The BEST episodes of Castle (2009) season 3

Every episode of Castle (2009) season 3, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Castle (2009) season 3!

Rick Castle is one of the world's most successful crime authors. But when his rock star lifestyle isn't enough, this bad boy goes looking for new trouble and finds it working with smart, beautiful Detective Kate Beckett. Inspired by her professional record and intrigued by her buttoned-up personality, Castle's found the model for his bold new character whether she likes it or not. Now with the mayor's permission, Castle is helping solve crime with his own twist.

Last Updated: 11/11/2024Network: ABC (US)Status: Ended
Countdown (2)
star
8.26
4548 votes

#1 - Countdown (2)

Season 3 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/28/2011

With time running out, Castle and Beckett must put aside their differences with Agent Fallon to avert a city-wide catastrophe.

Directors: Bill Roe
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Knockdown
star
8.25
4713 votes

#2 - Knockdown

Season 3 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/24/2011

When the detective who investigated Beckett's mother's murder is shot before Beckett's eyes before he can give her new evidence in the case, Beckett's old wounds are reopened. The investigation of the detective's death leads the team to an old scheme which may provide the answer to why Beckett's mother was murdered and who ordered it.

Directors: Tom Wright
Writer: Will Beall
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Knockout
star
8.19
4436 votes

#3 - Knockout

Season 3 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/16/2011

Beckett's investigation into her mother's death is reactivated when Hal Lockwood - a professional hitman with knowledge of Beckett's mother's murder - stages a spectacular escape during a court hearing. As police launch a manhunt for Lockwood, Castle and the team uncover evidence of a deeper conspiracy involving a mysterious figure with law enforcement connections who is linked to both Lockwood's escape and the killing of Johanna Beckett.

Directors: Rob Bowman
Writer: Will Beall
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Setup (1)
star
8.07
4539 votes

#4 - Setup (1)

Season 3 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/21/2011

Castle and Beckett investigate the apparent robbery-homicide of a New York cab driver, only to discover that the victim was involved in a mysterious conspiracy with unimaginable consequences. As the stakes continue to rise, hard-charging federal agent Mark Fallon takes over the investigation. Together, Fallon, Beckett and Castle must race to unmask the truth about the victim before it's too late.

Directors: Rob Bowman
Writer: David Amann
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Nikki Heat
star
8.06
4474 votes

#5 - Nikki Heat

Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/3/2011

When Castle's novel "Heat Wave" is turned into a movie, actress Natalie Rhodes, shows up at Beckett's invitation to better understand the character she's going to play. Meanwhile, the threesome investigate the murder of a high-class matchmaker.

Directors: Jeff Bleckner
Writer: David Grae
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
3XK
star
8.05
4610 votes

#6 - 3XK

Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/25/2010

When a beautiful woman is found dead in an alley, all clues point to her being a victim of the notorious Triple Killer. The Triple Killer, or 3XK, terrorized New York City four years ago, then mysteriously disappeared. Now he's back. In a deadly battle of wits, Castle and Beckett race against time to stop 3XK before he claims his next victims.

Directors: Bill Roe
Writer: David Amann
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
To Love and Die in L.A.
star
7.96
4430 votes

#7 - To Love and Die in L.A.

Season 3 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/2/2011

While investigating the shooting death of her ex-partner in New York, Beckett comes to believe the suspect has fled to Los Angeles. Against orders, she travels to L.A., going renegade to track down the killer, with Castle unexpectedly along for the ride. As they dig deeper into the motives, they uncover a trail that leads from a rooftop pool in Hollywood to the sandy beach of Santa Monica. Along the way, they visit the set of the "Heat Wave" movie (based on Castle's book) and enlist the cast to help break the case. But as they get closer to apprehending the killer, Castle begins to wonder whether Beckett is out for justice or revenge.

Directors: John Terlesky
Writer: Alexi Hawley
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Last Call
star
7.88
4469 votes

#8 - Last Call

Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/6/2010

Castle and Beckett investigate the murder of a dockworker turned bar owner who's body is found floating in the East River. In the process of the investigation they uncover a secret buried since the days of Prohibition.

Directors: Bryan Spicer
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
A Deadly Affair
star
7.86
4731 votes

#9 - A Deadly Affair

Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/20/2010

Beckett and her team burst into an apartment on a murderer's trail, just to be surprised when they see Castle, who they haven't heard or seen in months, standing over a dead woman's body holding a gun. Beckett, has no other choice but to arrest Castle until he proves his innocence.

Directors: Rob Bowman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Close Encounters of the Murderous Kind
star
7.85
4701 votes

#10 - Close Encounters of the Murderous Kind

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/15/2010

Castle's latest theory is alien abduction after an astrophysicist's death is found to be from explosive decompression. A well know alien abduction expert gets involved in the case. To complicate things more, a government agent wants to shut down their investigation.

Directors: Bethany Rooney
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Punked
star
7.84
4314 votes

#11 - Punked

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/11/2010

Castle and Beckett look into the murder of a young mathematician gunned down with a 200-year-old bullet, sparking some wild theories by Castle about a time-traveling killer. When their investigation uncovers a tricked-out DeLorean and a suspect in Victorian clothing, is it possible Castle's crazy idea has some validity?

Directors: Rob Bowman
Writer: David Grae
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Poof! You're Dead
star
7.84
4416 votes

#12 - Poof! You're Dead

Season 3 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/10/2011

Castle and Beckett investigate the murder of the owner of a historic magic shop found dead in a Houdini's water torture tank. Meanwhile, Lanie and Esposito are trying to keep their relationship secret and Castle ends his relationship with Gina.

Writer: Terri Miller
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Law & Murder
star
7.84
4414 votes

#13 - Law & Murder

Season 3 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/28/2011

When a juror dies during the high profile trial of a murdered socialite, Castle and Beckett discover that the juror wasn't really as perfect as he appeared to be.

Directors: Jeff Bleckner
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Murder Most Fowl
star
7.83
4400 votes

#14 - Murder Most Fowl

Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/8/2010

Castle and Beckett investigate the murder of an NYC subway worker found shot in Central Park. But, while investigating the murder they uncover the abduction of a young boy as well. The team must determine the motives behind the high stakes kidnapping in order to save the young boy's life.

Directors: Bryan Spicer
Writer: Matt Pyken
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Slice of Death
star
7.76
4098 votes

#15 - Slice of Death

Season 3 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/4/2011

When a reporter is found dead inside a restaurant's pizza oven, Beckett and Castle go to work on solving the case. They must figure out if his story "The Pizza Wars" is what got him killed or if there's something more to the story.

Directors: Steve Boyum
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Final Nail
star
7.76
4007 votes

#16 - The Final Nail

Season 3 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/14/2011

Castle and Beckett find themselves on opposite sides of the case when Castle's old school friend emerges as the prime suspect in his own wife's murder. As they work to solve the crime, Castle comes to realize that one of two terrible things must be true... Either Detective Beckett is about to arrest an innocent man for murder, or his old friend is a cold-blooded killer.

Directors: John Terlesky
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Lucky Stiff
star
7.76
4382 votes

#17 - Lucky Stiff

Season 3 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/7/2011

The brutal murder of a lottery winner has Castle and Beckett up to their eyeballs in suspects, envious and angered by the victim's sudden move from the poorhouse to the penthouse. As the precinct buzzes with fantasies of what our cops would do if they won the lottery, Martha struggles with the reality of such a decision when she suddenly inherits money she feels she doesn't deserve.

Directors: Emile Levisetti
Writer: Alexi Hawley
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Under the Gun
star
7.75
4470 votes

#18 - Under the Gun

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/4/2010

With the latest case of a murdered bail bondsman, Beckett discovers that Castle's wild imagination and theories may be on the mark. Beckett's ex-partner makes a surprise arrival and Castle is forced to watch the two reminisce and engage in a little romance.

Directors: Bryan Spicer
Writer: Alexi Hawley
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Dead Pool
star
7.75
4411 votes

#19 - The Dead Pool

Season 3 - Episode 21 - Aired 4/11/2011

When a champion swimmer and Olympic hopeful is found dead in a training pool, Castle and Beckett dive in to investigate his murder, and uncover myriad secrets that might have led to his death.

Directors: Paul Holahan
Writer: Matt Pyken
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Anatomy of a Murder
star
7.69
4183 votes

#20 - Anatomy of a Murder

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/18/2010

An unknown woman falls out of a casket along with the original deceased when pallbearers lose control of the casket at a funeral and the investigation takes Beckett and Castle into the world of amorous, bed-hopping physicians.

Directors: John Terlesky
Watch Now:Apple TV
Pretty Dead
star
7.66
4339 votes

#21 - Pretty Dead

Season 3 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/9/2011

During rehearsal for "Baron's All-American Beauty Pageant," the contestants are shocked to discover the body of Miss Illinois - strangled, but by whom? As Castle and Beckett delve into the cut-throat competition of the pageant world, they learn that a number suspects had motive for murder, including jealous fellow contestants, the pageant's larger-than-life millionaire sponsor, Victor Baron, and the show's host -- hedonistic TV personality, Bobby Stark.

Directors: Jeff Bleckner
Writer: Terri Miller
Watch Now:Apple TV
One Life to Lose
star
7.66
4233 votes

#22 - One Life to Lose

Season 3 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/21/2011

Castle and Beckett investigate the axe murder of the head writer for a long time New York soap opera. Everyone is suspect when it's discovered that the action behind the scenes plays out as good as the on-air storylines.

Directors: David Barrett
Watch Now:Apple TV
He's Dead, She's Dead
star
7.65
4139 votes

#23 - He's Dead, She's Dead

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/27/2010

Beckett and Castle look for the killer of a famous psychic while debating whether extrasensory abilities are real or not. When a letter arrives from the victim predicting her death they must determine who actually wrote the letter – the victim or the killer.

Directors: John Terlesky
Watch Now:Apple TV
Almost Famous
star
7.65
4312 votes

#24 - Almost Famous

Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/1/2010

An "Officer Down" call turns out to be a male stripper dressed like a cop. Castle and Beckett explore the world of male strip clubs and struggling actors, all people in pursuit of fame. They need to determine if the murder was because of the victim's dreams of stardom or something more sinister.

Watch Now:Apple TV