CASTLE Season 5 Finale: Molly Quinn Previews Drama for Alexis and Castle

CASTLE has had quite the range of finales over the past several years (splits, death, shootings, coupling), and “Watershed,” the season 5 closer, is shaping up to be quite the hour.

To try and get a little insight into what will be going down, I spoke with Molly Quinn (Alexis) about some upcoming drama…

Last year Alexis had a clear-cut role in the finale as she was prepping for graduation, so what can you say about her role in “Watershed”?
Molly Quinn: There’s a lot of tension between her and her dad. She’s wanting to go off again and experience more of the world, and he’s putting the brakes on that after what happened the last time she tried to do that. He has all the reason in the world to.

But at the same time, she is right in justifying that just because one bad thing happened, you don’t need to shut yourself up in your room and never come out. In fact, that would be the worst thing to do. So that’s what she’s doing this season. In fact, every character this season is really expanding and that’s causing tension between all of them.

Are they actually addressing the kidnapping specifically? We haven’t really seen the impact up until this point…
MQ: Alexis does bring it up. She does bring it up and he’s forced to say what he really thought about it, so it is an uncomfortable moment, I’ll say that. But as Alexis and Castle always do, it always gets resolved.

How much is Alexis aware of the relationship issues her father is going through in the finale?
MQ: Before season 5, I’d say she was very aware. She was very interested in it, almost being his shrink, almost. But after mid-season 5, really after the whole kidnapping bit, she has started to distance herself from it. Not a lot, but taking a step back. Because now she has her inner own fears to deal with. She can’t help him until she is completely back to herself. Because we have to admit, I don’t think until mid-season 6, I don’t think Alexis will be the same as she was before the kidnapping.

Fair. She’s had a crazy run.
MQ: She’s had a crazy life, but she’s also been very cushioned, so that whole experience was rough for her, to say the least.

Do you have scenes with anyone aside from Nathan Fillion (Castle) in the finale?
MQ: Unfortunately no. but at the same time it’s good, it goes back to what we love, which is Castle and his daughter.

Given how many years you’ve been working with Nathan and how much that relationship has evolved, do you ever go back to rewatch scenes from the earlier seasons?
MQ: Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. You have to remember your beginnings to go on, and that’s even in regular life. So I love doing that.

And it is nostalgic, almost like watching a home video, because Nathan is so close to me. It’s great to watch how their relationship has developed. But at the same time, it’s kept that thread of loyalty all the way through, which I think is kudos to the writers, kudos to Nathan — he makes it so easy, and they write it so well. It’s an honor to say their words and keep the relationship going. But at the same time, keeping it fresh.

Personally, did this season feel a bit different for you because Alexis had moved out? Or did her not having a central location not end up mattering because you shot so many scenes in the loft anyway?
MQ: As an actor and as a teenager that is leaving home, that’s the right time. And it does feel like I’m leaving home and those feelings that are rising up are exactly what Alexis would be feeling: kind of, “Oh gosh, now I do have to navigate the world on my own. Not completely alone yet, but I do have more responsibility and there is more resting on my shoulders.” So she’s dealing with all of that.

Do you know what her path would be in season 6 at this point? Or are you content to wait until the season premiere script arrives?
MQ: Oh no, I’m way too nosy for that. We’ve talked about it, and I’m going to be meeting with [CASTLE creator Andrew Marlowe] in a couple of weeks to discuss some ideas we have and how they can play into different things.

Are you able to pitch things to him at this point that actually end up on screen?
MQ: Andrew has always been great. Even since season 1, I was encouraged to come in and pitch ideas and talk about the character and all the characters and how they relate to each other. That isn’t a just-now thing, it’s always been that way. It’s always been a very open table.

That’s a great thing to have with your showrunner.
MQ: It’s incredible; it’s beautiful. 99% of places do not have that.

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CASTLE’s fifth season finale airs Monday, May 13th at 10 PM on ABC.

Related:
CASTLE Season 5 Finale: ‘Watershed’ Photo Preview
ABC Pushes Back CASTLE’s Bomb-Centric ‘Still,’ Moves Up ‘The Squab and the Quail’
CASTLE: ‘The Human Factor’ Photo Preview

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