| Thad Castle | |
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Full name: |
Thad Castle |
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Place of Origin: |
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Born: |
Early '90s |
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Relatives: |
Alma Castle (Half-Sister) |
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Residence: |
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Sport: |
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Team: |
Blue Mountain State |
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Role: |
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Actor: |
Alan Ritchson |
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First Appearance: |
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{#SQuote:|text=I'm not just a football player. I'm a lifestyle.|speaker=Thad Castle|receiver=|attribution=|source=|id=HFJP-UVEJ-SUY4|template=}}
Kevin Devlin "Thad" Castle is the tritagonist in the television series Blue Mountain State and its sequel film, Blue Mountain State: The Rise of Thadland. He is the team captain of the Blue Mountain State football team. He was portrayed by Alan Ritchson.
Biography[]
Blue Mountain State[]
Despite his status as a two-time consensus All-American and team record holder for most tackles in a game (a game which he was subsequently ejected from for calling referees "butt faces"), Thad often annoys his teammates due to his bullying and high-strung antics when things do not go his way. However, he harbors a great love for his team and understands what it takes to be a leader in desperate situations, which garners respect from his comrades despite his behavior. His father died in the military while stationed in Bosnia, where he had an affair resulting in Thad's attractive half-sister, Alma, of whom he is overly protective. The family then moved to Connecticut. Thad is also heavily prone to engage in excessive homoerotic behavior, especially during the hazing rituals of freshman players. His dedication to the Goats and willingness to sacrifice anything to ensure the team wins prompted coach Marty Daniels to name him Captain at the beginning of his sophomore year - this is significant because it was the only time Daniels ever named someone Captain so young. Thad lives at the Goat House with Alex and Sammy. His nickname "Thad" came from a childhood lisp that he came to embrace after some kids at school made fun of him for the way he said "sad".
The Rise of Thadland[]
Thad was drafted into the NFL at some point. Sometime after, Alex Moran reached out to him after beginning his senior year at Blue Mountain State. The team was predicted not to do well that season, so Alex had dedicated his final year to more partying. After a new dean threatened to take over the Goat House - the party location for the team - Alex asked Thad to buy the house and he agreed to if Alex threw a party in his honor and met his wild expectations. Thad is impressed by the out-of-hand party, which is full of amusement rides and drugs. An auction for the house begins and Thad bids five million dollars, outbidding himself from three million. Alex celebrates the house being bought and Thad confronts him on only thinking of himself when he agreed to create "Thadland." Out of anger, Thad banishes Alex from the house.
Alex later goes to the house with Thad's former teammate, Craig Shilo, and finds that there have been several deaths in the still-running house. While they are high, Thad and Mary Jo Cacciatore are found upstairs by Alex, who confronts Thad about his supposed wealth and asks why he can waste his time at a party in a college campus instead of attending practice with his professional team. That reveals that his contract was voided because of his bad behavior when receiving his money, and that his wealth was fake. The angered Alex asks why Thad lied and Thad grabs a handgun before saying that he could not have his wealth and that he wanted to die because he was out of money and friends. Alex doesn't let Thad kill himself and thinks of another plan. Thad's cousin, Dick Dawg, begins to rig the septic and gas tanks to explode in the basement. Dick is confronted by a drugged Sammy Cacciatore, who fights him but is overpowered. Sammy is then knocked unconscious by falling debris as the house starts to crumble. Everyone evacuates, except for Thad, who tells Alex to remember his story. Alex leaves with Mary Jo while Dick carries the unconscious Sammy out of the house before it explodes. Alex, Mary Jo, Larry Summers, Donnie Schrab, Harmon Tedesco, Craig, and Radon Randell all toast to Thad's memory during a line-up.
Thad is later revealed to be alive a month later, sitting on a beach with a mojito.
Personality[]
Thad is introduced as the team’s starting linebacker and captain, embodying both the stereotypes and satirical elements of American college athletics. Throughout the series, he frequently delivers over-the-top motivational speeches, engages in bizarre hazing rituals, and displays an often unfiltered, self-absorbed worldview. Despite his brash demeanor, Thad is portrayed as deeply dedicated to football and to maintaining his status as team leader.
His personality is marked by extremes. He is loud, aggressive, and intensely competitive, often taking pride in his physical dominance and his ability to intimidate teammates and opponents alike. Much of his behavior reflects a parody of hyper-masculine college athletes: he is frequently arrogant, prone to immature antics, and obsessed with maintaining authority within the team’s hierarchy.
Although primarily depicted as a source of comic relief, Thad’s character occasionally reveals moments of vulnerability, particularly in regard to his insecurities about leadership, graduation, and life beyond football. His larger-than-life presence makes him both a figure of ridicule and admiration within the show’s narrative.
Physical Appearance[]
Thad is portrayed as tall, muscular, and physically imposing, a reflection of his role as linebacker and captain of the team. His appearance emphasizes athleticism and strength, as he is often shown shirtless or in football gear. His physicality is a central aspect of his persona, reinforcing his self-image as an archetype of the dominant collegiate athlete.