Obviously, there are many reasons why Beckett doesn't just quit her job when Montgomery tells her that the mayor expects her to cooperate.  I wish they would explain the reasons to the audience.  She's complained to the captain more than once, so I'd like to see Beckett have a serious conversation with Lanie about how she's being taken advantage of and the possibility of leaving.  Does Montgomery expect her to put up with a tag-along indefinitely?  My guess is Beckett has another 10 to 15 years before she collects her pension.  Is it worth it?

Please read my original post more carefully.  I am not suggesting that Beckett quit.  Obviously, if she did, there wouldn't be much of a story.  I'm wondering why we do not see the reasons Beckett is stuck in this situation.  Clearly, quitting is not a viable option.  However, I don't think she intends to continually complain about having a tag-along if it's not getting her anywhere.  Beckett does not strike me as the kind of person to accept being pushed around, even if it is by her boss.  I expect that there will be more resistance from her if Montgomery anticipates continuance of this arrangement.  She's smart enough to figure out a way to gain some control.  I wonder how she'll do it.

Boston Scientist said:Please read my original post more carefully.  I am not suggesting that Beckett quit.  Obviously, if she did, there wouldn't be much of a story.  I'm wondering why we do not see the reasons Beckett is stuck in this situation.  Clearly, quitting is not a viable option.  However, I don't think she intends to continually complain about having a tag-along if it's not getting her anywhere.  Beckett does not strike me as the kind of person to accept being pushed around, even if it is by her boss.  I expect that there will be more resistance from her if Montgomery anticipates continuance of this arrangement.  She's smart enough to figure out a way to gain some control.  I wonder how she'll do it.

It could be she puts up with it because as much as she is annoyed at times at his antics she does value his input and they do solve some very difficult cases, probably faster than if she were going it alone. It's like her line at in The Double Down when Ryan and Esposito are seemingly getting ahead in their case much to their dismay. "Are we really rooting against solving a murder?"

Solving murders and helping the families of the victims is what drives Detective Beckett. If that means having an overgrown boyscout tag along she'll put up with it as long as it's useful.

Boston Scientist said:

nalissa2 said:

It could be she puts up with it because as much as she is annoyed at times at his antics she does value his input and they do solve some very difficult cases, probably faster than if she were going it alone. It's like her line at in The Double Down when Ryan and Esposito are seemingly getting ahead in their case much to their dismay. "Are we really rooting against solving a murder?"

Solving murders and helping the families of the victims is what drives Detective Beckett. If that means having an overgrown boyscout tag along she'll put up with it as long as it's useful.

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Then why does she keep complaining to Montgomery about it?  It's not like she's complaining to Esposito & Ryan or Lanie.  She's going to her boss.

She's complicated.

nalissa2 said:

Boston Scientist said:

nalissa2 said:

It could be she puts up with it because as much as she is annoyed at times at his antics she does value his input and they do solve some very difficult cases, probably faster than if she were going it alone. It's like her line at in The Double Down when Ryan and Esposito are seemingly getting ahead in their case much to their dismay. "Are we really rooting against solving a murder?"

Solving murders and helping the families of the victims is what drives Detective Beckett. If that means having an overgrown boyscout tag along she'll put up with it as long as it's useful.

---

Then why does she keep complaining to Montgomery about it?  It's not like she's complaining to Esposito & Ryan or Lanie.  She's going to her boss.

---

She's complicated.

She's a woman! I think she only goes to Montgomery because he's like another father figure to her. If she were to tell Ryan, Esposito, or Lanie about how much she is bothered by Castle they would just view it as her complaining and brush it off. No one wants to be that co-worker that just complains about their situation. When Beckett tells Montgomery about it, she's getting some feedback on it.

Jamz said:

The only reason I can think of for why she'd complain again is that her feelings have changed. I could see her talking about it to Lainie but no way she'd confess such feelings to Ryan and Esposito. While we've seen more layers to her this season they've presented her as having two lives. One she presents at work and one outside of work we've yet to really see.

I don't think she'd ever date someone from work. It could be possible she's complaining because she wants to explore a relationship in a more personal setting? It would help if they'd explain why he's still allowed to tag along other than to make the Mayor happy. It has to go deeper than he likes the good publicity.

Let's not forget she has also admitted to the Captain on more than one occasion that he's helped them on the really tough cases. She had the perfect opportunity to be rid of him during Deep In Death, but didn't. I think she's not thrilled at certain aspects of his tag along since her police work seems to be more low key rather than Castle's flamboyant approach but she's certainly not closed off to his ideas or help.

Besides she'd better get used to the spotlight. After Heat Wave hits and she becomes a "celebrity cop" she'll have more of that showy aspect to deal with. It won't just be just be suspects going "Richard Castle -the writer?".  It'll be; "You're Nikki Heat? Can I be your sparring partner."

nalissa2 said:

Let's not forget she has also admitted to the Captain on more than one occasion that he's helped them on the really tough cases. She had the perfect opportunity to be rid of him during Deep In Death, but didn't. I think she's not thrilled at certain aspects of his tag along since her police work seems to be more low key rather than Castle's flamboyant approach but she's certainly not closed off to his ideas or help.

It's obvious that Beckett is conflicted about having Castle around.  That's a given.  However, we're supposed to see her as an absolute professional and I don't think it's very professional for her to be constantly whining to her boss about an arrangement that he has already committed her to.  Beckett ain't no .  So what's it all about?  I really think there's more to it than we understand.