S07.E15: Reckoning (2)

[turnitwayup]

How difficult is it to get a licence to hold a gun in a place like New York as a civilian? 

 

http://www.handgunlaw.us/states/newyorkcity.pdf so PI business would probably get him to qualify for one of the business carry licenses. He might only had a premises license for the loft before.

 

LOL those dolls https://twitter.com/mikegenemose/status/567572588675608576

 

 

 

NathanFillion: “@MikeGeneMose: .@NathanFillion @Jon_Huertas what did I miss?  Did I get away yet? #Castle”

Yep! You bet, bud. You’re gonna be fine.

 

Jon_Huertas: @NathanFillion @MikeGeneMose cmon Nathan - he's so dead, a fuckin ghost at this point. Now, Mike, I'll c ya on Sirens-meaning, I needs a job

 

Jon don't give Marlowe anymore ideas. Don't want to see ghost!Tyson haunting Castle.

 

 

kevinddaniels: @Jon_Huertas @NathanFillion @MikeGeneMose Jon, you @seamusdever & nathan are welcome anytime buddy

 

Aww I'll take a guest spot on Sirens and Nathan would likely be dressed better.

Edited February 17, 2015 by turnitwayup

[verdana]

Cosmosgravitation and turnitwayup thanks for the info on guns, I've learnt a lot to day about how long it takes to die when shot and gun ownership. 

 

Post Mortem: Castle Boss Talks Latest 3XK Twist, Beckett Lookalike Plan, Remaining Mythologies and More at TV Line.

 

I'll post this on the media/spoiler threads too. 

 

Beware if you read the article as there are some spoilers in there, nothing drastic but he does talk a bit more about the mythology and what's coming up in the usual vague way. 

 

TVLINE | A different show probably shows Beckett actually gut the doctor.
A different show would, but we didn’t feel the need for that.

 

Well said Mr Amann. 

 

The next episode is apparently a “palette cleanser” after this one.

Edited February 17, 2015 by verdana

[madmaverick]

Good episode.  Liked it much better than the 1st part which did feel like setup.  One of Marlowe's better efforts in recent seasons.  Glad that it was a fakeout about 3XK living to see another day because it really was time to conclude their arc here.  Time to create another diabolical killer for next year's 2 parter.  I prefer serial killers (heh, not really) or more personal murder mysteries to saving the world plots on a grandly unrealistic scale.

 

Nathan Fillion's great at comedy but I love him in drama mode.  Castle pulled me in with him on his journey in the episode and that's what made it compelling to watch, over and above the occasionally cheesy dialogue and hand-waving stuff.   Glad to say the Castle/Tyson confrontation scene worked much better for me in the actual episode than in the sneak peek.  Maybe it was the momentum and tension of the episode that drew me in.  

 

Castle's dark side and capability for violence comes out when his strong protective streak for loved ones is activated.  We saw that as far back as S3 when he punched that guy who was trying to shoot Beckett.  So I know it's part of his character and Nathan does a great job portraying it.   I love that Castle is a character that can both scream like a girl as well as be as determined, resourceful and badass when it counts.  He's been more exposed to darkness since his life entwined with Beckett's and I have mixed feelings about him kind of losing a bit of his innocence, but I think as long as his character still retains his lightheartedness and believes in the good in people, then that's OK.   I liked that line about him opening eyes to look at Beckett and that would be enough to take the darkness away.

 

Stana was good too in her scenes.  I figured they would give Beckett her badass moment despite the circumstances.  I'm with those who were glad that we didn't see the actual violent killing.  The point was made and I didn't really want to see Beckett or Castle killing someone even in self defence.  

 

Really liked the closing scene, which I think is the best "reunion" scene written in the aftermath of a near death experience by Marlowe. It was so important for them to talk about their feelings and see an intimate emotional connection between them after their ordeal.  Marlowe almost always omitted this important emotional note in previous instances for some reason.  The actual reunion itself was a little odd, more understated than I expected.... but I get what they were going on.  Beckett was still in shock, she almost seemed like a zombie and Castle seemed hesitant to touch her in her emotional state. 

 

The villains were well portrayed too.  I was starting to get a little bored by them in the 1st part but the dose of them here was just about right.  I think there was more potential to exploring the sociopathy of Nieman though.  And now thanks to this thread, I now have this ridiculous image of her trying to sew on her new face on herself lol.  Wasn't surprised that it was about Beckett's face.  Didn't Face/Off do that plot back in the 90s?

 

Ryan and Gates were the other standouts for me.  They've developed the relationship between Castle and Gates quite well over time, maybe the best developed out of all her relationships.  The hugs felt earned by the characters.  The heart to heart was nice.  Ryan apologising was very Ryan and I'm glad Castle was able to immediately tell him the fault was not theirs at all.  Rare chance for Ryan to get physical with anyone.  He's got the training no doubt but hard not to notice that Castle's a much bigger guy.

 

The scene where it seemed like Castle was talking to himself.  Mind flashed back to The Blue Butterfly's "Why am I narrating?" heh.

 

Anyone else thought Castle should have brought along his heat sensor glasses gadget he used on Beckett earlier this season as he was sweeping the house? Heh.

 

The Buick product placement was a bit too much.  Do they contract to pay more for every extra feature that is mentioned and zoomed in upon? ;)  Poor Amy still rotting in the trunk lol.

 

Lanie's cheesy "I was sooo scared!!" didn't really work for me.  Not much better than lividity.  And yeah, I was thinking better hugs for Lanie and Gates.  But then Castle lifted Beckett off her feet and thankfully we got a real conversation at home.

 

One complaint: it really was very dark on screen this episode.  Castle's face when he thinks his wife has just been murdered was an incredibly important dramatic moment but I couldn't make out his facial expression on my computer because it was just too dark!  

Edited February 17, 2015 by madmaverick

[femmefan1946]

Late to the party, because; West Coast.

But.

Jeebus fricking carp! Buy some lightbulbs, guys!!

There were two points during the final showdown with Tyson when my screen was actually black! DH started talking because he thought there was a commercial starting. (I love him, but he is not exactly media-savvy.)

 

On the other hand, I loved this episode. MalbadintheLatin!Castle is sooo....

[verdana]

Ryan and Gates were the other standouts for me.  They've developed the relationship between Castle and Gates quite well over time, maybe the best developed out of all her relationships.  The hugs felt earned by the characters.  The heart to heart was nice.  Ryan apologising was very Ryan and I'm glad Castle was able to immediately tell him the fault was not theirs at all.  Rare chance for Ryan to get physical with anyone.  He's got the training no doubt but hard not to notice that Castle's a much bigger guy.

Funny because I feel the opposite with Gates and Castle in that their relationship is up and down depending on the story, that's been one of the things I've found most confusing about it. One minute she's being supportive and understanding the next she's treating him like an irritant. It's been a better recently but that's an issue I've had ever since Gates appeared on the scene in that I wish they would apply better emotional continuity to their exchanges, I never know quite what to expect. I wish we could see more of this Gates, especially with Castle, she has great chemistry with him (but then Nathan seems to have good chemistry with everyone). Penny was perfect and I love Ryan he's the one character that has always been written pretty constantly the whole way through. 

[verdana]

Episode was fine on my screen. I could see everything.

 

Can I have your screen please or let me know which model you watch it off so I can get my hands on one. Thanks. 

Edited February 17, 2015 by verdana

[FinnishViewer]

 

but I can't imagine a person could get shot in the chest or take a direct hit to the heart and still move around like that

It could also depend on the caliber of the bullet. I don't know what was the sniper rifle that Esposito used, but it didn't look like anything that uses one of those huge caliber bullets that can be used to penetrate walls even.

[turnitwayup]

Lanie's cheesy "I was sooo scared!!" didn't really work for me.  Not much better than lividity.

 

IA, Lanie didn't seem all that concerned. She basically hangs out all ep in the precinct when Espo is held hostage in the subway and so distraught when she saw her double, but when Beckett is kidnapped it's like business as usual. She wasn't even around the last time Beckett was kidnapped. Was there even a point for her picking up the body? It was such a quick shot that there was like no reaction to what Espo was telling her. I wonder if all her lines for this ep basically got cut in the editing. I think Tori had more screen time than her.

[McManda]

For all the Buick product placement it's stll not as bad or as obvious as the stupid Windows phone product placement from late S3.

[Nadine]

Pretty much in concurrence with everyone on this thread. Definitely massive kudos to the art department in this episode - especially for Doc N's lab, etc.

[oberon55]

3. Tyson was standing in the same place the entire time. Kate is about to be sliced up, so I would assume getting to her as quickly as possible is important, but I guess Castle having a conversation about how he let Tyson lead him there was more important than getting to Kate. Looks like it was important for someone else to let Tyson know how smart HE was.

 

I guess they wanted Tyson to admit who he was. I assume they were recording what he was saying otherwise it looks like Castle & Esposito chased poor old Boudreau out into the woods & executed him after taking his girlfriend hostage. You know the same man that just filed charges against Castle for threatening to kill him. But in the tradition of Veritas I'm sure there were suddenly mountains of off screen evidence to prove he was 3XK.

 

How heavy handed was it when Tyson suddenly runs off into the subway? That right there marked him as a moron instead of an evil genius. He threw away his dastardly plan that took years to pull off for nothing. The cops were just escorting him home. Why in the hell would he run now? It was just an obvious plot device so that Esposito could shoot him in the back later. I thought overall that the acting was very good. The bad guys were scary and well played. Too bad the writing pulled down what could have been a great finale to one of the better storylines this series has had.

Edited February 17, 2015 by oberon55

[MDL]

"I liked it" wins for me, and many of the previous posters have said what I'm thinking, so to elaborate a bit, with quotes:

Was Neiman planning to perform surgery to look like Beckett or was she going to slice off her face and stick it on over hers

My question exactly. What did Nieman say to Beckett as she approached with the scalpel "lets' start this" as in surgery, or "let's end this" as in time to die?

 

....whatever eerie charge that was conveyed only by the eyes and some subtle shift of muscles when Beckett turned the tables (or rather, the table literally) on Nieman.

I did have to wonder: How did she overpower and kill Nieman, given the fact that one arm and both legs were still bound to the table?

But, Kate's eyes were awesome in that moment, her eyes conveyed "my turn, Bitch" so much so  that there was no doubt as to the eventual winner.

 I was glad that they didn't show Beckett's fight with Nieman- let us imagine how the carnage evolved.Finally, what a change in expression from that fierceness to the "shell shocked"  expression on Beckett's face as Castle and the cops broke in. She was in a daze, having just done "what she had to do".

 

Looking back now, it should have been obvious that Ryan and Espo were in on his plan, because who else would he be side-mumbling to?

IMO not obvious-it looked to me like a desperate man saying to himself-"NO this won't work"

 

Buick's new commercial: A trunk so roomy, you could hide a body in there!

I agree- too much, too obvious product placement.

 

    As an aside: a few years ago, at a car dealership, the salesman showed us a model and pointed out the "large trunk room". My wife (she of the weird sense of humor) said  "Wow, you could probably fit 3 or 4 dead bodies in there". For some reason another salesman waited on us.....

 

And "the plan" was so clearly a writer's ass pull to get them out of the corner they wrote themselves into.

Some thoughts that crept in while/after watching the ep (regarding "original" writing):

a) The "Castle gets captured as part of the plan ... didn't they do that in "Hunt"?

b) the Sniper shot from long range: See  the  NCIS  ep.when they rescued Ziva from terrorists in the dessert.

 

 

Martha and Alexis will return from Europe after they fiinish shopping ???   Really? Nice level of concern (yes, comic relief, but....)

 

However, despite all those thoughts, I loved the intensity, and thought thsat it was basically well done.

Edited February 17, 2015 by MDL

[kbs]

Great episode with powerful performances by the leads (esp. NF) and the villains. Kudos. What got to me most was the intensity of the looks. The main players nailed every single one of them. The end scene in the loft hit all the right notes. Perfectly written and acted.

[verdana]

IA, Lanie didn't seem all that concerned. She basically hangs out all ep in the precinct when Espo is held hostage in the subway and so distraught when she saw her double, but when Beckett is kidnapped it's like business as usual. She wasn't even around the last time Beckett was kidnapped. Was there even a point for her picking up the body? It was such a quick shot that there was like no reaction to what Espo was telling her. I wonder if all her lines for this ep basically got cut in the editing. I think Tori had more screen time than her.

Over the years of watching her I find Tamala has a rather limited range as an actress.  I have to say when she has to do anything other than talk about medical matters or act the stereotypical sassy gal friend giving advice about men she's been found wanting.  May be there's a good reason why she's never had an episode of her own, best she sticks to talking about lividity.

 

Perhaps it's time they made Lanie and Perlmutter  do alternate episodes or get rid of her entirely. 

 

it's an samsung HD 60 inch but plasma not LED.

 

60 inch. Wow. No wonder you can see even Bowman's handiwork. 

[FlickerToAFlame]

@AndrewWMarlowe: “@StaticStanatic: @AndrewWMarlowe WHY IS AMY STILL IN THE CAR?!” She's not. U can just see her stepping off elevator in final precinct scene

[readster]

 

How heavy handed was it when Tyson suddenly runs off into the subway? That right there marked him as a moron instead of an evil genius. He threw away his dastardly plan that took years to pull off for nothing. The cops were just escorting him home. Why in the hell would he run now? It was just an obvious plot device so that Esposito could shoot him in the back later. I thought overall that the acting was very good. The bad guys were scary and well played. Too bad the writing pulled down what could have been a great finale to one of the better storylines this series has had.

 

 At that point, and as revealed in the "safe house" Tyson wanted Castle to suffer and as he pointed out, Tyson had an ego to prove he was smarter than anyone else. That was proven by the fact he jumped the subway and Nieman slipped away from a backdoor that the cops should have known about. It also makes the DA look like an idiot because he banned Castle from the department and didn't do anything to make sure Tyson wasn't fake this the entire time. 

 

I did say that Nieman was going to be Dr. Trama from Spider-man.

 

Nieman: "He unlocked who I really was. I've always love faces especially when I can mold them.

 

Dr. Trama Spider-man Annual 2009: "I was a baby doctor and it killed me every time one was born. Then I saw so called 'super villains' and realized, I could make them too and I loved it." 

 

But as others have said, loved how Tyson had all this money to have an old Victorian House in the middle of nowhere in a forest. That has no signal but hey, he has a wireless signal to a building in the city somewhere. Also, Amy can see Castle from 75 feet away when there was no hint he saw his binoculars reflecting or anything. Amazing how he has all this money and secret hideaways like a good super villain.

[FlickerToAFlame]

@AndrewWMarlowe: “@nciscaskett: Why Beckett doesn't have her ring when she hugs castle at the precinct whereas she wears at loft ?” Was on other Beckett.

[pepper]

 

For all the Buick product placement it's stll not as bad or as obvious as the stupid Windows phone product placement from late S3.

I never noticed the phone so mileage varies, but the car is getting on my nerves. It's got so that I've started a short-list of cars that Castle would actually drive - a tech savvy guy with a taste for luxury. 1. Tesla 2. Audi A7 stylish, fast (he has a Ferrari, so I assume that matters) and yet not out of place in Manhattan where he will be doing his sleuthing. No doubt I'll be adding to the list every time I see the Buick.

 

The second episode was definitely better than the first, but as grateful as I am that Beckett saved her own life while Castle and Tyson tried to outdo each other scoring evil genius points, my favorite episodes will always be the ones where Castle and Beckett work together to take on the world. Beckett tied to the train tracks while her heroes work to save her will never hit all the emotional notes for me and I thought the scene in Tyson's apartment was about the same as Beckett going all badass: meh.  Not unbelievable, exactly, but not riveting (to me).

 

But that said, the ending saved the episode. From Beckett's reaction to the aftermath of close-up violence, to the tender reunion with Castle to the return to the precinct and the last scene. All amazingly done. Maybe I just liked everything that didn't directly involve 3XK.  

[Sandman]

I agree- too much, too obvious product placement.

 

Is Buick really trying to go after the serial killer demographic? Talk about niche marketing!

Edited February 17, 2015 by Sandman

[madmaverick]

@AndrewWMarlowe: “@StaticStanatic: @AndrewWMarlowe WHY IS AMY STILL IN THE CAR?!” She's not. U can just see her stepping off elevator in final precinct scene

 

 

Oh, no.  I was hoping for this lol.

Nathan Fillion ‏@NathanFillion  

“@_Karyn_: @NathanFillion wait, does she ever get out of the trunk”

Oh no. Where’s my keys?

 

L T ‏@Oftenbob

@NathanFillion @_Karyn_ No soup for you.

 

 

Are we SURE it's her?  Heh.  Adding a 3rd part to the story to explore Amy's (Nieman's!) struggle in the very roomy trunk could be very compelling.  All car, all trunk, all the time.  Buick could pay big bucks for that.  Acting out the struggle for survival in a confined space like a car trunk should be a favourite of actor's, second to being buried alive of course, but a step above struggling to survive on an operating table with a psychopathic scalpel aimed at you. :P

 

.

One minute she's being supportive and understanding the next she's treating him like an irritant. It's been a better recently but that's an issue I've had ever since Gates appeared on the scene in that I wish they would apply better emotional continuity to their exchanges, I never know quite what to expect.

 

My take is that she didn't see his value in the beginning, learned to appreciate him over time (first his detective skills, later his character).  Now she has a soft spot for him beneath her Iron Gates demeanour.  How else could anyone have gotten away with planting one on her out of the blue at work?!  ;) (But seriously, their growing relationship aside, I could have done without that kiss!)  Of course she still finds him annoying at times.  It's kind of like the Castle/Beckett relationship evolution except without the romance.  Kiss still gives me the shudders!  

 

Have to say again that I loved seeing the tenderness and intimacy between them in the final scene.  I love that they can be so vulnerable with each other, especially Beckett as it's not easy for her.  I love that Castle knows what to say to help lighten her load and it's not as simple as just saying 'always'.  The scene provided a real sense of closure (or the beginning of...), a sense of earned peace.  It wouldn't have been as satisfactory if it had all just ended with cheers and hugs at the precinct.  You really need to delve into some emotional depths and yes, repercussions, after such an ordeal.  Unfortunately, that was too often missing in earlier instances where they experienced similar ordeals.  

 

And yes, I'm glad they touched on Castle's disappearance in an emotional sense, which I've always been more interested in anyway, if not the dreaded mythology and plotty bits of what actually happened to him and why.  I wonder if the writers have even figured that story out.  Maybe they haven't been able to in a satisfactory way, hence not touching on the plot till probably the season finale, if even then.

 

ETA:  Oh yes, I can see Castle driving an Audi (if not a Mercedes anymore ;)).  But I guess Audi would sponsor a show like The Good Wife and not Castle. 

Edited February 17, 2015 by madmaverick

[KaveDweller]

He was banned because of his supposed mob connections from what I can recall, have they gone away suddenly?

It wasn't just his mob connections, it was because his mob connection killed a guy in police custody and it looked like Castle passed him information to do it. Castle capturing 3XK looks good, and overpowers the doubt that the previous case rose.

Does Castle have a licence to carry a gun then? I just realised he had one, did he always have it and kept it in the safe may be? I thought he said in one episode that he'd tried to get a licence and failed (may be imagining all this) so I'm interested if he got it as part of his PI licence.

He only was carrying a gun when he was on his own, right? He may not have a license, he may have just picked up Beckett's back up gun or something.

She's not. U can just see her stepping off elevator in final precinct scene

No, I didn't see. Maybe if the lights were turned on.......

[kbs]

I wish manly Castle - who's obviously way more interesting - could stick around a bit longer and not turn into bumbling idiot again next week.

[verdana]

 

ETA:  Oh yes, I can see Castle driving an Audi (if not a Mercedes anymore ;)).  But I guess Audi would sponsor a show like The Good Wife and not Castle. 

How many cars has he got exactly? There's the Ferrari obviously (when the boys aren't using it), the Mercedes (crashed and burned), the Buick (yuk) but I could definitely see him driving an Audi.  Although where does he park them all in New York? I understand parking places are at a premium. 

Edited February 17, 2015 by verdana

[verdana]

You really need to delve into some emotional depths and yes, repercussions, after such an ordeal.  Unfortunately, that was too often missing in earlier instances where they experienced similar ordeals.  

 

Couldn't agree more which is why that scene was great to see and a surprise as it came from Marlowe's pen as he seems the least comfortable doing those emotionally more in depth exchanges, we need more of these. 

[McManda]

I never noticed the phone so mileage varies, but the car is getting on my nerves.

The phone drove me insane, especially the close ups. Oddly, I don't mind with his iPhone. Maybe it's because people actually have iPhones? (No one has a Windows phone.)

The Buick doesn't bother me in the slightest. I mean, it's not the coolest car, but whatever. Does it have a good safety rating? Maybe that was Castle's #1 priority after the summer.

[verdana]

Martha and Alexis will return from Europe after they fiinish shopping ???   Really? Nice level of concern (yes, comic relief, but....)

 

I thought the Martha/Alexis scene was rushed and they weren't used that well, although I'd love to go to Europe shopping I wondered why Castle given these villains superpowers had been quite content to leave his precious daughter and mother to their own devices whilst 3XK and Nieman slunk around causing mayhem. Especially given 3XK's past comments about watching his family. Not that putting them in protective custody would have made much difference probably but it seemed rather odd that he wasn't worried other than in that one scene. Also did Alexis or Martha actually mention Kate and their concerns for his wife before they left for their unexpected shopping trip? I don't believe so, they should have at least added a line or something in there. They were keen to have kisses last week between Kate and Alexis so why not keep that going and show that Kate is on their minds too even if they can't help her.

Edited February 17, 2015 by verdana

[Driad]

 

Lee Lofland's review: http://www.leelofland.com/wordpress/castle-reckoning-a-good-copbad-cop-review/

[verdana]

Thanks Driad. Good old Lee always makes me laugh, he can now have a go at Tory and he's not happy that Castle had his gun taken off him but come on at least it wasn't Beckett! 

 

This made me giggle.

Castle’s a mega-rich author who once drove high-end sports cars, but now drives a Buick, the brand faithfully driven by my grandfather?? Gee, I wonder who’s sponsoring the show? I haven’t pulled out the stopwatch, but I’m sure Espo and Ryan receive less camera time than the Buick logo.

 

Finally, I certainly hope Castle remembers to feed the woman who’s now living in the trunk of his car.

 

Edited February 17, 2015 by verdana

[pepper]

 

The Buick doesn't bother me in the slightest. I mean, it's not the coolest car, but whatever. Does it have a good safety rating? Maybe that was Castle's #1 priority after the summer.

 

Then he would have stuck with Mercedes. They pioneered many safety devices that are standard equipment in cars today and especially if you go S-Class in the ~100K price range, cars just don't get much safer than that. The safety technology certainly outranks Buick. Sorry, but there is no reason why Castle is driving a car that my 77-year-old dad drove when he cares about cars enough to own a Ferrari. Maybe if they'd established him as a character for whom a car is just a way to get from point A to point B but they didn't.

 

 

Castle’s a mega-rich author who once drove high-end sports cars, but now drives a Buick, the brand faithfully driven by my grandfather?? Gee, I wonder who’s sponsoring the show?

Exactly. 

[kbs]

Castle’s a mega-rich author who once drove high-end sports cars, but now drives a Buick

 

I think you could fanwank that Castle as a PI persona  tried to stay as low-key as possible and hence bought the most low-key car possible for his investigations.

[pepper]

 

I think you could fanwank that Castle as a PI persona  tried to stay as low-key as possible and hence bought the most low-key car possible for his investigations.

Yeah I tried that. I read too much crime/crime fiction. Then you go with the most common car sold. Buick won't even make the top 20, so he'd be in a (probably not new) silver Toyota Camry or Honda Accord. If you go Domestic it would be the Ford Fusion. 

 

They could flat-out have Castle say that the reason he's in the Buick is to have a regular-Joe car for the PI business. But its features are being highlighted as though it's the replacement for his Mercedes, possibly to appeal to what GM imagines is the blue-haired Castle demo. I'm just hoping they're done with the product placement for the season, unless they can get Ferrari to pony up a few bucks so that Castle's can make an appearance - after it's detailed to get rid of stray blond hairs...

[Samantha84]

This was a good episode. 

My nitpick, and I was talking to the TV as the moment happened live onscreen: "Their [Alexis and Martha] not going to say anything about Beckett?" Like nothing! Not even "Bring her home, Richard" or "Dad, find Kate but please be careful". 

[371012]

I handwaved that he didn't tell them because at least Martha would have refused to go if Katherine weren't safe. BUT, did she call him Babe or Baby?! Just please don't. What happened to Richard or kiddo?

Edited for typo.

Edited February 17, 2015 by 371012

[turnitwayup]

I see that a new painting is located next to the closet door behind the free standing mirror. It does seem like it's another subtle decor change, so yay ugly seashell collage looks like it's gone from the bedroom.

[KaveDweller]

I'm not saying Castle has to concentrate on it to the degree they do, but I know what it's like to have best female friends, and it doesn't look like this.

 

I've never believed Lanie as Kate's best friend.  I think they are slightly more than work friends, which is fine.  But Kate only seems to go to her when she wants a woman's advice.  When she's really in trouble she goes elsewhere. Usually Castle, but also Espo/Ryan.  The only time Lanie went to her was in Disciple when she was freaked about her clone.  But even then Lanie seemed to open up more to Esposito.

 

Also did Alexis or Martha actually mention Kate and their concerns for his wife before they left for their unexpected shopping trip?

 

No, but to be fair, they only had like 3 lines each.  We didn't even see Castle telling them about Kate being missing, so we don't know their first reaction (or what he even told them).   And if I went all the way to Europe, I would take another day to do something fun too.  But probably sightseeing, not shopping.  You can shop anywhere.  Europe is  a long (and expensive) flight.  They should take advantage of that. Now if Kate did get her face chopped off it would be insensitive to stay, but she didn't.

Edited February 17, 2015 by KaveDweller

[Cyranetta]

 

Silly question: How was the surgeon lady going to perform extensive surgery on herself?

This question popped into my mind about an hour after the episode finished, and it led to some mental scenarios of Nieman wandering around with Beckett's face in a cooler and a giant wad-o-cash trying to find a suitable clinic to make the switch. It's not exactly a DIY project with video instructions on YouTube.

[threebluestars]

I noticed awhile ago a lot of TV shows were super dark for me - turned out my TV settings were screwy. I had to bring up the brightness quite a bit and suddenly things look way better. So the default settings on your TV may be set a bit too dark for some of the darker filmed stuff.

 

As much as I enjoyed how creepy 3XK was, I'm glad they finally killed off the baddies and retired the storyline. I do like when things come to a satisfying end. Loved the fact that Beckett saved herself - it's always my pet peeve when the guy gets to be the hero - this makes so much more sense since she is actually the cop and has the training. Castle took Jerry down, but with his brain - Espo took him actually down.

 

And I'm loling about that chick in the Buick trunk.

[verdana]

Hmmm…just how much blood should there be??? 

[femmefan1946]

Although where does he park them all in New York?

 

He rents?

Why would anyone bother owning a car if he has public transit? Although millionaire Castle has mentioned 'the car service' from time to time, so to my mind all his automobiles except the Ferrari were rentals.

If anyone will rent to him after the Mercedes burned.

FWIW, living downtown a few decades ago, we rented a car about every second weekend for trips or giant shopping. It was cheaper than owning and because the company knew us, we could get a car on 20 minutes notice at their best rates.

This might also explain why he had an overpriced and underperforming American car instead of something good.

[KaveDweller]

It's weird seeing that BTS picture with Stana all smiles next to Neimen's body, cause she must have turned around a few minutes later and done Beckett's in shock reaction, which is the total opposite.  Actors always impress me with things like that.

 

 

 

This question popped into my mind about an hour after the episode finished, and it led to some mental scenarios of Nieman wandering around with Beckett's face in a cooler and a giant wad-o-cash trying to find a suitable clinic to make the switch.

 

There's an episode of the Simpson's where Sideshow Bob switches faces with his cell mate to get out of prison.  And at some point the face starts to fall off and he has to keep hold it up.  I can't find a clip of it.  But if Neimen wanted to look like Beckett wouldn't she just mold herself and not actually slice off Beckett's face? I mean, it was creepy and all, but a face transplant isn't an actual thing is it?

 

Why would anyone bother owning a car if he has public transit? Although millionaire Castle has mentioned 'the car service' from time to time, so to my mind all his automobiles except the Ferrari were rentals.

 

Maybe when you're that rich you just need to find things to spend money on? I wouldn't know what that's like.

Edited February 17, 2015 by KaveDweller

[verdana]

I've never believed Lanie as Kate's best friend.  I think they are slightly more than work friends, which is fine.  But Kate only seems to go to her when she wants a woman's advice.  When she's really in trouble she goes elsewhere. Usually Castle, but also Espo/Ryan.  The only time Lanie went to her was in Disciple when she was freaked about her clone.  But even then Lanie seemed to open up more to Esposito.

 

Me neither, although I did believe it in the first season but after not so much, she gives bad advice to Kate most of the time in any case plus it's usually all one way traffic so I tend to feel their "friendship" (what little they have) is one sided in any case. But the writers believe you should think they are best buddies, that's the impression I get from any interviews.  But it takes more than them saying they're "best friends" constantly in print to sell it. 

[verdana]

It's weird seeing that BTS picture with Stana all smiles next to Neimen's body, cause she must have turned around a few minutes later and done Beckett's in shock reaction, which is the total opposite.  Actors always impress me with things like that.

 

Yeah I love looking at BTS shots like that and I always admire the actors concentration skills as one minute they're goofing around having fun between takes and the next they're involved in doing a very serious and intense scene. Guess that's what they're paid and train for but I still think it's cool.  

[McManda]

But if Neimen wanted to look like Beckett wouldn't she just mold herself and not actually slice off Beckett's face? I mean, it was creepy and all, but a face transplant isn't an actual thing is it?

 

Face transplants are a thing, but it's a relatively new thing (only successful in the last 10 years or so) and it's usually reserved for trauma patients, not people looking to disappear as someone else. And even with trauma patients the result isn't a perfect, never-been-damaged face. It's amazing what they can do, especially from a reconstructive standpoint, for people that were much worse off, but it's not like Nieman would end up looking like Beckett and no one would notice. She'd look more like Beckett if Beckett had been in a pretty awful accident. Though I guess Nieman might have been good enough to make it work in Castle's world ... nothing like that exists in the real world.

There are pretty intense photos of real face transplants online if you want to google it. (The wiki page leaves off the graphic photos.)

[KaveDweller]

Me neither, although I did believe it in the first season but after not so much, she gives bad advice to Kate most of the time in any case plus it's usually all one way traffic so I tend to feel their "friendship" (what little they have) is one sided in any case.

 

One-sided as an Kate goes to her but we never see Lanie go to Kate? I think that's just cause we never see Lanie do anything but talk about lividity.

[Azaelia]

One-sided as an Kate goes to her but we never see Lanie go to Kate? I think that's just cause we never see Lanie do anything but talk about lividity.

I think that's definitely part of it. We mostly see Lanie when she's working, and she and Kate don't necessarily work together in the same way as Ryan and Esposito. They don't even share an office. 

 

The only thing I can think of that really strikes me as "best friendsy" with them is when Kate was being taken to the hospital after being shot at the beginning of season four, and Lanie was wigging out even more than Castle. Honestly, I think they have a very typical TV female friendship, which is that they're two female characters who talk sometimes, so we're supposed to assume they're besties and that's it. I do think it's a bit of a shame, though - if the show goes out of their way to explore Ryan and Espo's dynamic, surely they can find a way to make it work with Kate and Lanie? Like I said, it IS a bit easier to do it with Ryan and Esposito when they work in the same building (all the time) and are partners, but still.

[pennben]

 

I mean, it was creepy and all, but a face transplant isn't an actual thing is it?

 

It is indeed a very real thing, and a good thing for many folks, just google "face transplant" for many great stories.  Not a thing that could be done  without notice in the time it took to get to Beckett. (ETA:  I'm just repeating what McManda said, whoops).

 

Scariest "face transplant" scene in fiction I've seen, "Silence of the Lambs".

 

So glad we are done with these two, if they had gotten away again, it would have been ridiculous.

Edited February 18, 2015 by pennben

[Sandman]

My take is that she didn't see his value in the beginning, learned to appreciate him over time (first his detective skills, later his character).  Now she has a soft spot for him beneath her Iron Gates demeanour.  How else could anyone have gotten away with planting one on her out of the blue at work?!  ;) (But seriously, their growing relationship aside, I could have done without that kiss!)  Of course she still finds him annoying at times.

 

I found it interesting that the Captain, in telling Castle "what she sees in you," did focus on his writerly/detective skills. I don't think Gates is ever going to find him entirely charming, but it appears she can appreciate what he brings to the precinct along with his overgrown child nature. She has more respect for him than she used to, and perhaps a little more affection, though not very much.

 

This question popped into my mind about an hour after the episode finished, and it led to some mental scenarios of Nieman wandering around with Beckett's face in a cooler and a giant wad-o-cash trying to find a suitable clinic to make the switch. It's not exactly a DIY project with video instructions on YouTube.

 

We hope.  (Sandman adds entry to "Big List Of Things Never to Google.")

 

Wasn't the character in Silence of the Lambs who had the nasty habit of making himself masks out of other people's faces based on an authentic case? Though I don't think he ever tried to pass as one of his victims.

[Samantha84]

...did she call him Babe or Baby?!

 

Martha called Castle, "baby".

[SparklesBitch]

 

The only thing I can think of that really strikes me as "best friendsy" with them is when Kate was being taken to the hospital after being shot at the beginning of season four, and Lanie was wigging out even more than Castle.

 

I loved the bejeezus out of this scene at the time, but I feel like their friendship is just used when it's convenient because there's not any other woman (around her same age) on the show for Beckett to go to for things. This is why I wish they'd show her having a bit of a life (hobby, friendship, something) outside of the precinct and Castle himself. He at least has Alexis and Martha, and writing, obviously. Ryan has Jenny and the baby. Kate needs something (other than her dad), even if it's just a split second mention or tiny scene.

 

 

Now if Kate did get her face chopped off it would be insensitive to stay, but she didn't.

 

Something about the wording of this sentence made my entire day. I keep giggling and picturing a Ms. Manners column dictating proper behavior in the event that a loved one suffers a fatal face chopping. =)

 

 

and it led to some mental scenarios of Nieman wandering around with Beckett's face in a cooler and a giant wad-o-cash trying to find a suitable clinic to make the switch.

 

This is an excellent and highly entertaining visual. Is it wrong that I'm a little sad we didn't get to see this onscreen? I feel like it makes me a bad Beckett fan.

 

 

Martha called Castle, "baby".

 

Ew. Why, Martha? Just...why?

 

The whole thing about that woman still being in Castle's trunk cracked me up. This is the first time I ever paid attention while a celebrity live tweeted an episode of anything I watched, and NF's tweets were killing me. He's awesome.

[turnitwayup]

This question popped into my mind about an hour after the episode finished, and it led to some mental scenarios of Nieman wandering around with Beckett's face in a cooler and a giant wad-o-cash trying to find a suitable clinic to make the switch.

 

LOL if this was a few months ago, Nieman could've flown to Miami and used Sin Rostro's new faces for criminals clinic under the Marbella Hotel.

 

Yeah those nicknames that Martha has been using are a no for me. Can she please go back to calling them darling or kiddo?