Castle is an American crime mystery comedy-drama television series that aired on ABC for a total of eight seasons from March 9, 2009, to May 16, 2016. The series was produced by Beacon Pictures and ABC Studios.
Created by Andrew W. Marlowe, Castle primarily traces the lives of Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion), a best-selling mystery novelist, and Kate Beckett (Stana Katic), a homicide detective, as they solve various unusual crimes in New York City. Detective Beckett is initially infuriated at the thought of working with a writer and goes to great lengths to keep him out of her way. However, the two soon start developing feelings for each other. The overarching plot of the series focused on the romance between the two lead characters and their ongoing investigation of the murder of Beckett's mother.
On May 12, 2016, it was announced that despite some cast members signing one-year contracts for a potential ninth season, the show had been canceled.
Premise Richard Castle is a famous mystery novelist. Bored and suffering from writer's block, he kills off Derrick Storm, the main character in his successful book series. He is brought in by the New York Police Department for questioning regarding a copycat murder based on one of his novels, where he meets and becomes intrigued by Detective Kate Beckett, the officer assigned to the case. Castle is inspired to take Beckett as his muse for Nikki Heat, the main character of his next book series, and uses his friendship with the mayor to pressure the police to let him shadow Beckett. Castle's exuberant personality clashes with Beckett's more reserved and professional demeanor. However, as Beckett begins to appreciate Castle's assistance in helping her catch killers, the two eventually become friends and then lovers. Their cases often deal with murders occurring within various unusual subcultures or milieus, including reality TV shows, vampire enthusiasts, a science-fiction convention, and a man who claims to be a time traveler. A recurring plotline deals with the unsolved murder of Beckett's mother years before, an investigation that leads to an increasingly sprawling and dangerous conspiracy. The series also focuses on the backstories of supporting characters like Detectives Javier Esposito and Kevin Ryan, Medical Examiner Lanie Parish, Captain Roy Montgomery, and Captain Victoria Gates, through multiple episodes.
Cast and characters
Main Nathan Fillion as Richard Castle, born Richard Alexander Rodgers, a best-selling mystery writer. Castle's unusual theories sometimes irritate the people he works with, but often help solve the case. He is the only son of actress Martha Rodgers and a man known as Jackson Hunt, whom he meets for the first time as an adult. He is raising his daughter Alexis by himself, and his mother lives rent-free in his spacious apartment. Stana Katic as Katherine "Kate" Beckett, an NYPD homicide detective, later promoted to captain. She was raised in Manhattan. She was inspired to be a detective by her mother's murder. She works with fellow detectives Javier Esposito and Kevin Ryan and medical examiner Lanie Parish, who is her best friend. Jon Huertas as Detective Javier "Javi" Esposito, a former United States Army Special Forces soldier who now works in the homicide division as part of Beckett's team. Seamus Dever as Detective Kevin Ryan, a former narcotics detective who is part of Beckett's team. He is best friends with his partner, Detective Esposito. Tamala Jones as Dr. Lanie Parish, a medical examiner, Beckett's friend, and an on-again, off-again love interest for Esposito. Ruben Santiago-Hudson as Captain Roy Montgomery (seasons 1–3; guest season 6), Beckett's boss Molly C. Quinn as Alexis Castle, Castle's daughter by his first wife, Meredith Susan Sullivan as Martha Rodgers, Castle's mother, an actress on and off Broadway Penny Johnson Jerald as Captain Victoria "Iron" Gates (seasons 4–7), Captain Montgomery's replacement following his death. She was formerly with Internal Affairs. Toks Olagundoye as Hayley Shipton (season 8), a quick-witted, free-spirited former Metropolitan Police Service officer and MI6 operative from Britain who now works as a security specialist
Recurring Arye Gross as Dr. Sidney Perlmutter, a medical examiner who assists on some of Beckett's cases and does little to hide his dislike of Castle Scott Paulin as Jim Beckett, Kate Beckett's father Maya Stojan as Tory Ellis, an NYPD Tech officer who assists on Beckett's cases Juliana Dever as Jenny Ryan (née O'Malley), Ryan's wife (and Seamus Dever's real wife) Darby Stanchfield as Meredith Harper, an actress who was Castle's first wife and Alexis's mother. She is regularly portrayed as self-centered and dramatic. Monet Mazur as Gina Cowell, Castle's publisher and second wife Bailey Chase as Will Sorenson, an FBI agent and Beckett's ex-boyfriend Michael Trucco as Detective Tom Demming, a robbery detective with whom Beckett briefly becomes involved Victor Webster as Dr. Josh Davidson, Beckett's motorcycle-riding, cardiac-surgeon ex-boyfriend Michael Mosley as Jerry Tyson/the Triple Killer (3XK), a methodical and meticulous serial killer who returns to New York every few years to terrorize the city. He is frequently believed to be dead, only to resurface. Jack Coleman as William Bracken, a popular, charismatic, and murderously corrupt senator representing the State of New York with ambitions of one day becoming president Geoff Pierson as Mr. Smith, a friend of Captain Montgomery's who holds evidence that keeps the murderer of Beckett's mother away from her Michael Dorn as Dr. Carver Burke, a psychiatrist who helps Beckett overcome the trauma of her near-fatal shooting and also deal with her various hidden emotions Jonathan Adams as Vulcan Simmons, a ruthless Manhattan drug lord Dan Castellaneta as Judge Markway, a judge who frequently issues warrants for Beckett, and one of Castle's poker buddies Phil LaMarr as Dr. Holloway, a psychiatrist who evaluates the mental stability of suspects Ken Baumann as Ashley, Alexis' steady boyfriend Myko Olivier as Pi, Alexis's boyfriend (at the beginning of season six) with whom she shares an apartment for a while Lisa Edelstein as Agent Rachel McCord, Beckett's partner during her brief time working for the Attorney-General's Office Annie Wersching as Dr. Kelly Nieman, a respected plastic surgeon with a secret life as Jerry Tyson's partner in crime Matt Letscher as 'Henry Jenkins' (real name unknown), an impostor purportedly with the CIA who is involved with Castle's disappearance Sunkrish Bala as Vikram Singh (season 8), a high-strung tech analyst with the Attorney General's Office in Washington, D.C., where Beckett briefly works. He helps Beckett track down and destroy the mysterious organization behind Beckett's mother's murder and numerous other crimes. He later works as a computer analyst for the NYPD. Kristoffer Polaha as Caleb Brown, an idealistic public defender found to have links to the LokSat conspiracy James Brolin as Jackson Hunt, an operative of the Special Activities Center of the CIA, and Castle's father (from a one-night stand)
Real-life writers Stephen J. Cannell, James Patterson, Dennis Lehane, and Michael Connelly appear as themselves during periodic games of poker at Castle's apartment. Typically, they discuss Castle and Beckett's current case and tease Castle about his involvement with Beckett. Following Cannell's death on September 30, 2010, an empty chair was kept at the poker table for a year in his honor.
Broadcast history
Castle premiered as a midseason replacement on ABC on March 9, 2009. ABC renewed Castle for a second season with an initial order of 13 episodes (later extended to 24 episodes). The second season premiered on Monday, September 21, 2009. In March 2010, ABC renewed Castle for a third, 22-episode season, which began on September 20, 2010. On November 11, 2010, ABC extended the episode order to 24. On January 10, 2011, ABC announced Castle had been renewed for a fourth season for 22 episodes. Season four premiered on September 19, 2011. On December 8, 2011, ABC ordered an additional episode bringing season 4 up to 23 episodes.
On May 10, 2012, Castle was renewed for a fifth season by ABC, which started on Monday September 24, 2012. Two additional episodes were ordered on October 19, 2012, and February 5, 2013, respectively, which brought season 5 up to a total of 24 episodes. On May 10, 2013, ABC announced via Twitter that Castle had been renewed for a sixth season. On May 8, 2014, ABC renewed the series for a seventh season, which premiered on September 29, 2014. On May 7, 2015, the series was renewed for its eighth season, which premiered on September 21, 2015. On April 18, 2016, ABC and ABC Productions announced that Stana Katic and Tamala Jones would not return for Castles ninth season, should it be renewed. Despite several other cast members having signed on for a ninth season, on May 12, 2016, it was announced that the show would be canceled instead; the final episode aired on May 16, 2016.
Reception
U.S. Nielsen ratings
Awards and nominations Year Association Category Nominee(s) / episode Result 2009Emmy AwardsOutstanding Music Composition for a SeriesCastle / "Flowers For Your Grave"Satellite AwardsBest Actor in a Series, DramaNathan FillionBest Actress in a Series, DramaStana Katic2010Emmy AwardsOutstanding Hairstyling for a Single Camera SeriesCastle / "Vampire Weekend"Outstanding Makeup for a Single Camera SeriesOutstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Miniseries, Movie or a SpecialGolden Reel AwardsBest Sound Editing – Short Form Music in TelevisionCastle / "Famous Last Words"Best Sound Editing – Television EpisodicAmber Funk (music editor)Shorty AwardsEntertainmentCastleTVEntertainmentWriteRCastleCelebrityNathan Fillion2011TV Guide Magazine's Fan Favorites AwardsFavorite Couple Who ShouldNathan Fillion and Stana KaticFavorite Drama SeriesCastleShorty AwardsBest ActorNathan FillionWriterRichard CastleBest ActressStana Katic2012People's Choice AwardsFavorite TV Crime DramaCastleFavorite TV Drama ActorNathan FillionPRISM AwardsPerformance in a Drama EpisodeStana Katic and Jon HuertasDrama Series Episode – Mental HealthCastle / "Kill Shot"TV Guide Magazine's Fan Favorites AwardsFavorite CoupleNathan Fillion and Stana KaticShorty AwardsTV showCastleBest ActressStana KaticBest ActorNathan FillionFashionLuke ReichleALMA Awards Favorite TV Actor Supporting Role in a DramaJon Huertas2013People's Choice AwardsFavorite TV Crime DramaCastleFavorite TV Drama ActorNathan FillionFavorite TV Drama ActressStana KaticGolden Reel AwardBest Sound Editing – Short Form Music in TelevisionCastle / "The Blue Butterfly"TV Guide Magazine's Fan Favorites AwardsFavorite CoupleNathan Fillion and Stana KaticImagen AwardsBest Primetime Television ProgramCastle Best ActorJon Huertas2014People's Choice AwardsFavorite TV Crime DramaCastleFavorite TV Drama ActressStana KaticFavorite TV BromanceKevin Ryan and Javier EspositoFavorite On-Screen ChemistryRichard Castle and Kate BeckettTV Guide Magazine's Fan Favorites AwardsFavorite actorNathan Fillion Favorite actressStana Katic2015People's Choice AwardsFavorite TV Crime DramaCastleFavorite Crime Drama TV ActorNathan FillionFavorite Crime Drama TV ActressStana KaticFavorite TV DuoNathan Fillion and Stana KaticImagen AwardsBest Primetime Television Program – DramaCastleTeen Choice AwardsChoice TV Show: DramaCastleChoice TV Actor: DramaNathan Fillion2016People's Choice AwardsFavorite TV Crime DramaCastleFavorite Crime Drama TV ActorNathan FillionFavorite Crime Drama TV ActressStana Katic
Other media
DVD releases