. If Justine reported him, he would lose everything. Anne suspected him and was killed for her knowledge. The pendant helped exposed the serial stalker and murderer, for Devlin took it as a trophy.

With Justine’s boyfriend happily settled, continuing Anne’s and Justine’s Sasquatch work in the wilderness, Rick returns home to deal with Alexis. It turns out Alexis ran out of her father’s generous allowance and needed food. Alexis claims that she understands her dad and knows that he believes in unbelievable things. She doesn’t judge him.

But Alexis does say rather pointedly: I’m not the first person (in the family) to do something stupid for what they believe in.

Alexis says: “I believe in people.” And Jonah. Jonah needs money to support his efforts to clean up the city air.

Together, Father and daughter walk out to get dinner; Rick is open to meet Jonah and still no borrowing…but

“I believe in people, too,” Rick says as he leaves.

]]> http://castletv.net/member-article-the-fast-and-the-furriest-believe/feed/ 17 http://castletv.net/spoilers-andrew-marlowe-teases-upcoming-episodes/ http://castletv.net/spoilers-andrew-marlowe-teases-upcoming-episodes/#comments Tue, 16 Apr 2013 07:37:14 +0000 Trinxy http://castletv.net/?p=21680 Marisa Roffman from Gimmemyremote.com had a chance to ask from Andrew Marlowe about the future episodes of Castle. Here is what she found out:

Castle and Beckett have come across all sorts of unfathomable things in their four-plus years together, but Monday’s episode, “The Fast and the Furriest,” could put them in the path of their craziest foe yet.

“We have a really fun episode where in a traditional CASTLE way it looks like Bigfoot might be our killer,” Marlowe previewed about the hour. “So that’s our chance to take a look at the genre and the supernatural stuff out there in a fun, yet credible way.”

The following week (April 22nd) is the newly ordered bonus hour, “Still,” which Marlowe has deemed an “an emotionally charged episode” where Beckett accidentally triggers a pressure-sensitive bomb while investigating a case. So it’s a bit understandable that the April 29th episode, “The Squab and the Quail,”is a little bit lighter in tone.

“Beckett is roped into protecting a Steve Jobs/Elon Musk-type character [played by RINGER's Ioan Gruffudd], who is wealthy, innovation, and handsome,” Marlowe teased. “He’s sort of the uber Castle. And of course, this sets Castle off and makes him insanely jealous. It’s really fun to watch how Castle responds to this now that they’re a couple. It would be as if Beckett had to protect George Clooney, in terms of Castle’s reaction.”

For full article, please tune in to Gimmemyremote.com

]]> http://castletv.net/spoilers-andrew-marlowe-teases-upcoming-episodes/feed/ 15 http://castletv.net/spoiler-sneak-peeks-for-episode-520/ http://castletv.net/spoiler-sneak-peeks-for-episode-520/#comments Fri, 12 Apr 2013 02:08:35 +0000 Admin http://castletv.net/?p=21673 Sneak Peeks for Episode 5:20 The Fast & the Furriest

]]> http://castletv.net/spoiler-sneak-peeks-for-episode-520/feed/ 2 http://castletv.net/behind-the-scenes-of-the-100th-episode-the-lives-of-others/ http://castletv.net/behind-the-scenes-of-the-100th-episode-the-lives-of-others/#comments Wed, 10 Apr 2013 11:20:30 +0000 Trinxy http://castletv.net/?p=21541 Behind the Scenes of the 100th episode “The Lives of Others”

The big one-oh-oh is a huge milestone to cross in any show. This year, Castle reached that number! From their rocky start, they have made it to year 5, where the viewer numbers are rising to new heights and the show gets more and more fans by the day. 100th episode is and was a big success and it was celebrated with a cake and press-party, but any of this didn’t meddle with the shooting of the episode.

According to Castle’s cameraman Andrew Bikichky, they did need a extra day for the special episode, but otherwise, everything went smoothly like with every other episode. With new extra day for 100th episode, they doubled up the units and made everything work with extra time.

There was a lot of press for the event, I’m sure they’ll be publishing a few pics of cast too. Cake was delicious. ‘Cake Boss’ level of cake

— Andrew Bikichky (@AndrewBikichky) February 27, 2013

“@castlegolfgirl2: @dandelion_9 was it any good? Chocolate?”Cake was really good. Light and not too sweet

— Andrew Bikichky (@AndrewBikichky) March 1, 2013

While shooting the episode, they crashed the toy helicopter for quite a few times before they got the shot they needed. Also, Andrew shares that they were shooting Castle’s point of view of the people in their apartments, 3 different sizes to shoot at once, there were 3 cameras on it, most of the time. Also, the facade of Castle’s apartment had been there from the start, but not as beautiful as we saw from the episode. Art department finished off the facade just before the episode.

“@morbared: I was prepared to do Espo and Ryan of Charlie’s Angels or was improvised?”That’s the guys having fun

— Andrew Bikichky (@AndrewBikichky) April 3, 2013

“@rebeccahunsberg: Your favorite moment from the 100th”Loved the video camera fumbling and Castle turning it on too late. So true…

— Andrew Bikichky (@AndrewBikichky) April 4, 2013

“@vanavacchi: Looks like a very fun ep to shoot! Wasn´t it?”It was fun. Technical hurdles overcome with people who excel in their craft

— Andrew Bikichky (@AndrewBikichky) April 4, 2013

Stana had also chance to tweet during the shooting of the episode, here’s what she tweeted while working:

And the MVP goes to PROPS today for burning incense in the stinky alleyway. Survival skills at work.Love u guys.S

— Stana Katic (@Stana_Katic) March 2, 2013

@jon_huertas is subtexting A LOT in his acting today.

— Stana Katic (@Stana_Katic) March 1, 2013

While the episode was airing in both fronts (eastern and western) Terri Miller, Andrew Marlowe, Luke Reichle and Molly Quinn hosted a live tweeting in their twitters, commenting on the episode and answering the questions of the fans.

Firstly, Andrew Marlowe stated that he really loves to write the episodes together with his wife Terri (Terri Miller – @TerriEdda). The pair also did a cameo on the episode (did you spot it?). Fans were asking what were they were saying in their scene, Andrew responded: “We shouldn’t be actors!” Andrew also thinks that the 100th episode coming up feels weird, because it means a lot for one TV show. But it snuck up on them so fast.

According to Andrew, writing an episode takes roughly a week after outlining the episode, for him at least. When a fan asked him how does he come up with the ideas all the time, he answered: “It gets harder every week.”

Walking down on memory lane, Andrew shares how Castle’s pilot came to be. He sold the pitch to ABC and wrote the pilot in a month. ABC liked it and the rest is history. After a fan asked from him what has been the most important thing to make hundred episodes of Castle happen – Andrew thinks its being on fun, on time and on budget. Sounds like a recipe for success, huh?

“@creaminmycafe: @andrewwmarlowe Did Nathan enjoy filming in a wheelchair for the entire episode?” why not? He was sitting down on the job!

— Andrew W. Marlowe (@AndrewWMarlowe) April 2, 2013

“@itshaileynicole: random question, but I gotta ask.. What’s Beckett’s favorite kind of cupcake?” I think red velvet. ask Stana.

— Andrew W. Marlowe (@AndrewWMarlowe) April 2, 2013

Once @terriedda used the word speculate three times in a sentence.

— Andrew W. Marlowe (@AndrewWMarlowe) April 2, 2013

If Ryan were an angel he’d be Farrah.

— Andrew W. Marlowe (@AndrewWMarlowe) April 2, 2013

By the way, another awesome score by @robertduncanmx Lots of fun Hitchcock in it.

— Andrew W. Marlowe (@AndrewWMarlowe) April 2, 2013

@nathanfillion A comic genius with a magnifying glass.

— Andrew W. Marlowe (@AndrewWMarlowe) April 2, 2013

These scenes with @nathanfillionand @mollyquinn93were just magical to shoot. They were both so much fun together.

— Andrew W. Marlowe (@AndrewWMarlowe) April 2, 2013

The only way Castle can convince Beckett he’s not crazy is to do something crazy!

— Andrew W. Marlowe (@AndrewWMarlowe) April 2, 2013

That stock shot of the 12th is one we dusted off from the pilot.

— Andrew W. Marlowe (@AndrewWMarlowe) April 2, 2013

So, we shot in the loft, and tied it into a set we built of apartment across the way, which matched a downtown location to make it all work.

— Andrew W. Marlowe (@AndrewWMarlowe) April 2, 2013

Okay. My favorite line – “when you do it, it’s an illegal search. when I do, it’s just illegal.” Love that Castle logic.

— Andrew W. Marlowe (@AndrewWMarlowe) April 2, 2013

“@reginatanael: @andrewwmarlowe from 1 to awesome, what’s the rate of this ep from YOUR pov??” Just happy people like it so far.

— Andrew W. Marlowe (@AndrewWMarlowe) April 2, 2013

This scene with her in the dress and him in the wheelchairmakes me and @terriedda happy. Real screwball comedy dialog. Loved doing that.

— Andrew W. Marlowe (@AndrewWMarlowe) April 2, 2013

No one wears a dress like @stana_katic

— Andrew W. Marlowe (@AndrewWMarlowe) April 2, 2013

“@_caskett: @andrewwmarlowe how good it’s to work with the amazing @stana_katic?” Awesome!

— Andrew W. Marlowe (@AndrewWMarlowe) April 2, 2013

One more shout out to @venice4change for her tremendous work editing the episode. Seamless.

— Andrew W. Marlowe (@AndrewWMarlowe) April 2, 2013

The last tweet of Andrew were answered by Marta Evry:

.@andrewwmarloweIt all starts with a great script…..Thanks to you and @terrieddafor giving me some amazing stories to work with.

— Marta Evry (@venice4change) April 2, 2013

Terri Miller, the co-writer of this episode, also was tweeting together with her husband. Side by side, sitting in front of TV, one is on laptop, other has Ipad, toes touching – together communicating with the fans and watching twitter go crazy. Like her husband, she too likes to write together with him. As she says – they always have fun together.

The idea to pay a homage to “Rear Window” came from the fact that both Andrew and Terri are big Hitchcock fans, and they wanted to make something like that for the series as well. Terri’s favourite Hitchcock movies are “Vertigo”, “Rear Window”, “Rebecca” and more. Her favourite part watching the episode was all of the process, but apparently, she giggled a lot while writing Alexis scenes. The favourite part of writing scripts for Terri is “Imagining a world and becoming the characters”.

About the cameo on the episode when it looked like they were arguing over, Terri had said to Andrew “Don’t touch my computer!” and she also shares “I told him that what I had just written was the funniest scene ever and he said “no it’s not.””

RT @kaela_smith: who came up with writers cameo? Nathan’s reaction line scripted or improv? #Castle100 Scripted. Both of ours simultaneously

— Terri Edda Miller (@TerriEdda) April 2, 2013

Woman in the dumpster had to get re-made up about 3 times…

— Terri Edda Miller (@TerriEdda) April 2, 2013

I love when Beckett scratches his foot for him.

— Terri Edda Miller (@TerriEdda) April 2, 2013

RT @castletv: Haha!! Espo & Ryan … @jon_huertas & @seamusdever came up with that bit for scripted line and surprised us! Pretty brilliant.

— Terri Edda Miller (@TerriEdda) April 2, 2013

RT @whereboochelle: Just how many helicopters has Castle gone through. hee here nice callback to episode past A lot of helicopters!

— Terri Edda Miller (@TerriEdda) April 2, 2013

Don’t be cheating cheaters!

— Terri Edda Miller (@TerriEdda) April 2, 2013

This is one of my favorite @robertduncanmx scores. Truly brilliant Hitchcock inspired.

— Terri Edda Miller (@TerriEdda) April 2, 2013

RT @bev1will: @andrewwmarlowe @terriedda – Best improv lesson these actors will ever have! #Castle100 They improved for their auditions.

— Terri Edda Miller (@TerriEdda) April 2, 2013

RT @totallycastle:Was set across the street specifically designed to look like Rear Window? Fresh ideas, but layout worked filmically

— Terri Edda Miller (@TerriEdda) April 2, 2013

RT @tivashipper:was everyone a bit more excited when you shot the 100th episode? YES! We all felt the history and the accomplishment.

— Terri Edda Miller (@TerriEdda) April 2, 2013

RT @germanomarcella: @andrewwmarlowe @terriedda Why choose april fools day to be Castle’s birthday? It’s the day he was born!

— Terri Edda Miller (@TerriEdda) April 2, 2013

RT @nairly_there: @andrewwmarlowe hehe…he reminds me of a turtle! #Castle100 That’s how it was written in the script. He turtles.

— Terri Edda Miller (@TerriEdda) April 2, 2013

We were all laughing our asses off when nathan tried to get up.

— Terri Edda Miller (@TerriEdda) April 2, 2013

RT @anacaskett: @terriedda was there something not scripted on the episode? Some of the physical gags

— Terri Edda Miller (@TerriEdda) April 2, 2013

RT @invisiblegirl85 id @nathanfillion struggle with the crutches/wheelchair/leg brace? #Castle100 It hurt and it was tough!

— Terri Edda Miller (@TerriEdda) April 2, 2013

Stana rocked this scene. She had A LOT of words and she remembered them all and with feeling!

— Terri Edda Miller (@TerriEdda) April 2, 2013

RT @germanomarcella:”What do you think that KB Season 1 would think about KB Season 5?” I think she would be surprised.

— Terri Edda Miller (@TerriEdda) April 2, 2013

While Terri and Andrew were live-tweeting on western time zone, Molly was tweeting together with her fans on eastern time zone.

“@sampson8282: @mollyquinn93, Out of all 100 episodes, which 1 did u enjoy filming the most? #100Castle”Ummm going to Paris was pretty EPIC

— Molly C. Quinn (@MollyQuinn93) April 2, 2013

“@piliccls98: @mollyquinn93 did you had fun filming all those scenes with Nathan?”I was crazy scared for him!

— Molly C. Quinn (@MollyQuinn93) April 2, 2013

“@annacstlfan: @mollyquinn93Did Nathan really crash the toy helicopter ?”Yes, a lot!Apparently it’s harder than it looks

— Molly C. Quinn (@MollyQuinn93) April 2, 2013

“@robertmcnaught: @mollyquinn93what’s the funniest moment in #Castle100?”I think when he first starts peeping.

— Molly C. Quinn (@MollyQuinn93) April 2, 2013

“@xoalwayscoffee: @mollyquinn93 Best memory of #Castle100?”Susan: it’s a spa trip, not a guilt trip.

— Molly C. Quinn (@MollyQuinn93) April 2, 2013

“@chevron_heart: @mollyquinn93 I loved seeing Alexis perving on the hottie across the street!”She’s a bad girl getting her dad those.

— Molly C. Quinn (@MollyQuinn93) April 2, 2013

As always, the costume designer of Castle, Luke Reichle, shared with us about the clothing of the episode. Marta walked into a guilt trip in Escada’s clothing. Beckett interrogated the suspects in blazer by Rachel Zoe, together with a gold bracelet by Jannik Oleander from Nialaya. Beckett’s black jacket was a return from season 3 by Derek Lam. Molly Quinn wore a necklace by Peggy Li and a bracelet by Dala Nonna. The ring Molly wore is also Peggy Li.

Luke himself designed the dresses for the ladies – the sundress for the fake victim and the dress for Stana in the end of the episode. Apparently, he designed the dress for Stana around her collarbone, getting the inspiration from Grace Kelly’s black chiffon dress. According to Luke, Stana has the best collarbones in the business.

@seamusdever and @jon_huertas would make AWESOME Charlie’s Angels.They have the pose down.

— Luke Reichle (@RedCarpetLuke) April 2, 2013

First Grace Kelly reference with the printed sundress.

— Luke Reichle (@RedCarpetLuke) April 2, 2013

The personality that influences @stana_katic costumes the most is that of Kate Beckett.#Castle100

— Luke Reichle (@RedCarpetLuke) April 2, 2013

Boxers and a respirator.HOT!So now.So Spring/Summer 2013

— Luke Reichle (@RedCarpetLuke) April 2, 2013

Both the husband and the boyfriend had to be rehearsed stripping down to their underwear.I was doing my part to encourage authenticity.:)

— Luke Reichle (@RedCarpetLuke) April 2, 2013

I designed @nathanfillion tan break-in-to-the-killers-apt jacket to accomodate crutches and a walkie-talkie.

— Luke Reichle (@RedCarpetLuke) April 2, 2013

Kates pearl bracelet was formed by twining together my mother’s and my grandmother’s pearl necklaces. Stana loved the idea of it.

— Luke Reichle (@RedCarpetLuke) April 2, 2013

Luke tries to reuse a lot of clothes so that the show would have a feeling like real closet clothes. But the industry isn’t good for clothes. According to Luke they beat clothes to death so that they can’t use them as often as they would do in real life. The amount of wear and cleaning is ten times that of real clothes.

Thank you notes from the cast and crew:

https://twitter.com/Jon_Huertas/status/306996954775298048

https://twitter.com/AndrewWMarlowe/status/318751464929492993

https://twitter.com/TerriEdda/status/318967819603681280

Don’t forget to check the production blog of Castle and the bonus video ABC put up about the 100th episode here.

Here are the behind the scenes pictures from Andrew Bikichky, Christopher Brow, Stana Katic, Nathan Fillion and Marta Evry.

The Centerpiece

Don’t tell the Capin’

Little busy right now

And they brought their cameras

We’ve got a few people over for a visit

There is even a cake on the set! Happy 100th!

3 camera line-up Ep519

Castle’s birthday cake Ep519

Setting up the door kick in Ep519

Window to window setup Ep519

Bill Roe, ASC surveys the angle Ep519

Nine Light rigged on a condor Ep519

Bill and Jono discuss the lighting Ep519

Just outside the windows Ep519

Ledge walking Jono the Gaffer Ep519

Down and dirty in bed

Room to go

Stand in holding

Okay guys. Get small in a corner!

A-camera is high above the set in downtown LA

Gripping ain’t easy! Dumpsterrally!

@Panavision a little love from #Castle – the eye of the tiger.

We’re setup and ready to shoot. Now we wait.

#castle 100th episode celebration. The entire Cast, Crew, ABC exec’s and media filled the precinct.

Cameras view of the green screen.

Green screen outside of #castle loft today.

This is Graham. I think he tells great jokes, but no one can understand him because he’s Scottish.

Barry Thomas is an Assistant Director. He’s into photography and loves tech and gadgets.

This is Steve. He takes care of Props.

Let me introduce some of our Castle crew. This is Gor. He’s a grip, plays piano and has excellent rhythm.

Some of you already follow @Castlegrip, Chris.

Word – From Stana.

#Castle100 photo: Robert Duncan spotting music for the episode

View of Castle’s apartment from across the “street”

Maid’s apartment set

First day of shooting Castle 100!

no prop bike is complete without it

Sick of the #CASTLE100 BTS photo tweets? Didn’t think so. #Castle

Fancy stuff from the celebration of the 1ooth epsiode.

Meet some of our fabulous #Castle post-production crew: BART!

Meet some of our fabulous #Castle post-production crew: MARK!

Meet some of our fabulous #Castle post-production crew: JUSTIN!

And Stephen, from the Bowman clan!

Outside….

]]> http://castletv.net/behind-the-scenes-of-the-100th-episode-the-lives-of-others/feed/ 2 http://castletv.net/spoilers-promos-for-5x20-the-fast-and-the-furriest/ http://castletv.net/spoilers-promos-for-5x20-the-fast-and-the-furriest/#comments Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:28:40 +0000 Trinxy http://castletv.net/?p=21447

When Castle and Beckett find giant footprints at the site of a vicious murder, the team is forced to confront the unlikely theory that Bigfoot is the killer. But as they trek into the world of primate research, big game hunting and mythological creatures, they realize that finding the man (or beast) responsible may put them on the endangered species list.

Writer: Christine Roum, Director: Jonathan Frakes

Guest Cast:

• Arye Gross – M.E. Perlmutter
• Aaron Hill – Kurt Wilson
• Raphael Sbarge – Dr. Darrell Meeks
• Palmer Davis – Garland Meeks
• Albie Selznick – Dr. Paul Devlin

Episode info here.

]]> http://castletv.net/spoilers-promos-for-5x20-the-fast-and-the-furriest/feed/ 0 http://castletv.net/behind-the-scenes-with-the-guest-stars-of-swan-song/ http://castletv.net/behind-the-scenes-with-the-guest-stars-of-swan-song/#comments Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:27:49 +0000 aamanda_88 http://castletv.net/?p=21524 On the seventh episode of Castle, this season, the guest stars provided a behind the scenes look at their time on set, and also promoted the episode.

Sarah Scott (Butterfly) wrote to Stana on Twitter about the amazing time she had on set.

@stana_katic i love your energy! Yesterday was amazing for me. Not a bad gig being stared at all morning by you and Nathan.

— Sarah Scott (@lovesarahscott) August 23, 2012

 

While filming she tweeted, “I’ve got early calltime Wed on #Castle. Yay” as well as some fun facts about the other guest cast, “Fun Fact: Sarah guest stars alongside C. Thomas Howell in the episode “Swan Song” (centered around the death of a famous indie rocker) but they first worked together in 2009 in the indie thriller “The Grind.””  She also provided us with photos from the set, posted below.

Brian Maillard (Joel Mitas) joined in on the fun, posting his own photos.  He also joked around about his experience and when the episode aired, thanked the cast.

@mallz_ballzz Fantastic, but the sexual tension was really think.I think he’s into me…

— Brian Maillard (@DuckMaillard) August 28, 2012

 

Looking forward to my episode of #Castle tonight!It was a pleasure working with @nathanfillion, @stana_katic and @jon_huertas.

— Brian Maillard (@DuckMaillard) November 13, 2012

 

Amir Talai (Sam Spear) walked us through the entire process, with tweets and photos, starting with casting.

“While walking the dog I found out i booked a guest star on Castle. Then my dog took a huge diarrhea s— and stepped in it. Good walk.”

Just met @milahermanovski @ my Castle fitting & said HI! NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN! then realized I’d only seen her on #ProjectRunway. I’m dumb.

— Amir Talai (@AmirTalai) August 21, 2012

 

PNC Bank shoot today, Castle shoot tomorrow. Whew, the slump is ovah!

— Amir Talai (@AmirTalai) August 23, 2012

 

Finally, he thanked the cast and crew for the fun time on set.

awesome @castle_abc shoot! @nathanfillion & @jon_huertas could not have been more gracious, welcoming, & hilarious. Thanks guys!

— Amir Talai (@AmirTalai) August 25, 2012

 

The guest cast after filming, then took part in promoting the episode.  Max Arciniega played Billy Bash and Aussie Guevara played Keith’s Girl.

Looks like I’m gonna be on Monday’s episode @castle_abc. Short, fun scene in the first half of the show. Enjoy!

— Amir Talai (@AmirTalai) November 8, 2012

 

Hey @castle_abc fans, I’m in a fun little scene in Monday’s episode.

— Amir Talai (@AmirTalai) November 10, 2012

 

Got a fun little scene @castle_abc tonight. You should watch it if you like that show and were already planning to watch it.

— Amir Talai (@AmirTalai) November 12, 2012

 

I did a little spot on #castle on ABC. If you want to check it out, it airs tonight. 10/9c.

— Max Arciniega (@MaxArciniega) November 12, 2012

 

My spot on ABC’s Castle aired this November 12th! Being saucy on network tv! #castle #swansong #andrewjwest youtube.com/watch?v=C-4bj8…

— Aussie Guevara (@aussieguevara) November 20, 2012

 

For more behind the scenes tweets and photos follow Sarah Scott, Brian Maillard, Amir Talai, Max Arciniega, and Aussie Guevara on Twitter and Tumblr.

Brian Maillard – “A huge thanks to @NathanFillion and the cast and crew of #Castle for a great week!”

Brian Maillard – “Day 1 on “Castle.” Already, Nathan won’t stop texting me.”

Sarah Scott – “My trailer today. #Castle”

Amir Talai – “Biggest trailer I’ve ever had, + NFL Network on tv? I almost didn’t wanna leave to shoot @Castle_ABC! #MovinOnUp “

]]> http://castletv.net/behind-the-scenes-with-the-guest-stars-of-swan-song/feed/ 0 http://castletv.net/spoiler-details-for-april-22nd-episode/ http://castletv.net/spoiler-details-for-april-22nd-episode/#comments Mon, 08 Apr 2013 23:17:00 +0000 Admin http://castletv.net/?p=21429 Note: This is the additional episode that was ordered by ABC recently, while it will air as episode 21 it is also being referred to as episode 24.

Original Air Date: April 22, 2013

Writer: Rob Hanning   Director: Bill Roe

Summary:  Beckett’s life is on the line when she steps on a pressure sensitive bomb. While the team searches for a way to disarm the explosive, Castle distracts Beckett by arguing with her about who fell for whom first.

Guest Cast

• Allan Louis – Capt. Frank Mahoney
• Adam Rose – Mike Boyer

Join the discussion on this episode Episode 21 Discussion

]]> http://castletv.net/spoiler-details-for-april-22nd-episode/feed/ 10 http://castletv.net/castle-flashback-friday-archive-files-22/ http://castletv.net/castle-flashback-friday-archive-files-22/#comments Fri, 05 Apr 2013 15:42:04 +0000 Trinxy http://castletv.net/?p=21386 There’s a another week separating us from the new episode of Castle. We are trying to ease the pain with going down the archives and bring you some interesting pictures, tweets and videos.

This week’s tweet comes from our own Richard Castle.

Working on the case of a missing sock. Put two in the dryer, one came out. Should I call Beckett? Or would she tell me to put a sock in it?

— Richard Castle (@WriteRCastle) December 11, 2009

This week’s video is from Christopher Brow (@Castlegrip). Monday morning fun, as he says – setting up a car scene.

This week’s pictures come from ABC’s official twitter (@Castle_ABC). Here they are.

Wishing you a happy week!

The writer of Ep 309, Shalisha, watches a take with her dad.

Nathan and Molly with their furry co-host who was keeping in shape between takes. The rat never broke character.

A couple of cool dudes hanging out on the costume trailer ramp.

]]> http://castletv.net/castle-flashback-friday-archive-files-22/feed/ 2 http://castletv.net/member-review-the-perfect-gift/ http://castletv.net/member-review-the-perfect-gift/#comments Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:36:36 +0000 Shena http://castletv.net/?p=21371 This is a member contributed article. Would you like to submit an article or episode review? Use our submission form to contribute.

———

He’s a writer.  A mystery writer, no less.  He’s got a wonderfully active imagination and is a convincing story teller.  “You made that up?” Beckett demands in ‘Vampire Weekend,’ to which Castle simply replies, “It’s what I do!”

He’s suggested some fantastically awesome theories in the past – from aliens to zombies, from spies to ninja assassins – with the idea that if he says them enough, the law of averages demands that he’ll eventually be right.  In ‘Nanny McDead,’ he spun a tale about “the guy in 8B.”  Oh the irony of it all.

In ‘He’s Dead, She’s Dead’ in season 2, Castle notes how the case is very Hitchcock-flavoured:  “It’s Strangers on a Train… only this time it’s Strangers on a Boat.”  And now he finds himself in a Hitchcock-esque situation again.  Holed up in the loft, wheel-chair bound due to a broken knee, Castle (who has never been good at sitting still and is known to touch things) takes to people watching from his window using binoculars.  “You’ve actually gone Rear Window,” Ryan points out.

It’s not the first time Castle’s life imitated art.  Not only has he been stuck “in an episode of Murder, He Wrote,” but he’s also seen the possibility of a time-traveling killer that may have come Back to the Future via a Delorian time machine.  Most recently, he was freaked out by the prospect that his life may end just like it did for the victims in The Ring  (“I’ve watched [the video]… which means I’m next!”)

And this is what works perfectly against him… or rather, in Beckett’s favour.

In ‘Significant Others’, Meredith’s comment about not knowing enough about Castle “to fill a pamphlet” had an obvious effect on Beckett.  However, Beckett is a detective.  She is observant.  She pays attention to the details.  And evidently, she knows Castle very well.  He is a man who thinks outside the box; he is a man whose coping mechanism is humour; he is a man who needs to know the story – because “there’s always a story, always a chain of events that makes everything make sense.”

And she knows he’s obsessive about solving a mystery, as she witnessed during their weekend in the Hamptons.  She knows that he’ll see what he wants to see, and she knows that he’ll go to any lengths to connect all of the dots.  As Beckett reminds him:  “You do have a vivid imagination.”

It’s one of the things that she “loves about [him].”

Castle once told Montgomery that “the best thing to give a woman is something she said she wanted when she didn’t think you were listening.”  But this goes both ways, and she was listening to him.  He’d mentioned it back in ‘Reality Star Struck’ that she “knows [him] so well” when he thought that perhaps her Valentine’s gift to him was a convoluted mystery.  For him, it’s the perfect gift.  So in planning his birthday surprise, she gives him a mystery.

She enlists the help of everyone.  Martha supplies the actors, the boys and Gates can’t resist the fun of teasing and tormenting Castle, and Alexis even provides the ever-important binoculars.

Beckett knows Castle.  As she’s highlighted before about him: “He touches things.”  When he has run out of other thing to do (such as playing with his toy helicopter), he’ll get curious.  He’ll pick them up.  And he does.  He spies on various neighbours across the way (including a beautiful cameo appearance by Andrew Marlowe and Terri Edda Miller) and becomes intrigued by a possible murder that takes place in the adjacent apartment.

She strings him along and pokes holes in his theories, but at one point, it crosses her mind that maybe “he’s taking this thing too seriously.”  Perhaps she’s gone too far because she also knows from experience (as it was in ‘Hunt’) that he sometimes will do “something stupid.”  It’s written all over her face.  She’s visibly bothered by the fact that she upset him — that he thinks she doesn’t believe him.  After everything they’ve been through together, she doesn’t believe him.

But she’s got more allies in this endeavour than he suspects.  Alexis is her father’s daughter in every way… including her sense of play.  She has fenced with him, played laser tag with him, and built various science experiments with him.  Apparently, she also enjoys a good practical joke.  In this undertaking, Alexis is Beckett’s greatest asset.  So Alexis stimulates and encourages her father’s imagination.  Side by side at the window, popcorn and binoculars in hand, they theorize together.  She ensures that he is watching the apartment at important moments.

After Castle breaks into the apartment (using the lock-picking skills they’ve honed together while she was growing up), he returns with the evidence Beckett so carefully planned for him to find.  The storage facility receipt, the paint on the wall, the soda in the cupboard, specifically asking him if he wanted something from the fridge.

Beckett needed to ensure that he’d find all of the clues.  And after five years and one hundred cases, she knows how his brain works.

With the help of her friends and his family, she ensures that he solves the mystery and gets to where he needs to be in the end – with her, inside the adjacent apartment, celebrating his birthday (on April Fool’s Day) with everyone he cares about.

And it was “without a doubt, the greatest birthday gift of [his] life” as nobody had ever done anything like that for him before.  For four years, Castle gave her various extremely meaningful gifts.  Evidently, Beckett is just as much a “gift-ninja” as he is.

In ‘Little Girl Lost,’  Beckett hinted that “maybe there a little more Nikki Heat in [her] than [Castle] think[s].”  Evidently this is true.   Before going into law enforcement, Nikki Heat was a theatre major.  Apparently, the Beckett-onion continues to be unpeeled as we discover that Kate Beckett is a pretty good actress – maintaining a ruse such as this for several days.

So a television show that is so effectively reflects on various aspects of life, which is inspired by a classic suspense film, that embraces the world created by the fictional author in his real world novels.   Art imitates life that imitates art that is inspired by art.  Very meta.  Truly Castle-esque.

In the end, Beckett said something that helps Castle solve his mystery.  Castle says something that helps Beckett solve her case. And in true Castle fashion, the one-liners, the wit, the charm, the playfulness, the plot twists, and the sexual foreplay and romance were abundant.

Essentially, it was a perfect celebration of one hundred fabulous episodes.  And in the words of Castle himself:  “Here’s to a hundred more.”

]]> http://castletv.net/member-review-the-perfect-gift/feed/ 43 http://castletv.net/member-article-the-lives-of-others-100-more-murders/ http://castletv.net/member-article-the-lives-of-others-100-more-murders/#comments Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:36:21 +0000 Trueheart http://castletv.net/?p=21372 This is a member contributed article. Would you like to submit an article or episode review? Use our submission form to contribute.

———

We celebrate 100 episodes of “Castle” today and the last four years and five seasons have been terrific I reflect: How did it start? Where did it begin?

“Why are you here? You don’t care about the victims so you aren’t here for justice. You don’t care that the guy is aping your books, so you aren’t here because you’re outraged. So what is it, Rick? Are you here to annoy me?”

Kate Beckett questions the self-absorbed writer she is stuck with for political reasons, following her for “research.” The “Castle” narrative begins; we are enchanted with the two lead characters, their chemistry, their mutual attraction, the excellent acting and ultimately the meaningful writing.

“I’m here for the story.”

“The story? Sometimes, there is no story. Sometimes, the guy is just a psychopath.” The knowing cop speaks.

“There’s always a story, always a chain of events that makes everything make sense.” Rick the writer expounds.

“Take you for example. Under normal circumstances, you should not be here. Most smart good looking women become lawyers, not cops. And yet here you are. Why?”

“I don’t know, Rick. You’re the novelist. You tell me.”

He speaks about her obvious background. “But you still chose this. That tells me, something happened. Not to you. No, you’re wounded, but you’re not that wounded. No, it was someone you care about, it was someone you loved. And you probably could have lived with that but the person responsible was never caught.”

“And that, Detective Beckett, is why you are here.”

“Cute trick. But don’t think you know me.” Often Kate says this to Rick, perhaps not always knowing herself, who she is, and not wanting his perceptive scrutiny. It’s painful this knowing yourself and then sharing it.

“The point is there’s always a story. You just have to find it.”

This is the essence of Rick Castle, a dogged man, a brilliant mind who must always find the answer or at least ask the question. But he is also a kind man who realizes he overstepped and hurt this beautiful, sensitive woman; he stops his evaluation immediately.

>From the first episode we begin a quest along with our characters, two people learning about each other, and about themselves, ultimately, then, learning to love each other. Neither one speaks of love until Rick holds a bleeding Kate in his arms and tells her he loves her, begs her to stay with him, and confesses his need for her.

But Kate is so afraid and Rick waits until the end of season four to tell her again of his love; she still will not hear him at first. But they cannot be apart.

“Castle” creator and writer Andrew Marlowe once explained: “But sometimes they do it with their eyes because they already know, already know the words.” At the end of season four they become lovers with Rick’s profession of love, of being there always if she would only look and see, and of Kate’s epiphany: “I only want you.” Still growing midway through season five, they question their love’s path and journey.

What do they want? How will they meld two lives? Their future weighs on them a bit as becomes obvious in “The Wild Rover.” Rick seems to be soul-searching even while sleeping. He is in a loving relationship that goes far beyond lust and that demands so much more from him; his daughter is maturing and leaving and his mother has her own acting studio to pursue.

Meeting his own father for the first time, Rick understands a father’s sacrifice along with a Captain’s sacrifice for love; he knows full well that he would do anything for his child, and for those he loves. He acknowledges his stronger, darker side. At last the inner man appears. His active imagination returns him to another time of recognition as a young teen learning to be an honorable man; still trying to do so and earn the applause, the respect.

A self- effacing man, Rick often hides his finer traits behind jokes and puns and sometimes self-denigrating verbiage, his survival or coping mechanisms he admits to in “Cuffed.” The lonely, seemingly self-absorbed man ironically doesn’t always like the attention upon him and side-swipes the conversation away from him personally.

The remainder of season five will no doubt continue to reveal Rick and bring their love affair to a conclusion: Do they love each other enough to give even more of themselves? I see a trend; they do. Each is willing to part just a little bit more with personal traditions as they do in “Secret Santa.” Every week they grow more in love and love’s expressions.

Kate realizes there is so much more to Rick and finds she likes him every day just a little bit more. She sees his honor and steadfastness, striving to become a better man. This is a good thing; they are friends; partners, lovers and perhaps ready for more.

In “Cloudy with a Chance of Murder,” Rick says: “Maybe we’ll continue to be amazing. We don’t have the answers; we just have to live with the questions and find a way.” They will.

Indeed, four years ago in March 2009, “Castle” begins its story, essentially a love story, at first glance between two very different people Rick and Kate, but always, too, a love story of a man for his daughter, a mother for her son, partners for each other, a Captain’s love and sacrifice, and a daughter’s love and determination to honor her beloved mother, so much more than the summation of its parts.

The journey begins with “Flowers for your Grave,” and now “Castle” celebrates 100 episodes, with an episode aptly named “Lives of Others,” and still we crave more unpeeling of the layers, the entire cast; the Beckett layers at first and now the Castle layers.

We still search the nuances of each episode, understanding so much more of the intertwining plots of Rick and Kate, of themes and subtexts. Indeed, this fun- loving 100th celebratory story serves as a metaphor conjured up by Andrew Marlowe and Terri Edda Miller, perhaps the prototypes of this love story.

One of the last scenes of the first episode “Flowers for your Grave” features Kate’s tantalizing whispering to Rick regarding their potential love affair: “You have no idea,” she remarks as she saunters away from a bemused and bewildered playboy Rick. The soundtrack, always so significant in “Castle,” sings Rick’s saga: “Stop and Stare” by One Republic.

At this moment recognition dawns on Rick Castle’s face. She is the one and he begins to see his life to date and to follow, spread out before him:

“I’m staring down myself, counting up the years,” the song reflects, continuing ”Steady hands just take the wheel; every glance is killing me; time to make one last appeal, for the life I lead.”
Still the playboy, so much growing to do, Rick evaluates his future, and can only stop and stare transfixed at her, his desire and his life:

“I think I’m moving but I go nowhere. Yeah, I know that everyone gets scared. But I’ve become what I can’t be. Oh do you see what I see?”

And we do. We witness, we observe weekly the making of the man Richard Castle and the unveiling of the woman who makes him want to be more than he is, more than he ever thought he could be. We see a hero, the most hopeful of all heroes and the most unlikely. What a love story it is.

So many scenes, so many episodes resound through our heads as we celebrate the 100th episode milestone, hoping for many more years of laughter and drama. Perhaps you lean towards the funny episodes and scenes, and they are plentiful and make us laugh out loud with joy. I still laugh at Rick picking up what he thought to be a cyanide capsule only to find it gum and unceremoniously chucking it.

I’ve often gravitated to the serious scenes especially over this past year of writing about “Castle,” given my serious health concerns, my battle with stage four cancer. People write and reveal the consolation they feel when a beloved spouse can relate to “Castle,” one of their few joys in life, before passing away from a dire disease.

Another person mourned a relative’s passing on Christmas day and felt “Castle” had helped her go on. This is not unique. One elderly woman wrote of the solace she felt watching “Castle,” the only break or fresh air she enjoyed, so consumed with her husband’s deadly Alzheimer’s battle. Others have gained a reason to simply go on, so inspired with one little show, and the wonderful characters and writing, the joy and the laughter.

Everyone has a story. Amazing it is, indeed, the lives of others, our lives, touched by a mere, television- love story. I wonder if Rick, with art imitating life, truly knows how Kate loved his words before she loved the man, how his heroes, his books and his words eased her through the pain and horror of her mother’s murder.

So many profess first that they have never felt connected to any show whatsoever, perhaps embarrassed with the Monday night or Tuesday morning, weekly ritual before the television set. The characters are not real, how can we love them so? Others have found life-long friends through a mutual “Castle” kinship. Others simply love a fun, laugh igniting, well- told tale. We are here in legions.

We see ourselves, people from all countries and all walks of life and remarkably of all ages attuned to the “Castle” saga. Some of us have children Rick’s and Kate’s age; some have parents Rick’s age, others love Kate’s beauty and style, are of a similar age, all still love to see the mystery of life unfold, sensitively, carefully; this is good.

We wonder, too, if Andrew Marlowe knows just how profoundly the appreciation runs for his endeavors, his cast, his crew, his creation.

The two part episodes break our hearts and uplifted them simultaneously. Kate’s near death experience in her exploding home and Rick’s devastated face as he rushes to save her are engrained in the “Castle” folklore. Then again, who can forget “Set Up” and “Count Down” as Rick protects Kate from the icy cold, the two of them in each other’s arms facing imminent death, freezing in the cold locker?

The light is bathed in blue, their eyelids freeze and Kate tries to tell Rick how much she loves him, but passes out, as he cries “Stay with me, Kate” and tenderly strokes her face, bidding encouragement to the one he loves; yes he is the optimist who says: “We aren’t dead yet.”

Rick’s forlorn look when Kate walks to Josh as they stand there in blankets is a tribute to incredible acting. Also, I will never forget Rick walking away from Kate as she embraces Josh in the precinct. Rick is about to invite her out to just unwind after the horrors of the day, but he is left with the lonely walk to the elevator, believing he has lost Kate forever. His devastated look simply tells all.

In “Pandora” and “Linchpin,” we panic as Rick and Kate nearly drown, trapped in her sinking car. Sophia Turner’s betrayal of Rick and her attempt to murder him and Kate nearly destroy us as viewers. We are shattered with the betrayal and horror as Rick is, as he kneels there, unable to even move.

In “Target” and “Hunt” we grieve and die a thousand deaths with Rick, facing a father’s nightmare, a kidnapped daughter in grave danger. We pray that he returns whole from his ordeal, even after we see he saves Alexis. The scene with his newly discovered father is so true, so poignant; an Emmy should be awarded for the powerful acting.

“Sucker Punch” stands out for Rick’s and Kate’s breathless, emotional kiss, for Ryan’s and Esposito’s faithfulness and bravery and for the powerful scene of Kate’s attempts to staunch Coonan’s blood, her mother’s murderer, the man who tries to kill Rick.

Seeing how distraught she is, Rick stands by her futile attempts to revive Coonan, stays near her and quietly urges her to stop. I recall Rick’s determination to stop shadowing Kate, then, bringing her all kinds of foods to assuage her grief and atone. She knows it isn’t his fault and tells him she wants him there; she has “grown used to his pulling her pigtails.”

A favorite scene stressing Rick’s love of the story his love of Kate occurs in “To Love and Die in L.A.,” a mesmerizing metaphor for their love affair. Rick tells Kate: “You know what I thought when I first met you? That you were a mystery that I was never gonna solve. Even now, after spending all this time with you, I’m still amazed by the depths of your strength, your heart and your hotness.”

The tension builds and they gaze at each other so in love, needing each other and so afraid. Kate retreats to her room and Rick calls an endearing “Kate” after her. In the room Kate seems so conflicted so shy so hesitant, and when she finally opens the door between them, the barrier to their love, she finds she is too late. Rick has already retreated to his own room. Kate simply stares as Rick’s door closes. And the music plays Josh Ritter’s “Come and Find Me Now.”

In keeping with the idea of Rick’s love of the story, in “Secret’s Safe with Me,” Rick wonders what the story is regarding Captain Gates and her collection of Gemini dolls, perhaps some plot or theme to mine. Speaking to Kate he says: “But it just goes to show you that everyone and everything has a story, including your little stick man there.”

And then Rick reveals he wants to hear Kate’s story of the stick man:

“I thought about what you said. And you’re right. Just because we’ve been…shaking hands…a lot…doesn’t mean that I have the right to pry. So… when you are ready, you’ll tell me”:

“Coney Island. We had a reception at our place after my mom’s funeral and…it was miserable. I was miserable, and my dad… took my hand and he said: “Let’s get the hell outta here, Katie.” …we walked up and down that beach, just enjoying ourselves. …still in our funeral clothes. And the best part was that we made this little guy…” “…out of the twigs and twine that washed up on the shore.”

“Does that make that day a bad memory or a good one?”

“Both. It’s a reminder that even on the worst days, there’s a possibility for joy.”

Rick warmly replies to her heartfelt sharing: “Nice.”

Are the hugs, the kisses the handshake the most memorable, or are the pratfalls and jokes the ingredients to warm your heart and make you love “Castle” even more? For some it is the coffee exchanges funny or sad, the heart breaking times and sometime the omission of coffee.

One scene occurs when Rick prepares to leave Kate at the end of season two, to go away, perhaps, forever. He walks in with one coffee and Kate is crestfallen with the realization that he is leaving. The emptiness is breathtaking.

Another coffee scene that sears occurs in “47 Seconds” when Rick overhears Kate own up to the fact that she remembers everything about her near fatal shooting, (not his I love you apparently). Castle cannot leave fast enough. He sits the coffee on her desk and goes. The lone cup speaks volumes about their tattered and broken love. In his heart Rick believes he will never come back again and it will never be the same.

In “Headhunters” he returns bearing coffee and Kate is happy until she realizes he is only making nice to gain entrance to partner with the original head hunter; she leaves the coffee sitting there, through with him.

And, of course, coffee with her alter ego Nikki Heat aka Natalie Rhodes brings back memories. Poaching and sputtering are two words that epitomize the scenario. You remember the picture.

Scene after scene in “Rise” comes to mind as the best, my favorites. It would take a book to write about them: the hospital; the swing set, the book signing; Kate’s apartment; Kate’s desk, Rick’s encouragement. I marvel at how much can be said in 43 minutes or less. And for the other bookend of marvelous writing, and acting, “Always “comes to mind. Some of us who shall not be named play STFD over and over again, not to mention “tear my heart out” or fondly TMHO.

I cannot forget how Rick’s beliefs in tomorrow, in always affect me, perhaps saving me. He is the most hopeful of all heroes and will always be so to me. “He loves the feeling of hope,” he tells Kate in “Secret Santa.” And tomorrow is far more hopeful than good night.

He teaches Kate and us this word. Sometimes he needs us to remind him and help him, too. He believes in Santa, and magic, the heart, and always, such a poignant final scene is celebrated in “Undead Again” as they reunite in the hope of tomorrow.

One of the best scenes of a story within a story, perhaps within a story, occurs in “Nikki Heat.” Through the glass separating them, shielding and hiding them, Kate watches Natalia Rhodes doing her best imitation of Kate, running through Kate’s mannerism and moves. Rick walks in behind Kate, frames the scene, watching Kate watching Natalie and inquires:

“Everything okay?”

“Do I really do that?” Kate answers in a mind-mumbling state.

“Yes, and it’s adorable.”

“If it is so adorable why didn’t you sleep with me? Her “me,” not me, me.”

“Oh. Well, a fictional character that I wrote based on you, played by Natalie Rhodes? It’s just way too Meta.” Really now!

We see Kate mouth the word “Meta?”

Now Ryan scurries in to join the staging of three observing Natalie the actress imitating the fictional Kate. I cannot imagine it getting any better.

Ryan remarks: “We really should have a code word so we all know which Beckett to kill when her clone army attacks.”

“Unless we make a preemptive strike.” Kate concludes.

“What are you guys doing?” Esposito bursts in, late to the party of watchers, lurkers and hiders.

“Hiding from creepy Beckett,” Ryan easily answers.

Well, we thought Meta “Nikki Heat” observations are far out there, but now we have “Lives of Others,” and this is definitely Meta. We observe through Rick’s eyes as he watches other people live out their lives in a take-off, parody, or perhaps homage to the 1954 Alfred Hitchcock tour de force “Rear Window.”

Is there a better place to stage “Lives of Others” than in a 100 episode celebration? After all we have been observing a fictional writer, write fiction about a fictional detective, now observing fictional, real people who are living out their lives framed in the windows of their apartments, being watched by our fictional writer, as we watch all of them. And there is still a twist.

Are there enough layers or a few too many? May I say art imitating art imitating art imitating reality? Or did I miss something? How perfect is this scenario!

In “Rear Window,” Jimmy Stewart, everyman, plays L. B “Jeff” Jeffries, a man’s- man, much- traveled, action photographer, rider of planes and trains through a war- torn world, struggling now with the confinement of a broken leg, in a hotter than hell apartment reaching a high temperature of mid nineties. He is in love with the beautiful Lisa, Grace Kelly, a woman of refinement and delicate manners and money.

His nurse, the caustic down to earth Stella reads Jeff the riot act regarding his antics and lack of motivation in the marriage department. Jeff feels that the debutante is “too talented, too sophisticated.”

Sarcastically Stella summarizes Jeff’s plight: “Get out of my life you perfectly wonderful woman; you’re too good for me.”Stella, refreshingly, is against “sitting around analyzing each other like two specimens in a bottle.” Perhaps a little like Martha.

Immobile, Jeff is bored and left to observe others from his window, using binoculars at first and then his telephoto lens. We watch the slice of life world, Jeff’s, unfold through the artist’s eyes, frame by frame, (like Rick’s story board perhaps) photography style, as he peers through the rear window into other people’s lives and reconstructs their stories, not always aware of the story of his own life.

The scenes he observes are visions of people alone, distorted metaphors for Lisa and Jeff: Newlyweds who cannot get enough of each other; a lonely woman he calls Miss Lonely Hearts; a young, well toned woman he calls Miss Torso; a couple who only have a dog; a nagging, soon to be butchered wife; all book ended by a lonely artist and a singer composer. All a bit darker than “Lives of Others.”

The heat is on Jeff. He fights with his beautiful girlfriend, rejecting her advances and love claiming different life styles. Jeff is unwilling to bend: Lisa sums the relationship up: “So that’s it. You won’t stay here and I can’t go with you. You don’t think either one of us could change?” This isn’t exactly “Castle” and I am thankful.

Alone, bored, Rick Castle moves in his wheel chair, into this rear- window observatory, into the lives of others territory, watching, watching.

We watch the watcher and are engaged. Now the delightful thing is that Kate is a fixture in Rick’s home with Martha affectionately calling her Kathryn. It seems the plan was to go to Bora Bora for Rick’s birthday, but with a broken knee, Rick has to do the time in recovery.

“He is all yours.” Martha turns Rick over to Kate. Ryan and Espo pick Kate up at the house and spy the binoculars as Ryan mentions that Rick is going all “Rear Window” on them. Kate’s and Rick’s ease with each other is totally revealing.

Kate’s case involves a woman Clara de Winters, murdered in the alleyway, the murder caught on security tape. The husband’s alibi holds up. Clara is a tax auditor and at this time of the year, she undoubtedly has lots of enemies. And so the guys investigate those who had been audited and who might have it in for the tax auditor.

Meanwhile Rick plays with and crashes his toy helicopter and then moves on to… the binoculars, to do a little watching. At first he sees some writers and a maid stealing on the job. Then Rick spies a woman cheating on her husband. When the husband returns, Rick sees him find the boyfriend’s hat left behind in the scramble to get out, to escape detection. “Somebody’s home early,” Rick teases, and then, “someone’s got some “splaining” to do.

Rick calls Kate several times and whines about dinner. Then he sees the cheated- on husband take out a knife and go after the wife. Oh, we have shades of Jimmy Stewart observing the husband, a salesman with a knife and a saw to dismember the body. Rick calls Kate again after the blinds in the apartment crash and bang: “I think I just saw a murder.”

Of course, no one believes Rick and attributes his discoveries to an over- active imagination, boredom and pain killers. It is really sweet to see how natural Rick and Kate are with each other, Kate hugging him frequently and not afraid for anyone to see her show of affection. Of course, Rick cannot sleep and leaves Kate in bed, only to sit in the chair and watch.

Grace Kelly didn’t believe at first either and neither did Jeff’s cop buddy. Finally Rick spies a tarp and the guy washing his bloody hands, but Kate turns her phone off this time and Rick is on his own.

Rick cannot convince Kate, who really is all loving and kind. All he can say is “Wow, you don’t really believe me. Don’t worry about it. I’m fine.” He waits, trying to capture the culprit on camera dragging the body in a rug, but to no avail. Jefferies did much the same.

In both case both Rick and Kate are digging into personal matters. Kate interviews a person of interest and learns that the wife, Clara wanted Dan Renner’s help in disappearing. This sounds like a possible guilty party.

The funniest scenes occur when Rick enlists Alexis’ help and both use binoculars, father and daughter together, munching popcorn as they watch the drama unfold … until the guy takes off his clothes and Papa Rick gets a little concerned. They observe the guy taking out the bags. But wait, Alexis, like Grace Kelly, observes the woman left behind her purse, and no woman leaves her purse behind, at least in Grace Kelly’s world of 60 years ago.

Rick is going over to get the shredded material and Alexis is his back up, armed with walkie- talkies.

Meanwhile Kate is interviewing Tommy the Shark Valentino as the man who pays the dead woman Clara de Winter one half a million dollars. It seems that he is surprised with her death, for Clara is his accountant; he isn’t going to jail for tax evasion.

Alexis watches her father’s back and Rick is in his element. Rick picks the lock, enters the house and, of course, has to investigate the bedroom. At this point I am screaming with laughter rather than fear, especially after Rick discovers paint and bleach and blood spatter and jumping for joy, immediately falls over.

Rocking on the floor to get up was too hilarious. Nathan Fillion is a comedic genius. Hiding under the bed when the guy returns, obeying Alexis’ warning, Rick overhears the nefarious plans regarding the body, storage and Jimmy’s boat.

He gets out of there. He convinces Kate to investigate the warehouse with him, but naturally he cannot bend over to unroll the rug, and Kate discovers nothing when she unrolls it. Ah, but the head is in a bag, the wig head that is, and a security guard hauls them in to face the music with an irate Gates only too happy to personally lock Rick up and probably throw away the key.

At home Rick apologizes to Kate, and they dress up to go out for Rick’s birthday celebration. On a twist Kate is wearing an elegant black dress, just for Castle; now Grace who was always in the fluffiest of dresses, dresses down for her man just to prove she loves him enough.

Inadvertently, Rick is alerted to the fact that the guy has the body stuffed in the refrigerator. To humor him and get it over with, Kate goes across the street to investigate, once and for all, against Rick’s warning. In the apartment the guy manhandles Kate and pulls out a knife. Oh, no.

In a panic Rick calls the precinct and dashes out to Kate’s rescue.

They got us good today; we were certainly the April Fools. In fact I think I spotted Marlowe and Miller making an appearance a la Alfred Hitchcock. Hitchcock loved his twists and his touches of irony. I once saw his culprit eat the murder weapon, a hunk of meat frozen at the time. But I digress. Yes, everything was staged.

With everyone there waiting for the birthday boy, Rick and the guys break into the apartment and Rick’s surprise party. Martha and Alexis, all are in on it, to give Rick something to do. At first Rick seems hurt, and Kate seems worried that she hurt him. “You let me think you were going to die.” But then he exclaims that this was the best party.

The joke is on him and on us for falling for all of this. Martha’s students were doing a little acting. It was staged, and with Rick’s remark, Kate concludes that the husband murdered Clara with the security guard’s help in tampering with the security footage, then using a prerecorded tape and play acting the victim.

At last Rick and Kate relax at home, ready for a little romance and wine. Also we had a couple of romantic kisses that we could actually see. Rick admits to Kate that no one has ever done anything like this for him, have a party that is and it feels a bit sad and revealing.

I think I like the comedic episodes more than I thought.

“How many murders do you think we’ve solved since we met?” Rick asks.

“One hundred or so,” Kate replies.

“Let’s toast to 100 more.”

And we agree. Here’s to 100 more murders.

]]> http://castletv.net/member-article-the-lives-of-others-100-more-murders/feed/ 44 http://castletv.net/100-film-trivia-notes-for-castle100/ http://castletv.net/100-film-trivia-notes-for-castle100/#comments Tue, 02 Apr 2013 03:22:55 +0000 chandlersdame http://castletv.net/?p=21363 This is a member contributed article. Would you like to submit an article or episode review? Use our submission form to contribute.

———

If a film reference has been omitted (and it probably has) please add it in the comments section.

1 Rear Window (1954) is one of many Hitchcock films referenced or mentioned in the TV show Castle.
2 Rear Window was based upon the short story, It Had to be Murder, by William Irish.
3 Irish is the pseudonym for Cornell Woolrich, a writer who ranks right up there with Chandler and Hammett.
4 And yes, Woolrich is one of my favorite pulp fiction writers.
5 Screenwriter John Michael Hayes won an Edgar Award from the MWA.
6 Castle has mentioned the Edgar Award in numerous episodes.
7 One of Castle’s favorite writers is Edgar Allan Poe, for whom the award was named.
8 Rear Window received Oscar nominations for:
9 Best Director (Alfred Hitchcock)
10 Best Writing (Screenplay)
11 Best Cinematography
12 Best Sound
13 Filming Rear Window was a remarkable feat. The set was specially constructed and contained thirty-one separate apartments.
14 The actors on the set of the apartment building across the way received their cues by hidden microphones. No digital effects back in 1954!
15 The photographer’s apartment in the film was based upon James Stewart’s apartment in Greenwich Village.
16 And yes, James Stewart is my favorite actor.
17 Alfred Hitchcock can be seen winding a clock in the composer’s apartment.
18 Grace Kelly’s clothes played an important part in the film, establishing her character as an uber-elegant supermodel. The costumes were designed by Edith Head.
19 Previews for The Lives of Others show Beckett twirling in a stunning black dress, a nod to Grace Kelly in Rear Window.
20 It is rumored that Hitchcock insisted upon filming more than 20 takes of Grace Kelly kissing James Stewart! Seems that Castle and Beckett have some catching up to do.
21 Wisecracking nurse Thelma Ritter made her film debut at age 45 after many unsuccessful years on the stage. She was nominated for six Academy Awards over the next decade.
22 Ritter also appeared in episodes of the TV show Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
23 And yes, she is one of my favorite wisecracking nurses.
24 Grace Kelly made three films with Hitchcock:
25 Dial M for Murder (1954)
26 This film was shot in 3-D!
27 Rear Window (1954)
28 To Catch a Thief (1955)
29 This film also features a scene in which a character dangles from a rooftop, done to better effect in Hitchcock’s later film Vertigo and similar to Beckett’s scene in Always.
30 James Stewart made four films with Hitchcock:
31 Rope (1948)
32 James Stewart had been a popular actor for many years but Rope was his first Technicolor film.
33 Rear Window (1954)
34 The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
35 This was a remake of an earlier Hitchcock film of the same name, made in 1934.
36 Vertigo (1958). Stewart plays a detective chasing a bad guy across a roof which then crumbles beneath him, leaving Stewart clinging to the gutter for dear life.
37 Fan favorite episode Always brings to mind the terrifying opening scene from Vertigo (1958), as Becket clings to the rooftop and the ground seems to pull away from her.
38 Vertigo’s original title was From Among the Dead.
39 The film was based upon a French novel by Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac.
40 They also wrote Les Diaboliques (1955).
41 And yes, it is my favorite foreign-language film.
42 Many Castle episodes feature guest stars from the wonderful world of film:
43 Keir Dullea appeared in the very first episode, Flowers for Your Grave.
44 He portrayed the astronaut David Bowman in 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968).
45 And yes, my favorite Dullea film is Bunny Lake is Missing (1965).
46 Chad Everett (the real Joe in The Blue Butterfly) was in many feature films but is best remembered for numerous starring TV roles.
47 The same can be said for Patrick Cassidy.
48 Many Castle episodes reference classic film in one way or another, as in:
49 His Girl Friday (1940), the film Castle watched on his laptop in A Deadly Game.
50 The Sting (1973) and
51 Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988) were con artist flicks referenced in Fool Me Once.
52 Kate invites Castle to see the Forbidden Planet (1956) at the end of the Law and Murder episode.
53 Valentino artwork in To Love and Die in LA. The artwork is inspired by the very dreamy design of the silent film, Camille (1921). As if Valentino isn’t dreamy enough!
54 This episode also referred to the ‘walls of Jericho’ scene in It Happened One Night (1934). To the disappointment of Caskett hopefuls everywhere, it didn’t happen that night, after all.
55 Strangers on a Train (1951). Castle says he prefers the book by Patricia Highsmith to the Hitchcock film, in the episode The Double Down.
56 The screenplay was co-authored by my favorite writer, Raymond Chandler.
57 And yes, I have read the novel by Highsmith. (It’s excellent!)
58 Chandler and Hitchcock did not like each other. At all.
59 It is said that Chandler had to stay drunk in order to complete the script for Strangers on a Train. And yes, I may have to try that in order to get to number 100 on this list.
60 Dead Ringer (1964) was mentioned in an early episode and I’m pretty sure Castle was referring to a very entertaining Alec Guinness flick in which the classy Brit played dual roles.
61 The Killer, mentioned in the Always episode. To my relief this wasn’t a foreshadowing based upon the most fatale of all femmes, Ava Gardner in The Killers (1947).
62 Instead, it referred to the modern film by John Woo (The Killer, 1989).
63 The mirrors-and-gunshots finale in A Deadly Affair is reminiscent of an iconic scene in The Lady from Shanghai (1947).
64 The Castle episode in which Beckett and Castle try to convince a dog to choose between them references the 1937 romantic comedy The Awful Truth.
65 Many Castle episode titles are a play on film titles, such as:
66 The Third Man (1949). Every Castle fan knows this one! William Powell, Myrna Loy, starring as Nick and Nora. Based upon the book by Dashiell Hammett.
67 The Mistress Always Spanks Twice. The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946), based upon the book by James M. Cain.
68 Anatomy of a Murder from the 1959 film of the same name, starring James Stewart.
69 Murder Most Fowl references the film Murder Most Foul, 1964, loosely inspired by Agatha Christie’s novel Mrs. McGinty’s Dead. VERY loosely. As in, hardly recognizable. I’m just saying.
70 Close Encounters of the Murderous Kind (Close Encounters of the Third Kind)
71 Slice of Death (Kiss of Death, 1947 classic film noir)
72 To Love and Die in LA (To Live and Die in LA)
73 Dial M for Mayor (Dial M for Murder, 1954, screenplay based on the play by Frederick Knott)
74 Undead Again (Dead Again, a pretty good film noir inspired thriller from the ‘90s)
75 Some episodes drew extensively from classic films, such as
76 Slice of Death. The plot references the following films:
77 The Usual Suspects (1995)
78 Nick Bianco and
79 Nick Cavello are just two of the Nicks mentioned in this episode and plucked straight out of the classic film noir Kiss of Death (1947).
80 Swede Andersen – from The Killers (1947)
81 Johnny Farrell heats up the film (and the femme fatale!) Gilda (1946).
82 The Maltese Falcon (1941). It turns out that this is the bad guy’s favorite film.
83 Sam Spade – the intrepid detective in the above mentioned film.
84 Walter Neff – Double Indemnity (1944)
85 And yes, the screenplay was co-written with my favorite author, Raymond Chandler.
86 Frank Chambers – The Postman Always Rings Twice
87 Richard Wanley – The Woman in the Window (1944)
88 The Woman in the Window was loosely remade the following year as Scarlet Street. It had the same cast, director and storyline, but a completely different ending.
89 The episode draws to a close as Castle points out that “each of those films featured a femme fatale”.
90 The Blue Butterfly episode referenced film noir at every twist and turn.
91 Joe and Vera, classic names from old films, too many to mention!
92 Joe (aka Castle) sees Vera (aka Becket) and utters the classic line, “Where have you been all my life?” That line gets around but research credits it first (and best) to the 1954 romantic comedy, Sabrina.
93 Back at the office, the blond secretary (fan favorite Martha) perfectly invokes every faithful sidekick/secretary in the entire genre.
94 Good girl/bad girl Sally Slocombe (Alexis) reminds us of Ruth/Brigid from The Maltese Falcon, and we wonder why it takes Joe so long to see the light!
95 Meanwhile, back at the precinct, Castle tells Ryan, “Sally set up the PI. It’s a classic film noir twist.”
96 The beautiful necklace sought by so many turns out to be a fake, just like the bejeweled bird in The Maltese Falcon.
97 The official Castle_ABC twitter is tweeting classic movie film themed posters each day leading up to episode 100! So far:
98 Wrapped Up in Death
99 The Final Frontier
100 And my personal favorite – The Blue Butterfly

]]> http://castletv.net/100-film-trivia-notes-for-castle100/feed/ 12 http://castletv.net/castle-star-stana-katic-joins-s-h-i-e-l-d/ http://castletv.net/castle-star-stana-katic-joins-s-h-i-e-l-d/#comments Mon, 01 Apr 2013 14:44:53 +0000 Admin http://castletv.net/?p=21359

Source SHIELDtv.net

Castle star Stana Katic will become a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and love interest for Agent Coulson.

When S.H.I.E.L.D. begins filming on the first day of April next year Castle favorite Stana Katic will join the cast as Agent Con. After finding success on Castle and as a tough but savvy detective Beckett  the move is sure to delight fans when she joins the new series.

Katic has such a strong fan base the network is sure her addition to the cast will add to the success of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Look for more news later today.

Source SHIELDtv.net

For those that haven’t bothered to read the source link OR any of the comments below, clearly this was an April Fools Day joke.

]]> http://castletv.net/castle-star-stana-katic-joins-s-h-i-e-l-d/feed/ 46 http://castletv.net/on-the-red-carpet-video-interviews-to-celebrate-castle100/ http://castletv.net/on-the-red-carpet-video-interviews-to-celebrate-castle100/#comments Mon, 01 Apr 2013 05:25:24 +0000 Trinxy http://castletv.net/?p=21350 Andrew Marlowe

Stana Katic

Nathan Fillion

Molly Quinn

Jon Huertas:

Seamus Dever

Tamala Jones

Penny Johnson Jerald

Susan Sullivan

Cutting the cake.

]]> http://castletv.net/on-the-red-carpet-video-interviews-to-celebrate-castle100/feed/ 3 http://castletv.net/win-a-copy-of-the-official-castle-detective-card-game-pre-release/ http://castletv.net/win-a-copy-of-the-official-castle-detective-card-game-pre-release/#comments Sat, 30 Mar 2013 19:36:36 +0000 Admin http://castletv.net/?p=21296 When a copy of Castle: The Detective Card Game turned up in my mailbox I was surprised to find it was smaller than I had expected. It’s a little larger than a hard cover book but this is an added convenience for anyone carrying the game to an outing or get together with friends.

Castle The Detective Card Game (Pre order)

See details below to go in the draw to win our review copy of the game!

How the game is played:

Our group of 5 players started out by reading through the entire instruction book. We found the instructions easy to follow and once we started our first game picked it up very quickly.

Each player takes on the role of one of the characters including Castle, Beckett, Ryan, Esposito, Lanie and Gates. Each character has a “special talent” that allows them to perform a special task during the game.

The game can be played in a single round called an “Episode” where the first player to reveal the killer is the winner, or in multiple rounds where each time a player reveals the killer they collect a “solved” token. The player with the most tokens when playing ends is the winner.

There are 5 suspects in each case, represented by “suspect” cards placed in the middle of the table. Each suspect card requires three “investigation” actions to be met before that suspect can be confronted. Actions include things like “Search Victim’s Home”, “Autopsy”, “Poker Game Consult”, “Undercover Work” and more. The main deck includes “investigation” cards with each of these actions and each player must collect sets that match the suspect cards in order to confront the suspects. The player to reveal the guilty token (tokens are styled like poker chips) by confronting a suspect wins the round. If the suspect is not guilty a further action (written on the “not guilty” token) will be played before the game continues.

Each player takes turns in either drawing a new card from the main deck and/or discarding a card from their hand. In addition to investigation cards there are numerous “special text cards” in the deck, these allow the player to perform a specific task when they take their next turn, special text cards can allow the player to peek at one of the suspect’s tokens, add a new suspect to the game and more.

Our Review:

We enjoyed playing this game a lot and found it easy to pick up for Castle fans and non-fans alike.

Unlike the Castle Trading Cards, the game is based on later seasons and includes Captain Gates rather than Montgomery.

We played two times with two different groups and we all found the game very easy to pick up. If you only have a short time you can easily play just one game or if you choose you can play for hours on end.

While each player gets to “become” a character from the show it would be nice if their “special talent” could in some way related to the character instead of something random. For example, Beckett’s talent is “Discard two cards with the same name then draw five cards.” We would have also liked to see Martha, Alexis and Montgomery included in the character cards even if the recommended number of players is 6 or less. There’s no instructions about how character cards should be assigned so we chose to allow each player to choose a card at random and we chose new cards every round we played so having the additional character cards would have worked well allowing for a little more variety.

There are a lots of variables that will mean each new game feels fresh and not repetitive. You have different suspects each game and a whether and the same suspect isn’t always guilty. Having the special text cards in the main playing deck makes the game more interesting, especially the “Add a new suspect” card. During the games we played this kept things interesting, there were times when one player already knew who the guilty party was before the suspect was confronted but when a new suspect is added the “guilty” and “not guilty” tokens still on the board are shuffled which means the guilty party may actually change during the game.

We all thought the main deck was badly designed. The most important part of the card (the color strip at the bottom that tells you what “investigation” action it is concealed when you hold the cards in your hand. The main deck was also not laminated meaning the cards will wear out more quickly than we’d like.

“It was fun to play the game while ‘becoming the characters’ and looking at the cards trying to remember which episode the pictures came from.”

“It was fun, I really enjoyed it.”

” It was a lot of fun. The only negative I had was how hard it is to hold the cards and still see the clues. Other then that, I really enjoyed it. It was fun to look at the scenes on each card and remember which episodes they were from, and it would have been nice to somehow incorporate that into the actual game. But I was so focused on the rest of the game that I didn’t have that much time to “enjoy” looking at the scenes on each card.”

Pros:

• Easy to play.
• Can be played by people not familiar with Castle.
• Lots of Castle character references/pictures.
• No role play required.

Cons:

• Main deck design is impractical.
• Main deck not laminated.

Available:

Castle: The Detective Card Game is expected to be available April 12, 2013 and can be pre-ordered on Amazon (see link below)

• Castle The Detective Card Game (Pre order)
• Visit the Cryptozoic Store Page

Thanks to Castle fans Tammy, Yvonne, Andy, Debby, Mindy and Stephanie who helped review the game!

You can enter to win our review copy of Castle: The Detective Card Game.

In order be in the running to win you must post a  link to this article on Twitter, Tumblr or Facebook (be sure to tag us in your post and then post in the comments below stating in 25 words or less why you would like to win a copy of the game.

Please note: this is our review copy and therefore has been opened and used so we could test the game.

Entries close 12pm (Pacific US time) Tuesday April 2nd, 2013.

]]> http://castletv.net/win-a-copy-of-the-official-castle-detective-card-game-pre-release/feed/ 83 http://castletv.net/spoiler-andrew-marlowe-discusses-shows-early-years-and-100th-episode/ http://castletv.net/spoiler-andrew-marlowe-discusses-shows-early-years-and-100th-episode/#comments Sat, 30 Mar 2013 16:09:06 +0000 Trinxy http://castletv.net/?p=21287 Marisa Roffman from Gimmemyremote.com had a chance to sit down with Andrew Marlowe and go down the memory lane with Castle’s creator Andrew Marlowe. Here’s what she found out:

 

Marisa: Episode 100 is finally here!
Andrew Marlowe: Yeah, it’s nice! It’s nice we were able to get there, it’s nice the TV gods smiled upon us. We’re gratified that we get to keep making them.

Marisa: Is it a little weird celebrating episode 100 when you’re several episodes ahead in writing and production?
AM: There’s still a lot of work to do before we get to the end of the season. So it’s nice to pause and take a moment to reflect on everything we’ve done. And when we look back at the journey it’s been, it’s been pretty phenomenal. I just have the highest praise for our actors and everybody on the writing staff and crew for everything they’ve been able to bring to it. Not too many shows have the opportunity to hit this benchmark and we consider ourselves very fortunate.

Marisa: Looking back at the pilot, what do you remember of your first day of production?
AM: The first day of production is both daunting and makes you giddy, because it’s like, we’re here, we arrived, we’re making this, it’s really exciting, but I can’t for the life of me tell you what our first scene was. I just knew I was in remarkable company with Nathan Fillion (Castle) and Stana [Katic (Beckett)], and being able to work with [guest star] Keir Dullea on the pilot and hear stories about making [the movie] 2001[: A SPACE ODYSSEY]. It was really a wonderful experience.

Any time you get something new into production, it feels fresh and it’s just awesome. I remember my first day on AIR FORCE ONE [which Marlowe wrote], and we went down to a runway next to LAX and there was a plane they had painted to look like the president’s 747. Coming on to CASTLE, it’s smaller scale [than film], but more control as a showrunner, because you are the executive producer. So to control the vision down to the smallest detail was a new and interesting challenge.

 

For the full article, please visit Gimmemyremote.com

]]> http://castletv.net/spoiler-andrew-marlowe-discusses-shows-early-years-and-100th-episode/feed/ 0 http://castletv.net/spoilers-previews-for-the-100th-episode-the-lives-of-others/ http://castletv.net/spoilers-previews-for-the-100th-episode-the-lives-of-others/#comments Sat, 30 Mar 2013 16:08:41 +0000 Trinxy http://castletv.net/?p=21285 Yesterday, TVOvermind, Examiner.com and Nicegirlstv.com, had a chance to see Castle’s newest episode “The Lives Of Others” live and here are their thoughts.

Luciana Mangas from TVOvermind writes:

It is no secret to you guys that these last couple of seasons haven’t been all that great for me and I’ve been very vocal about it, especially when it came to Castle and Beckett’s relationship. Now, having seen the 100th episode a couple of hours ago, I can definitely say that all (well, almost) I had been complaining about has been delivered in “The Lives of Others”. I admit I was a little bit apprehensive about this episode, mostly because, well, it is the 100th episode and it’s a huge deal, for starters. But also because I wasn’t entirely sure how this Rear Window kind of plot was going to play out and, really, why were they even going in that direction?

But it was just so good, guys. Seriously. I don’t have one single complaint about this episode. I was talking to my friend and fellow Castle reviewer, Kate Jennings, from Examiner.com and she said something that pretty much sums up “The Lives of Others” for me: “It’s like everything I’ve wanted the entire series in 40 minutes”. And it really is. Everything I love about this show and everything I wanted to see wrapped up in one brilliant episode with a nice red bow on top of it. It is easily the best episode of season 5 and – dare I say it – maybe the best one of the series.

 

Kate Jennings from Examiner.com:

It’s not going to be surprising at all if this coming Monday goes down as the day Andrew Marlowe and Terri Miller killed the fandom for a second time. On March 29, ABC released a screener for the 100th episode of “Castle”, and there’s a pretty good chance that “The Lives of Others” will become the most favorite episode of all-time for many fans. It’s just so good!

 

Karen L. from NiceGirlsTV.com writes:

Beckett, Ryan, & Espo work on a case at the 12th, while Castle watches a murder unfold while he’s laid up at home. His vivid imagination allows Kate to wonder if he’s crying wolf, so he spends most of the episode looking for evidence to prove his veracity.

“The Lives of Others” was landmark episode worthy, on-par with episodes like “Always”, and “After the Storm”. Maybe not as serious, but just as well written. There are a few moments of hand-waving, but easily forgiven because of how great the storylines wrap-up.

 

For full articles, tune in to Examiner.com, TVOvermind and NiceGirlsTV.com.

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