“To sin by silence, when they should protest, makes cowards of men.” Abraham Lincoln
After several weeks of a weaker show, this one came back all guns blazing, or bombs exploding. I loved this episode and, for the first time in quite some time, I got so caught up in the story that I stopped taking notes and just watched.
The case itself was better than many have been. It was good to have Gates back at the helm again. Unlike many on the boards, I have been a fan of hers from the beginning and I think she adds a nice touch of realism to the precinct. She was great here, and I like to think that she is beginning to thaw, just a bit, towards our hero.
What was really well done isn’t evident until the second viewing. Throughout, we get flashbacks as people are talking about what they experienced at the bombing. The second time through the episode, you’re able to see and hear the others’ experiences as well. It effectively ties together the 47 seconds very well. And, for a change, we are shown quite a bit of the true bomber. Unlike last week, the denouement did not come out of left field.
The bombing was incidental to and was the catalyst for a very big, long awaited Caskett episode. We got two almost conversations, both interrupted. Unfortunately, this seems to be the writers’ fall back scenario (they’ve been using it since season two) and I have stopped hoping that any big speech is going to happen at the station. Where, arguably, it shouldn’t. But, those almost conversations were just the beginning.
The big change in this episode is that secret number one has (finally!) been revealed. I was pleasantly surprised at how it happened. It felt organic and real to me, not at all contrived. What I found very interesting was Castle’s response to it.
On the one hand, is it me or was there a touch of ret-con? In episode four of this season, as Beckett and Castle walk up to a crime scene, Beckett winces. Castle asks Beckett if she has remembered anything from the shooting and, when she says no, he looks at her askance. I’ve always taken that look to mean that he suspected she remembered more than she was saying, but here he seemed utterly surprised.
On the other hand, I thought his response was wonderfully human and flawed. Rather than just confronting her with the truth that he knew, he just assumed that she does not love him and started acting a bit immature and passive-aggressive. Completely understandable. How many of us can say we haven’t done something similar when we’ve felt rejected?
Castle’s interactions with Alexis felt very human to me as well. He knows that she’s an adult, but like many parents I know, he wants her to remain innocent and untouched by the world for as long as possible. I believe it was Alexis’ conversation with him about doing something real that propelled him back to the station – he very nearly quotes her directly before heading back in.
Some of my favourite Castle conversations have been between Martha and Castle. This week, we got two. As mad as she is, Martha deeply loves her son and wants him to be happy. While I think she is the biggest shipper around, she will support Castle in whatever decision he makes. She is consistently the voice of reason, putting into words what Castle should hear, even if he doesn’t want to.
The last ten minutes were really well put together. Castle solved the bombing, in spite of being so angry. His anger and hurt are just below the surface (well done, Nathan Fillion) but he won’t say anything to Beckett. Beckett is trying to figure out what went wrong; although, I would guess that she sort of suspects. She does know that Castle was in the precinct during the interrogation, but some part of her doesn’t want to go there.
But, now, Castle is the keeper of not just the one, but two secrets. This is not going to end well. Why, oh why, will these two just not talk to each other? I guess it’s because we’ve still got four more episodes left in this season, and it’s looking more and more as though another one at least.
Four out of four happy face pancakes.
Tidbits:
-- Gates writes the number seven like the Europeans, with a slash through it. Wonder where she picked that up?
-- West Side Wally’s sign: Will
-- Loved the screen showing all the cell phones on it. A touch of Big Brother, but very cool.
Soundbites:
Castle: “You know, most of our victims, they … they die for a reason. You know, there’s a logic behind it. It’s a twisted logic at times; but, at least it makes some kind of sense.”
Beckett: “Yeah, but in this case, these people were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Castle: “And their future, and all their plans – everything is just gone in a flash.”
Beckett: “It makes you think about all those things in your own life that you don’t want to put off anymore.”
Martha: “It’s complicated, so you say. Only it’s not. It’s not. Nobody’s tomorrows are guaranteed, right? Wouldn’t it be better to tell her even if the timing is wrong than never to tell her at all?”
Castle: “And, what if she isn’t ready?”
Martha: “Then she never will be. Then you move on.”
Gates: “I believe you’re my best bet.”
Castle: “I think she’s finally beginning to like me.”
Gates: “No, I’m not.”
Castle: “Wearing her down.”
Castle: “These are emergency cheering-up pancakes. I mean, these are usually reserved for after break-ups or ‘Dancing with the Stars’ eliminations.”
Castle: “You’re a pretty smart kid, you know that?”
Alexis: “Well, they say genius skips a generation.”
Castle: “Apparently, so does funny.”
Beckett (in the interrogation room): “I was shot in the chest and I remember every second of it. And, so do you.”
Castle (behind the glass): “All this time... you remembered?”
Castle: “I really thought we could have a future together. You know, I was... I was willing to wait. Come to find out, it’s all just a big joke. She knew. This whole time, she remembered, and she didn’t say anything because she was embarrassed. Because she doesn’t feel the same way. I’m such a fool.”
Martha: “Richard, love is not a switch. You can’t just turn it off. You can’t work side by side with her and not feel anything.”
Castle: “Watch me.”
Castle: “Well, that’s what your friend Jesse would call sinning by silence. It’s not smart. It’s not brave. It’s just cowardly.”
ChrisB is a freelance writer who spends more time than she ought in front of a television screen or with a book in her hand.
Yahoo! Castle reviews! Welcome again to the site, ChrisB!
ReplyDeleteI was happy that at least they seem to be edging (glacially) toward a Castle/Beckett (Caskett :) relationship. Geez. It's way past time. In real life, they'd have had a passionate affair right after the pilot episode. :)
The bomb plot was done really well. I don't just watch this show for Nathan. Although he's certainly a big reason why.
Welcome to the site, ChrisB!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great review, you hit all the points I kept thinking about as I was watching it.
ReplyDeleteThe producers say they won't make the same mistake as Bones and drag out the romance forever, but I'm beginning to think that's a lie. I guess we'll probably find out at the end of the season (I don't know for sure I'm spoiler free, but it seems likely).
I haven't seen the show yet, so I will NOT read this page yet LOL
ReplyDeleteBut, I just want to express my gigantic joy to have this awesome show reviewed here. A big YAY !!
This was a good episode and a great review, Chris! I feel terrible for Castle, who must feel so betrayed. I'd probably react exactly like he did, petulance and all.
ReplyDeleteI gotta admit, though, I like the peppy, funny, witty, snarky episodes more than the serious ones. Although the revelation that Beckett remembered what Castle had said would have been very out of place in a less-maudlin episode.
ChrisB, will you only be reviewing from now on, or will you go back to the beginning and tackle those episodes (while also reviewing current episodes).
ReplyDeleteNot trying to make your life difficult. I like this show, and would be interested in hearing your thoughts about the entire run.
Hi Mark. I will eventually do the entire run. My current thoughts are to do an older episode in the weeks that a new one doesn't air. It will take some time, I'm sure!
ReplyDeleteThanks to all of you for commenting.
(finally seen it now)
ReplyDeleteA very solid show. And an excellent review as well.
Kudos, once again, to each contributor of this blog. I mean it.
Excellent review Chris!
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts on Castle's shocked reaction weren't so much that earlier he seemed to believe she must remember something from the shooting, but more the fact that she said she remembered EVERYTHING! My heart broke for him a little bit there!
They can't delay this relationship much longer... at one point they said they wanted to wait to see how Bones solved the "Moonlight curse", but in that show it wasn't clear from episode 1 that these two were going to fall for each other.
Nathan Fillion... brilliant!!!