Death Rocks the Castle Family

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Kecks-Exclusives-Death-1020964.aspx

In the second episode of Castle's upcoming third season, an extended member of the Castle family will die.

"As in real life, death is sad, but it makes us all appreciate what we have around us a little bit more," series star Nathan Fillion told me after Castle's Comic-Con panel. Added series creator Andrew Marlowe: "This will bring the family closer together."

So who's the unlucky soul? I promised not to say. But I can confirm it's one of these three people: Chet, the never-seen boyfriend of Castle's mother, Martha (Susan Sullivan), Meredith (Darby Stanchfield), Castle's first ex-wife and Alexis' mother, who has been living in Los Angeles, or Gina (Monet Mazur), Castle's second ex-wife with whom he reconnected in the season finale.

This may or may not be a clue to the victim's identity: The Season 3 premiere opens with Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) and her team arresting Castle after discovering him hovering over a dead body.

Additionally, Marlowe told me he plans to delve into the mystery of Castle's paternity, though probably not until Season 4. Nathan's already campaigning for his longtime idol Christopher Walken to play his pops. "I met him one time and I'll never forget it," says Nathan, who treated me to a pretty sweet imitation of Walken.

And good news for actress Tamala Jones, who says the cops will soon discover that her character, Lanie, has become romantically involved with Esposito (Jon Huertas). She will also be forming a closer after-hours relationship with Beckett. "I also hear there will be an episode totally dedicated to Lanie's background and all of her relationships," says Tamala, who is launching a campaign to get The L Word's Pam Grier on the show as her mama.