Richard "Rick" Edgar Castle (nĂŠ Richard Alexander Rodgers) is a famous author who weathered through 20 rejections before he got his first manuscript published. He keeps his first rejection letter framed on his wall at home to keep himself motivated. When the series begins, Castle has decided to kill off his most famous character, Derrick Storm, because the character has become boring to him. After weathering the backlash from his fans and nagging from his publisher, who is also his ex-wife, Castle is requested by NYPD Detective Kate Beckett to help with a murder case that copycats scenarios from his previous novels (written before "Derrick Storm" series). Working alongside Beckett gives Castle a new source of inspiration and, after assisting Beckett with the case, Castle takes the opportunity to use his knowledge and skills, and his close friendship with the Mayor, to stay on with the NYPD in a consulting capacity.
Detective Katherine "Kate" Beckett is a homicide detective with the NYPD. Having graduated from Stanford University, she is a firstclass investigator who has gained a reputation as a detective who is intrigued by unusual cases, although she is also known for her ability to empathise with the victims of violent crimes. She joined the force after her mother was murdered and the case was (until recently) never solved. Initially finding Castle to be quite annoying, Beckett gradually warms to him as they work together to solve murder mysteries, utilizing his imagination and insight into a killer's mind and her authority and position within the police department. Even though Beckett does date (and subsequently break up with) several different men during her partnership with Castle, she eventually develops feelings for him, though she is reluctant to acknowledge them openly to anyone. Her reluctance to acknowledge her feelings for Castle, as well as her rejection of her previous boyfriends, stems from her determination to not get hurt, especially in the aftermath of her mother's death. Nevertheless, Beckett will drop subtle hints of her interest in Castle to him, sometimes in the form of suggestive comments that evoke suggestive imagery in Castle's mind.
Alexis Harper Castle
is Castle's 18-year-old daughter, who is unusually mature and responsible for her age and is much more so than her father. Very intelligent and academically inclined (will be attending Columbia University), Alexis' social and interpersonal issues often parallel some aspect of the case Castle and Beckett are investigating. Castle will sometimes ask for her opinion on the motivation for some actions committed by the killers he hunts, such as who someone might ask for money. Alexis is very close to her father, as they do many activities together, including fencing and laser tag, although she has also developed a certain bond with Beckett, asking Beckett's advice when contemplating going on an exchange trip to France, and making arrangements with the detective to spend three days working at the police station as part of a project for her civics class. In Season 4, however, Alexis' relationship with Beckett cools as she feels that the detective does not give her father the respect and involvement he deserves from her. Alexis began dating a boy named Ashley in Season 3. They had hoped to attend Stanford University together, but while Ashley gained admittance, Alexis failed in her attempt to apply for early admittance, which distressed her greatly. Though they attempted to carry on a long distance relationship, the strain of doing so was too much, and Alexis breaks up with Ashley in Season 4.
Martha Rodgers is Castle's mother and lives with him and her granddaughter Alexis. She is an actress on and off Broadway. She helps her son through the difficulties of raising a teenage girl (even one as mature as Alexis), but is also shown to have an active social life. She lives with Castle partly because a previous husband absconded with all her savings. Like Lanie and Esposito, she sees the dynamic between Castle and Beckett and, especially from Season 3 onward, gently urges her son to pursue the detective romantically. After inheriting a million dollars from her old boyfriend and brief fiance Chet Palburn, Martha has opened the Martha Rodgers School of Acting to occupy her time.
Javier Esposito is a bilingual (English and Spanish) detective who works in the homicide division with his partner, Kevin Ryan, as part of Beckett's team. He is always ready with a sardonic comment to keep Beckett on her toes and enjoys the way Castle riles her up. He and Ryan are best friends, even though they constantly argue about obscure facts. He is disappointed when Ryan felt obligated to ask his fiance's brother to be his best man instead of him. It is implied in the pilot 'Flowers for Your Grave' he is a fan of Shark Week, and in the season 2 episode "Den of Thieves," it is revealed that Esposito transferred out of the 54th Precinct
Detective
Kevin
Ryan
formerly a narcotics division cop, now works alongside Esposito as part of Beckett's team. He and Esposito regularly tease Beckett, like when they discovered that she had embarked on a brief modeling career during her teens, but they are otherwise incredibly protective of her and ultimately treat her like one of the guys. In the season 1 episode "Little Girl Lost," Ryan is revealed to have a new girlfriend named Jenny; she is often mentioned, and routinely calls him to check up on him, but her first appearance comes in "The Mistress Always Spanks Twice", where she was portrayed by Dever's real-life wife, Juliana. Jenny returned in the Season 3 episode "Nikki Heat," where Ryan proposes to her in the middle of the homicide bullpen. In the fourth season, he is shown complaining about how stressful and complicated planning a wedding is. His love life and the fact he is in nearly-constant communication with his girlfriend/fiancee makes him subject to much teasing from his partner, so when Esposito begins dating Lanie, he relished turning the tables on his friend.
Dr. Lanie Parish is a medical examiner who has a friendly outlook. As a friend of Beckett's, she is one of the few people Beckett can talk to easily and without reservations. She is also one of the few people who notices the personal connection between Beckett and Castle, and occasionally urges her to act on it. Unlike Beckett, she is far more comfortable with having a social life outside of her job; her personal life comes to the forefront when it becomes known that she and Esposito have begun a relationship they keep quiet from the rest of the team. They make attempts to maintain a low profile, unaware that the rest of the team already knows and approves of their relationship. They have recently taken a break in their relationship after an awkward incident during a double date with Ryan and Jenny.
Captain Victoria Gates is Montgomery's replacement as captain of the 12th Precinct. She is called "Sir" by Beckett. Formerly with Internal Affairs, Gates, known to some as "Iron Gates," is more interested in career advancement than in interpersonal dynamics, making decisions based on the impact that they would have on the precinct where Montgomery made decisions based on how they would affect peoplesuch as concealing a policewoman's vigilante activities because of the potential political backlash rather than to let the officer in question have a good life-, and takes a dimmer view than her predecessor of the Beckett-Castle working relationship. Though she is obligated by the mayor to allow Castle to stay on in his consulting role, Gates tries to convince Beckett that she can be a better detective without him around.
EPISODES •
1X01- Flowers on your çrave
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3x24- Knockout
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4x01- Rise
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4x07- Cops& Robbers
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4x09- Kill shot
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4x04- Kick the ballistics
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4x11- Till death do us part
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5x05- Probable cause