Castle A Grandiose reflection of the Series thus far

The last episode of Castle has been shown so it is appropriate to review the whole series thus far.

However before we start. if you need to understand the whole series reasonably briefly then read this.

This is huge if you wish detailed commentary on EACH episode and what the fans are thinking as well.

Now let's get into it.

General

The Series is about two things. solving homicides and the relationship between Castle and Beckett.
Castle instrumentally helps Beckett attain a new level as a detective. He is her partner and together they solve crimes extremely well ( as well as saving each other's lives)
He is effervescent, loving  life to the fullest whilst she is by the book and straight laced. however opposites do attract.
There is chemistry oozing between Castle and Beckett. More on that later.
I think I should have added as a writer he is very good on detail and writes very realistic stories. this what Lanie tells him in the first episode and what Beckett implies to Esposito on why she reads Castle's novels.

Relationships

Castle
Strangely enough we know little about Castle and his relationships. He has had three.
The first one was a sweetheart he wanted to marry at university. However due to poor communication instead of marrying they parted. ( We meet her in the second series when a murder occurs at her wedding.)
Castle was deeply hurt by this.
He then marries an actress. We can only assume it was on the rebound and because in his formative years he thought great sex led to fulfilment. It doesn't and she proves unfaithful and seemingly lies all the time to get her way. She is not attractive either.

Inexplicably he marries a second time. We are not told why. She is an attractive blond who is also his publisher. We are told by Castle the relationship was almost sexless.
The reason was probably because of the time pressures of being a publisher. By the time she got to bed it was very late and she just needed to sleep.It is also implied by Castle when he re-united with her she is stable but boring.

Beckett
We learn of three relationships of Beckett. The first one ended when he joined the FBI and wanted her to go with him. Ironically in view of the very last episode thus far she was pretty cheesed off with this although her father implies this may have been an excuse simply to end it.

She briefly goes out with another detective (Deming) but this appears a bit contrived. She never appears affectionate towards him as she is towards Castle. Although the relationship is moving fast as they plan a week-end together Beckett breaks it off here ( dumps him) as she realises she has distinct feelings for Castle.

She has a longish relationship with Josh a doctor but  she never tells him the whole truth as we learn in the 1st episode of series 4. Josh is seen as an insecure and jealous boyfriend and again she never appears to have feelings for him she has for Castle. There is a poignant scene after The day is over and Castle defused the dirty bomb. She is hugging josh but looking at Castle depart.

The end of each series

At the end of series 1 Castle tells Beckett of new information he has gotten about her mother's murder. He has done this despite Beckett telling him it would be over if he did this. She thinks he does this for selfish reasons ( book) but he hasn't. After a crestfallen apology she forgives him and the relationship for the first time involves romantic tension between the two.
At the end of series 2 Beckett is about to tell Castle of her feelings towards him but Castle is back with his second ex-wife. ( this makes little sense.) The whole unit is shown as very sad the two haven't hooked up.

At the end of Series 3 Castle has warned Beckett if she goes after her mother's killer she herself will end up dead. A number of significant events occur. Both Montgomery and Beckett's father attempt to get Castle to change Beckett's mind.When Castle  confronts Beckett about this she goads him about their relationship.
It is here we find out Castle is very perceptive. She gets into relationships with men she doesn't love.
Beckett then tells Castle they are finished. Presumably because Castle was right.
However at the funeral the strong implication is that Beckett realises most of Castle's reasoning was correct and he is very loyal to her.
At the end of series 4 we almost get a repeat. Beckett is going after the sniper who shot her and who is indirectly involved in her mother's murder. Castle again tells her to back off but she refuses and now HE says it is all over.
We end up seeing them kissing at at his apartment when Beckett realises Castle is more important to her than catching the killer

At the end of Series 5 Beckett is deciding whether to move to Washington and a new job. Castle is provoked into thinking deeply about their future and thus proposes.

There is a trend. The relationship gets stronger after each series ending Will this continue?

One interesting thing is that most of the time it is Beckett who leads. ( This amusingly comes out in the Handcuffs episode) But there are times when Castle leads and she accepts ( first kiss and at times it appears she would like it more.This is good for the proposal therefore.)

Caskett relationship
In series 1 the relationship is more about development of the friendship as respect by Beckett for Castle's detective skills is shown.
By Series 2 we have clear romantic tension ( not sexual tension there is a big difference) between the two.

Why does nothing happen? Castle, we learn in Series 4, is waiting for her to react. This surely must be a reaction to his first love.
He is also a man of high principles. He will not reveal his feelings towards Beckett whilst she is in a relationship with another man. He skilfully avoids this in series three in the knockdown episode by deflecting Beckett's question.It is avoided in the last episode by the anger between the two.
He only tells he he loves her when she is shot and mightn't survive.
He is remarkably forgiving of Beckett. In the first episode of Series 3 when in hospital she tells Castle she will call him when she wants to see him. It takes her a full 3 months! Although angry he does accept it.
His perceptive questions about Josh to Beckett leads him to believe this relationship has no future thus he only needs to wait. notice the difference to Deming.

Beckett realises after Castle's apology in the first episode of series 2 he is completely different to what she thought. She then is hoping he will ask her out.
Both are interested in each other but deny this so subconsciously they believe they are not attracted. This allows both to have feelings towards each other without having to do much about it.
( I am at a loss why anyone would bother to take Beckett out when it is apparent this  handsome multi-millionaire writer is working closely with her EACH day!)

Castle's problems emanate from his first love. Beckett's we are told are not wanting to get hurt again like she was when her mother died. however we know from food to die for She and her best friend had a falling out over a 'hot' boy because Beckett didn't tell her friend the full story. This is a familiar tale to me

Other characters

Castle's mother
She appears to be an airhead BUT is very wise when it comes to Beckett who she clearly likes. The only time she appears lacking wisdom is when Castle finds out Beckett actually remembers everything about her shooting including Castle telling her of his love for her. He absurdly believes She is embarrassed by it ignoring all other evidence as she does.

Beckett's Dad
We don't see enough of him. For a man who for four years was on the grog because of his wife's murder he doesn't  go near Beckett's emotional problems very much at all. He makes a remark in the very last episode that about this time with Castle she is getting out of relationships. This cannot be true .It is highly doubtful she had any relationships like this  before 19 and she hasn't since!

Roy Montgomery
for a crackerjack detective Beckett never asks about Montgomery's relationship with Castle prior to him helping out the 12th. He regularly played poker with him ( with the mayor and the judge who allowed Beckett's warrants.) Castle beat them all the time yet he is  still a good friend. This means Castle is something else and it is no wonder Montgomery wanted to see what would happen when he teamed up with her.

Gates
It is clear Gates doesn't want Castle around however this doesn't add up. Anyone can see how he helps out homicide and is an equal. Moreover he is one more body but NO cost to the department. She should be happy he is around! Has she softened (she must) or not?

Last episode

Beckett is approached for a new job in Washington BUT this goes against everything we learnt about her in the very first episode. On why she is a homicide detective. No-one but no-one talks about what she has at present and what she may lose. The 12th is her home. Esposito is her younger brother. She has Castle around  as a partner. Her father and best friend ( Lanie) are in NY. Talking to the on the phone isn't the same particularly when it is something very important to talk about.

He is a highly successful multi-millionaire writer she is a detective. I know of no relationship where the vastly higher income earner follows the lesser income earner.

Possible endings

• Beckett dumps Castle. There is no chance of this. She has already told us this in her conversations. However if she did she would have to leave the 12th and NY because of Castle's presence. She wouldn't do this at the swings otherwise she wouldn't have agreed to Castle's request to meet he there.
• Beckett goes to Washington but stays with Castle. Possible. The beauty here is Beckett would come back to NY and we get another' I'm so sorry Castle' scene. If she goes to Washington then there will be no little baby Castles. (think about it)
• Beckett stays and realises what she has at the 12th and in NY is more important. She grows as a person, the wall comes tumbling down and we see a little Castle in the last ever episode