Highly discussed and anticipated Castle kiss sates voracious viewers

Ever since Detective Kate Beckett pulled Rick Castle in on the first episode of ABC’s Castle, fans have recognized the chemistry between them.

Now after two and a half seasons of bad timing, various exes, and fights, Castle (Nathan Fillion) and Beckett (Stana Katic) finally get down to the kiss everyone’s been waiting for.

In last week’s episode, “Knockdown,” Beckett is moments away from getting information about her mother’s unsolved murder when someone shoots the informant in front of her.

From there, she uncovers a conspiracy from within the NYPD, one that her mother’s legal practice threatened.

When a hired sniper captures detectives Javier Esposito (Jon Huertas) and Kevin Ryan (Seamus Denver) for information about the case, Beckett and Castle must come up with a plan to get past the guy guarding the door.

Of course, in true Castle fashion, Rick Castle comes through with one of his brilliantly insane plans to act like a drunk couple. The guy isn’t convinced though, so they top it off with a kiss.

And what a kiss it was. While meant to distract the bad guy, it was nevertheless intense and passionate.

Although Castle first initiated the kiss, it definitely looked like Beckett grabbed Castle for the second one.

This changes everything. The audience can see the difference almost immediately.

The final scene, where Beckett helps Castle bandage his hand, is simple, but the look and the actions that pass between them in even that short amount of time shows that they are partners for better or worse.

This episode showcases the entire cast in one of the most emotionally charged episodes ever.

While the entire cast delivers a superb performance, Katic really hits a home run with her portrayal as Beckett at her most vulnerable.

Her expression as one of the suspects taunts her about her mother’s murder breaks the heart, and when she loses control and slams him against the mirror hard enough to crack it, the audience feels for her.

Her captain is not very happy about this; he kicks her off the case that means so much to her, and she is clearly torn between devastation and outrage.

Fillion comes through with an emotional portrayal of Rick Castle; he finally tells Beckett that he’s her partner no matter what, not just her sidekick or her shadow.

And he proves this, too; he refuses to leave her when she orders him to go home, sneaks into the precinct to take some files that Beckett needed, and when they finally catch the sniper, he jumps on him and beats him to a bloody pulp.

There is so much passion and so much devotion to Beckett that the audience can’t help but believe what Castle had declared before – that he is there for Beckett and he isn’t planning on going anywhere.

Of course, Huertas and Denver played no small part in this episode.

The chemistry between them contributes to the audience’s belief that they are truly best friends and brothers through thick and thin (even while tortured by ice water).

That they were unwilling to talk despite torture proves their incredible loyalty to the team.

Only the best actors who can show those nuances could get such a scene right.

Even Martha, Castle’s mother (Susan Sullivan), exhibits an emotional side, though before she was presented as a fun, albeit unorthodox parent.

In “Knockdown,” she questions Castle about his involvement in Beckett’s life and job, getting him to admit some truths to himself, but not before Sullivan sheds a few tears, showing the audience how devoted she is to her son.

There seems to be a general fear among show writers and producers that the two main characters getting together will cause something that’s known as the “Moonlighting Curse”: once the two main characters get together, fans will lose interest and the show will effectively be over.

Despite the kiss, Castle has a long ways to go before it can even get close to the so-called “Moonlighting Curse.”

Although they’ve kissed and seem to have been getting progressively closer, Beckett and Castle have other obstacles in the way of a happily ever after in the works for them.

Beckett still has a boyfriend, and while Castle seems ready to take that next step with her, she isn’t quite so eager.

And even if they do get together, who says that the show has to end there? They would have to learn to balance work with a relationship (and quite possibly put up with good-natured ribbing from Ryan and Esposito), and there would be a whole other plotline right there.

Clearly, ABC does not believe that ratings will decrease. Castle was renewed for a fourth season on Jan. 10, 2011. Fans have another season of murder, blood and witty banter to look forward to. Now that the kiss has happened, there’s a world of possibilities for Castle and Beckett.

The next episode of Castle airs this Monday night, Feb. 7 at 10 p.m. on ABC.