6x21 - "Law & Boarder" Review
‘Castle’: Going All In
By Lisa Caputo
2014-04-29
Competition
spreads through the 12th precinct as Castle and Beckett spar over
Scrabble while Ryan and Esposito duke it out to be Castle’s Best Man.
Castle returned last week after a lengthy hiatus,
delivering a fun, witty, and extremely clever episode to kick off the final run
of this successful sixth season. While one can expect that the last two
installments of the season will likely delve back into more serious subject
matter, Monday’s episode provided another healthy dose of lighthearted fare as
the calm before the expected proverbial storm. With Castle and Beckett inching
closer to their impending nuptials, this week’s episode once again focused on
the way in which this couple continues to challenge one another even in the
midst of their domestic bliss, a sure sign that even once these two are wed,
things will never be dull between them, not even a seemingly simple board game.
Penned by
Castle newcomer, Jim Adler, and
directed by the stellar Thomas J. Wright, Monday’s “Law and Boarder”
found Castle and Beckett delving into the dangerous world of extreme sports as
they investigated the murder of a young superstar skateboarder, all while
hilariously dealing with Castle’s damaged ego after being usurped from his
Scrabble throne by his fiancé. Meanwhile, the theme of competition also
extended to Esposito and Ryan as the two shamelessly battled it out over which
of them should be selected as Castle’s Best Man after learning that Beckett had
already chosen Lanie as her Maid Of Honour.
The Castle
team seems to have had a longstanding history of its newest writers
delivering a stellar script right out of the gate and Adler certainly lived up
to that reputation with Monday’s episode. It was a wonderfully layered episode,
mixing clever comedy with memorably heartfelt moments, all of which was brought
to the screen brilliantly by fantastic performances from each member of the
cast. In
many ways, Monday’s installment was the quintessential Castle episode. It was playful, funny,
witty, and filled with a plethora of interactions between the various
characters that showcased their relationships with one another. And while the
case itself grounded the episode with some serious subject matter and tied the
multiple storylines together with its themes of competition and the lengths
people would go to win, it certainly took a backseat amongst what was a rather
busy episode in terms of the personal stories being told.
Relationships took center stage throughout
the episode, and not just the one between Castle and Beckett. From the smaller
moments with Beckett and Lanie gushing over Lanie being Beckett’s Maid Of
Honour, Martha and Alexis applauding Beckett for being the first person to
actually beat Castle at Scrabble, or Lanie hilariously pointing out how
ridiculous Ryan and Esposito were being in their own battle, to the bigger
moments with the competitive yet playful spirit between Castle and Beckett or Ryan
and Esposito trying to secure their spot as Castle’s Best Man, Monday’s episode
delivered a great deal of comedy along with an equally great deal of heartfelt
meaning as well.
Seamus Dever and Jon Huertas were truly in
their element as Ryan and Esposito attempted to one-up each other to better
their chances of being named as Castle’s Best Man, with the two resorting to
some hilarious measures to butter Castle up. And while Castle seemed to be
clueless to their sudden and overly generous gestures of friendship, Beckett
appeared to pick up on their not-so-subtle bribery. Their competition also
brilliantly displayed the differences between the two friends, as Ryan tried to
appeal to Castle’s sense of family through very meaningful gestures and sentiments
while Esposito appealed to his sense of fun by promoting himself as the
ultimate wing man for Castle’s final days as a bachelor. In the end, the two
decided that together they would make the perfect Best Man, combining their
differences to provide Castle with all of the elements that would make for a
strong addition to his and Beckett’s wedding party.
But Castle’s response was perhaps the most
perfect of all, letting the two know that while he appreciated their gestures
and wanted them both to be his groomsmen, he had already asked Alexis to be his
Best Man. Being that his daughter was one of the most important people in his
life, along with Beckett of course, Castle felt that Alexis would be the perfect
person to stand beside him in support as he exchanged vows with the love of his
life. And while Alexis may not look as sharp as Ryan or Esposito in a tuxedo,
she certainly is the perfect choice for Castle’s Best Man… or Best Woman, in
this case. It also solidified the position that Alexis has in her father’s
life, as even while he is pledging his life to Beckett at the alter, his
daughter will still play a very vital role in that moment, symbolizing how
important she truly is to him.
Speaking of the soon-to-be-wed couple
themselves, Castle and Beckett provided a great deal of the heart and soul of
Monday’s episode, with their playfully domestic side coming out in full force,
as did their hilarious sense of competition. The episode opened with Castle
lamenting over his loss to Beckett in their Scrabble game the previous night,
something that obviously stung the self-proclaimed master of words. And while
Beckett enjoyed every moment of celebrating Castle’s rare defeat, with Martha
and Alexis cheering her on, Castle’s damaged ego prompted him to all but demand
a rematch. Halfway through the episode, the two had their second go at the
game, with Beckett clearly unimpressed with the way in which they were spending
their alone time. When Castle’s cockiness proved to push her buttons, Beckett
hilariously and subtly turned the tables, ending their game with a
record-breaking word score and once again keeping Castle from feeling the
thrill of victory.
As much as the two shared a strong
competitive spirit during their late-night Scrabble sessions, they did spend much
of the episode doing what they do best as they combined their talents to solve
their case. And with the plethora of witty one-liners and playful banter
throughout the hour, it was evident that despite their competitive battles,
they were truly enjoying every minute of their domestic bliss together. Their
storyline was also one that many couples could relate to, especially those with
a strong competitive spirit amongst one another. Castle’s desire to prove
himself with rematch after rematch while Beckett felt both pride and regret
about beating him at his own game was certainly something that came across as
genuine and realistic, once again giving the audience the sense that despite
the heightened world of fiction that these two characters live in, they truly
are grounded in the reality that allows the viewers to invest in their story.
In the end, Castle suggested one final
Scrabble rematch, leaving Beckett to pull out all of the stops to put an end to
the vicious cycle that seemed to damage her fiancé’s ego over and over again.
Resorting to the perfect way to distract Castle from his losing streak and,
instead, provide a way for them both to win, Beckett hilariously brushed away
all of the Scrabble pieces from the table and handed Castle a deck of cards, telling
him that she wanted to play poker instead…
strip poker. With that, the couple settled in for a satisfyingly
grueling game where there would be no loser, and their game concluded with both
going “all in” before conceding their final hand and, instead, enjoying their
night alone together without any more games.
With just two episodes left in this stellar
sixth season, the question still remains as to whether Castle and Beckett
really will go “all in” and say their vows before the credits roll at the end
of the finale or if one more challenge will push their wedding back to the fall
instead. Either way, it will certainly be one heck of a conclusion to the
season.
6x22 - "Veritas" Review
‘Castle’: Love Conquers All
By Lisa Caputo
2014-05-06
Beckett’s
quest for justice finally comes to a close as she finds the evidence needed to
arrest Senator Bracken for the murder of her mother.
For six
seasons, the Castle team has
brilliantly told the ongoing saga of Kate Beckett’s quest for justice, an
internal mission of hers to solve the mysterious murder of her mother and gain
the ability to put her past behind her. It has been the driving force behind
who Beckett is deep down, from pushing her to become a homicide detective in
order to help bring justice and closure to others, to keeping her from
committing her heart to Castle for so many years because of the demons that had
haunted her for well over a decade. The episodes that have dealt with this
deeply emotional and intense journey have been some of the best of the entire
series, showcasing both the best and worst of the character of Kate Beckett as
we watched, on the edge of our seats, as she risked all that she had to fight
for the truth that her mother lived her life by. And while she found a way to
let go and be happy in her relationship with Castle, a testament to how deep
her love for this man truly was, it was evident that she could never stop
hoping that the day would come when she could end this war for good. On
Monday’s epic and incredible new episode of Castle,
that day finally came.
Penned by
two of the Castle team’s best, Rob
Hanning and Terence Paul Winter, and directed by the legendary Rob Bowman,
Monday’s aptly-titled “Veritas” provided the perfect final chapter in this
six-season saga, one that delivered all of the intensity and heart-pounding
drama we have come to expect of these episodes while also finding a wonderfully
memorable and emotional conclusion to one of the series’ most stellar ongoing
storylines. Through the incredible attention to detail and the various
callbacks throughout the hour, “Veritas” also brilliantly tied the episode back
to the past installments of the Johanna Beckett investigation, bring everything
full circle in a beautiful and stunningly captivating way, something that was
the perfect conclusion to this portion of Castle and Beckett’s journey just as
they prepare to embark on the next chapter in their lives together.
From start
to finish, Monday’s episode was truly one to remember. With its dark and
suspenseful beginning to its beautiful and poignant ending, the Castle team never let the story lag as
they brilliantly charged along from one incredible scene to another. With captivating
and compelling performances by the entire cast, most notably from leads Stana
Katic and Nathan Fillion as they carried much of the hour on their backs, along
with breathtaking cinematography, a pitch-perfect musical score, and stellar
editing, the episode was truly one of the very best of the series. But beyond
the technical aspects of the episode, it was the emotion and the intensity that
will long be remembered as Monday’s installment set the bar for the Castle team’s storytelling on a whole
new level.
It was
very moving to see how quickly and intensely each of Castle and Beckett’s
friends and partners came together to help prove Beckett’s innocence and bring
Bracken to justice to save her. From Ryan and Espsoito cunningly investigating
the case under the watchful eye of Internal Affairs, to Lanie’s pained
expression and quiver in her voice as she alerted her best friend to the
evidence that was mounting against her, it was clear that these three would do
anything and everything to have Beckett’s back, even if it meant risking their
own careers in the process. But it was Captain Gates’ involvement in the case
that proved to be perhaps the most compelling of all, bringing this character
full circle into the role that Captain Montgomery once filled as Beckett’s
protector and mentor, finally learning the truth behind the mystery that her
team had tried so hard for years to keep from her.
But it
was Castle and Beckett who took centre stage in Monday’s episode, and
rightfully so. It was revealed early on in the episode that Beckett had been
secretly investigating Vulcan Simmons and his associates for weeks now, ever
since her run-in with him that opened her eyes to his involvement with Senator
Bracken. But while the old Beckett would have gone rogue without Castle,
pushing him away despite his attempts to help her, the completely committed
Beckett of today had obviously kept nothing from her fiancé, the two of them
working undercover on this investigation together. And even when Beckett’s
mysterious disappearance on the night that Simmons was murdered, by her own
backup gun, no less, seemed to cast a shadow of doubt upon her innocence,
Castle never once waivered in his faith in her and his belief that she had not
taken things that far. It was rather incredible to see his resiliency as he was
questioned by IA after Beckett disappeared from the precinct, as well as his
heartfelt concern for Beckett when he met with her later at the park. And
through it all, he stood by the love of his life, never walking away even when
she told him he could. It was a rather beautiful sentiment that Castle and
Beckett worked this final piece of the case together, a perfect callback to the
moment years ago when Beckett told him that one day she would catch her
mother’s killer and she wanted him to be there when she did.
But
Beckett had some demons to face on her own as well, something that the Castle team delved into rather
brilliantly. With Castle taking a quick leave during their escape to find them
a getaway car, Beckett was left to fend for herself after Bracken’s men
ambushed her in her hotel room. It was another absolutely stunning showdown
between Katic and recurring guest star Jack Coleman, with Beckett and Bracken
going toe-to-toe once again in a heart-pounding battle of words and wits.
Despite the rather dire situation, Beckett never once backed down, facing off
against the Senator at every turn. Knowing that she may very well be facing her
final moments on this earth, Beckett even demanded that Bracken be the one to
pull the trigger, hoping that her death would at least put the nail in his
coffin as well. But when Bracken refused to bite, knowing what her intentions
were, Beckett was left to fight one last fight to save herself and go after the
man who murdered her mother.
In a
painful yet inspiring scene, Beckett endured another round of torture at the
hands of Bracken’s men, ultimately outsmarting them and taking them down to
save herself, though not before suffering a vicious head injury that soon found
her stumbling into the hallway of the hotel room where a panicked Castle
discovered her and got her to safety. In her unconscious state, Beckett
recalled the first day that she met Captain Montgomery, with Ruben
Santiago-Hudson delivering a surprising but extremely vital cameo as he
revealed to Beckett the cryptic message that would lead her to the evidence she
needed to finally end this war with Bracken. It was a beautiful moment that also
perfectly paid tribute to the fallen Captain as well, as he truly did lead
Beckett to the truth, completing his role as her protector even in death.
With her
dream sparking a moment of clarity within her, Beckett realized that the truth
had been right in front of her all along, that her mother had possession of the
damning evidence that would put Bracken behind bars for good. In a fantastic
twist in the closing minutes of the episode, just as Beckett and Castle were
arrested for their supposed crimes, Beckett figured out that her mother had
hidden the cassette tape with Bracken’s confession in the elephant figurines
that had long had a place on Beckett’s desk in the precinct, something that
seemed so wonderfully fitting after all of these years.
In a highly
moving and climatic ending, one that certainly resonated in a profoundly
touching way after watching this emotional six-season saga unfold, Beckett
finally found the justice she had long been searching for. Armed with the
evidence of Bracken’s many crimes, including the murder of her mother, an
emotionally charged Beckett interrupted the Senator’s latest press conference,
walking with the confidence and determination that have long been the calling
cards of this character, yet also showing an awe-inspiring sense of disbelief
that this moment had finally come. Facing her mother’s killer one last time,
the look on her face saying it all before she even uttered a single word, Kate
Beckett found herself able to do the one thing she had been dreaming of for
well over a decade; she placed a set of handcuffs on her mother’s killer,
finding the ultimate justice for her family and freeing herself of the demons
of her past.
As the
hour concluded, Castle and Beckett shared one final memorable moment together,
with Castle telling Beckett how proud her mother would be of her and Beckett
telling Castle that she never could have done any of this without him. Without
any more words needing to be spoken, the two shared a loving embrace, both
beaming with the pride and joy of finally ending this ordeal together. Perhaps
there could have been no more perfect an ending to this lead-in to next week’s
highly anticipated season finale, allowing Castle and Beckett to exchange their
wedding vows with that final piece of the wall inside of Beckett’s heart
finally broken down. Johanna Beckett may have lived by the mantra that truth
conquers all, but her daughter has learned that one other thing does as well;
love.
6x23 - "For Better Or For Worse" Review
‘Castle’: A Story Worth
Telling
By Lisa Caputo
2014-05-13
Castle
and Beckett race against time when a mistake from Beckett’s past threatens
their chance to say their vows, but the series’ most stunning cliffhanger
threatens so much more for the happy couple.
Just over
five years ago, ABC released a midseason replacement in the form of a quirky
yet compelling new series that told the story of a famous mystery novelist, a
celebrity in his own right who made the most of his fame and fortune while
enjoying his newly found bachelorhood, and the smart, sassy, stubborn, and
stoic young female detective who became his latest muse when fate caused their
paths to cross. It was a series that was so brilliantly written, right from the
pilot episode, combining so many different elements of storytelling and truly
paying tribute to the craft itself while still maintaining its ability to
entertain and captivate the audience. Despite the very clear push and pull
between the lead characters, it was obvious from the start that Castle was much more than a typical
“will they / won’t they” story. Over the years, and through everything that
Castle and Beckett ensured together, and sometimes apart, their story truly
developed into one of the greatest love stories ever told on television.
Penned by
the always incredible writing team of series creator Andrew W. Marlowe and
Terri Edda Miller and directed by the legendary John Terlesky, Monday’s highly
anticipated sixth season finale, “For Better Or Worse” found Castle and Beckett
on the precipice of the culmination of their love story as the two eagerly
counted down the final days before their wedding. While the episode delved into
new territory for the show by not having a murder to investigate for the first
time in six seasons, Castle and Beckett did find themselves in the midst of a
manhunt, one that threatened their ability to exchange their vows as planned.
Unable to get their marriage license approved because Beckett herself had
apparently been wed in a drunken ceremony in Vegas in her wild college days,
the two embarked on a hilarious goose chase to find her “husband” and help him
untangle himself from his current web of trouble before he would agree to
dissolve their marriage.
The
premise itself was truly quite brilliant, turning the tables on the typical
scenario that always seemed to find Castle getting the two in over their heads
with Beckett enjoying every moment of grinding his gears because of it. This
time, it was a mistake from Beckett’s past that put the two in a horrendous
situation, racing against time and doing what they do best together to fix this
mess before they could get married. Of course, all the while Castle had the
wonderful chance to finally give as good as he got, constantly and rather
hilariously reminding Beckett through witty one-liners and recurring jokes that
she was the reason they were in trouble this time.
The
episode certainly allowed for a great amount of comedy in an hour filled with
side-splitting moments and a plethora of hilarious mishaps that kept Castle and
Beckett bantering with each other and challenging each other in the way in
which they always have, all the while treating the audience to some clever reminders
of their six-season journey as well as some truly heartfelt and emotional
moments along the way. Castle’s reference to Beckett’s description of herself
as a “one and done” kind of woman from back in the first season was just one of
many nods to the fans, a detail that not only captured the very essence of what
was so shocking and yet so comical about their current situation but that also
proved that nothing is ever forgotten by these characters nor by the writers
who know them better than anyone.
But amongst
the witty one-liners, the playful and challenging banter, and the hilarious
escapades throughout the hour, there were also some extremely beautiful and
heartfelt scenes that reminded us of why these characters are so compelling to
begin with. First and foremost, Beckett’s drive to do whatever it could
possibly take to end this ordeal and continue onward with her wedding to Castle
was a true testament to how much she was looking forward to that moment in
their lives, not willing to wait or postpone the nuptials in any way. Using
NYPD resources to track down Rogan, breaking into a car to do him the favour he
needed her to do for him to agree to sign the divorce papers, going toe-to-toe
with armed thugs, and refusing to call for backup when they located Rogan
despite the obvious danger they would be facing alone, Beckett was truly
willing to risk it all and do whatever it took, even if it meant going against
the ethics and morals she had lived much of her life by. After all, for
Beckett, the end justified the means, and all she truly wanted was to stand up
at the alter and profess her undying love and commitment to the man she was
willing to risk it all for so many other times over the past five years.
Likewise,
Castle’s willingness to drop everything, putting his faith in their friends and
family to have everything prepared for their wedding, in order to race off to
help his fiancé was a truly beautiful sign of how committed he was as well. And
when Beckett needed him the most, when a twist of fate destroyed her wedding
dress and added yet another seemingly impossible hurdle for them, Castle
lovingly reminded her of something she once told him as well; that the great
love stories are about beating the odds. Without obstacles, their story would
not be worth telling, something that seemed not only to be a beautiful and very
true sentiment, but also a clever way of reminding us all that the best-told love
stories are those that require a little work and a little faith to get to the
happy ending, something that would very much come back into play in the closing
minutes of the episode.
In the
end, the two were able to overcome the obstacles and get Beckett’s first
marriage dissolved, quickly and happily racing back to New York to make it to
their wedding just in time. With their original venue and Beckett’s dress being
casualties in odd twists of fate, the two prepared to wed at Castle’s summer
home in the Hamptons, with Beckett wearing her mother’s wedding dress, both
absolutely perfect tributes to the characters and their journey together while
also tying back to the ongoing theme of fate truly having an undeniable impact
on their love story. In the closing act of the episode, Beckett and Martha
shared a stunningly beautiful moment together as soon-to-be mother and
daughter, a moment so brilliantly delivered by Susan Sullivan and Stana Katic
as the two brought out all of the emotion in the scene and left the audience
spellbound. And when Castle called on his way back from the city with their
marriage license, the absolute love and happiness shared by he and Beckett
simply radiated through the screen, a testament to the sheer chemistry between Katic
and Fillion as the two were able to embody everything that one shows and feels
when they are in love, even when they were not in the same room together.
But there
was an almost foreboding sense about it all, with the clock ticking down on the
final minutes of the season and the shadow of Castle’s previous words to
Beckett hanging over them despite the perfect weather in the Hamptons; without
obstacles, a story is not worth telling. After professing their love for one
another one last time this season, Castle hung up and looked back in his mirror
to find someone tailing him in a dark SUV, the vehicle soon pulling up beside
him and threatening to run him off of the road. Meanwhile, back in the
Hamptons, a clearly worried Beckett answered her phone and got the news she
could have never been expecting; something had happened to Castle on the way to
their wedding.
Draped in
her stunning white wedding gown, Beckett raced down the road that Castle had
been on, her worst fears coming true as she came upon the most devastating
scene she could have ever imagined. With tears streaming down her face, she
looked down over the barrier of the road at Castle’s car, the flaming inferno
inside a horrific sign that on what should have been the happiest day of her
life, she may instead be facing the most heartbreaking loss instead.
With
that, the credits rolled for the final time this season, the Castle team delivering perhaps the most brilliantly
stunning and emotional cliffhanger ever witnessed on network television. And
while it should be clear that Castle certainly had to have survived the crash,
just as it was clear at the end of the also extremely shocking season three
finale that Beckett would survive her near-fatal shooting, the mystery of who
ran Castle off of the road and why, along with how he and Beckett will overcome
this latest obstacle, will surely keep the audience speculating through the
long summer hiatus. But with this stunning and heartbreakingly devastating conclusion
comes the reminder that their love story is far from over and that this hurdle
is just one more reason why their story is worth telling. They will get their
happy ending, believe in that. But this is not the end yet, it is just another
chapter in their incredible love story.
See you
in the fall.
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