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Season 5 Reviews - Episodes 1-5

Season 5 Reviews - Episodes 1-5

5x01 - "After The Storm" Review

Continuing The Journey on the Season Premiere of “Castle”

By Lisa Caputo

2012-09-25

ABC’s hit show returned with a bang; and in more ways than one

Four months ago, Castle creator and master storyteller, Andrew Marlowe, delivered a season finale that would not soon be forgotten, a finale that finally found Kate Beckett and Rick Castle committing to a romantic relationship together. While some have called this change a new beginning for them, Monday’s season five premiere, aptly titled After The Storm, proved that it is actually a wonderful continuation of their journey and an evolution of their story, capturing all of the magic, brilliance, and beauty of the tale that has been told over the past four seasons yet with a slightly different dynamic to it all.

Penned by the uber-talented David Amann, the episode began the morning after Always had concluded, with Castle waking up alone in his bed and wondering, just for a moment, if it had all been a dream. Yet when Beckett sauntered in just seconds later, symbolic coffees in hand and wearing nothing but one of Castle’s button-up shirts, it was clear to him, and the audience, that their love story is still the heart and soul of the show itself, something that Canadian leads Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic lent their undeniable chemistry to in spades throughout the hour. Yet the moment was short-lived as, in true Castle fashion, the two were interrupted and their romantic bubble was popped.

What ensued after that was the very embodiment of what has always made Castle such a brilliant show, seamlessly mixing comedy, romance, suspense, and stirring drama into a beautifully told story. While the opening scenes found Castle and Beckett hilariously attempting to hide their newly established romantic relationship from both Castle’s family and then Ryan, scenes that showcased that the witty banter would certainly continue despite their changed relationship status, the comedy soon gave way to the drama and suspense of the investigation into Cole Maddox, the man who had shot Beckett a year ago and was still very much intent on putting her into an early grave.

Perhaps what was most interesting about the way in which Beckett and Castle dove back into the case was that it was no longer Kate pushing forward for truth, justice, or revenge. Rather, just as she had resigned her job in last season’s finale, so too had she resigned the need to avenge her mother’s death. Instead, it was Castle who pushed to get her involved, wanting to do the right thing and track down Maddox before he could harm anyone else, including her and knowing that her being a cop was about more than just a job. Thus, the two jumped right back into being the partners they always had been, something that truly bonds them together just as much as their romantic relationship will now do as well.

Meanwhile, the other strongest pairing on the series was still at odds after the events of last season’s finale. With Esposito on suspension and Ryan feeling the pangs of guilt and the pressure of being the only working member of his team still left in tact, it was clear that it would take a while still for their bromance to get back on track. Even still, the beauty of the storyline was that they put their own issues aside to work together with Castle and Beckett, both doing everything in their power to help keep Beckett safe.

When the evidence led the foursome to Senator William Bracken as the man behind the conspiracy, the story took a dramatic and suspenseful turn, with Beckett finally gaining a face and a name to associate with her mother’s murderer. The scenes that followed not only showcased Stana Katic’s incredible acting abilities once again, ironically one night after another Emmy snub for her and the show itself, but they also displayed the evolution of Kate Beckett in the most profound and wonderfully-crafted way possible.

As Kate came face-to-face with the man who had her mother murdered, the audience was taken on a roller-coaster ride of emotions, from fear that Kate would pull the trigger and throw her life away for revenge, to pain when she seemed resigned that Bracken was untouchable, to a feeling of pride and triumph when she set him straight and blackmailed him in order to keep herself and her loved ones safe. While she made a deal with the devil rather than succumbing to her emotions and ending his life instead, it showed us that Kate Beckett was not a woman hell-bent on revenge, rather a woman who knew that she needed to let fate take its course and that her time to strike would eventually come. In the meantime, she would be safe and she would be in control, and that much was made clear to Senator Bracken.

The pistol-whipping was a nice touch as well, both for the fact that it was something every audience member was secretly hoping Beckett would do and yet also because it was deeply symbolic. Just as Kate had been left with scars to remind her of the tragedy that had haunted her for so long, so too would Bracken be left with a scar to remind himself of the woman who would forever haunt him in return.

For those who were unsure if the pairing of Castle and Beckett would change too much of the dynamic between them, After The Storm certainly silenced those fears. Not only did the two still share that magical, bantering swordplay between them, and not only did they continue to challenge each other and push each other within their partnership, but all of it had a much deeper level to it, one that recognized that there are new levels of honesty and openness, along with passion and playful seduction, and the hilarious complications that will come from them attempting to keep this relationship a secret from those around them. Thus, there is such a wonderful new angle from which to tell this story, something that will not only keep things fresh but that will also continue to reveal more about the characters as they evolve as individuals and as a couple.


After The Storm was well worth the wait; Beckett may have been right about Castle having no idea how good it could be, but we have known all along, and if you see a random stranger walking down the street with a proud and beaming smile today, they must be a Castle fan.



5x02 - "Cloudy With A Chance Of Murder" Review

Be Careful What You Wish For on “Castle”

By Lisa Caputo

2012-10-02

Castle and Beckett face the first true test of their secret relationship

Last week’s dramatic fifth season premiere of Castle solidified the commitment between Castle and Beckett as they began their romantic relationship together. Monday’s second installment in the fresh new season found them facing their first true challenge; how to hide their relationship from a room full of detectives because of the NYPD’s strict policy against coworkers dating. Throw in a slew of incredibly observant colleagues and an entertainment reporter with a notch on her bedpost reserved for the famous writer and hilarity was sure to ensue.

The comedic yet heartfelt episode began with a wonderfully crafted scene between Castle and Beckett as Kate prepared herself for her first day back at work after her suspension. The two exchanged the same brand of witty banter that they became famous for years ago, as Beckett attempted to enlist Castle’s help to pick out a wardrobe for herself that would help promote the idea that everything between them was still “normal” and he seemed to be more interested in watching her change her shirt multiple times than actually trying to take her plea seriously. The scene did well to establish the danger of their relationship being made public, as neither wanted to risk having Gates use their romance as a means to sever their working partnership.

Yet it also provided a wonderful look at their relationship itself. Still new and still exciting to them, but with an absolute level of comfort as they shared a simple yet meaningful scene together that was also full of sweet yet hilarious moments. As Castle reassured Beckett that nobody would find out about their romance, he took the opportunity, as any red-blooded man would, to suggest that, “just to be safe, you might want to change out of those pants” before pulling the love of his life closer towards him. Of course, when Beckett received a text message that they had a murder to investigate, he followed it up with a defeated yet hilarious, “and it looks like the pants stay on.”

Beckett quickly reminded Castle to act normal and pretend that they are both very much single while they are in public and the two sealed their agreement to keep their relationship a secret with a short yet very sweet kiss, highlighted by an adorable ad-lib from Beckett’s portrayer, Stana Katic, as she whispered “wow” just as the two parted.

Despite Castle and Beckett’s attempts to hide their relationship, their colleagues put the couple’s skills of deception to the test on multiple occasions. First, Esposito picked up on Castle’s attempt to overcompensate by not bringing Beckett a coffee, usually a sign that something is off between them. Then, Lanie used her woman’s intuition (which, for the record, is stronger than spidey-sense) to pick up on the glow surrounding her best friend and later called her out with a blunt, “you’re having sex”, prompting Castle to have a little fun at Beckett’s expense and grill her about her secret relationship before she could change the subject.

There was another very enduring moment early into the second act, as Beckett conversed with Esposito over the phone while she and Castle gathered information about their victim at the local news station. Beckett caught sight of Castle having a childishly good time playing with the green screens used for the weather segment and could not help but smile like a woman in love at his sheer innocence and sense of playfulness. Adorable.

Of course, her smile faded to a jealous frown when the station’s entertainment reporter, Kristina Cottera, played by the wonderful Jodi Lyn O’Keefe, appeared to be coming on to Castle. Later, when Kristina was interviewing Castle on her show that evening, she put the writer on the spot and asked him out to dinner, catching Castle off guard and prompting Beckett to hilariously talk to the television screen as if attempting to telepathically send him the correct answer to the question. In a misguided attempt to keep his relationship with Beckett a secret, Castle agreed to the date. More hilarity ensued.

Yet when Kristina turned her focus to seducing Castle at his loft later, with a clever Jaws-inspired musical score in the background of the scene, and Castle unknowingly pocket-dialed Beckett in the process, the concerned detective heard what sounded like a life-threatening struggle coming from Castle’s phone. Thus, she rushed to his apartment, busting down the door with her gun drawn, only to discover Castle laying on his couch with a bikini-clad Kristina straddling him. Did Castle not see what Beckett did to the Senator last week? Well, more hilarity ensued.

In the end, though, the two were able to sort the situation out, unlike in the past, with Beckett openly and honestly sharing her fears with Castle that she was not entirely sure how to handle keeping their relationship a secret, as well as her fears of whether or not it would all work out with their love and their partnership staying in tact. Meanwhile, Castle came through as the voice of reason, telling Beckett that they can not possibly know the answers and all they can truly do is live with the questions and find their way through them together. It was another incredibly heartwarming and sweet moment between these two, reminding us of why we have waited four years to see them get to this point. Yet, in true Castle fashion, the two were interrupted before they could seal their promise with a kiss, as Beckett pulled away at the last second to hilariously tell Castle, “I’m sorry, I can’t. It’s too soon. I just keep seeing her boobs in your face” before wincing and walking away, concluding the episode with one last laugh.

Also in the episode, we saw Ryan and Esposito take their first steps towards a reconciliation of their severed bromance after Ryan took a punch in the face from their suspect’s security guard in order to protect Esposito. Moved by Ryan’s statement that “it’s what partners do”, Esposito offered to buy him a drink, thus possibly signaling the end of storm for these two as well.


Oh, and there was a murder investigation in there somewhere, which, as always, so beautifully mirrored the personal situation between Castle and Beckett. They solved it.



5x03 - "Secret's Safe With Me" Review

Secret Handshakes on “Castle”

By Lisa Caputo

2012-10-09

Castle and Beckett struggle to keep their relationship hidden in the workplace

Earlier this summer, Castle creator Andrew Marlowe promised that the fifth season of the ABC hit series would infuse more of the comedy and clever wit into its episodes that it had in its earlier seasons, rather than focusing on the heavy emotional drama that they focused on in season four. Monday’s episode was the third installment in the new season and it appears that the Castle team has succeeded in keeping that promise to the audience.

I am, and always will be, a sucker for a good emotional drama. At the end of the day, I have always felt that Castle was at its very best when it dove into its brand of stirringly dramatic and emotional storytelling. Yet the few lighthearted episodes of season four and now the past two lighthearted episodes of season five have proven that whether comedic or dramatic, every episode has a great deal of heart at the center of it all. Castle is, quite simply, always at its best.

Monday’s episode found Castle and Beckett struggling to keep their new romantic relationship under wraps while on the job, especially after Castle discovered that his mother had known all along and was pushed to tell Alexis the truth as well, thus having their secret exposed at least partially already. Meanwhile, the two nearly gave it all away at the precinct a number of times throughout the episode, in some very endearing and also rather hilarious ways, all while dealing with their latest murder investigation and Alexis’ move to her college dorm.

The scene that kicked off this fantastic new episode between Martha and Castle as Martha revealed to her son that she was well aware of his supposedly secret relationship with Beckett was hilariously awkward and did well to set the stage for Castle to confess the truth to both his mother and daughter. Of course, this sparked an immediate fear in Beckett, worrying that the six five degrees of separation between Alexis finding out and Gates finding out could be an issue for them.

I found it rather interesting that Alexis herself seemed to have no opinion to give to her father about his dating Beckett, especially given that she did not seem to think so highly of Castle’s loyalty to the detective just last season. Perhaps it was merely her preoccupation with her moving away to college or her already emotional state due to her realization that she would no longer be able to see her father every day as she had her entire life. Or, perhaps, there will be more to come down the line with this part of the story when Alexis may begin to feel as if she has to compete for her father’s affections with the love of his life. After all, the Castle team has always been very clever at setting up storylines well in advance and then sweeping them under the rug until they will have the most impact when they come out again.

Molly Quinn (Alexis) and Nathan Fillion (Castle) were both so wonderful in their roles as they shared a heartwarming scene at the end of the episode while Alexis settled in to her new home away at college. For four seasons, these two have portrayed the absolute most touching father/daughter relationship on television, and this scene served well to cement that. It was a truly beautiful moment, perfectly played by these two wonderful actors, and one that capped off this episode in such a heartwarming way.

Yet some of the other highlights of the episode, as usual, were the moments between Castle and Beckett as they struggled to keep their secret relationship hidden from their friends and coworkers. First, when Beckett offered to go get Castle a refill on his coffee, he somehow developed a sense that the boundaries in their professional partnership were perhaps becoming as blurred as the boundaries that once existed in their personal relationship, taking it upon himself to answer Beckett’s phone when Lanie called. Not only did this make Lanie even more suspicious than she clearly already was, it also resulted in Castle getting himself into hot water with Beckett as he also opted to root around in her desk drawers for something to write Lanie’s message on.

Later on, the two were nearly caught in the middle of a conversation about whether or not Beckett should talk to Alexis herself about her relationship with Castle. When Ryan and Esposito questioned them as to what they were talking about, the two answered, completely in sync, that it was nothing, earning a very suspicious look from Esposito, who had already caught them in similar situations in each of the previous two episodes. Following this, the two engaged in one of their classic theory-spinning sessions, drawing them closer together with each word before they realized that they were a little too close and a little too worked up by their always-enchanting verbal foreplay, hilariously parting and turning away from each other to sip their coffees as they cooled down.

Yet perhaps the most compelling moment of the episode came when the two were saying goodnight to one another at the precinct late at night, with Castle heading home to be able to drive Alexis to her college dorm the next morning and Beckett needing to stay and do some more work on their case. Realizing that they were not able to part ways with a proper goodbye kiss, as they have become so accustomed to up until now, the two were seemingly heartbroken by this obvious downfall to their secret relationship. Castle, however, came up with a brilliant and touching idea for how they could still express their feelings for one another through a simple yet meaningful handshake, gently taking Beckett’s hand in his and expressing what that handshake really meant, with Beckett following suit as well. It was a genuinely touching moment that perfectly set the stage for this to become their way of expressing their feelings when they can not do so publicly, much like coffees and the word “always” have symbolized their silent expression of their feelings in the past.


Three episodes into this fifth season, Castle is proving that it is truly a series that keeps on getting better and better, with a true heart and soul behind it all, something that I promise you is increasingly rare on television today. And I will certainly shake on that.



5x04 - "Murder, He Wrote" Review

Murder In The Hamptons on “Castle”

By Lisa Caputo

2012-10-16

Castle and Beckett’s secret is exposed after a romantic weekend gone wrong

Ever since Kate Beckett answered Rick Castle’s question as to what she wanted in the closing minutes of last season’s finale, Castle fans have been treated to some truly incredible storytelling revolving around the newly committed couple’s attempts to keep their relationship a secret from those around them. Answering the will they / won’t they question that loomed over the past four seasons has allowed the Castle team to approach the current season with a whole new realm of possibilities while still honouring what has made the series a success since the beginning, adding deeper levels to it all as well.

Monday’s episode, penned by the uber-talented David Grae, who has a knack for writing some of the most hilarious episodes of the series while also maintaining a great heart within it all, was a wonderful nod to the classic Angela Lansbury series, Murder, She Wrote, where a mystery novelist constantly found herself involved in murder investigations that somehow managed to find her no matter where she was. Thus, as Castle and Beckett headed to Castle’s illustrious vacation home in the Hamptons, their romantic weekend getaway was interrupted by a murder that literally found its way into Castle’s backyard. Or his pool, to be exact. With their relationship still very much a secret from their friends and coworkers, the two had to find a way to enlist the help of their team back in New York without blowing their cover, all while their partners back home were trying to figure out the identity of Beckett’s secret boyfriend.

The hour was packed full of hilarious comedy and an investigation full of twists and turns, yet there were also some truly heartwarming and moving scenes within the episode, as well as a little touch of romance between television’s most captivating couple. There was also a major bomb dropped into the story by the end. All in all, this fourth installment to an already astounding season of Castle left nothing behind and was the complete package of what makes this show such a well-rounded master of storytelling.

Early on into the first act, just as Castle and Beckett arrived at Castle’s impressive home in the Hamptons, the two shared a heartwarming moment of pure honesty and openness as Beckett clearly showed signs of reservation. Stana Katic and Nathan Fillion played this scene beautifully as Beckett opened up and admitted that she was insecure about how many other women had enjoyed a weekend away with Castle there before her. Castle admitted to his past yet meaningfully took Kate’s hand and assured her that none of the women in his life had ever compared to her. It was a sweet moment between these two, both in the complete openness of their conversation and the wonderfully beautiful symbol of them again using a simple holding of their hands to express the emotion between them.

Meanwhile, Ryan and Esposito split their time trying to help Castle with the investigation from the city while also investigating the secret identity of Beckett’s new beau, unimpressed with her refusal to tell them the truth in the first place. It was clear that neither believed Castle to be a candidate, despite the pair’s recently suspicious activity, though Lanie’s refusal to help them with their investigation seemed to be yet another interesting sign that perhaps Lanie knows, or at least suspects, more than she is letting on.

There were also a couple of great examples of paying homage in this episode, and not just to Murder, She Wrote. The first was a clever nod to a first-season episode that came just after Chief Brady enlisted Castle and Beckett’s help at the precinct. Castle took a sip of his coffee and uttered the throwback line, “flavour country”, just as he did in “Hell Hath No Fury” after buying the espresso machine for the precinct. This is just one of many nods that the Castle team has had back to the original season so far this year, perhaps a subtle way of showcasing that while so much has changed over the past four years, they have not forgotten where it all began and some things will never change.

The second nod was a wonderful one towards the fans, with Castle hilariously offering suggestions to Beckett as to what their couple name should be after comparing them to Brangelina. Despite a few pretty bad attempts, Castle finally came up with the name, “Caskett”, which both he and Beckett seemed to approve of. Being that this has long been their couple name amongst the loyal Castle fandom, it was a clever nod to the fan-base and recognition to them as well, though also not the first of its kind and likely not the last.

There was also a major twist within the episode, and not as far as the investigation was concerned this time. As Ryan took the reigns to interrogate Aaron Lerner back in the city, it was revealed that he had already told his story to Castle and his girlfriend during the investigation in the Hamptons. Suspecting that he may have stumbled upon a fairly massive secret, Ryan feverishly continued to interrogate Learner about the identity of Castle’s girlfriend rather than the case at hand, eventually leading to Ryan discovering the truth about Castle and Beckett’s hidden relationship. Yet just as he enjoyed taunting Castle and Beckett with their secret potentially being let out of the bag, he opted to keep that secret for them from Esposito, something that proved Ryan’s loyalty towards Beckett at a time when his ability to keep a secret had become questionable. It was a brilliant way to handle this aspect of the storyline and Seamus Dever played these moments perfectly as Kevin Ryan. It will be interesting to see how far Ryan is willing to go to protect their secret and whether or not he will let them know that he knows the truth.

The episode was fraught with hilarious interruptions to Castle and Beckett’s attempts at romance, something that is pure Castle comedy in and of itself, first with Castle’s inability to concentrate on anything but the investigation, and then Beckett’s inability to do the same later on. Yet they did manage to solve the case in time to enjoy one last night together in the Hamptons, giving themselves and the audience some highly-anticipated romance in the end, thus concluding the episode with some great Caskett chemistry.


With a two-week hiatus before the next episode, Monday’s episode certainly gave the audience a great deal to talk about, especially with their secret now partially exposed.



5x05 - "Probable Cause" Review

3XK Returns on “Castle”

By Lisa Caputo

2012-10-30

The elusive serial killer made his chilling return, framing Castle for murder

Two years ago, nearly to the day, notorious serial killer Jerry Tyson, better known to Castle fans as The Triple Killer or 3XK, chillingly asked Richard Castle, “how close to death do you want to get?” On Monday’s epic episode of Castle, that question took center stage in an emotionally dramatic hour as Tyson returned to frame Castle for murder.

The Castle team has always done drama better than any other show of its kind, with an incredible ability to combine suspense and mystery with stunningly emotional moments, and Monday’s episode was a perfect example of that. A thrilling case, characters pushed past their limits, stirringly emotional scenes, a true test of Castle and Beckett’s love and trust in one another, and the return of one of the series’ most chillingly haunting criminals, this dramatically epic hour of television was a testament to how truly powerful this story can be, and how incredibly masterful the Castle team is at telling that story.

Monday’s episode, penned by brilliant series creator, Andrew Marlowe, began like most others, with a grisly murder for Beckett and her team to investigate. Yet by the time the first act was over, it was clear that this would be a very different case, with Castle being a potential suspect after his fingerprints were found at the crime scene. By the time the second act was over, Castle had been arrested, with a mountain of evidence against him.

Despite the ever-mounting evidence and his lack of a substantiated alibi, Castle maintained his innocence. Meanwhile, both Ryan and Esposito seemed unsure as to what to believe, continuing to find evidence against him. While Gates was willing to go to bat for Rick, something that was wonderful to see from the Captain who is continuing to prove her loyalty to her team, it was becoming much more difficult to stand behind his innocence when the facts were leading them directly towards him each and every time.

Yet through it all, Beckett stood beside him, believing in him despite the evidence that was piled up against him. She may have had her brief moments of confusion and conflict between what her mind of a cop was telling her and what her heart was telling her, but she never wavered in her faith in him and her belief that he was innocent.

Halfway through the hour, always a critical time in nearly every Castle episode, there were two of the most incredibly powerful scenes of the entire series thus far. First, we were treated to a stirring moment between Lanie and Beckett, as Kate explained the evidence that supposedly pointed towards Castle having had an affair with the victim while he and Kate were already together. While the scene began as if Beckett had believed these allegations, crying over being betrayed, it was soon so brilliantly revealed that those tears were tears of desperation and helplessness as the usually-stoic detective felt heartbreakingly unable to help the man she loved. Stana Katic and Tamala Jones were both incredible in this beautifully-written scene, and Stana delivered one of the most memorable lines of the night, one of both sweet and lighthearted comedy yet also of great emotion, as Kate tearfully told Lanie, “I know him, Lanie, he is an immature, egotistical, self-centered jackass sometimes, but he’s not this.”

Immediately after, the answers became abundantly clear, and in wildly dramatic fashion. As Castle sat in the deserted and dark holding cell at the precinct, he heard a chillingly familiar voice breaking the silence from behind him; Jerry Tyson. Again, both Nathan Fillion and guest star Michael Mosley were phenomenal in this powerful and suspenseful scene, with 3XK making a point of letting Castle know that he had come to get his revenge, taking everything from Castle before also taking his life. It was a twist that some fans may have predicted, yet it was done in a fashion that none could have possibly seen coming, something that is very much the Castle method. Clever writers indeed.

Amongst the suspense and drama, there were also some beautiful moments between Castle and Beckett.  First, when Castle nervously told his story about Jerry’s visit to Kate, surprised that she believed him, Beckett smiled at his shock and responded that she had never stopped believing in him. The two shared a meaningful moment as Castle reached his fingers through the cell grating and Beckett overlapped them with her own. Later, the two prepared to say their goodbyes in the holding cell before Castle was to be taken away to be formally charged, and the heartbreak between them was incredibly moving. Yet when Castle managed to set up his own escape and Beckett realized he had given her a hint earlier, the two shared a joyous, albeit short-lived, reunion. It was yet another truly heartwarming moment mixed amongst the suspense and heartbreaking drama.

In the end, the pair managed to unravel the mystery and find the evidence to tie Jerry Tyson to the murder and his efforts to frame Castle. When this all led to a stunning showdown between them and Tyson, with 3XK getting the drop on Beckett, Castle outsmarted him and shot him, sending Tyson supposedly tumbling to his death in the river below. Yet when his body was unable to be found, Castle realized that it never would be, as he believed this whole ordeal was merely a setup of its own, complete with Tyson faking his death while likely wearing a bullet-proof vest, all to achieve the perfect disappearance that 3XK had been robbed of by Castle and Beckett two years ago.

While Kate held on to the belief that Tyson was dead and his reign of terror would finally be over, proving herself to have allowed Castle’s optimism to rub off on her lately, Castle could not let go of the fear that The Triple Killer was very much alive and would always haunt him. The episode concluded with not only a brilliant recurring line from the series, but also a darkly foreboding tone, one that may set the stage for another chilling return from 3XK in the future. Beckett tried to convince Castle that Tyson was dead and the nightmare was over, walking away before Castle uttered the infamous words, “for now.”


It remains unclear as to when 3XK will return to strike again, yet there is still one true certainty; when he does, Castle and Beckett will face him as they will face any other challenge that comes their way…  together.


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