Castle

Richard "Rick" Castle is a bestselling mystery writer whose comfortable celebrity life is upended when a copycat killer starts reenacting murders from his novels. To protect his work and gather material for future books, Castle convinces the mayor to let him shadow an NYPD homicide unit, where his flair and creativity clash with standard police procedure. Assigned to Detective Kate Beckett, he becomes an unofficial consultant, trading barbed banter and flash ideas for real investigative access. The series mixes case-of-the-week mysteries with longer, personal threads focused on Beckett and the team. His daughter Alexis appears frequently too.

Premiering on ABC in 2009, Castle was created by Andrew W. Marlowe, with Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic heading an ensemble cast across eight seasons, and numerous directors and writers contributing to its procedural-romance tone.

During its run the series received several nominations and fan-driven awards, showing broad viewer support. Cast chemistry and popularity with audiences led to multiple audience-voted honors, and fans often rallied behind the show in polls and conventions.

Castle spawned a dedicated fandom, often called 'Caskett', that amplified the show's focus on romance and banter. It inspired fan fiction, memes, and cosplay at genre conventions, and its pattern of mixing light relationship arcs with procedural plots influenced later TV pairings.

Critics and viewers praised the leads' chemistry and the ensemble's blend of humor with investigative work, reflected in a 7.974/10 vote average from 2016 votes. Recurring themes include trust, creativity, trauma, and the tension between showmanship and police work. Some reviewers flagged uneven later seasons, but the series maintained a steady fan base drawn to its characters and tone.