Castle Season 4 - Page 3

Looked to me like this week's episode was a way to introduce re-occurring characters to bring these spy plots into the show. Perhaps the episodes that break away from police procedurals like the fake spy show and the show in Los Angeles scored well with the audience.

The episode got a rave review in this week's Entertainment Weekly.

The whole thing was completely preposterous, as these "event" episodes tend to be, but I was intrigued by Sophia's statement about Castle's father. Aside from the truth about Beckett's mother, that's the great ongoing mystery of the show. Sounds like there might be more fruit on that particular tree than previously hinted.

The fruit being a mystery of Castle's father? I agree the whole episode was rather over the top. I knew she had to be the bad guy, but when the terminal search found the other guy, that threw me off.

And the line from Sophia to Beckett that she wished she'd kept up the longing seemed like a coded message to the audience rather then Beckett in regards to Castle and Beckett ever getting together. I liked though the recent episodes where Beckett is softening up to Castle.

I have to say they fooled me. I thought I was a step or two ahead of them, but in the end, I was taken in (as Castle and Beckett were) even though I was suspicious of her for a long time, but I eventually jumped to the other suspect. I thoroughly enjoyed it, as over-the-top as it was.

So, definitely not a backdoor pilot for Jennifer Beals: Agent of SHIELD, then?

I didn't really like it. Never do like these big two-parters. And, the speech about regretting sleeping with Castle *was* a message to the audience. Moonlighting was a long time ago, folks, and Chuck proved you can take the big-boy step. I guess I was annoyed with that statement because of my own Spider-Man baggage. They not only dissolved his marriage, but made MJ say, "Never ask me to marry you again as long as you're Spider-Man" just to drive home the point to the audience hoping for the marriage to return.

ABC might still have liked what they saw. They took Dana Delaney's persona from her two-parter and switched up the backstory and profession to create "Body of Proof". My big problem with them is that they throw logic right out the window. The Dana Delaney two-parter was at least vaguely plausible since they were only hunting a serial killer (although building two episodes around New York City landmarks when you're filming in Los Angeles wasn't the smartest idea).

But with the Adrian Pasdar storyline, it was completely unbelievable that a normally staffed city precinct with one DHS agent would be the only ones tasked with finding a nuclear weapon on the verge of being detonated in New York City. Likewise, I can't believe the CIA operates anything close to how they were portrayed here. The case would have been spearheaded by the FBI, with the CIA at most playing a supporting role.

The show's focus is normally so intimate, it doesn't scale up well at all to these world-ending scenarios. I think they'll still have to pull the trigger eventually. Nathan Fillion is a big proponent of holding off until the last handful of episodes, but Andrew W. Marlowe has criticized "Bones" for not getting Bones and Boothe together (before that show did). I read that speech as more about, give us time. After all, the episode concluded by going through great pains to differentiate Castle's relationship with Beckett from his relationship with Sophia.

I feel like the whole car underwater thing happened unrealistically slow, though my only point of reference is the episode of Mythbusters when they did that (and it's been a while since I saw that). Otherwise it was okay, but I didn't think it was amazing or anything.
Edited by Joe_H - 2/21/12 at 5:13pm

It was also unrealistic in that Castle was underwater a lot longer than Beckett, and she'd already passed out from lack of oxygen, but he was still alert enough to get the gun, shoot off her belt, shoot out the windows, and then guide her basically drowned body to the surface without passing out himself (they were quite a ways down at that point). And Beckett was no worse for wear at the surface when we rejoin them. They weren't going for realistic.

 

 

I'm OK with Castle and Beckett not becoming a romantic couple. All I'd expect from that situation is they clarify her feelings for him while still deciding not to get involved with him. In a serious way. Give him some responsibility for why it won't work. Working together, he's like a kid with a new toy, etc. In effect, "I like you, but when it comes to a stable relationship, I don't trust you." Then the tension could still be there, they can do the episodic stories, but we don't get into the boring domestic life. Beckett needs her own separate life to keep things interesting. I think the tone some shows get wrong is evolving the formula vs redoing it. As for Moonlighting, David and Maddie were oil and water, and never should have been a couple to that degree. In shows like this, who cares if people are married and living in the same house? Or (!) having babies. We just want to see them sizzle.

 

This was by far the best the show has ever handled a big event episode. For once, the department was assigned a small supporting role, and even so there were all hands on deck. The precinct was packed with cops at the briefings, and the mogue was full of MEs.

And then, of course, there's Castle learning that Beckett remembered his admission of love this entire time.

I have to say the cases of the last couple of seasons haven't been very compelling. The thing I tune in for are the relationships between the characters. Castle and his daughter and mother are more interesting moments. The business with Esposito and Ryan is fun as well as Castle's interaction with them. And their relationship with Lanie is always fun too. Her wisecracks.

Of course the little moments between Castle and Becket are what everyone looks for. Last night did seem like a turning point. Castle is acting a little like an idiot after his discovery she remembered everything. Perhaps there is going to be some movement there.

I did like the bank robbery episode.

I found the episode compelling, but didn't particularly like Castle's reaction to the realization that Beckett knew all. You're grown ups - talk it out instead of petulently stomping off at the end of the case.

I wasn't looking forward to an Occupy episode, but they managed to present it in a reasonably apolitical manner. They even managed to discard some current conventions, such as the old "Muslim guy is the prime suspect, but we're really teaching you a lesson on the evils of profiling." The Middle Eastern guy here was ruled out almost instantly, as was the right-wing nut. Making an Occupy guy and a media member the bad guys was the last way Hollywood has left to surprise, and it worked.

We're in Can't Buy Me Love territory with Castle and Beckett's relationship. Before Ronald Miller launched his brilliant breakup scheme, Cindy Mancini had already fallen for him and was ready to make their relationship real, and he blew it. Here, Beckett is obviously (to us) ready to hear what Castle has to say, but he gets some months-old information and is blowing it.

Actually, I thought he was being rather adult about it. If he'd been petulent, he'd walked right then, but he stayed on to help solve the case. And he didn't give her the cold shoulder or give any indication of his hurt.

I get the whole 'talk it out', but we're talking about crossing that line. Wanting to tell someone you love them but not sure if they love you back. He believes he now has the answer - she knew and said nothing because she didn't feel the same way. Why bring it up at that point? Her silence (to him) already did the talking.

I agree with Kevin. Castle was the adult, and Beckett's been the child. Lying about remembering was a pretty big betrayal on her part, and I think Castle was perfectly justified for being hurt and angry. If he misinterpreted the motive behind her lie, that's her fault for lying.

You guys have brought up valid points about how Castle acted. I agree, he did the adult thing and stayed to wrap the case up.

The part though I thought he was acting a little idiotic was he was angry, and justifiably so, and he vented that anger at the suspect while interrogating him or her, I forget who. And at the same time fling some of that at Beckett, about not telling the truth about their feelings. It sailed over Beckett's head at first, but she sensed the difference in his behavior.

Of course, we as the audience know that early in the season, Beckett told the police psychiatrist that she just can't go there just now with Castle. I forget the exact exchange. Because now I remember Castle and Beckett had the fight over her mother and Beckett said she couldn't let herself get close to Castle until she sorted out her mother's killer. Of course that plot thread isn't going to get revealed either!

By looking at the previews for next week's episode, it appears this thread isn't over.

Nice to see "Sir" become somewhat more humanized. Noticed she's been in the credits recently, but unless I missed something, seems like she wasn't part of many episodes.

Glad they toned her down and made her somewhat more likeable.

Unless I'm mistaken, didn't Kate let it slip a few months ago that she remembered everything about her shooting? I'd swear I remember Castle already realizing the "I love" you bit had happened.

Yes, I believe what happened is Beckett told the police psychiatrist that she remembered everything, I meant to add that to my earlier post.

That makes more sense. The psychiatrist knew, but not Castle. I knew the dialogue sounded familiar.

Now I'll join those of you saying Castle is acting like a baby. I just don't buy this regression. It's very telling to me that neither Alexis nor Martha were in this episode. I mean, running to other women and letting Beckett know it is plausible but grade school, but racing up to the crime scene and engaging in other behavior that would get him kicked through the Iron Gates so fast his head would swim? Just a very disappointing way they've decided to handle this.

Something appears to be coming to a head. The previews for next week imply further that Lanie thinks Beckett better do something to let Castle know before it's too late.

He was acting pretty much like he did before he meet Beckett, as the dialogue stated last night. I agree, the absence of Alexis and Martha to straighten him out was perhaps some kind of choice so they can use them to re-align Castle later.

Im sure the season finally will place them back in a position of longing for each other yet something like the cop from last night might get in the way again.

I was wondering why Beckett's black dress last night didn't show any scars from the bullet wound. I guess it was lower.

The show's interpretation of major open heart surgery scarring is basically a little mosquito bite sized mark on her chest. It's totally unbelievable.

Nah, they are just forgetting the scar thing I think. What I meant by the absence of his female support system is not so they can pull him back later, but it was just inconvenient to the show to show how disappointing this tantrum would be to them. I, personally, get no pleasure seeing a character reset to day one, square one, episode one. I know he's just acting out, and it is something that might occur in real life, but it's just unsavory to watch. It's like how hard it can be to go back and watch early episodes of DS9, where the relationships haven't solidified and you feel like you've got a long climb to get back to familiar ground.

That's a good point Greg. Seeing him reset like that.

In the season premiere, they showed the scar. It was basically a little pock mark. Having seen the chests of people who'd undergone similar surgery, it made me roll my eyes even then. I agree that he "reset", but I don't think he's coming from the same place as he was when the series began. When the series began, it was just the natural course of events for him. Now, it's him grasping for something to make his life make sense. He still wants to help Beckett, Ryan and Esposito solve crimes because he thinks it's important. At the same time, he thinks Beckett's not interested so he's trying to move on. Women like the flight attendant both help distract him from his heartbreak and help him enforce the emotional distance necessary for him to still do this job with the woman who broke his heart. He doesn't trust himself to be around Beckett without a distancing element. That's why he was grateful for the limey's presence, when he'd normally have been incredibly jealous; for his purposes, the ruggedly handsome DI serves him as well as the flight attendant.

I can't imagine this new state of affairs is going to last for long.

Good episode tonight. Nice to see Castle on the mend towards Beckett. Fun to see him with Slaughter. I liked the dialogue at the end that had the duel meaning. Letting a past hurt go if you really want that thing.

The contrast of Slaughter and then Beckett helping Castle at the end was nice to see as they had that magic in resolving the crime.
Edited by Nelson Au - 4/17/12 at 6:05am

That and seeing Adam and Nathan together. Just wish they'd worked in some Firefly references. That'd been awesome! Strike that; I'm an adult - outstanding!

Great working relationship between Nathan and Adam in the show and totally different dynamic between their two new characters from the one they shared on Firefly. Two excellent actors and a very enjoyable episode.

Not sure if it was intentional, but it was a brown coat that Castle ended up having to give to Slaughter.

I'm glad they didn't soften Slaughter up by the end. It's funny seeing the contrast between Slaughter and John Casey. Casey was a cranky bad ass, but his emotions were closed off and he didn't like to speak any more than he had to. Slaughter is a bad ass, but he's also a blowhard jackass. Good episode, and I assume we'll see him again somewhere down the line. Also good that Castle and Beckett will probably talk through some things now.