‘Castle’ Spoilers: Beckett’s New Job, Ryan’s Family, Esposito’s Love Life, And More

There are some changes in store for Castle when it begins its eighth season, but fortunately, for anyone who worried that one of those changes could have to do with Castle and Beckett’s relationship, that is not going to be the case.

One of the new characters coming in for Castle Season 8 as a new series regular is Hayley Shipton (played by Toks Olagundoye), a former Scotland Yard police officer who now works as an independent investigator. According to TVGuide.com, Jon Huertas has revealed that there could be something happening between his character, Esposito, and Hayley.

“She is pretty cute, and I think Esposito has noticed that for sure. He’s admiring the scenery right now.”

Of course, that leads to the big question of what that means for Lanie, and Huertas did tease that “a triangle is a huge possibility” in Season 8. For now, however, executive producer Terence Paul Winter seems to only be committing to what’s going on between Esposito and Hayley as “an obvious flirtation,” though that doesn’t necessarily mean good news for fans who want to see Lanie and Esposito get back together, at least not right now.

“There’s always a chance that might come back, but we’ve been down that road a few times. So it’s just a matter of, ‘What’s the honest version of that story?’ so we’re not just throwing them together to throw them together. They’ve had a beginning, middle and end, so what’s the next step for them? Is there a next step?”

While Esposito’s love life is likely going to be up in the air for the time being in Castle Season 8, there’s good news for Ryan, as Jenny’s pregnant again, and new showrunner Alexi Hawley told TVLine that financial pressures “will be driving him a bit.” Remember, Ryan had worked security to earn more money last season.

The biggest change in the new season, however, is Beckett’s new job. The Season 7 finale saw her presented with two options: Captain or a senate run. It has already been revealed that she chose the former path, and Winter explained that “the best way to tell Castle‘s stories is to have Kate and Castle investigating twisty, fun cases.” Obviously, if they had chosen the senate run option, that would have changed things for the show.

Finally, there are changes coming for Alexis, who is now in her 20s, and according to Hawley, “it felt like an opportunity for us to have a new relationship with her and Castle, to see her in a different light.” One of the new things for Alexis is going to be that Hayley helps her “find herself as she goes into adulthood.”

Castle Season 8 premieres Monday, September 21, at 10 p.m. on ABC.

[Image via ABC]