6x16 - "Room 147" Review
‘Castle’: Coming Home
By Lisa Caputo
2014-02-24
Castle
and Beckett investigate a bizarre new case as Beckett helps facilitate a
reunion between Castle and Alexis
Now in
its sixth season, ABC’s hit show, Castle,
is charging along stronger than ever, with a plethora of fan-favourite episodes
already this season, Castle and Beckett’s wedding plans in full swing, and each
of the supporting characters finding themselves the centre of attention for at
least one episode this season as well. The Castle
team has found inventive ways of paying tribute to the past seasons while also
presenting fresh new storylines and cases and the storytelling and character
development continues to be at a level unlike anything else on network
television. Sunday’s episode once again pushed the characters forward while
presenting a unique type of mystery and while it was neither the romantically
heartwarming tale that last week’s episode was, nor the heart-pounding thriller
that next week’s episode seems sure to be, it was certainly one that provided
some memorable moments and a great deal of heart.
Vancouver
native, Adam Frost, has long been a member of the Castle team and penned his first full episode for them with
Sunday’s intriguing and personally satisfying story, with the episode directed
by the uber-talented Bill Roe. The aptly titled “Room 147” told the bizarre
story of a three seemingly unconnected individuals who all confessed to the
murder of a man who was an absolute stranger to each of them and who none had
any knowledge of outside of the details of the murder. While it was clear to
Castle and Beckett that none of their self-professed killers could have
committed the crime, each knew the exact details of the murder that seemed impossible
for anyone other than the killer to know. While the title itself was a direct
throwback to previous episodes, with the number 147 (or 47 and 417) being
repeated numerous times in the past six seasons, the case itself was far from
repetitive. In fact, this may have been one of the most unique and challenging
cases that Castle and Beckett have ever been faced with. Despite the fact that it
was fairly obvious early on that there would be some ties to hypnosis or
subliminal messaging, the case kept this reviewer guessing throughout the hour,
almost to the point of frustration as nothing appeared to make any sense
whatsoever. Of course, if we were to feel the way that Castle and Beckett were
feeling, that was most certainly achieved in spades. In the end, it all came
together and made perfect sense, and a second viewing would reveal a number of
clues that were cleverly dropped along the way. All in all, it was a
well-written and truly intriguing case.
Yet, as
always, it was not the case itself that was the most memorable part of the
episode. There were numerous things about the episode that were enjoyable above
and beyond the case, including having Penny Johnson Gerald back as Captain
Victoria Gates or seeing guest star Phil LaMarr reprise his recurring role as
Dr. Holloway. But as with most Castle episodes,
the personal storyline woven throughout the investigation is what resonated the
most and provided the most memorable highlights of the hour. Castle and Beckett
certainly had their moments throughout the episode, with the couple more
domesticated and comfortable together both at work and outside of work than
ever before, but it was the relationship between both Castle and Alexis as well
as Beckett and Alexis that provided the true heart and soul of this episode.
With Pi
now firmly out of the picture (and Castle
fans all over the world cheering about that), Alexis seemed to be working
harder than ever to keep up on her rent and maintain her independence. Despite
Castle offering to help take care of the lease for her apartment in order for
her to move back home, Alexis was determined to fulfil her lease on her own,
even if it meant living alone and working herself to the bone to continue to
pay for it. When Castle confided in Beckett that he suspected there was more
than just stubborn pride holding Alexis back from returning home to the loft,
it was clear that Beckett began to wonder if she was the reason Alexis was
determined to stay away. As always, it was just a simple yet immensely telling
look from Stana Katic that gave it all away, and when Beckett appeared to be
hiding something from Castle later in the episode, it was clear that she was
set on remedying this potential issue.
In a
truly beautiful and heartwarming scene midway through the episode, Beckett met
with Alexis and rather painfully revealed her fears to her soon-to-be
stepdaughter, confessing that she hoped she was not the reason for Alexis’
refusal to move back home to the loft. The two shared a wonderful moment
together, one that fans have long been awaiting and yet one that seemed so
perfectly timed as well, as Alexis opened up to Beckett about wanting to fix
her mistakes herself and not rely on her father to do that for her while
Beckett gave the young woman some heartfelt and very sound advice. We have long
seen Beckett acting as Castle’s sounding board when it comes to Alexis,
offering him advice as someone who understands his daughter and the growing
pains she has been going through, and it was beautiful to see Beckett now being
comfortable enough to approach Alexis and be her sounding board directly,
something that will surely bond these two even deeper as they become a family.
But it
would be impossible to discuss this pivotal scene without giving credit to
Stana Katic and Molly Quinn for their work in breathing such stunning and
absolutely captivating life into this moment. While the two have rarely had the
chance to come together in a scene like this, it was certainly well worth the
wait to see these two actresses portraying Beckett and Alexis as they truly
opened up to one another and perhaps took the first step of many to come in
developing a meaningful relationship with one another. Nathan Fillion and Molly
Quinn have always had such a compelling on-screen chemistry as father and daughter
and the scene between Katic and Quinn in Sunday’s episode proved that these two
stunning actresses possess a great deal of chemistry as well. With the wedding
plans in full swing, it seems rather likely that we will see more of these two
together as we approach the final stretch of the season.
In the
end, Beckett’s wise words proved to hit a chord with Alexis, as the young woman
swallowed her pride and appeared at Castle’s door to ask her father if she
could come home. Without any hesitation, Castle smiled and opened his arms to
his daughter, the two sharing a warm hug of relief as they reunited. Meanwhile,
Alexis looked over at Beckett and mouthed a silent yet sincere “thank you”,
eliciting a beaming smile from Beckett as she watched her fiancé and his
daughter finally find their way back to one another. And as Alexis looked back
at Beckett, that same twinkle in her eyes that we so often see from Castle when
he is looking at her as well, it became clear that the Castle family was now
complete and they were all right where they belonged.
6x17 - "In The Belly Of The Beast" Review
‘Castle’: Beckett and the
Beast
By Lisa Caputo
2014-03-04
An
undercover operation goes south, leaving Beckett in danger while an old foe
from her past repays his debt to her in the season’s most powerful and stunning
episode
It has
been over a year now since the storyline of Senator Bracken and his involvement
in Johanna Beckett’s murder has played out on our television screens and since
Kate Beckett has had to deal with the case that has haunted her for well over a
decade now. While the break from this storyline has allowed the Castle team to focus on the relationship
between Castle and Beckett, as well as the supporting characters who have an
impact on their lives, a return to the series’ most compelling and captivating
mystery has been long awaited and Monday’s chapter certainly did not
disappoint.
Penned by
the powerhouse team of series creator Andrew Marlowe and longtime Castle writer David Amann, and directed
by the masterful Rob Bowman, “In The Belly Of The Beast” revealed a new layer
to the Bracken/Beckett saga in a superbly surprising way and one that did not
appear, at first, to be a direct link to it at all. In fact, the approach that
this episode took in making the case appear to be a dangerous yet controllable
undercover mission and nothing more allowed the audience to get completely sucked
in to Beckett’s mission and how she handled herself, all without knowing who
was truly behind this ring to begin with. This allowed the episode’s most
shocking twists to have their full impact while also brilliantly tying
everything back to Bracken and setting the stage for a final showdown between
the now-aspiring President and the determined Detective Beckett.
The
episode was, from start to finish, a showcase of the Castle team’s incredible and unmatched talents in storytelling.
With a brilliantly written script, superb direction, a haunting and thrilling
musical score, breathtaking cinematography, and perfect editing, along with
stunning performances from the entire cast, Monday’s episode came across as one
of the most powerful and compelling episodes of the entire series. And while
every member of the cast, both lead, supporting, and guest cast, truly
delivered some of their most impressive work in this episode, it would be
impossible not to focus on the outstanding and absolutely awe-inspiring
performance given by Stana Katic in this episode. Carrying much of the episode
on her back as the focus was squarely on Kate Beckett, Katic truly outdid
herself, with every look, every expression, and every word she delivered being packed
with meaning that told the story of what Beckett was experiencing during her
ordeal. It was stunning, breathtaking, and more powerful than perhaps anything
even the Castle has put forth before.
Of course,
as with any well-written mystery, there were clues dropped along the way that
were so cleverly and carefully placed by the Castle team that could have easily tipped the audience off to
Bracken’s involvement if they were not already so wrapped up in the story
itself. The Wydmark Hotel, which was the location of Beckett’s initial showdown
with Bracken last season, the fact that the real Lazarus would surely not make
the basement of the lavish compound his home, and the use of water torture to
try to force Beckett to talk, just as Bracken’s other henchman, Hal Lockwood,
used back in season three on Ryan and Esposito. All were brilliant ways of
calling back to the previous seasons while also dropping sly hints to the
audience that would likely only become obvious with the benefit of hindsight
later on.
Truthfully,
Monday’s episode showed Kate Beckett at her very best, agreeing to take on an
undercover operation that even Captain Gates so keenly pointed out was not her
responsibility to take part in, all just to help take this crime ring down. And
when it became clear that Elena was much more vital to their organization that
she had indicated to the police, Beckett immediately changed the role she was
playing in the sting, quickly and confidently making strides to get to the
leader of the ring himself in order to make the most of the position she had
found herself in. It was quite stunning to watch her transformation, proving
how completely brilliant, observant, quick-thinking, and resourceful Detective
Beckett truly was, a sentiment that was echoed later by Esposito as he reminded
a devastatingly worried Castle that Beckett was more than capable of taking
care of herself and finding a way out of the situation she was in.
Midway
through the hour, at a point that is typically reserved for the most heartfelt
and moving moments of any Castle
episode, Beckett took the time while she was locked up to compose a goodbye letter
to Castle. It was a grippingly emotional moment, with Beckett pouring her heart
out via Katic’s brilliant and heart-wrenching voiceover as she told the love of
her life that their relationship was the best thing that had ever happened to
her and that she needed him to know that if anything should happen to her. Meanwhile,
a helpless Castle attempt to deal with the reality that there may be nothing he
could do to save Beckett’s life, something that often found him turning his
helplessness and fear into anger towards those who put her life in danger in
the first place. Both of these elements, along with Katic and Nathan Fillion’s
moving performances, served as the emotional backbone of the episode, infusing
in it the sheer heartbreak of the situation as the couple faced being alone in
such dire circumstances, with the potential to never be reunited again.
But
Monday’s episode was much more powerful and dramatic than emotional, something
that was the perfect focus for the story at hand. It was captivating to see
Beckett truly take hold of a terrifying situation and attempt to improvise and
turn it into a brilliant takedown. But just as she believed she was in control
of the situation, prepared to meet Lazarus and gain the intel she would need to
take him down, a rather shocking twist was revealed. Standing before Lazarus,
his back turned to her as he greeted her, Beckett heard a familiar voice that
certainly she (and most Castle fans)
could have never forgotten; the man before her, the man she was supposed to
convince that she was Elena Markov, was Vulcan Simmons.
It was a
shocking twist that quickly changed the course of Beckett’s mission and the
episode itself, as Simmons clearly remembered Beckett and her cover was
absolutely shattered. The scenes that followed were difficult to watch, with
Beckett being tortured to the point of near-death, though even in her weakest
moments she chose to fight back and stand her ground. And when she was of no
use to him any further, clearly willing to let herself die before telling him
what he wanted to know, Simmons ordered that Beckett be disposed of. But Beckett
was found and released by a surprising savior, as Elena Markov quickly disposed
of Simmons’ henchman and allowed Beckett to escape, letting her know that the
real Lazarus had sent her and that he wanted her to live because he owed her.
In the end, Beckett pieced it all together and figured out that Bracken was at
the top of the crime ring, funneling money into his newly-announced run for the
presidency. Truly, this was the perfect way to reveal the depths of Bracken’s
power and influence while giving Beckett’s nemesis a chance to repay his debt
to her, making them both back on even ground for what may be their final
showdown the next time they meet.
From
start to finish, Monday’s episode was truly a brilliant and stunning story, one
that showed how strong, capable, and determined Beckett really was, as well as how
powerful the love she shared with Castle really was. After all, as Beckett said
at the end of the episode, it was what kept her fighting for her life the whole
time. In the end, when Castle urged Beckett to forget about the day’s events
and join him in bed, Beckett hesitated only slightly, looking at Bracken’s
image on her computer as that decade-old urge to become consumed by her desire
to avenge her mother’s death seemed to creep back in. But all it took was one
look back at her fiancé and the hand he was extending to her for Beckett to let
it all go and follow him to where she and her heart truly belonged, finally
understanding what her father told Castle nearly three years ago; that her life
was worth more than her mother’s death.
6x18 - "The Way Of The Ninja" Review
‘Castle’: They Could Never
Be Boring
By Lisa Caputo
2014-03-18
Castle’s
ninja assassin theory pans out while he and Beckett address the question as to
whether or not marriage will change their relationship
It has
been two weeks since Castle aired one
of its most theatrical, dramatic, and powerful episodes yet, something that
certainly warranted a comedic and lighthearted follow up to give both the
audience and the characters an opportunity to take a deep breath and explore
the show’s varied storytelling for an episode or two before making the final
push in this stellar sixth season. Monday’s episode did exactly that, serving
its purpose of bringing the characters out of the darkness of their last case
while putting them squarely back on the path towards Castle and Beckett’s
upcoming nuptials. But it was also much more than that, presenting some much
deeper and more profound elements just under the surface of the humour and
lighthearted fare of the episode.
Penned by
Christine Roum, with the story by both she and longtime Castle crew member Shawn Waugh, and directed by the legendary Larry
Shaw, “The Way Of The Ninja” was a cleverly entertaining episode that found
Castle and Beckett investigating the perplexing murder of a Japanese ballet
student who seemed to be much more mysterious that she first appeared to be.
When a series of hilarious events began to point the evidence towards a
possible ninja assassin, Castle found one of his oldest and wildest theories
finally panning out. While it would be easy to dismiss Monday’s episode as a
mere filler episode, there was certainly much more to it than that and to
describe it as such would grossly overlook the vast merits that this episode
proved to have.
Presenting
Castle’s classic ninja assassin theory as something more than just a wild
theory meant to challenge Beckett’s sense of reason and get under her skin,
especially at this point in their relationship, was actually quite interesting.
Not only did it continue a trend that we have seen throughout this season,
bringing more and more of Castle’s theories to light as possibly being the
truth, but it also allowed us to see Beckett becoming more accepting of his
beliefs and his sense of possibility rather than dismissing him and his
theories as nothing more than just wild and irrelevant stories.
Yet at
the same time, presenting a case that walked the line between reality and
fantasy allowed those classic fundamental differences between Castle and
Beckett to shine through once again, something that is always extremely
satisfying to see. After all, these two may very well be at their best when
challenging one another and exchanging that witty and playful banter that they
have always possessed. Even now that they are in a fully committed
relationship, that dynamic between them still exists and continues to create
interesting and compelling situations between them as they push one another,
challenge one another, and jab at one another as only these two could.
And when
Castle’s undercover mission with Ryan and Esposito nearly landed him in hot
water with his fiancé, we were treated to both a hilarious spat between the
future husband and wife and an immensely meaningful reconciliation between them
as well. This displayed the vast growth these characters have undergone over
the years, especially in the past two years that they have been a committed
couple. The trust, the faith, and the belief they have in one another, as well
as the honesty, openness, and understanding that they share together is truly
enjoyable to see, and all of these elements were on full display in Monday’s
episode.
It was
also fantastic to see Arye Gross return to reprise his role as M.E. Perlmutter,
as Gross is always a welcome addition to any episode, as is his character’s
penchant for grinding Castle’s gears in the most hilarious and inventive ways.
But Gross was not the only member of the supporting cast to lend his talents to
the story, as Jon Huertas, Seamus Dever, and Penny Johnson Gerald were all
absolutely fantastic in their roles as well, providing a great deal of comedic
support throughout the hour and delivering some of the episode’s most witty
lines as well.
But
beneath the clever nods to the classic Castle
elements and beyond the comedy and lighthearted entertainment, Monday’s episode
also found itself exploring some very deep and vital elements to the show’s
ongoing storylines. In the midst of Castle and Beckett’s argument in the middle
of the episode, Castle began to pick up on the fact that his fiancé seemed to
be upset about something other than his actions, immediately showing concern
and asking her what was on her mind. Without hesitation, Beckett confessed to
Castle that her dinner that night with an old friend from high school had
revealed the reality to her that marriage can so often change people. She told
him the fears that this revelation had brought out in her; that they may change
as well once they were married, that they may become bored of one another or of
their life together, and that it may destroy who they are now as a couple. But
Castle sweetly and sincerely reassured her that they could never become boring
and that all they had to do was promise one another never to let that happen
and they would surely see that through.
It was a
beautiful moment between the two as they not only addressed a typical
relationship issue that plagues many married couples as well as those making
their way to the alter, but also a question that the show itself so bravely
answered regarding whether or not the storytelling could continue to be
interesting and captivating once the two leads were finally in a committed
relationship. Would the passion, the fire, and the chemistry fade away? Would
they become boring? Would it all change for the worse? Of course, life does not
end with marriage and neither does good storytelling, and the Castle team seems more than poised to
prove that point with Castle and Beckett fast approaching that next step in
their relationship.
But their
discussion also touched on an element that may come up again before the season
is over; Castle’s previous marriages and why they both failed. Beckett keenly
noted that Castle had been married twice before, looking to him for advice on
how to not lose the spark in their relationship once they were wed. And while
Castle did not have the opportunity to address the real reasons why his previous
marriages fell apart, it seemed as though those seeds were very carefully and
cleverly sown in this exchange of dialogue.
Likewise,
the storyline in this episode may have also touched on an important element in
Beckett’s development that could present itself later on in the season again,
as the story delved quickly but vitally into the realm of revenge and honouring
one’s family by avenging a loved one’s death. While Beckett’s comment to Saya
was meant as a means of saving her from making a mistake that would essentially
send her to prison in order to avenge the deaths of her family members, there
certainly felt like there was a much more personal and deeper meaning to the
advice she so wisely imparted that revenge was not worth the price one has to
pay to achieve it. We may very well see Beckett forced to make that choice
herself if she and Senator Bracken cross paths again for a final showdown
before the season is over.
Monday’s
episode may not have been the powerhouse story that the previous installment
was but it proved to be much more than a standard filler episode. In fact, if
there is something this reviewer has learned over the years, it is to never
dismiss a Castle episode with that
term because it does not take much to look beneath the humour and the
entertainment value of an episode like this one to see the deeper and much more
profound meanings being put forth. And with the final stretch of episodes of
the season looming on the horizon, you can be sure that this was most certainly
the calm before the storm.
6x19 - "The Greater Good" Review
‘Castle’: The People Who
Matter
By Lisa Caputo
2014-03-25
An
intriguing new case brings Captain Gates face-to-face with her estranged sister
while Castle and Beckett continue their wedding plans
ABC’s hit
series hit the ground running when it began its sixth season back in September,
churning out one intriguing episode after another. The Castle team has explored an incredibly wide range of storytelling
this year, and while much of the focus has been on Castle and Beckett’s
upcoming wedding, there have been numerous opportunities throughout the season
for each of the supporting characters to shine as well. Monday’s episode did
exactly that, turning the spotlight on Captain Victoria Gates and allowing the
fabulous Penny Johnson Jerald a chance to reveal new sides to her character
while delivering a performance that was truly unforgettable.
Penned by
longtime Castle great, David Grae, and directed by the legendary Toronto-born Holly
Dale, Monday’s “The Greater Good” began with Castle and Beckett continuing
their wedding plans as they debated potential (and non-potential) wedding
venues. Their discussion, while quick, embodied everything that makes these two
a truly stunning couple to watch. Their banter, their ability to challenge each
other, and their playful and witty rapport with one another is always enjoyable
to see. It has certainly become a staple this season and while this week’s
episode was much more of a Gates-centric episode, it still allowed for a number
of fantastic scenes between the happily engaged duo. In fact, there was an
extremely clever and well-written theme woven throughout the episode that tied
Gates’ journey within the hour to the wedding plans being made by Castle and
Beckett in their free time. And even the ending to the opening scene between
the happy couple seemed to steer the episode towards the theme of family and in
caring for the people who matter to us.
When their latest case found Castle and
Beckett dealing with a murdered informant, the team was joined by two members
of the US Attorney’s Office, putting Castle and Beckett in the middle of a
family squabble as Gates shockingly revealed that one of the women was her
estranged sister. The tension between the two was palpable and immediate and it
was clear the two had a troubled history together. Yet as much as Castle,
Beckett, Ryan, and Esposito seemed to be concerned and curious about the
situation, nobody seemed to have the courage to approach their Captain with
their thoughts and interfere in her personal life. It was something that proved
to add to the tension throughout the episode, with Gates attempting to sort
through her personal feelings while dealing with a complex case, all while her
team struggled to find a way to reach out to her aside from doing the best they
could to solve the case at hand.
The dynamic of the episode was certainly an
interesting one. Typically, the scenes between Castle and Beckett lend
themselves as the heart and soul of the episode, woven in and out of the case
itself but giving the hour something real, personal, and memorable. But
Monday’s episode found these scenes between the couple providing more of the
playful and lighthearted comic relief amongst the riveting and often quite
emotional storytelling involving Captain Gates and her estranged sister. It led
to what was a perfectly balanced episode, one that included an intriguing case,
plenty of enjoyable Caskett moments, and yet still focused the heart and soul
of the episode on Gates and her own personal storyline.
Penny Johnson Jerald first graced our
television screens as Captain Victoria Gates at the outset of season four,
taking over the homicide division at The 12th following the tragic
death of Captain Montgomery. With Ruben Santiago-Hudson rightfully being a
beloved part of the cast, Johnson Jerald certainly had some big shoes to fill.
But while Gates’ character was first presented as somewhat of the anti-Montgomery,
a by-the-book Captain who was out for her own personal success and would not go
to bat for her team the way that Montgomery always did, it seemed clear that it
would be only a matter of time before Gates proved she had much more in common
with the fallen Captain than anyone would have ever expected. Over the seasons,
we have come to see that within her, with Johnson Jerald always perfectly
portraying those moments that have revealed new sides and a great deal of heart
within Gates. We have seen her grow to care very deeply for her team,
especially for Beckett and even Mr. Castle, and it has been a wonderful journey
watching Gates truly become their fearless leader.
While Gates has had her moments here and
there throughout the past three seasons, Monday’s episode gave Johnson Jerald
the prime opportunity to carry the hour on her very capable shoulders from
start to finish and she most certainly did not disappoint. From the tense early
moments with her sister, played by fantastic guest star Salli Richardson-Whitfield,
to the all-out argument between them later on as they rehashed their past, to
the soft and tender moments both on her own and then with Stana Katic’s Beckett,
to the truly moving reconciliation between the two sisters in the end, Johnson
Jerald delivered a stunning range of emotions throughout the hour, each one
absolutely pitch-perfect. These scene proved not only to be stirring and
powerful as they evoked so many different emotions, yet they also proved to
reveal so much more about Gates and who she is beneath that strong and
hard-nosed exterior.
There is certainly a great number of layers
in the Gates onion and we saw a number of these layers peeled in Monday’s
episode. And while everyone around her seemed to be wary of prying into her
personal life, it was wonderful to see the stoic Captain open up to Beckett and
share the secrets of her falling out with her sister. This was something that
may have opened the door to Gates perhaps becoming a little more open with her
team, particularly with Beckett whom she seems to have more and more in common
with each time something is revealed about her character.
In the end, Gates and her sister mended
their long-broken fences in a sweet and touching conclusion, while Castle and
Beckett came to realize that the only guests they truly needed at their wedding
were each other. And their closest family and friends, of course. Including
Captain Gates.
6x20 - "That 70's Show" Review
‘Castle’: A Blast From The
Past
By Lisa Caputo
2014-04-22
Castle
and Beckett dive into the 1970’s in order to solve a 36-year-old murder when
their prime witness appears to be stuck in the past
After a
lengthy hiatus, Castle returned on
Monday night to begin their final four episodes of the season, kicking off the
month-long stretch with a hilarious yet surprisingly touching story about love,
loyalty, greed, and revenge. With the backdrop of the 1970’s providing the
perfect setting, the Castle team took
on the task of paying homage to one of the most influential decades of pop
culture. With an interesting case, plenty of comedy, a heavy dose of 70’s references,
and a relevant and heartwarming underlying story about love and sacrifice,
Monday’s episode was a remarkably fun and yet meaningful way to begin the final
stretch of the season.
Penned by
longtime Castle great, David Amann, and directed by the uber-talented John
Terlesky, both typically associated with some of the show’s most intense and
dramatic episodes, Monday’s “That 70’s Show” was truly one of the most
hilarious episodes of the season and was also one of the most stellar homages
to popular culture thus far as well. When a construction crew uncovered the
body of a mob boss who famously disappeared in 1978, having been cemented in
concrete ever since, Castle and Beckett were thrust into a case with both an
extremely high profile and a great number of challenges as well. With most of
their suspects either dead or past the point of being able to recall much from
that far in the past, and with very little evidence to go on, the team seemed
doomed in their task of solving one of the greatest mysteries of the 1970’s.
But when their only potential witness turned out to be suffering from a type of
post-traumatic stress that left him stuck in the past, Castle had to convince
Beckett to take some hilarious measures in order to get him to confess what he
knew about the murder and help them solve their case.
While the premise itself certainly demanded
some allowance for creative license, the Castle
team did present it in a way that could be at least somewhat plausible.
With their witness, Harold, seemingly stuck in 1978 as a means of never having
to live with the grief over Vince’s death, Castle and Beckett had to take
rather extreme measures to go along with Harold’s delusions. What ensued was a
spectacularly hilarious hour with the whole team, along with the entire
precinct, having to play along as if it really was 1978, complete with the 70’s
costumes, hair, and slang. And while much of the episode was a witty callback
to the great 1970’s cop shows, complete with clever and even sometimes subtle
references to Kojak, Starsky & Hutch, and Foxy Brown, there was also a
fantastic underlying story that emerged about love and sacrifice, only that
seemed to have a great deal of meaning for Castle and Beckett as they continued
along the journey towards their impending wedding.
Monday’s episode also marked a rare occasion
in which each and every member of the supporting cast were involved in the
storyline at some point or another. With Martha being at the helm of the
charade at the precinct, Alexis offering her acting services, Gates hilariously
catching Castle and Beckett in the midst of their ridiculous yet effective
scheme, and Lanie adding a great deal of both comedy and sass with her Foxy
Brown costume, this was an episode that perfectly found a way to incorporate
the entire cast without any of it seeming forced. And with such a fun premise
to work with, it certainly would have been disappointing to see any of them
left out.
The episode also featured a crop of
fantastic guest stars, though none stood out more than the stellar character
actor, Jon Polito, who turned in a truly memorable performance as Harold. With
his womanizing comments that had both Beckett and Lanie fuming, to his
hilarious love of all things 70’s, to his heartwarming and touching confession
of his love affair with Vince, Harold was truly a character who had it all, and
Polito absolutely nailed each and every element of his performance.
But much of the comedy came from the
crime-fighting foursome who are typically at the center of any episode; Castle,
Beckett, Ryan, and Esposito. From a heated Beckett being forced to play along
with the sexist ways of the 1970’s, especially being called “cupcake” and
having to let “Captain Castle” take the lead in the investigation, to Castle’s
wild yet necessary schemes and hilariously convincing Beckett to go along with
them, Stana Katic and Nathan Fillion were superb in this episode, proving that
their comedic chops are just as vital to the show’s success as their dramatic
abilities and their on-screen chemistry. Though they also did well to remind
the audience of the wonderful progress in their relationship, as the Kate
Beckett of old would have never allowed Castle to talk her into using her
authority in Gates’ absence to turn the precinct into a 70’s version of itself.
Yet as much as she tried to resist her fiancé’s seemingly ridiculous scheme,
that subtle smirk gave her away long before she ever agreed to go along with
his plans.
Meanwhile, Jon Huertas and Seamus Dever
turned in their own truly hilarious performances as Esposito and Ryan
transformed themselves into the Castle
team’s version of Starsky & Hutch. And while Esposito had to talk Ryan into
going along with their charade, it was Ryan who found himself enjoying it a tad
too much. Watching Ryan’s transformation was absolutely hilarious as he began
to channel those oh-so-cool cops of the 70’s cop shows while his partner
struggled to find his own finesse in his role, including a side-splitting
moment where Esposito attempted to slide across the hood of their car, only to
find himself quickly falling off of it and landing painfully on the ground. And
it was the little nuances of their performances, like Huertas’ limp after
suffering his injury and Dever’s delving into the lingo of the 70’s with
perfection that added so much of the comedy in the episode, in both obvious and
cleverly subtle ways.
While some elements of the comedy were
obvious and accentuated, much of it was remarkably subtle and witty, proving
that the Castle team truly
appreciates the intelligence and sophistication of the majority of their audience.
With clever one-liners and hilariously subtle throw-away lines, Amann’s script
for Monday’s episode was truly one of the wittiest of any of the plethora of
comedic episodes in the series’ six-season run. And each of the cast members
brought out their A-game to deliver these lines perfectly, enhancing the comedy
and selling it despite what could have been a rather unbelievable premise. That
is, in fact, one of the most notable takeaways from the episode, as the Castle team proved beyond any shadow of
a doubt that they have that incredible ability to deliver a fun, laugh-out-loud
comedic episode without losing the relevant and realistic nature of the
characters and the story itself, grounding even the most outrageous cases in a
meaningful reality that allows the audience to become fully committed to each
and every moment.
But it was the love story of Harold and
Vince, a surprising twist later in the story, which gave the episode its true heart
and soul. It was also an interesting way to make the story more relevant to not
only Castle and Beckett’s story, as most cases are, but also to the world we
live in today. And while the story between Castle and Beckett may not have
progressed by leaps and bounds in this episode, aside from some more crucial
(and hilarious) wedding planning taking place, there were some rather important
comments made throughout the hour to remind the audience that these two were
quickly approaching that moment. With just three episodes left to go before
this sixth season wraps up, we can be sure that the Castle team is just getting warmed up.
No comments:
Post a Comment