I can really only speak to Moonlighting and Bones, since those are the two that I've watched all the way through.

I was a young teenager when Moonlighting was on, and it comes in for a tie with Castle for my favorite show to date. But despite the URST, it was quite a different show than Castle. Maddie hated David in the beginning, and they were complete opposites. Their banter was really more fighting, and it was passionate and a little physical sometimes. Beckett was extremely annoyed with Castle from the get-go, but she never hated him like that, and her banter with Castle is more backhanded and flirty…not mean. Castle as a show has always had more heart.

Over the course of 3 seasons, Maddie and David had a slow thaw toward one another, but David was such a flawed character and so irresponsible and Maddie so proper that you could never really see how a real relationship would work between them. So they slowly grew to care for eachother, and at the end of season 3 they "did it", but it followed a very mean, somewhat violent fight between them. I have to say that my sappy romantic little teenage heart was broken because their hook-up really lacked romance. Today, I see that hook-up quite differently…it was hot, and had it happended any other way, it would not have been true to their characters. So that also makes Maddie and David a poor comparison for Castle and Beckett, as Castle and Beckett actually have quite a few things in common (even though they approach things differently) and they respected and cared about each other pretty quickly (Beckett started out a fan after all). You could actually see a realtionship between them as a viable possibility if they can get past their fears and baggage.

I think the hook-up between Maddie and David was well-timed and I could see a season 3 hook up of Castle and Beckett making sense. Any longer and things start to slide. Maddie and David crashed and burned because the actors disliked each other, Bruce Willis was doing movies, cybill shephard was pregnant (which led to a separation of the characters and hideous storylines, and there was a writers strike). Unfortunately, that led to this fake Moonlighting curse, which never would have happened if those other circumstances didn't exist.

I've gone on too much already, but I'll simply say that Booth and Bones are cute, but not adorable and sexy and charming all at once like Beckett and Castle…and after 5 seasons of waiting for them to get together, I don't really care anymore!

I love the URST of Castle and Beckett, but at some point, something has to happen or people will stop caring if it does. It doesn't have to be soon, but some little steps along the way would be nice…plus a decent amount of time to have fun with them as some sort of couple! I'm not a big fan of gimmicks, but Moonlighting used a lot of dream sequence and imagined kisses between Maddie and David, and it certainly tied you over until something more happened! I also think it would be helpful if Castle and Beckett talked more to others about any feelings they might have for each other…it helps to feel like you're in on a secret even if nothing is happening between them. They need to use Martha and Lanie more for this!

Sorry! I really am having new episode withdrawal!

Good posts you two. You hit on a number of very good points, esepcially the differences between Castle/Beckett, Maddie/David and Booth/Bones.

Having never seen any of those shows, I'm left trying to find a reasonable comparison to Castle/Beckett in the shows I have seen. Donna & Josh from The West Wing and, oddly enough, Kevin & Winnie from The Wonder Years come to mind. Now Kevin and Winne did share a kiss in one of the early seasons when they were both still kids, but throughout the show, there was a consistent back-and-forth will they end up married or won't they storyline and their characters dated off and on throughout the high school years. So in terms of the marriage question, there was always something unresolved, but I'd hardly call it URST. That would be just…eww.

In terms of Josh and Donna, they had great chemistry, they worked closely together, Josh didn't quite annoy Donna like Castle annoyed Beckett in the beginning, but as time went on, their subtle flirtations came out and they came to respect each other, realize they meant a lot to each other and finally hooked up in the end. The difference is as Shutthefrontdoor said, on Castle the procedural part of solving teh cases often runs in the background of Castle and Beckett's back-and-forth or personal lives. On The West Wing, the daily challenges of working in the White House, supporting the President, and dealing with the issues that confronted them all, sometimes poignant and sometimes off-the-wall, took center stage. Which is why, I think, the show was able to successfully drag out whatever URST was going on between them for so long.

I totally agree with both of you that something needs to happen either this season or next or some of Castle's most devoted fans will throw their hands up and say enough is enough I'm tired of waiting. I'd love to see more lines like "You pull my pigtails" but you can only move their relationship forward in that way for so long. You don't want things to plateau between them, you want things to either keep going up or go up and down – that's what keep viewers coming back. Beckett's already saved Castle a couple times, so seeing Castle help or save Beckett would really move things forward, in my mind. Or, since someone important to Beckett (Will) was hurt and Castle consoled Beckett, maybe something could happen to Alexis or Martha where Beckett could console Castle.

Just some thoughts. Feel free to poke holes in them. Gotta get back to work.

To me, the premise of Castle is the courtship of Richard Castle and Kate Beckett. And we are all witnesses as to how he will win Kate. Castle's attraction has always been at the forefront. He never was shy about being attracted to her and wanting to be with her. But she's a different kind of girl and he has to pursue her. Something, he probably isn't used to. Maybe the last time he ever pursued a girl was Kyra. He has to work hard. He was pushy in the beginning, trying to win her but now, as he gets to know her, he has learned to step back. And then let her open up to him. There's so much for these two to learn about each other.

I love watching Castle do things for Kate to notice him but for me, the real revelation is watching Kate develop feelings for Castle. Watching her being annoyed with him and then finding all the things she found annoying, now endearing and her discovering that there is more to Castle than what she initially thought. I love how her feelings towards Castle has developed, from telling him to not touch her mother's case to now, him being the one she runs to and trust when it comes to her mother's case. I don't think she even trusted Will with ehr thoughts and feelings about her mother. Another thing that was telling about her feelings for Castle is that she let him back in even after she told him they were done. When Will wanted back in her life, she didn't budge. And when Castle wanted to step away becasue he overstepped, she asked him to stay. When Will left, she let him go. Did not follow him or even asked him to stay. Truth is, and I do think it scares both of them, to realize just how much they need each other. Just how much they want each other in their lives. I mean, to be honest, does Castle still need to be shadowing Beckett? No. He's a writer and he has an overactive imagination about her anyway. He's seen her work and that's why he says "She's extraordinary." She never gives up. I'm sure Beckett knows that she really doesn't need to call Castle in every case that they get, but she does anyway. He also watches her do paperwork.

The reason why "moonlighting" didn't last too long wasn't becasue they put the leads together, it was becasue both the actors did not like each other and their dislike/hatred for one another was very public. They just couldn't get along. And I'm sure both just wanted the series to end.

Remington Steele, well, the lead stars of that show also were not too fond of each other. Although they were civil with each other, it was reported then that these two were not chummy at all. Also, Pierce Brosnan lost out on his first chance to play Bond because he was incontract with NBC and they would not release him of his contract or allow him to do Bond. So there was that resentment there.

Bones, well, I blame the bonehead creator of deceiving the fans and that stupid season finale.

X-Files, I will always love Scully and Mulder, but that pairing took too long to geth together.

The bottomline is, it's all abnut the writing. Stana and Nathan have a chemsitry, an amazing one at that, but if they've got nothin to work with on paper, their chemistry will not save the show.

I want to see continous progress in their relationship. I don't want to see any cheap tactics to keep them apart. I do feel that by the end of season 3 or midway of Season 4, they should get together.

ShutTheFrontDoor. said:

[quote]
Marbs84 said:

When Will wanted back in her life, she didn't budge. And when Castle wanted to step away becasue he overstepped, she asked him to stay. When Will left, she let him go. Did not follow him or even asked him to stay.

I love the way you phrased that!

[/quote]

Thanks. I was rewatching the episode "Little Girl Lost" and the very last scene where Will tells her that now he's back, he wanted to try again and then to think about it, the look on her face, it was obvious that for Kate, their time have already past.

I thought the guy who played Will was hot but I'm glad that he's on another show and their original plan to bring Will back again didn't pan out. I thought it was for the best.

Hello!! thanks for sharing your thoughts Nikki, Marbs84, vwlvbugg, Lacksagoo, shutthefrontdoor nev827and dmcw!! Yes what a way to pass the time with a big break in new eps!

Yes Nikki, I have heard unresolved sexual tension as referred to as UST also… but I have also seen URST around on this board – so thought it best to go with the later.. as I am sure Castle's intelligent fans can work it out either way and respect that others may call it something else.. no biggie..

Some would argue that it really is jumping the shark to start a show with a main couple relying on UST (or URST!!) to keep the fans coming back, and then have the couple actually get together.

In my heart of hearts, I don't want this to be true.. so.. I was keen to hear others thoughts on this.. is it really true? Maybe it is?

From all the shows I can think of that continue to work once a couple gets together – they are shows in which the relationship is not the main focus of the show.. recent examples – include The Closer and Burn Notice (ok. at the moment they are together -but even when they are not together they are still together!! ;) ) Your favourite part of the show may be ' the relationship' but it is never the focus of the show.. and I think there is evidence this works.. ( Nev827 mentioned another great example – josh and donna on west wing)

Shows that portray successfully a married or committed couple?? seem to start out with the couple already together- take hart to hart as the obvious example.. even 'the thin man' movies.. or – they are not the main characters of the show.. they are co-stars!

I read a fascinating blog article on URST the other day.. i will link it here for anyone interested in considering this further..
http://www.sophiecunningham.co…..the_sha_1/

She brings up some interesting points that I had never explictly considered.. I especially enjoyed how she points out that often when a show is reliant on UST , the UST usually occurs between opposites.. (paraphrasing what she has written a bit here) the gay guy and the straight girl ( will and grace), the believer and the sceptic ( mulder and scully), and.. I would point out that for castle – it is the by the book cop and the not by the book crime writer.. she is controlled.. he is a bit out of control, she is serious and he is soooo not serious-So there is plenty of scope for conflict..The article does reference a few aussie shows sorry if you don't know them! but.. I think you can get the drift anyway..

Her article explains that URST is so powerful because it is a form of longing.. and that we want to see two people come together and be happy together.. but at the same time, we don't want to see them get together and deal with the day to day stuff of being in a relationship.. how many shows can we think of where the show is based on a couple having UST- they get together- and then the show dies?? alot.. too many.. can they all be down to bad writing???maybe there is some truth to this.. ) Basically we long for the couple to get together.. for the URST to get resolved,, and then we suddenly find we are not happy, or at least not as emotionally invested.. there seems to be quite a long history of this happening with shows that start out with a 'future couple' who we just know are destined to be together and be good for each other – The UST bubbling away barely concealed- but something keeps getting in the way..

Sorry if it seems I am rambling here, but when I first started watching castle, and hearing that the show was partly based on 'the thin man' series – I had in mind that maybe this is the show that will finally crack this pattern!!! and be able to make the transition from UST future couple to RST committed couple.. The interviews I saw of the stars saying it isn't will they or won't they but how will they and when gave me hope.. but I am starting to see that I don't think I am going to get what I want from this show!

I just need to enjoy it for what it is – which is a fabulous show btw.. I mean really what are these creators of the show going to say – oh yes we will keep them apart forever until the show gets cancelled and then in the final episode they will run off and elope? no way.. they can't take away from the URST that keeps people coming back.. they have to feed the beast- but they can't completely satisfy it.. and when the writers talk about keeping the balance – I think this is partly what they are doing.. ( althought they would never obviously explain it) Marlowe or was it Bowman, says they would keep them apart while it is still natural they be kept apart- well I am starting to see that could be years and years.. especially when you live by the proviso that two people can only get together when they finally have themselves completely ready and together – at the right place, at the right time.. why.. that could be never!

Where did this idea that only when someone is 'ready' will they enter the relationship? don't get me wrong, I am asking myself this question.. it is because I am buying into the philosophy of the UST.. and it keeps the yearning, the longing, the tension at its peak and it keeps people coming back..

Sooooo do I want Beckett and Castle to get together? yes!! and I will keep on wanting it!!! could I be kidding myself that they can pull off a transition to serious couple? hmmm maybe I am.. I don't know.. but I would love to see at least one show somewhere attempt it and pull it off..

The fact that we often see shows with people who are not in serious relationships and seriously committed to each other makes me sad. I know television isn't the real world, but I don't know that it is so healthy to have things so out of balance.. where are the positive couples on tv these days? it's all angst and UST and hooking up.. and it gives a show an expiration date- 4 seasons and fans start to grow weary…6 or 7 and they are pulling their hair out and getting angry!!

I will try and relax and go with the flow of Castle as I love the characters.. I just wish I could have a guarantee that they won't drag it out forever – a guarantee that I can actually believe!!

Anyone else have thoughts on this? Please share with us!!!

Dmcw- I was very excited to see your long post! thanks for sharing.. please more more! :)

Marbs84- the courtship of Castle and Beckett is the focus of the show.. I love it!!
Marbs84 said:

When Will wanted back in her life, she didn't budge. And when Castle wanted to step away becasue he overstepped, she asked him to stay. When Will left, she let him go. Did not follow him or even asked him to stay.

I would like to give my ideas on this Marbs84 in response, I felt that Beckett let Will go because he didn't get what he was asking of her or what he had done – to him it was no big deal that he left for Boston – and let her down – So.. he comes back asks her out again and tries again.. BUT he doesn't say sorry for having left her – Castle on the other hand- was being pushed away by Beckett for good reason too ( going against her wishes and looking into her mum's case) – but.. he did a very brave thing – he sought her out and said sorry, genuinely – and she was left in no doubt that he understood what he had done to her, and that he wished he hadn't and that he promised he would never hurt her that way again.. Will?? there's no comparing really.. he wasn't really making a strong play at staying around.. but hey just my opinion there..

Lacksagoo wrote:

The way to kill a show is not necessarily resolving the URST. While maintaining tension can create good fun, there's nothing to be gained from five seasons of blue balls. If Castle and Beckett drifted into a more intimate relationship, the writing wouldn't suddenly become less witty. Like it or not, URST is often a gimmick. The real reason Castle soars is clever writing and artful acting. Romantically linking Rick and Kate would in fact open the door to a whole new pool of material- and wouldn't prohibit their current dynamic from continuing (there would just be an added element of romance).

So here's to some Castle love in the next year!

Lacksagoo in response to your post – ROFL!! my what a way with words you have.. Blue Balls ha haaa.. I hope for this too.. I hope you are right and I would love to see this and see it be successful – at the same time- I doubt they will go there until they really have to ( ie cancelled show!) I guess the networks would say 5 seasons of blue balls? why that is a successful show!!! they're not invested emotionally in the characters.. only the $$.

Nikki SG-1 sounds terrible!!! but then.. I guess the main focus of the show wasn't this one relationship was it? still they dragged it out anyway.. At least on Castle we don't have to worry about going through the gate to an alternative universe.. rofl!!

Didn't they do this with firefly?? it got cancelled so they made serenity and got all the couples together??? I've only seen snippets- come on experts! fill us in!!

anyone else out there have thoughts on this subject???

What a post Doz! So much to consider. I agree with you that the hook for URST (or UST) is the longing factor. I'm a hopeless romantic and have many times developed feelings for someone who either was already in a committed relationship or didn't feel the same way about me, so I have a personal connection to fictional characters who experience those same feelings. This is partly why Kaylee and Inara are my favorite Firefly characters – of course, they're also smart in their own way, know how to put the objects of their affection in their places when necessary, and stay true to who they are.

And the Beckett-Castle dynamic isn't the only reason I watch the show either. The writing is sharp (for all the characters), the secondary characters aren't there just for show, but drive the plot and help the principals change their outlook, plus it's well directed, the music is great, the cases always have a great twist and there's the underlying plotline of Beckett's mom's unsolved murder. The URST is a big awesome added bonus.

Of course I want Beckett & Castle to get together and from their interviews, we all know they will eventually, it's just fun to try to guess when and how and to watch the two of them develop, i.e. to watch Beckett's fun, saucy side and Castle's sweet, sensitive side each come out more.

As long as they don't wait too long or push them together too quick and then realize it was a mistake then I'll be happy

Gemma, I love the secret relationship idea, and I think that lends itself really well to this show with it's comedic elements and the flirty banter. I think they could really explore their physical relationship that way while still keeping the tension running high. And I think it makes sense to eventually use it from a plot point of view too (depending on what happens over the next couple seasons), since Kate wouldn't want a relationship with Castle interfering with her professional life, and it would be awkward to have Beckett and Castle together openly at his place with his daughter and Mom around.