Castle: "Linchpin"

Since tonight's episode of "Castle" is a repeat, I thought I would get around to sharing my thoughts on "Linchpin," which was the second in a two-part series a few weeks ago. As we all know, "Castle" is my favorite show. So I hate to bash it, but...

As I touched upon in my review of "Pandora," I understand that the writers want to build tension. But unless they're planning to whack Castle (which would necessitate a name change..."Ghost Of Castle," perhaps??) or kill off Beckett (I suppose a possibility in the early seasons; but now, she and Castle have too much chemistry) then you know that they'll get out of the sunken car. And you know someone will stop Sophia before she kills either of them. 

A few other things which I thought stretched the bounds of credibility...

When they were in the underground bunker, and Danberg was identified as the mole, he grabbed a human shield, a young lady whose whose head came up to maybe his collarbone. You mean to tell me that not one of those trained CIA agents felt that he or she was a competent enough marksman to shoot him in the head? Or, as my wife said, "Please, any one of them could have put a bullet one centimeter above his left eyebrow." Or, if I may come out of the closet as a geek, those agents, like Spock, know "that the needs of the many are greater than the needs of the few. Or of the one."  So given a choice between perhaps wounding or killing an intern (she didn't seem to be armed) and allowing a guy who wants to start World War III to escape...sorry young lady.

Speaking of not pulling the trigger, I had to roll my eyes at the very end. The rogue CIA killer spots his prey, the 10-year-old girl, about 20 feet away. He coolly walks up several feet behind her, levels his weapon, aims, and...

... takes a step in pursuit of her...

... and another step ...

... and another...

... and another.

What could he be waiting for? Oh, I know. He's waiting for Danberg to tackle him and save the day. Please!

And it probably was a little heavy handed when Sophia said, to Castle but in front of Beckett, "You can't rewrite the ending like you did with us," and then when she later -- while alone with Beckett -- broke down how the tension was what kept them interested, and once the tension was gone, so was their relationship.

On the plus side, I will say they kept me guessing. Was Gage playing Castle and Beckett, or was he being set up? Was Danberg the mole, or was it someone else?

And of course no review would be complete without a comment on a "look." My favorite had to be Sophia's icy stare when she commanded Castle to "Get in the car," followed by his obedient countenance-drop which said (without words) "Yes, ma'am."

All in all, I give it a B.

So, check back in this space sometime after "A Dance With Death."

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Castle: "Once Upon A Crime"

What a Grimm case Castle and Beckett investigated this week. Ha-ha-ha. But seriously...

You might have noticed that I didn't review part 2 of "Pandora" (titled "Linchpin") yet. That would be because we haven't seen it yet. But we were able to catch this week's show live last night. I'm sure we'll get back to "Pandora" soon enough. But at least my fears have been allayed; whatever the doomsday thing was, Castle and Beckett don't die...what a relief!

This episode, to me, was very "satisfying" because it represented a return to the "basics." Though I'm getting ahead of myself since I haven't yet seen the second part of the previous story arc, shows like that one and a previous "save New York from a nuclear device" episode just seem too...I don't know...BIG. Let's just let Castle and Beckett solve tricky, quirky murders in New York City, and leave preventing World War III to James Bond.

So down from my soapbox...

There were two things about the "Who Done It" that I found particularly clever:

1. This is the first time (which I can recall) that someone went from victim to suspect to guilty party. I thought the attempt at a switcheroo -- arresting the extortionist brother-in-law -- was a noble effort, but I didn't fall for it; I looked at the clock, read 10:45, and said, "Too early."

2. It was a visual clue which led to solving the case. Though I have no doubt that when we first saw "Sleeping Beauty" the bow was, in fact, vertical, I didn't catch it. But Castle did. Nice touch.

Otherwise, I registered a few noteworthy lines:

"I'm going to erase that image from my mind with a bottle of scotch."
"You're cute when you get angry. Not when you get angry at me."

Esposito in a suit? What the ... ?

And (yes) as always there were plenty of looks. But the best:

Castle: "There is a very avant garde subculture of fairy tale role playing."
Beckett: "And you know this how...?" (Good look.)
Castle, dreamily: "Bo Peep." (GREAT look.)

Based on the lack of a preview, I'm guessing there is no new show next Monday. So I imagine we'll have time to watch last week's in the interim.

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Castle: "Pandora"

Since this is a two-parter, I'll reserve complete judgment until we've seen the second half. But a few observations about the first Pandora episode.

It was a good, taut thriller. Of course, Castle almost always is.

I loved the scene where the CIA agents tracked the phone call using their "cool toys," or whatever term it was that Jennifer Beals used. (Side note: I hope I look that good when I'm her age...um...never mind.) I especially liked the way they (the writers) had her mind working: "Narrow it down to calls under a minute. She would have kept it brief."

I had to rewind and re-watch the scene where Captain Gates walked away from Castle and Beckett in anger, and nearly knocked Esposito over. Funny!

I also smiled when Castle said they were working to "save the country from a nameless cataclysmic event." Another day, another apocalypse, blah, blah.

It was a cool (and well choreographed) move when Thomas Gage grabbed Beckett's gun and turned it on her in the parking garage.

The looks:

- Castle's glance when his mother said she approved of Alexis's new intern position. "That doesn't make me feel any better," he said with one eyebrow cocked.

- Castle's general awkwardness when he first saw Alexis at the crime scene.
- Jennifer Beals's steely eyed glance at Beckett when she explained what was going on, down in the secret Batcave.

A few downsides:

One, I thought they tried to build up mystery and suspense at the beginning: a disappearing body...an escaped prisoner...what is going on? But if you saw the previews, you knew that the CIA was involved. So of course there would be spy hijinks.

Two, I don't object to two-part episodes per se. But don't treat it as a cliff hanger. Oh no! Castle and Beckett are in a car that is sinking in the East River? Will they get out? If the show it to continue, probably. (And if you stuck around for the previews, it's pretty obvious that they do.) It reminded me of a mid-season episode of Grey's Anatomy. There is a ferry boat accident, and everyone is down at the pier helping. Then a stunned man climbs up out from the water, grabs Meredith's leg, and pulls her in.  

"Do you think she dies?" asked my sister.
"Yes," I said. "I think they'll kill her off and rename the show 'George's Anatomy.' "

But to be on the safe side, since I won't get to see it for a few days, if doomsday does come, don't spoil it for me."


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