7x05 - "Meme Is Murder" Review

‘Castle’: More Than Entertainment

By Lisa Caputo

2014-10-28

Castle and Beckett delve into the terrifying depths of the cyber world with one of their most intense and thought-provoking cases yet.

Castle has always been a series known for seamlessly weaving together a variety of genres and tones from one episode to the next throughout each season. In a sense, it is the quintessential dramedy, brilliantly combining every possible element of storytelling in any given season, even at times in a single episode, and doing it all at a level that is a cut above most other shows on television. Whether each episode relies on powerful and emotional performances from the remarkably talented cast, witty and sharp writing, hilarious and quote-worthy comedy, or spot-on pop culture references, there is always something captivating about each and every installment of this series. Yet even with a plethora of stellar episodes over the show’s run, there are those that not only entertain us, speak to us, enthrall us, or inspire us, but also make us stop and think. Those episodes that present a statement about society, the ones that truly make us consider a rather serious subject that affects all of us in our own lives, those are the ones that shine a whole new light on this series and the cast and crew who bring forth these stories. Monday’s episode did exactly that.

Written by the wonderfully talented Jim Adler and directed by the legendary Bill Roe, Monday’s “Meme Is Murder” presented the riveting and yet horrific story of the dark side of the cyber world and social media. Castle and Beckett took on the murder case of a young social media darling who was brutally murdered in her own apartment. With no signs of forced entry and evidence that the killer had texted her a picture of herself from within her apartment just before she was murdered, the two had their hands full early on in the episode. But when their unknown suspect suddenly took to social media to lay claim to the murder and then taunted the NYPD with clues to his next victim, Castle and Beckett found themselves thrust into the dark side of the cyber world while they were also forced to deal with a media storm surrounding them and their investigation.

While most Castle episodes have a distinct balance between the personal storylines and the case of the week, Monday’s episode was certainly case-heavy, though it was something that was ultimately warranted given the sheer brilliance of the case itself. In fact, it perhaps would have felt oddly distracting to have the investigation broken up by too many personal moments, especially once Castle and Beckett truly found themselves in the very depths of it all. It was a stunning story with plenty of twists and turns, one that not only delivered some truly intense and compelling drama but also brought forth a clear and very distinct message about the dangers of the online world and how our society has been affected by it. Taking a much-needed stance on topics like cyber-bullying and the anonymity of the internet being a dangerous mask for those who can get away with behavior that is unacceptable or even criminal in the real world, Monday’s episode shone a light on some of today’s most troubling and still-unresolved issues.

Likewise, it painted a very realistic picture of what allowing such issues to be swept under the rug can lead to. Their killer was revealed to be a young man named Adam, who was once a true victim of cyber-bullying during a time when the laws were not yet in place to even remotely see that justice was served. Played brilliantly (and rather chillingly) by Jared Kusnitz, a now older and much more broken Adam murdered his former bully and then opted to turn to the online world and social media to exact his revenge on both those who had failed him and those who represented the people who wronged him. Not only did he lack a single shred of remorse for murdering two innocent people and attempting to frame another, but he also took pleasure in taunting Castle and Beckett, making a mockery of them and the NYPD in general along the way. And even when he led the police right to him, the lasers of their guns pointed at his chest, he simply smirked and smugly dropped the bomb on them that his capture would not end his killing spree. He had already set another heinous crime in motion, one they would be powerless to stop, and he reveled in the so-called legacy he would leave behind.

In the end, it took a relentless interrogation by Beckett, one that truly got deep under Adam's skin and exposed his deepest wounds and his most terrifying fears, to get him to reveal just enough for them to find his would-be victims and save them literally a second before it would have been too late. In fact, that interrogation scene was one of the most chilling, powerful, and intense scenes in recent history on Castle. Stana Katic and Jared Kusnitz brilliantly went toe-to-toe, both bringing forth an uncanny display of raw emotion as Beckett jarred at Adam while he attempted to stay strong, ultimately leading to Beckett getting far under his skin by playing the role of the bully herself. And when she hit him where it really hurt, telling him that those who bullied him were right to do so because he was nothing but a weak and laughable coward, Adam eventually broke and revealed a few essential clues as he attempted to defend himself to her. It was a gritty, raw, powerful, and absolutely intense scene, both Katic and Kusnitz sparring back and forth with their own incredibly captivating performances to build what was one of the most hard-hitting and chilling scenes of the entire hour, and one that ultimately led Castle and Beckett to the resolution of their case.

There were many other stellar moments throughout the episode, with Penny Johnson Gerald also getting a chance to shine in one such scene as Gates firmly stood by Beckett despite the reputation of her team being on the line by doing so. It was a wonderful display of not only her own integrity but also a sign of how far she is now willing to go to protect Beckett and the rest of her team, as well as how strongly she believes in them. Likewise, Castle and Beckett did sneak in one truly outstanding moment in their usual spot halfway through the episode, one that once again displayed their ability to build theory together to solve their case as nobody else could. After Gates sent the two home to get some rest and come back refreshed, Castle and Beckett lamented over their predicament back at the loft, quickly turning their personal discussion into one that shed some new light on their case, light that would ultimately lead them to their suspect. It was a classic Castle moment, the two combining their words and their thoughts into one cohesive and very practical theory, turning the spotlight back on their undeniable partnership before delving back into the dark depths of their case.

But what made Monday’s episode stand apart was its serious and thought-provoking social commentary. After all, we live in a world ripe with very real horror, tragedy and senseless crimes. We see it every day on the news; a teenager commits suicide because they were being bullied online. A troubled person looking for revenge finds instructions on how to create a homemade bomb on the internet. A former victim of abuse opens fire on a classroom of innocent children as an act of revenge. Or an innocent man loses his life because he represents something that someone he has never met feels anger towards. This is the world we live in today and while we may never rid the world of its evils, there are things that we can do to overcome them, learn from them, and ultimately prevent them. The first step in doing so is to start a discussion, something that Monday’s episode may very well have done in homes across the world tonight.

This is the power of television; it has the ability to distract us, entertain us, educate us, engage us, and inspire us. At its best, it can make us take a step back and think about things from a whole new perspective while actively inspiring us to start an open dialogue with one another. At the end of the day, television is so much more than just entertainment. It is, in a way, the most powerful medium of our generation, able to reach a worldwide audience and bring us together. Perhaps we need that more than ever today. While some shows may squander that opportunity, Monday’s episode proved, once again, that the Castle team values it instead. Whether they are making us laugh, cry, throw things at our television, or sit back and really give an issue some thought, they always have a way of profoundly and positively affecting us. Perhaps we need that more than ever today as well.