'Castle' star Stana Katic knows what it will take to get Beckett and Castle together

For "Castle" fans, Monday's (Sept. 19) premiere is possibly the series' most-anticipated episode yet.

Season 4 picks up with Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) clinging to life after her cliffhanger shooting, and though we won't say exactly what happens to her character, Zap2it did recently speak with the actress on the show's set. (Read into that what you will, spoiler-phobes.)

So what did Katic think of her character's near-death experience? "I loved it," she says. "I thought by reaching for higher stakes, by reaching for deeper truths, we were challenging the show to become an even bigger and better version of itself... I thought it was a great way to go."

With Kate juggling even more baggage than before, and still on the hunt for her mother's killer, it's also clear to Katic what it will take for her and Castle (Nathan Fillion) to finally get together.

"Beckett's always known that she's been in love with him," Katic says of the series' big will-they/won't-they relationship. "I think she is going to become extremely aware of the fact that until she is able to lay this burden, this baggage, to rest, she's not going to be able to fairly engage in any relationship... That's her biggest secret, I think, this year. Before she dives in with him, she has to close that chapter and make sure she's whole and available to a real relationship."

For more of Katic's musings on Season 4, including a sneak peek of the Halloween episode, butting heads with the new captain (Penny Johnson Jerald) and more on the series' main, ongoing mystery, watch our full video interview.

And tune into the Season 4 premiere of "Castle," Monday at 10:00 p.m. ET.