Stana Katic’s New Role in ‘Murder in a Small Town’ Subverts Her ‘Castle’ Persona

Stana Katic, recognized for her role as NYPD detective Kate Beckett in ABC‘s hit series Castle, marks her return to network television with the psychological crime drama Murder in a Small Town. Premiering in 2024 on Fox, the series stars Trench 11‘s Rossif Sutherland in a lead role alongside Stana Katic, who takes on a character starkly different from her previous detective portrayal.

Castle, which aired from 2009 to 2016, saw Katic as a prominent figure, playing opposite Nathan Fillion‘s character, Richard Castle. Despite its success, Castle faced declining ratings, leading to its cancellation by ABC in 2016. Prior to the cancellation, Katic was notably let go from the show, a move that transitioned the narrative focus solely on Fillion’s character.

A significant departure from Castle, Stana Katic’s role in Murder in a Small Town presents her as Zoe Strachan, a cryptic and wealthy resident entangled in mysterious circumstances. This role contrasts heavily with her police procedural roots, placing her on the opposite side of law enforcement as a suspect rather than the investigator. This subversion is notable as Zoe becomes a person of interest in a series of murders investigated by Rossif Sutherland’s character, Chief of Police Karl Alberg.

The new show embraces suspense and intrigue as Alberg, the protagonist, relocates to a small town seeking peace but instead uncovers a web of mysteries. In the gripping third episode entitled “A Chill Rain,” Alberg’s suspicions of Zoe escalate, uncovering her possible involvement in crimes, which include an ominous past where she allegedly burned a relative alive.

Once part of Amazon‘s series Absentia after Castle‘s conclusion, Katic explored the thriller drama genre, playing an FBI agent thought to be dead who then becomes a murder suspect. This theme continues in her new project, further showcasing her versatility in playing complex characters.

The creators of Murder in a Small Town, including Ian Weir, promise viewers a unique twist on traditional police dramas. The series capitalizes on Katic’s chameleon-like ability to embody drastically different personas, offering fans a new perspective on her capabilities as an actress. As the season unfolds, audiences are left to wonder if Katic’s character is indeed the perpetrator or entangled in a larger web of deceit.