It’s a sign of this dramedy’s growth that we put Stana Katic’s name in the headline and not just Nathan Fillion’s. The season 2 opener was Det. Kate Beckett’s best episode yet. Even though she was cold to Castle, I wager that old (and, fingers crossed, new) Castle fans warmed to her. Could be the auburn hair, or the sweaters…something different, and I liked it.
As we quickly found out, Beckett had not forgiven Castle for going against her wishes and poking around her mother’s murder file. (He discovered that three people died the same way she did, around the same time: a former law student of hers, a documents clerk, and a lawyer for a non-profit.) But Beckett made him a deal: He could help solve one last case to look good for a magazine profile being written on him and the NYPD (pictured: the photo shoot), then he would go peacefully. The episode’s case was more intricate than we’re used to — a strangled man’s body was found in a tree, and on the way to the morgue, it was stolen from the medical examiner’s van. Turns out the guy had lost his job and gotten into serious debt playing poker in Chinatown with Russian mobsters who offed him before he could fulfill his fast-cash duty as a drug mule. But really, the murder was just a set-up for Castle being his charming self and Beckett getting to save his ass while using a fake Russian accent and looking hellahot.
Castle’s best quip came when he was watching the inside of a glove be dusted for fingerprints: “You want me to put on some music? Whenever they do this sort of thing on CSI, they always do it to music in poorly lit rooms. Kinda reminds me of porn.” The runner-up quote was when he revealed his theory about why the strangle marks were lighter in one spot: “Maybe he’s fancy. Strangles people with his pinkie stickin’ out. [Hand gesture] Like tea.” Honorary mention goes to his reaction to Beckett’s sexed-up appearance after she rescued him from a Russian mobster who’d gotten wise to him at the underground card game he infiltrated: “Is it just my imagination or did you change?” (I love that Castle never tries to hide the fact that Beckett turns him on. If he did, no one ‚ including guest star/poker buddy Stephen J. Cannell, would buy it anyway.) He was equally clever off the clock. After he sulked about daughter Alexis (Molly Quinn) wanting to go see Fame with her boyfriend instead of him (SWOON), he made sure she knew he had dibs on A Christmas Carol, which made mother Martha (Susan Sullivan) ask if Hollywood had run out of ideas: “Well, they just optioned Asteroid the video game, so my guess is yes,” he said. “But Ryan Reynolds is playing the wee triangle, and he’s good.” Do we think that was a Fillion improv?
So, were you happy with Castle’s return? Do you agree that all it would take for Beckett to forgive Castle was for him to finally stop justifying his interference and just admit that he was wrong and apologize? (Because he was sincere, I buy it.) Would you like to see the writers dive into Beckett’s mother’s murder, or keep it as the ace storyline that’s played only during Sweeps? (I’m gonna go with the latter, but only because I can live for months on that scene in which Castle told Beckett she didn’t have to do it alone this time.) And if you were Beckett, would you reopen the case or keep it cold? I have to admit, I’m finding it hard to relate to her argument that the idea of catching her mother’s killer and watching him cut a deal to be back out on the street after 10 years is worse than knowing you’re sitting by and not trying to get him behind bars at all. I guess that’s why she was so angry with Castle: His strong leads will eventually force her to be consumed with catching the guy, like she had been for her first three years on the force. She knows she can live with the pain of uncertainty; she doesn’t know if she’d survive a resolution that she’d have no control over.
More Castle:
‘Castle’ raconteur Nathan Fillion: A man-crush, explained
Beat Cop: It’s a TV watch just for you, procedurals fans!
Photo credit: Michael Desmond/ABC
Comments (1-15) of 93 Add your comment
I missed Castle so much and didn’t realize it until watching last night’s show. And yes I’ve even grown fond of Det. Beckett.
I loved the premiere. Nathan is so dreamy! I have to go to bed early, but Castle is the only 9:00/c show I watch live. I even DVR it, in case I have time to watch it again during the weekend.
My favorite scene was his reaction to Beckett’s “make-over”. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her bare legs. I was wondering how Beckett would forgive him. Well done, writers. I would love to see more of Castle’s mother and daughter. LOVE THEM! I agree with you; I’d like to see them deal with Beckett’s mother’s case during Sweeps.
I’m so glad this show is back! Fillion and Stanic have great chemistry. I’d like to see the mother murder storyline play out slowly, maybe over a couple seasons. I’m perfectly happy to watch case of the week stories from this great cast.
I meant Stana. oops!
I absolutely LOVE this show. My new must-see every week. MAJOR crush on Nathan Fillion. Agree with Lorie–the casting is top notch.
I wish Nathan Fillion would quit wasting his time with this garbage.
Are you referring to the “garbage” that is most likely giving him the biggest paychecks he’s ever seen? Don’t get your hopes up.
Garbage????
“Drive” was garbage. “Castle” is not.
Nathan is an actor. Actors have to work.
Look at the crap they have on TV (all gazillion channels) and tell me where he could get a better job that showcases his comedic and dramatic talents that would meet with your standards????
You have me puzzled on this one as well. This is a very witty show, Nathan loves comedy, and almost everyone who has seen the show including the much despised critics has had usually very good things to say about it. I think you are a minority of one. Sure I would like to see him in another rocking scifi like Serenity, but Castle is also a great fit for his acting style and personality.
Nathan Fillion is perfect. Last night’s episode was excellent and Castle’s witty comments were great. Castle showed growth when his daughter made him see that he needed to see things from Beckett’s viewpoint in addition to his own. His apology was heartfelt. But he’s right and Beckett will come around to solving her mother’s case. (Besides when there’s new info on quadruple murders, wouldn’t they HAVE to be re-opened? That should not be her call just because she’s emotionally afraid.) Good show.
I know what my must see TV for Monday nights is HIMYM, the Big Bang Theory and Castle. Great show, great cast. Nathan Fillion could read the phone book and he still manage to have me hooked. Fingers crossed the ratings are good and we get a full season…
I loved the premiere but for me the show has always really been about Beckett. While I Love my Captain Tight-Pants, I think Beckett’s story is more compelling. I like the way that Stana Katic plays Beckett as mysterious and how the writer’s slowly parse out info about her back story involving her mother. I kinda hope they give us little clues here and there so we can try to figure it out ourselves like a real mystery before they bring the whole story of catching Beckett’s mother to life.
And can I mention one more time that Stana Katic is not only ridiculously hot but is also a really great actress?
ABC needs to promote this show more. I love the banter and Nathan Fillion is a fantastic actor. This show is fun and entertaining. Just like TV should be.
Totally with you on all your comments.
I heard it as “Ryan Reynolds is playing the LEAD triangle,” but, yeah, it sounded like pure Fillion to me! I love that guy!
It was definitely Fillion. Ryan Reynolds got the role in the new Green Lantern movie that a lot of people were hoping Fillion would get!
I does look like Stana took an acting lesson or two during the hiatus.
By the way, is anyone else reading the Castle novel on abc.com? It’s actually pretty good, and whoever is actually writing it (I’m assuming the show’s writing staff) has really mastered Castle’s writing voice.
It also helps that the make-up dept. decided Beckett didn’t need to wear 9lbs of mascara all the time. Amazing how much better she looks without eyes outlined in sharpie.
Her hair is what really changed – it’s longer, lighter & more red. But my pet peeve is with the *high* heels that an actual female cop would never wear. (Det. Dani Reese on Life was guilty of same.). I love Castle but I do miss Life…
Dani wore real shoes in season one. Season two was when she got tarted up.
I do like this show. Ryan Reynolds is playing the Green lantern, a role many fans wanted for Fillion.
I just wished Beckett’s hair was kept shorter. it looked nice last season.
I love Castle! I think it deserves to have a regular recap.
I loved this episode of Castle just as much as the others. At a time when my other t.v. shows have been so disappointing (One Tree Hill, Greek, 90210,etc.), I’m glad that I still have one to look forward to every week. I love Kate and Castle. Best t.v. chemistry since One Tree Hill’s Lucas and Peyton! I can’t wait until they delve into Beckett’s mother’s murder. It will only bring the two of them closer together. I love how Castle said he’d be there for her. Yes, i think it was enough that he just admitted he was wrong and apologized. Beckett was looking for a reason to forgive him. He’s too important to her for her to let him disappear from her life.