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Castle‘s season finale last week left fans who’d been eager to see dynamic duo Castle and Beckett take their relationship to the next level satisfied and excited to see what’s to come.

Stana Katic couldn’t help but tease to us with the “what’s to come” part, but she did share her mutual excitement for the pair’s big step. She took us behind the scenes of the finale by breaking down Esposito’s decision to back Beckett while searching out her mother’s killer, and talk about her big rooftop fight!

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: This season finale felt perfect for the journey we’ve been through this season. Did you see it kind of the same way?

STANA KATIC: Yeah, I loved it. I felt like if we waited any longer it would be untrue to the characters. They’ve gone through a lot together, a lot of really great moments and a lot of really scary journeys together. I think waiting any longer would have been unfair and dishonest. So I think [creator Andrew Marlowe] did a really great job bringing those two characters finally to a point of complete honesty with each other.

Did you have a favorite moment? Hint, hint.
[Laughs] It was very special to me to work with the core team on this episode. Everyone was invested in making it special. And everyone brought a level of performance that I think we haven’t seen up to that point. That added to the story. So there were a lot of moments.

I think that Castle confessing his love over a conscious Beckett was really cool. Really sweet scene. And the boys were amazing; both of them: Seamus Dever and John Huertas. Just stunning. Captain Gates (Penny Johnson Jerald) brought a level of strength that I thought was imperative to that story. It was quite nice throughout. I can’t quite choose one.

Did you like seeing Esposito side with Beckett?
Yeah, John and I have talked about that in the past. We feel that there is probably a back story that signals that the two of them have known each other and been good friends for a while. There’s a certain kind of renegade quality that Beckett has that Esposito also has. Their rules aren’t always as by-the-book as they might seem. They have a certain sense of honor and integrity that is sometimes against the rules, and might not be the safest kind of path. I thought it was really cool to see the two of them have each other’s back in that way. I thought that was a real sweet moment of friendship. We saw a hint of it in “Kill Shot” where Esposito saved her life. And was a real source of friendship there. It was nice to kind of explore. So there were some break-ups and there were some getting together at the end of the season. And one of the break-ups was the bromance, right? So that’ll be a journey that we’ll see next year — we’ll see what happens with Ryan and Esposito. That’s a nice kind of thing to throw into the mix for storytelling next season.

When you saw that Beckett was going to quit, what went through your head?
‘Badass.’ Because everything that she served [and] everything that she has fought for doesn’t have the same meaning at that point. She gave her all to that job, and to be put into question in that way, I feel like a character in that moment, they have a moment of clarity and perspective that difficult to see, like ‘This is what is really important in life.’ In that moment, it was Castle. That’s the only thing that’s important. Even her job as a detective didn’t matter. Finding justice for her mom’s murder didn’t matter. It’s finally just about living life and enjoying the gift that it is.

On to the fight scene — tell me about some of the work that went into that.
It was fun! [Laughs] [The fight coordinator] really wanted Beckett to be a non-issue for that guy. So many times you see her as a tough, motivated action person, and she’s actually owning the space. And in that fight, she’s completely incapable against that man, and I think that’s true to form. She’s gonna fight, she’s gonna give it everything she’s got, she’ll risk her life, but she’s incapable, really, against the forces that she’s facing in that case. And I think that was a really nice showcase for that point.

Now that you say that, I think that’s what scared me during the scene. I was scared FOR her!
Good! Because that’s really what she’s facing. She’s not facing an easy win. If she goes after these people, she is going to die, and that showcased the reality of it. That guy whipped her around like he was a bear and she was a little kitty cat. And that’s a really neat image to show exactly what she was up against in the big scheme of that storyline, in the big scheme of that kind of part of Castle.

So now we have to talk about everything that’s gone on with Castle and Beckett, where do you see it going?
I don’t know what they’re going to do. I know that Andrew is always felt that the show has that kind of His Girl Friday feel. And I feel in any relationship there are these wonderfully charming, complicated moments of adjustment and getting to know each other in a relationship that are quite charming and compelling to watch. So I think if anything they’ll probably explore a lot of that. Andrew has a lot of humor and a wonderful wit about him, and he’s got a big heart in the end. So I think we’ll have that color in anything he writes.

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Question: This is my first time writing in, but I read your column every week. You’ve turned me on to some amazing shows! Notably, Fringe. But I wanted to ask you about Bones and Castle. I’ve watched Bones since the beginning, and I couldn’t peg my recent discontent with it, but after watching the Castle finale, I did. Booth and Bones getting together (AFTER 8 EXCRUCIATING SEASONS!!!) felt like going from appetizers straight to dessert, and skipping the main course. I just felt so “meh” about the relationship after having waited so long, only to get so little payoff. I mean, I find it so hard to believe that one night of off-screen shenanigans would lead them to being a couple when literally nothing else has! I know, I complained about how long it took to get there, but now it feels rushed and really inorganic. If there is any Moonlighting curse, it’s in forcing your main couple together inorganically. I still watch, but it’s not Must See TV for me like it used to be.

Now Castle on the other hand, I just kept saying “OMG. YES! FINALLY! YES! YES! YES!” after watching the finale. I felt it was executed perfectly. We’ve only had to wait four seasons, and we actually see growth on Beckett’s part, which enabled her to finally accept Castle’s love, baggage and all. I guess, in sum, I feel like there was no growth with Bones. It feels like they were forced together due to her pregnancy, without her recognizing that she is capable of being in a loving relationship. She is still the same person she’s always been, just now a mother. Thoughts? — Alexis

Matt Roush: I prefer to stay out of the Bones-vs-Castle fan battle as best I can, while noting that I’m not the least surprised that Castle‘s finale, with the passionate Beckett-Castle clinch, was more satisfying for fans than the way so many Bones fans reacted to the similar situation a year ago, and how those consequences continue to play out on that show. (Now if Beckett becomes instantly pregnant, all bets are off.) These shows operate within the same genre — light mystery with romantic subtext — but the characters are so different. Bones is such a bizarre creation, almost as divorced from human connection as The Big Bang Theory’s Sheldon Cooper, while Beckett may be damaged by her past but is much more part of the real world around her. I don’t expect Bones, even after motherhood, to change any more than I’ve expected Dr. House or Sheldon to have sudden character-altering epiphanies, whereas Beckett’s emotional journey is much more relatable. If they were both telling the same story the same way, I’d probably be fielding charges of plagiarism. There’s no pleasing all constituencies here, but I don’t think these game-changers will harm either show in the long run. For what it’s worth, I thought Castle‘s finale was a model example of how to do it right.

Question: I’ve been a Castle fan since Day 1. I get that this show is essentially a love story wrapped around a TV crime procedural premise; however, I think most people are missing the nuances that the show-runners have infused into their storytelling. Although the pace of the romance has been unrealistically slowed down for TV, I believe the Castle/Beckett dynamic — with apologies to Booth/Brennan, Tony/Ziva, and House/Cuddy — is the most adult depiction of the will-they-or-won’t-they couple I’ve seen since Remington Steele. Because of that, I’ve been able to suspend my disbelief that people who want to be together would behave this way for four years, because I’m invested in all of the characters and having fun watching them get to where we know they’re headed. This is my way of complimenting the superb acting by Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic, particularly this season. They consistently display deft, natural subtlety in their non-verbal expressions, and I’m stunned that the Emmy voters haven’t yet noticed. OK, so Fillion received a People’s Choice award, as did the show. That’s fine. Being popular with fans is one thing; being recognized for your craft by peers is another. What’s your take on this? — Brian

Matt Roush: They’re both very appealing, but this is not the sort of show (rightly or wrongly) that’s likely ever to factor into the Emmy race — not when there are so many powerful dramas out there, especially on cable, which are taken so much more seriously. Dramedies like these tend to suffer when it comes to awards recognition. They’ll just have to settle for popular success.

Question: Great Castle season finale, but will this ruin the series? Why don’t they have Kate quit the force, become Mrs. Castle and together they can be this generation’s Nick and Nora/Hart to Hart? They will have to get an Asta or Freeway. (Maybe you can put a bug in someone’s ear — we certainly have enough cop shows!) — Joanne

Matt Roush: For the real skinny on where Castle is heading after the game-changing finale, check out Adam Bryant’s interview with the show’s creator. But I like your idea a lot. Especially the dog part.

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It was about 8pm and there I was, standing in the corridor outside my flat taking Stana Katic’s call because of the poor reception inside.

I’m sure the sight of me juggling my cellphone while furiously typing away on my laptop must have been hilarious, but I hoped my composed tone during my tête-à-tête with the actress didn’t betray me.

After commenting on the weather warming up on her side of the world, Katic expanded on the impact that bagging the role of Detective Kate Beckett in Castle has had on her TV career.

“Um, I think every role, whether in TV or film, has a part in building a career and relationships. This one (Castle) has created an awareness – no doubt. But, ultimately, they are all part and parcel of telling amazing stories with incredible people,” she shared.

Unable to stop smiling at the recollection of her audition for the part, Katic chuckled: “I think I was a smart-ass in the room. They liked that. There was some sweet story behind the audition story. Having travelled for about an hour, I was told: ‘They have a scene for you, go perform it for the camera’.

“Unfortunately, I came in with a shirt that was almost like a tunic. I thought I would make it work, but it just wouldn’t tuck in. I asked the hairstylist for a pair of scissors, and ran into the lobby.

“Nathan was grabbing a coffee and I asked him to cut off half the tunic. He said: ‘I can’t promise a straight line, but I can cut it’. The producers came in, saw that, and…”

The rapport the producers spotted between the actors is the crime drama’s big selling point, where Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion), a mystery novelist with writer’s block, shadows Kate and helps her with her cases.

On the complexities of her character, she rationalised: “Kate is obviously driven by a need to find justice as she was tremendously affected by her mother’s mother.

“She’s a wonderful human, but she’s imperfect and can sometimes be stubborn. But she has this over-riding desire to rectify wrongs.”

Tenacious, intelligent and beautiful, Katic, who owes her good looks to her Serbian father and Croatian mother, enjoys tapping into the different emotional layers of her character as she juggles being in authority while maintaining “that sense of sensuality”.

Four seasons in, Castle viewers have their fingers crossed, hoping (and waiting on tenterhooks) for the writers to finally exploit the chemistry between Castle and Beckett.

As for getting to work with Fillion, the actress, who has built her career on the big and small screen, admitted: “He is really funny and loves cracking jokes. I learned a lot from him – even when he wasn’t intending to teach me. I am blessed to work with a sweet cast, really!”

On Castle’s phenomenal growth, she explained: “We started out with a fanbase that was very local, and on the internet, and that kept us afloat in the first two seasons.

“After that we started finding a larger audience, with the show getting a bit darker and trying to figure out what are the parameters of our voice.

“The show is different because of a combination of things. There is that romance the audience is rooting for. A balance between the drama and the comedy. Viewers invest in the characters as there is a weight of reality (to them).”

Singing the praises of creator-writer Andrew Marlowe, Katic revealed this season is her favourite by far.

“Every character has been well-established thanks to Andrew and the rest of the writing staff. Now we are all free for more interesting, dangerous, quirky and romantic stories,” she shared.

As for whether we will finally get to see her and Fillion act on those flying sparks, the actress laughed: “It’s obvious they love each other. There is an interesting journey they will go on.

“At the beginning of season four, we find out more about her recovery and the people behind her mother’s murder. She begins a journey of self-discovery.

“One of my favourite episodes is when she has a flashback to the 1940s, thrust into a world of private investigators and gangsters.”

Still keeping a foot in the world of the silver screen, Katic says For Lovers Only struck a chord with the independent film community. And she is pondering taking on a few other projects.

She also expressed a keen desire to work in more period dramas.

“I think Game of Thrones was extraordinary. I want to do some period pieces. It would be lovely to tell great stories, that is my main ambition. And to be working with amazing creators,” she confessed, before saying good-bye as our time was up.

Relieved to be able to put an end to my so-called juggling circus act, I have to admit Katic’s candour and poise are impressive. And I have no doubt her exotic looks and versatility will ensure she is as arresting in her other projects as she is in Castle. Such talent can’t be handcuffed to one show for ever.

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ABC just made its “no-brainer” renewals, picking up its strongest scripted series. That includes freshmen Once Upon A Time, Suburgatory and Revenge, comedies Modern Family and The Middle and dramas Grey’s Anatomy and Castle. (The renewal for Grey’s comes after the main cast signed new deals.) Surprisingly not on the list is sophomore comedy Happy Endings, but I hear that deal is closing, so the show will be back. Also expected to return are two freshman comedy series that didn’t make the first cut, Last Man Standing and Don’t Trust The B—-. Looking good is Shonda Rhimes’ midseason drama Scandal. Talks are still ongoing on a potential 13-episode pickup of Grey’s spinoff Private Practice, which logged underwhelming ratings this week after a promising start on Tuesday. The future of GCB and Body of Proof is unclear, with both having a shot depending on ABC’s new drama series choices. And of course, fellow bubble ABC series Cougar Town just found a new home at TBS. ABC is yet to make its unscripted renewals, which will likely come tomorrow, with Dancing With The Stars, The Bachelor/Bachelorette and Shark Tank certain to get the nod.

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Now that Castle (Nathan Fillion) and Beckett (Stana Katic) have finally done the deed, where will we find the two characters when “Castle” resumes for Season 5 in the fall? Creator Andrew Marlowe tells Zap2it that there won’t be any major time jumps, and the show will pick up soon after Castle and Beckett went to bed together.

“I haven’t quite nailed it down, but I do think everybody is going to want to see what the aftermath looks like,” Marlowe says. “They are going to want to see what it looks like when they wake up in the morning. And I think that’s a promise that we have to honor.”

Season 4 got a little dark and stressful with Castle and Beckett too wrapped up in secrets to have as much of their usual banter, but Marlowe promises Season 5 will have that trademark “Castle” playfulness.

“[Season 4] we feel has been very creatively successful, but it’s also been a little angsty for our characters. [We're excited] to be able to get on the other side of that angst and to open that up into a little bit more of the fun that we had in [Seasons] 1 through 3,” he says. “We’re looking forward to getting to that and dealing with the two characters in a relationship, what that relationship is going to look like and the challenges that they’re going to have.”

Things won’t go smoothly just because the characters finally gave into their feelings for each other. “Castle’s not going to stop being Castle once they’re in a relationship, and Beckett is not going to stop being Beckett. Out of a relationship or in a relationship, they’re still going to drive each other crazy. There’s still a lot of fun to be had.”

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Castle creator and executive producer Andrew Marlowe knew that last night’s big moment would have fans buzzing. How could it not? After four seasons of ups, downs, and shameless flirting from both Castle and Beckett, the season 4 finale gave fans what they’d been hoping for: a chance to see the pair finally get together!

Bold? You bet. But not as bold as the alternative, says Marlowe. “Not doing it would have been even ballsier because I think the audience is near its breaking point,” he says. “And it’s 2012, people fall into and out of bed together all the time. If it had gone on any longer, we would have been bad storytellers.”

And this new path, which will find Castle and Beckett entering a relationship together in season 5? It’s full with opportunity, he says. “It was important to open up the storytelling. We had done as much storytelling as we thought we could do credibly with not having them together. So the characters either had to go their separate ways or get together,” he says. “We thought there was a lot of fun to be had mining their relationship once they were together because no relationship goes smoothly, and they’re fundamentally different people.”

Marlowe points to classic romances — like those featured in The Thin Man (1934), The Philadelphia Story, and Adam’s Rib (1949) — as his inspiration and the best reference point for the “romantic-comedy fun” that’s to come. “We think these guys can support and sustain that for a long time as we continue to evolve their relationship and both of them as characters,” he says. “We are absolutely convinced we’re going to have a lot of fun in the next several years with these guys as we see what that relationship looks like, because it ain’t necessarily going to be smooth sailing. I think the bumps that come along the way are going to be really fun and funny.”

In fact, he adds, that’s one of the main reasons the show decided to take the plunge now: fun. After a season that has had more than its fair share of angst and dark moments, he wanted a chance to “recommit” to the fundamentals of the show. “What we’re hoping is that getting over this hump of will-they-won’t-they will help us get back to some of the fun stuff we were able to do in the first couple of seasons — her grabbing his nose or grabbing his ear — and the back and forth. Them getting together will allow for that,” he says. “But the sexual tension of the relationship, I don’t know if that goes away when they’re together as long as you handle it well.”

But what of the rest of the story? Beckett’s resignation from the force? Esposito and Ryan’s falling out? And the big threat that we now know looms over Kate? “We’ll put the pieces back together in an interesting way,” he promises. “It gives us a natural launch point for next season — with both relationship stuff and [other] stakes that we’re going to enjoy playing with at the beginning of next year before we pick up all the pieces.”

Above all, he says, “We felt like it was time to get the characters together.” And we have to agree.

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