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Part of the success of "Castle" is the tension and flirtation between lead characters Rick Castle and Kate Beckett. The worst thing the writers of "Castle" (ABC, Monday 10 pm ET) could do is have Castle and Beckett sleep together.
The "Castle" fan page at Wetpaint.com has the "Castle and Beckett Hookup Projection" based on clues in each episode. In the "Murder Most Fowl" episode, a sign of hope was the "happy family" visual created at the police station at the end. However, there were just as many reasons to point away from an anytime-soon hookup such as the reminder of Beckett's guy friend.
It could be argued that viewers today have more savvy and can handle their co-stars hitting the sack. But, in a July 2010 Comic Con interview with Michael Ausiello, star Nathan Fillion says it's too soon and points directly to the "Moonlighting" curse.
Flash back to the mid-80s when one of the hottest shows on television was "Moonlighting" starring Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd. Characters David and Maddie argued constantly but there was a chemistry building. In the third season, they slept together and the show immediately went downhill. There were a few outside influences that delayed production such as Shepherd's pregnancy but the tension was gone by the time the show got back on track. "Moonlighting" ended after only 54 episodes in 1989.
There is still so much time to develop the dance that Castle and Beckett are dancing. There is an obvious on-screen chemistry between Fillion's Castle and Stana Katic's Kate Beckett. The "little things" that point to romance can also be indicative of a deep, true friendship. Friends complete one another's sentences, know how they take their coffee and listen to each other's problems. All of these small details keep building on the relationship that will eventually happen.
It's just too soon.
Rick Castle had a short-term deal to shadow Beckett for book research. Even after he was offered a series deal following the first Nikki Heat novel, there would be no real reason for him to continue following Kate to every crime scene. Of course the flirtation and longing looks are there. But, Rick is dating his second ex-wife and Kate has a secret somebody. Neither of them is really available and fans can keep cheering for things to work out.
Once Castle and Beckett sleep together, the whole premise of the show disappears. He won't have any reason to hang around crime scenes and the station house anymore because he can be with her at home.
Sources: Castle fan site ; Entertainment Weekly
