Are Beckett and Castle a Couple?

Update added 7/9/12

So, now that this has happened:



What's going to happen next?

Of course, we can only speculate (unless a writer wants to give us some insider knowledge!). We know for sure that Castle and Beckett did sleep together, because Andrew Marlow admitted as much HERE.

I often compare 'Castle' to 'Bones', which is a tad unfair until you consider the plethora of similarities between the two shows:



Lead characters with oodles of sexual chemistry? Check.
Law enforcement official? Check.
Brains vs. Heart slash Crazy Theories vs. Rational Science? Check.
Solving murders? Check.
Strong supporting characters who help solve crimes? Check.

And of course, let's not forget to compare last season's finale of 'Bones' with this season's finale of 'Castle'. In 'Bones' (S6Ep23) we learned that Brennan was pregnant. This confirmed everyone's suspicion that she had slept with him in the prior episode (which in the show's reality was at least a month in the past). We didn't really get to see anything though. Of course, expectations can't be too high--this is network television after all, it's no HBO. That being said, we didn't even see a kiss. And then, at the beginning of Season 7, it seemed that their chemistry had dissipated. Who knows if it was the fact that the season had a very late start, or the fact that the actors were uncomfortable due to Emily Deschanel's real-life pregnancy, but the spark wasn't there. We also jumped into the present, meaning we didn't get to see anyone's initial reactions to Booth and Brennan getting together, or to their surprise pregnancy. Particularly because of the usual reliance on a strong supporting cast this lack of on-screen reaction was disappointing.

Which is why numerous fans of 'Castle' expressed trepidation when this year's season finale (S4Ep23) aired just a few months ago. Most people agree that the sexual tension on 'Castle' was getting to a point where it hurt more than help. It had started to pull the characters apart, and the truth of the matter is that the show has always been most successful when Beckett and Castle are their snarky, flirtatious, crime-solving selves. Confused Beckett and depressed Castle were fine for a season, and even made the show feel more realistic (whoever thought I'd ever say 'Castle' was realistic?) but we could only take it for so long. Andrew Marlowe explains it best, "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" (EW).

What did 'Castle' do better than 'Bones'? They actually gave fans what they wanted. Of course, no one is ever going to be completely happy. There are people who watch 'Bones' who say they should have never had a baby, and there are people who watch 'Castle' who don't want them to be a couple, but even online those people seem to be in the minority. I mean, just look at these girls' reactions to the finale:



'Castle' gave their fans as much as they possibly could on network television, a relatively steamy make-out session. And what was very obviously a move toward the bedroom.

Based on a recent tweet by the 'Castle' art department, it would seem that more is to come.

 And it is exciting. Because the existence of a bedroom/bathroom for Beckett means that we will probably get to see some Beckett and Castle interaction. No, not the sexy kind (again this isn't HBO), but certainly more couple-appropriate situations.

We already have a pretty good idea of what Castle's place looks like, so I'm hopeful that the fact that they're placing more effort into expanding Beckett's set means that she and Castle will be spending more time there, and perhaps that Castle's mother and daughter won't know about the relationship when the show returns in the fall. 'Castle' has always worked in real-time, in the sense that whenever we come back from summer hiatus the characters are ending their summers too. Could it be that Castle and Beckett kept their new-found relationship a secret for the summer? I certainly hope so. After missing all the supporting characters' reactions on 'Bones', maybe we'll get to see some on 'Castle'. They did the hook-up better, now maybe they can do the reaction better too. If they can't do that I suppose some quality flashback scenes would suffice. Maybe.

My hope is that my guess is right, especially after what Stana Katic (Beckett) said at the Critics' Choice Awards: “It’ll be fun to see who finds out about them being together...who stays out of the loop and for how long and how they decide to reveal all of that. That’s a big bombshell”.

Ausiello, from TVLine, has even said that the coming season will pretty much take off where the last season ended, which would be a first for this show.

I guess we'll just have to wait for 'Castle' to return to find out.

Update:

TV Guide has announced that they have learned, via an interview with Andrew Marlowe, that the season premiere will pick up right after the end of last season. We will see the repercussions of Castle and Beckett sleeping together. They will also be in an actual relationship. Marlowe believes that the real problem with 'Moonlighting' wasn't that they slept together, but that they immediately broke-up. To avoid the 'Moonlighting' Curse he's planning on having his main characters actually (gasp) date each other.

William Keck, of TV Guide, also writes that Alexis will be at college, but will still be in the show because she'll keep interning with Lanie. Since Castle and Beckett are no longer playing the depressed and confused card, someone has to step in, and it seems that Ryan and Esposito are the clear leaders to take their place. And that pesky little murder that has been haunting our main characters since Season 1? We'll finally get a bit of resolution.

Season Five of 'Castle' does not yet have an official premiere date, but it will air on Mondays at 10/9C on ABC.