Is Rick Castle a doormat?

[ProudTVJunkie]

I've seen this come up before but never so much as this season where many fans feel as though Castle is letting Kate walk all over him. I read something from a fanfic writer concerning her perspective on the characters and with her permission I'd like to share it here and see what everyone else thinks.

I do not see Castle as a doormat. I believe he wants to see the best in people. I think he’s kind, generous, and tolerant, and he employs these characteristics to the best of his ability until he’s pushed to the very limit. Only then do we ever see a flash anger, in extremis: like when Beckett wanted to run at Maddox. He does this because he’s hoping that if he sacrifices himself, he and those around him will end up with the best possible outcome. It’s a selfless trait that I admire. I have never seen him as a pushover or a doormat…. We’ve seen him be this way with his daughter, his mother, Ryan, Espo, and Beckett, time without number. It’s who he is.

If the world had more people like Rick Castle, human shock absorbers, flexible, good people, it would be a better place.

Kate is damaged. She’s the only child who had her world ripped out from under her when her mother died - in real life, I’d excuse some of her selfish traits since she’s been through such a lot and now she’s scared to get close to anyone. Castle by contrast is the only child who had to find a way to get attention and be loved by a woman who wasn’t ready to be a mother and certainly not alone. So he’s the class clown, the attention seeker. He does all he can to make people love him and that includes putting himself last a lot of the time. But that doesn’t make him weak, it makes him strong.

I blame neither of them and I admire both of them in different ways.

(The above is slightly edited down from the original but I don't believe words or sentiment have been changed.)

[marschg]

I agree with everything said above, that is what makes Castle the best show and both Kate and Rick characters, fun to watch....

[CastleFanGran]

Nov 19, 2015 23:06:22 GMT -5 ProudTVJunkie said:

I've seen this come up before but never so much as this season where many fans feel as though Castle is letting Kate walk all over him. I read something from a fanfic writer concerning her perspective on the characters and with her permission I'd like to share it here and see what everyone else thinks.

I do not see Castle as a doormat. I believe he wants to see the best in people. I think he’s kind, generous, and tolerant, and he employs these characteristics to the best of his ability until he’s pushed to the very limit. Only then do we ever see a flash anger, in extremis: like when Beckett wanted to run at Maddox. He does this because he’s hoping that if he sacrifices himself, he and those around him will end up with the best possible outcome. It’s a selfless trait that I admire. I have never seen him as a pushover or a doormat…. We’ve seen him be this way with his daughter, his mother, Ryan, Espo, and Beckett, time without number. It’s who he is.

If the world had more people like Rick Castle, human shock absorbers, flexible, good people, it would be a better place.

Kate is damaged. She’s the only child who had her world ripped out from under her when her mother died - in real life, I’d excuse some of her selfish traits since she’s been through such a lot and now she’s scared to get close to anyone. Castle by contrast is the only child who had to find a way to get attention and be loved by a woman who wasn’t ready to be a mother and certainly not alone. So he’s the class clown, the attention seeker. He does all he can to make people love him and that includes putting himself last a lot of the time. But that doesn’t make him weak, it makes him strong.

I blame neither of them and I admire both of them in different ways.

(The above is slightly edited down from the original but I don't believe words or sentiment have been changed.)

Beautifully expressed!!!  Thanks, PTVJ, for sharing!!!

[angie1379]

Yes, exactly! I agree a hundred percent! That is so beautifully expressed and captures both characters so well. thank you for sharing!

[geezer2008]

I understand what is being said here, but I feel that when things reach a certain point, they have to be addressed. I think that is where some of us are coming from if that makes sense.

[castle1174]

As Martha would say "He is who he is, if he ain't who he is, who is he?"

[motowncf]

I absolutely agree with everything that writer said about Castle's character.

I think perhaps where the "doormat" feelings are coming from for some people is this notion that he has to "win" his wife back, given the circumstances of the separation.

[shutterbug5269]

I agree.

And that just makes it so much worse that Kate is taking advantage of that to chase a bad guy so far out of her jurisdiction it isn't funny.

[java]

I was wrestling with this question last night but ended up punting and going to bed. Truth be told, this is my third attempt to put together a coherent thought, having to examine my own value system, but mostly it will boil down to one's definition of doormat. Is it a person who lets everyone walk all over them or just most or certain friends and family? To what degree is the personal cost before someone becomes a doormat over time? Friendly jabs among friends or is it when the jabbing is one way?

Rick is a player. You have to be to earn a reputation for showing up with a girl in each arm as Lanie points out. We've also seen the chest signing and the stewardess in a Ferrari. He also conned Kate into taking him to the movies. No doubt some of Rick's lovers left of their own accord but I'm sure there were plenty who he had to let down.

Rick also plays the bumbling fool. Meredith shows up unannounced in season 1 and pushes her way into the loft in season 5. He takes a lot of jabs from Esposito but not so much from Ryan after season 3 yet we never see him jab back or it's very little or very light because I can't recall an episode right now. Usually, it's Kate jabbing back at Espo. In the early seasons, we see Rick attempting to go first through the door and Kate pulling him back. As their love grows, Rick steps back and by the season 4's, "Cuffed", he's complaining she always goes first and once again she tells him it's her job but go ahead but he acquiesced.

Gina is interesting. She doesn't appear as manipulative as Meredith, more of a straight shooting business woman and agent. With her we hear Rick speaking directly, either arguing about time with Alexis or telling Gina it's over. With Meredith, Rick pulls strings behind the scene to avoid confrontation.

In steps wife #3 and we see both confrontation and working behind the scene. Five apartment confrontations: once in season 3, the season 4 finale, the season 5 apology for hiding Kate in the closet, and the season 5 "find our way" talk. I'm positive I'm leaving a scene or two out. Probably should add the proposal. I'm not going to cover the things Rick does behind the scene because he's usually doing something behind Kate's back or tagging along against her will like in "To Love and Die in LA" or helping with murder investigations in season 8.

Now you see why I'm struggling with his doormat label. Rick is a doormat at times and gets pushed around because he values those walking on him. His insight and ability to read people makes him an asset during an investigation but also allows him to see the needs of friends and family and he'll allow them to walk on him even though he believes he's right because he values them. What drives some viewers crazy is that here's an eloquent writer, a man of words, who does not sit down and force a healthy dialogue and that makes him a doormat. However, I believe the better question is whether it is wrong for him to choose to be a doormat and I would say no. I think he's picking his battles and right now he has his hands full with a an inexperienced wife who is no longer a mystery but a damaged woman who needs his love and support to overcome her obsessions.

[castle1174]

java, you did a beautiful job detailing Rick.

[debbie]

Beautifully written testament to Rick's character.

[nathanfan1]

Java, your statement that Rick, "picks his battles," really rings true with me. I feel that so many times he puts the needs of others before his own and I admire that in him. However, he's also shown that he has it in him to take decisive action when he feels it's warranted. I've never seen him as a doormat.

[ProudTVJunkie]

In case anyone was interested, the author of the quotes at the beginning of this post gave me permission to share her identity. She is Liv Wilder and she writes some great Castle fanfiction that you can find here:

www.fanfiction.net/u/3166791/Liv-Wilder

[castlelover66]

I do not see Castle as a doormat. He is patient and kind (waiting 4 years for Kate to open her eyes and see him). He does not envy Kate's success, but is proud of her. He doesn't swagger around the precinct and home, boasting to the point of being obnoxious about how much he helps the 12th solve cases. He tries not do anything to bring dishonor on the people he loves. He does not help with cases just so that it makes him look good. He does not easily get angry. He doesn't keep a scorecard on those closest to him when they may do something that upsets him. He is as passionate for the truth as Kate is. He always protects his friends and family, always trusts them, always hopes, always perseveres. Though not a perfect man, I believe he embodies the true definition of unconditional love. Now, if only Kate could get it through her head (and I think she's starting to) that this man would lay down his life for her - Always.

[java]

Just to clarify, being kind, generous, considerate, patient, and empathetic does not make a person a doormat although these characteristics are typical of such a person or at least from what I've seen.

What makes Rick a doormat are the repeated times he doesn't directly address the issues with those he love and care about. Rick isn't shy and he has all the skills to clearly communicate but he chooses not to at times. I'm not saying he's wrong for doing so because at times the value of the friendshipship or the relationship is much more important than being right but I find it unhealthy when boundaries are invaded or pushed repeatedly and not addressed because it'll just keep being repeated. Meredith comes to mind.

I guess that also says something about those who are walking on him.