As they are wont to do each and every February, ABC’s CASTLE will kick off this always pivotal sweeps period with a big episode that sees the return of the man responsible for the murder of Beckett’s mom. No, you’re reading that correctly, Senator William H. Bracken is back which means Detective Kate Beckett will have some potentially life-altering decisions to make tonight. And here to preview some of those decisions is none other than the former hero-turned-villain himself, the delightful Jack Coleman. See what he had to say about Kate’s dilemma and what role Castle has to play for yourself, after the jump.
Jack Coleman: It was great to return to the set of CASTLE because there’s now a familiarity. There’s none of that first-day-of-school syndrome — which as you get older is less-and-less-fun — being the new guy on set. It also helps that the CASTLE set is a very cool one to work on, from Nathan [Fillion] and Stana [Katic] down the call sheet, everyone is really nice and there are no egos or power-plays. It’s just very accommodating and welcoming and Stana and I really have fun working together. If Castle is Beckett’s light, my character Senator Bracken is her dark. Which is really fun for her to play because she’s pulled in two different directions. I think that it’s always a good thing for an actor to have these forces pulling you in different directions and I think she’s done it really beautifully.
Kate will have to decide who she is and what she is willing to do to exact vengeance on this guy. Is she really willing to be that person? That pretty much sums up Kate’s dilemma in an nutshell.
No… I think he is a villain! But like most villains he doesn’t see himself that way. Most people have many dimensions to them, and I think that’s true of Senator Bracken as well. He’s a bad guy who has done a lot of bad things, but he has a justification for all of it. He has done a lot of good for the people of New York City and the state and I think he sees himself as just a guy who is willing to do what needs to be done.
It’s actually kind of cool, Senator Bracken and Castle have a moment tonight that’s fraught with tension. That said, Castle knows this isn’t his story, it’s Kates. It’s a little bit like being with your spouse’s family, you just have to bite your tongue! Even though he makes it quite clear how little he cares for my character and what he would love to do to Senator Bracken, Castle also knows that it’s not his battle to fight!
Machiavellian: If I have to do it in one word, I chose the one with as many syllables as possible! 
New episodes of CASTLE airs Mondays at 10PM on ABC (CTV in Canada) and stars Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic, Susan Sullivan, Molly C. Quinn, Jon Huertas, Tamala Jones, Seamus Dever and Penny Johnson. Catch up with past episodes you may have missed for free online at clicktowatch.tv.
Additional reporting by Tiffany Vogt