Lucynda

Oh boy... I pondered over getting up early to watch the episode before having to head out or catching one more hour of sleep for a long time, and I should have stayed in bed. It was just not worth it. I absolutely loved the setup of the episode, I thought the case was very cool, but having Castle and Beckett solve the same puzzle apart from each other didn't work for me. The first 20-25 minutes were super intense, but it didn't feel like a Castle episode to me because all the main characters were working on their own/with strangers that I as a viewer had a hard time sympathizing with. I knew who the bad guy was the minute they introduced him, and some of the guest actors were quite...weak, so that didn't do much for me and the episode got boring pretty quickly. I had at least hoped for a grander Castle/Beckett reunion scene or a meaningful talk back at the loft (silly me, I know), so apart from the last Castle/Alexis scene (which I kind of adored), the episode was very disappointing.

No problem! Though I wish I could have provided more interesting insights. I don't think I have laughed this hard in ages! Thanks for that, verdana. Someone else said it before me in this thread, the book titles just keep on getting worse. Though the contents get better in my opinion. ;)

madmaverick: I just fast-forwarded through the video and here's what Nathan said: "they are two people that are completely different, which is very close to the reality. When you hate someone who is exactly like you, the two of you won't get along very well." And then he said Castle and Beckett complete each other. (Didn't catch the exact wording, sorry.) And here are some more snippets that might be interesting: - Luke said they have a budget of 1 million Euros to order clothes that are worth 5 million Euros, and only 1/5 of those clothes make it onto the screen. - About Beckett he said they want to give the impression that she's a real person, not a fashionmonger, which is why she doesn't get to wear new clothes every episode. - They are walking a fine line between the Classic Beckett Look, and the new Captain Look she needs to wear in order to be dressed appropriately at the precinct. According to Luke, she got more serious but did not lose that Beckett spirit, which is why she will keep wearing the Burberry coat that he showed. - Nathan said he's not a cook, but there are three meals that he knows how to preprare that make you go 'wow, man, that was amazing.' And then he mentions the Dutch baby pancakes. I think that was about it. :) My guess is that Luke designed Penny's suits because she's a bit shorter (if I remember correctly) and maybe doesn't fit into designer brands so well, whereas Stana does? She's certainly got the height and body type...

He says that he and Nathan found a look that works for Castle and that he tailors everything himself except for the jeans. Those are store-bought. And Nathan says that if he were to cook for you a whole week, you'd be getting the same three meals multiple times, and one of those is the Dutch pancake. Not sure I would mind that. ;)

I really enjoyed the episode. Probably my favorite from season 8 so far. The Russian guy was definitely very unique, haha. For sure a guest character to remember. Loved Castle bringing up that he's tired of being kept in the dark, and that he's still angry. Just wish Beckett would finally remedy that and tell him everything. The keeping secrets and the fake separation just kind of hover above everything like a dark cloud and leave a bitter aftertaste even when the episode itself was quite funny and enjoyable. I'm getting tired of that.

I have to admit, I did kind of miss my show these past couple of months, and was excited to have it back. I thought the episode was one of the better ones of season 8 so far, and there were a few moments where I was laughing, but I am not okay with the slap and the letting people believe Castle is cheating on Beckett - at all. It's simply ridiculous and in my opinion completely out of character. But what's even worse than that is, they are hurting people with their actions. Ryan seemed so crushed when Beckett told him about 'Dr. Livingstone', and the boys try so hard to support Beckett and be there for her, and she just goes on lying to their faces?! If I were Ryan and Esposito, I'm not sure I'd want Castle and Beckett as my friends any longer...

Ouch. I honestly love Beckett, but as of this season, it's getting continually harder to defend her and justify her actions, and I find myself liking her...less and less with every episode that airs.

I liked her hair best in the second half of season 1. I loved the contrast to her skin and it was just so different. After that, for me, comes her season 3 hair. It looked so natural and kind of like she didn't spend a lot of time doing it? That being said I absolutely disliked Kate's hair and make up in season 6. It was so overdone it sometimes distracted me. I thought I'd love her hair in season 7 because I liked the length, but unfortunately it looked limp in straggly in almost every episode.

This! What bothered me a lot is that they seem to be joking about Castle having gone missing for 2 months? Even if I've come to peace with that, accepted it, I'd never joke or speak lightly of it. Beckett's last few lines were probably the dumbest I've ever heard.

I'm a little confused about 7x23's title. I thought Hollander's Woods didn't have anything to do with Castle's disappearance, but what happened there when Castle was 11 was merely the "password", so why would they title the episode that? Did I misunderstand something?

It's been a while since I've been this entertained by a Castle episode. I was laughing out loud multiple times. Absolutely loved the scenes with Martha and Alexis; also because for the first time in months, they didn't feel forced. I enjoyed the dynamic in this episode in general: Espo & Ryan, the competition between the three of them, Castle elegantly solving Beckett's song fright problem, Castle & Beckett dancing. It was great. And I do buy into Beckett having song/stage fright now but having modeled in her teens. I think it's first of all different to perform for people you know than to do so for people you don't know. Second, she was 17 at the time. At that age you are a lot less shy about things and usually just go for it. At 20, 30 or 40 you are more likely to over-think things and worry about how it's going to reflect on yourself. And third, do we know if Beckett ever walked a catwalk? I'm not sure that was ever implied, and if she only did photoshoots, she didn't really have an audience.

I also thought the shirt was white for some reason, haha. But sweet that we finally got to see it. And woah, I almost didn't recognize Stana in that BTS pic Seamus posted - did she go a hair shade lighter or is it the lighting making her look so blonde?

As always, I am late to the game so the most important things have already been said but I find myself utterly irritated by the ending of this episode. Beckett's "problem" didn't get resolved and knowing Castle, it will probably not be picked up again. And what's more, we didn't learn anything new about Beckett. Like what her goals in life are and where she does see herself in a few years. She has those plans/priorities and I'd just love to gain an insight into them and understand her better. I thought her thoughts in this episode were very plausible, I'm sure a lot of people can relate to them, but I never sensed she was bored/unchallenged with her current work so that came very out of the blue for me. By the way, I adored the Castle/Beckett dynamic this episode. They seemed closer than usual, more open-minded and it was sweet how Castle showed support and tried to reassure her. That hasn't happened in a long time.

I kind of liked the episode - it had a few cute/funny moments. Loved Castle hopping around and loved the fact that laser tag was back. Though it did disappoint me that it wasn't Castle and Alexis playing. Alexis and her new boyfriend playing a game she and her father have played since she was five; a little awkward in my opinion. I kinda had to scratch my head when Castle just dropped Beckett? He didn't even attempt to catch her/ease her fall. I found that to be very unlovely. The non-mention of last week's episode has me rolling my eyes. Of course everyone is fine after having their wife abducted by a psychopathic serial killer couple/being abducted by a psychopathic serial killer couple/having their face almost cut off by a psychopathic serial killer plastic surgeon. I'm super sad to see Martha go, though I'm sure her not living at the loft won't impact Susan's screen time much. We've barely seen her all season anyway.

Well, there is Dick Coonan, but I can't remember anyone else besides him. Don't think anything has been mentioned from pre season 1, either. Now that Tyson is alive, Castle hasn't killed anyone yet.

I, too, think it's Alexis who moves out. That way Castle can mope about his baby girl being all grown up and not needing him anymore, and Beckett is pushed to thinking about children of their own. Though Alexis hasn't bothered me too much this season, I prefer scenes with Martha over scenes with her. Scenes with Alexis always seem kind of limited. There is not much to talk about except school/studying and possibly boys as Alexis doesn't appear to have much of a social life/hobbies. At least with Martha there is the acting school and she can give lots of "helpful" advice based on her vast life experience ;)

I have nothing to add, except: I laughed every time they showed a flashback and switched from Season 6 Beckett to Season 7 Beckett. The difference in hair is so ridiculously crass. I am very intrigued about next week's episode. Isn't the one after that the first one they filmed this year? The one that is presumed to be Beckett-light because Stana attended multiple events? I wonder if that has anything to do with what happens to Beckett in 7x15.

The thing that actually annoys me the most about Tamala is that she doesn't know how to spell her own character's name (which she's been playing for more than six seasons). She seems super nice, but I can't really take her seriously because of this.

Video of Tamala being interviewed about the 2-parter.

I personally think Nieman is more interested in making Beckett "perfect". She seemed kind of obsessed with her facial structures in 6x09 and I'm betting Beckett will have a scalpel pressed to her cheek or something at some point during the 2-parter.

Noo, I hoped there wouldn't be a screener. I'm trying to remain relatively spoiler-free for maximum entertainment, but oh the temptation.

Just check out the world of fanfiction - everyone there loves that episode ;) I don't like it for the many missed opportunities of creating heat/tension and the possibilities of getting the two a little closer/forward in their state of whatever they are, but I do like it for the things we learn about Castle and Beckett.

7x13, Sneak Peek #1 I've been laughing at the ridiculousness of this scene for the past five minutes.

7x16 BTS pictures of Nathan & Jon, taken by a fan. I guess Stana's tease turns out to be true. Not sure if I like that or not.

Even though it may be the more unpopular opinion I liked the episode. It had me laughing several times. I wouldn't want this kind of Castle/Beckett dynamic forever, but for now it works for me. Love that Beckett and Martha and shortly after Beckett and Castle had a serious talk and that Beckett supports him in what he does. Also liked the idea of the pep talk in the precinct, though the tone of it didn't really work for me. Sounded too much like a teenager was being asked to check in with their over-worried parents every two hours while on a school trip. Beckett and Castle were apart for most part of the episode, yet it didn't feel like that. The phone calls worked for me, and the walking to the crime scene and home from the precinct rounded it off. Someone mentioned the continuity above (McManda I believe) and I think this applies to the whole season so far. A lot of things get mentioned again, also from previous seasons; I think it's a nice touch. Always bothered me before, and to me, it's the little things like that that really sell the episode. I loved Ronnie and for the first time in quite a while, I was able to enjoy Espo. I never knew Jon was so good at comedy! All in all, even though the episode had its faults (the throw-away line about stopping to write Nikki Heat and replace her with a PI?!), it was one of the better mid-season fillers I've seen. I even found the case relatively interesting - at least I guessed wrong as to who the killer was.