I know we’re only four episodes in to the Grand Castle/Beckett experiment but so far, it’s been working pretty damn well. Despite the positive attitude I’ve had about the impending connection for the past season or so, I had my doubts. No, not doubts … concerns? I mean, The Moonlighting Effect is a real thing – just look at what has happened on Bones this season. But on Castle things have gone much better. But why?

Simply, the fact that Rick Castle and Kate Beckett are making the naughty has not changed the way that the two characters interact, and I don’t think it is going to. Rick is still Rick, Beckett is still Beckett. The characters have not experienced some crazy fundamental shift just because they’ve gotten … a little friendlier.

It’s even the case as the couple experiences new things. Take, for instance, Beckett’s reaction as she toured Castle’s house in the Hamptons. The specter of previous relationships always weighs heavy on new couples; when you’re a rich playboy like Castle, that history is even bigger. But Beckett faced her doubt head on, and Castle responded with the sentimentality that we know he’s capable of – thanks to seeing his relationship with Martha and Alexis.

Later, Castle is pre-occupied with unraveling the mystery of the dead guy on his pool, while Beckett would like to occupy his time with … other things; another classic Castle/Beckett – or Caskett, in the episode’s brilliant shout-out to the show’s fans – setup. Often times, Castle’s obsessions are of the surreal: a CIA plot, ninjas or even aliens a time or two. But one thing that he shares with Beckett – a trait all of these mismatched TV detective teams share actually – is an innate drive to see justice done. He was able to play on that to get Beckett on board.

These all pale, though, in comparison to how the two characters are with each other. Castle is the sarcastic, witty, never-misses-a-bad-pun jokester. Beckett, though, has never been his straight man. While doing so in a reserved way, she’s always been a bit of enabler to his sophomoric ways. And Castle still has obvious respect for her and her wishes. Her reasons for wanting to keep their relationship a secret are reasonable: she wants to keep her job – and keeping Castle on the job is a nice perk.

It’s working so far; but how long will they be able to keep things up? The circle that is their secret continues to grow. First Castle’s family, and now Detective Ryan. As Ryan knows, it won’t be long until Esposito knows. But we know that family can keep a secret; they’ve protected the Captain Montgomery’s legacy for some time now. But if the Castle/Beckett relationship comes to an end, I very much doubt it will be because of Captain Gates and ethics violations. Their relationship is strong enough to survive external forces. If their relationship breaks down, I think it will be from the inside out. And considering how well their dynamic has sustained thus far, I think they’re in pretty good shape either way.

[easyazon-image align=”none” asin=”B003F3NDWG” locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51la271lXwL._SL160_.jpg” width=”114″] [easyazon-image align=”none” asin=”B003L77FYS” locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/511guIquvAL._SL160_.jpg” width=”115″] [easyazon-image align=”none” asin=”B0053O89KG” locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51StEaogueL._SL160_.jpg” width=”117″]

I’ve enjoyed reading the Nikki Heat novels, especially the September-released novel, Frozen Heat. The biggest question on my mind all summer long surrounded what would happen if Castle and Beckett ever got together? Could they maintain the friendship, the humor and the mystery? According to the novels and the season premiere, yes.

The Heat novels are essentially Castle, but without the superficial crime or Rick Castle’s man-child humor. Each novel reflects the show’s darker tone while incorporating the existing characters. The streetwise, brilliantly ambitious Nikki Heat is clearly Beckett. Detective Ochoa and Detective Raley, AKA the combined Detective “Roach”, are Esposito and Ryan. The former of whom dates the department’s coroner. Jameson Rook is Castle, except he’s less of a man-boy who Beckett introduces to street crime. As an award-winning investigative reporter who delved into multiple gritty crimes, he utterly respects Beckett as a cop, lets her solve crimes, but also supports her on the side.

Frozen Heat covertly parallels the Castle season premiere, be it deliberate or unintentional. A frozen body is found stuffed inside a suitcase which relates to the unsolved death of Nikki Heat’s mother which takes her from

Paris to Manhattan and back again. Although the resolution of Heat’s mother’s murder greatly differed from the season premiere, the one thing that coalesced between the novel and the show surrounded the relationship between Heat and Rook AKA Beckett and Castle.

Last season I was pissed with Castle. His childish behavior in ignoring Beckett, treating the department like a secondary interest (after they treated him as part of the team), demanding Beckett NOT act like a cop (i.e. ignore her gut instincts about his friends), and always pushing himself into her investigation when he didn’t contribute (i.e. let him walk first into danger), ticked me off. However, reading Heat Rises and Frozen Heat, seeing how Rook supported Heat, urged her on, and contributed to her cases, while working within her boundaries, made me wonder if Castle and Beckett could ever do that.

I read the Castle novels to re-visit my favorite characters and catch a glimpse into Beckett’s interiority. I felt that Frozen Heat nicely complimented the season premiere, despite investigating an entirely different tangent. And, while they don’t have the laugh out loud humor of the Castle TV show they are addictive in their own right.

Either way, the Nikki Heat novels, especially the most recent, portrays a world where Heat and Rook (aka Beckett and Castle) struggle as a couple, but work well together as lovers and partners. It looks like the Castle TV show is following that tangent, by keeping the two real, without allowing the relationship to overrule the mystery. I like that. I look forward to more Castle episodes and more Nikki Heat novels.

Trust me, they’re to die for.

Hyperion Publishing released Frozen Heat in hardcover on September 11, 2012. It’s currently available through Amazon for 17.47. For more on Hyperion, check out their Facebook page.

Check out Castle’s season premiere on Hulu.

This review based on a complimentary copy provided to CliqueClack by Hyperion Publishing.

[easyazon-image align=”none” asin=”1401324444″ locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51nP1iZ69ZL._SL160_.jpg” width=”105″][easyazon-image align=”none” asin=”B006LWDX6E” locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/515JVcAr0xL._SL160_.jpg” width=”102″][easyazon-image align=”none” asin=”B007A577SQ” locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51cD6OyJ-3L._SL160_.jpg” width=”106″][easyazon-image align=”none” asin=”0785153276″ locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51F14SeGryL._SL160_.jpg” width=”109″]