S08.E10: Witness For The Prosecution

[WendyCR72]

I'm unsure if earlier airing times in Canada apply for this special episode, but I will err on the side of caution here.

 

 

Castle finally gets his day in court when he takes the stand as the key witness to a murder from five months ago. But when new information suddenly arises, he and Beckett must race against the clock to prevent a miscarriage of justice.

[Frost]

Based on the Agatha Christie story of the same name, I was expecting a different outcome!  What did Joanna have on her husband that was worse than the evidence of theft and black mail found in his safe?

[KaveDweller]

I enjoyed the change in formula and showing the courtroom....until the end when it go so ridiculous.  You can't just interrupt a trial like that. It would just never happen. And the DA would be totally pissed with Captain Beckett for making him look like an idiot.

 

If the 12th investigated the original case, why didn't they ever look at anyone else back then? The defense attorney isn't the only one responsible for an innocent person being in jail.

 

The jokes about Hudson University being filled with criminals made me laugh.

 

So this week it's okay to act civil to Castle in front of, not only Ryan and Espo, but the one person she knows DOES work for Locksat.  Okay, sure. 

 

I did like them talking about Castle being a writer again.

 

Did anyone else notice the defense attorney look surprised when Beckett claimed to be separated? 

 

Why can't Beckett tell Castle about the Locksat investigation? Didn't they say they were going to work on it together in the fall finale? Why did the writers come up with this season long arc if they weren't going to actually address it properly in most episodes?

 

I noticed that the woman on trial talked about how she and the victim fought because  she was tired of sneaking around. Do you think that's foreshadowing Castle wanting to know what's going on with Locksat? This is the second week in a row where he's asked her about the case. It would be funny if she finally does tell him the details and then he turns around and finds a way to bring Locksat down right away, that she and Vikram missed.

 

Locksat is still a stupid code name. I feel dumb typing it.

Edited February 15, 2016 by KaveDweller

[Nadine]

Why can't Beckett tell Castle about the Locksat investigation? Didn't they say they were going to work on it together in the fall finale? Why did the writers come up with this season long arc if they weren't going to actually address it properly in most episodes?

 

She told him in their first scene in Tone Death that she would loop him into the investigation when the time is right. They agreed in the finale that they'd not keep secrets from each other (aka I'm off to work with Vikram but you think I've got a meeting someplace else, etc).

[verdana]

So this week it's okay to act civil to Castle in front of, not only Ryan and Espo, but the one person she knows DOES work for Locksat. Okay, sure.

I didn't watch this episode but I presume that the public fighting from last week has now abruptly stopped for no apparent reason which should make everyone even more suspicious.

Given some of the comments on tumblr and twitter I have to ask why did Castle want a secret "I love you signal" for Kate in the courtroom when it's obvious to a blind man they're still very much a couple by how they acted? This separation continues to defy logic and decent common sense week to week.

Why can't Beckett tell Castle about the Locksat investigation? Didn't they say they were going to work on it together in the fall finale?

Because if they did the writers would have to create further scenes of them actually working together on it and the writers are obviously limited by how much they can show, I'm guessing it's probably contractual given the time the two leads appear to have off these days. They created a story arc where they can't have both characters involved too much so that leaves Beckett dealing with Locksat and Castle handling his missing time and neither is satisfying to me because the whole point of what makes them so great to watch as a couple is them facing threats and solving things together.

Why did the writers come up with this season long arc if they weren't going to actually address it properly in most episodes?

Because underneath it all despite the hype and bluster at the start of the season, they're operating exactly like the previous showrunners in how they deal with a long running story arc. Set it up in the premiere and then shut it down and pretty much ignore it for endless episodes until about three or four from the end of the season. Edited February 15, 2016 by verdana

[femmefan1946]

Why is Caleb Brown part of LocSat again? I'm old. Sometimes the only word I can remember is 'aphasia'.

Actually enjoyed this quite ridiculous CoW. And last week's CoW.The separation arc not so much.

If the PTB would just wrap it up and get back to solving cases, the show would benefit, since the cases this season have been much better.

[madmaverick]

Solid episode from TPW.  Massive handwaving of courtroom shenanigans as expected that would never be allowed in a real courtroom, but that's almost standard practice for television courtroom dramas.  Story moved along at a good pace and held my interest.  I do like it when they shake up the usual formula on this show.  Agree with femmefan, that the cases in general have been better this season. Locksat being the exception, of course, but the less said about that the better. ;)  The only thing that really marred the episode and annoyed me was at the very end when Castle again asked Beckett how the Locksat investigation was going, and she said she couldn't tell him.  Ugh. Why not?  If they agreed no more secrets and to work as a team?  What's the difference between telling him now and clueing him in at what she deems to be the appropriate time in the future?  But whatever, pressing ignore on this storyline as usual.

 

Still meh on Caleb and not really caring whether he turns out to be a good guy or a bad guy.  Thought the actor chewed a bit of scenery during his cross examination of Castle, but nice callbacks to previous events from TPW, and I did enjoy Nathan's more serious, dramatic acting as a witness in the box.  Liked that we saw Ryan and Esposito take the stand as well, and shocker, Lanie got to as well and say more things than 'lividity'! :P  Most shocking thing in the episode, more than finding out who the killer was heh.  It was a nice use of the supporting cast outside of the usual, and nice that Martha and Alexis got to be involved in the case in a small way too.

 

Liked that Castle's occupation as a writer was touched on in this episode.  He seems to always introduce himself as a murder mystery novelist, never just a novelist?  And he introduces himself as 'Richard' socially.  Beckett was using 'Rick' more than once this episode, which was nice, but also felt a little strange since she used it casually not to signify an important moment.  Would be nice to see Mr. and Mrs Castle socialising together at events like the charity reading Castle was doing.  Her being in his world for a change, together.

 

Didn't that girl who played the victim's daughter look like a young Reese Witherspoon?

 

I liked Marcus, the ADA.  More than Caleb.  A bit surprised but funny that the first thing Beckett said to him on shaking his hand in court was to gossip about him and Lanie heh.  And a second bit of Lanie info in the episode, shocker again! :P  Thank heavens we're not on the Esplanie merry go round again.

 

The girl who played the defendant wasn't bad.  They could have gone either way with her though, and she had the face for a femme fatale twist at the end.

 

Vikram and Locksat are still a waste of space.  

 

Agree with Beckett that the nose rubbing signal wasn't that romantic.  Also, germs.  Might have been more fun if they'd made the signal Castle running his hand through his hair heh, but might have caused problems in editing.

 

If the 12th investigated the original case, why didn't they ever look at anyone else back then? The defense attorney isn't the only one responsible for an innocent person being in jail.

 

Exactly.  I didn't agree with what Beckett said at the end about it not being on them.  The police and the prosecution office didn't do their jobs well enough here and it cost an innocent person.  
 

The jokes about Hudson University being filled with criminals made me laugh.

 

 

Me too.  Especially when I remembered that Espo went to Hudson heh.  The interplay between Castle and the judge was funny.  

 

Because underneath it all despite the hype and bluster at the start of the season, they're operating exactly like the previous showrunners in how they deal with a long running story arc. Set it up in the premiere and then shut it down and pretty much ignore it for endless episodes until about three or four from the end of the season.

 

This is exactly the M.O. of showrunners, past and present.  The only way they want to do an overarching arc, so it seems.  Lots of other TV shows have moved on from this outdated holding pattern of storytelling.

 

Random wardrobe observations: Castle's double breasted coat looked too big on him but what's new.  The all black look on Beckett with hair tied up was a bit too severe.  Stana's so slim already, this made her face and body look almost too tiny.

[turnitwayup]

Omg, there was some continuity with the mention of 3XK, the kidnapping and remembering the I, Witness ep. It was nice that the most recognized guest star wasn't the killer. Loled so much at the Hudson University lines. It's about time someone made digs about that university. Locksat nonsense and separation is still stupid and really no one is buying it. Plus all of a sudden Ryan and Espo is totally cool with Castle again. Kinda sad the the case is better and much more memorable than and Caskett scenes. Nice that Laine's one line didn't have lividity and interested in ADA Marcus. Wouldn't mind seeing him back. Since I wasn't around during the live tweets, I scrolled back to Nathan's timeline and saw Tuc in a group pic when I got back home hours later. So was it the OLTL guest stars that were at his house this evening?

Edited February 15, 2016 by turnitwayup

[TWP]

Entertaining episode, and as farcical as ever. Of course, I had just come from watching a show where a beating victim was not allowed to contact family because he had to be put under 24 hour psych eval due to head trauma. Wouldn't the hospital want to contact relatives so they could get paid when patient went nuts? Anyway, Castle seemed downright realistic, after that. I enjoyed seeing all of the cast being used. I like the cases these days, because, yep, I'm in it for the COTW too.

Eye roller of the night for me: the notion that Castle managed to get put into a holding cell across from the defendant. Also, I'd hate to be a court defendant in the Castleverse. You apparently can't explain your side until Castle figures it out first. Yep, she's cynical, but who risks conviction because of cynicism? Maybe Castleverse prisons are at beaches in Tahiti so she isn't risking much....one would hope.

So LOKSAT is a killer big bad, but includes people with an exploitable sense of justice (Caleb). Ok, so really, are they that bad an org, or just anti-government pitch-forkers or something?

Yep, the ep was Caskett-light, another reality of the Castleverse. They are clearly weaning viewers off of Caskett.

But Castle was the best thing on at 10, which is a win for it, as far as I'm concerned.

Edited February 15, 2016 by TWP

[KaveDweller]

She told him in their first scene in Tone Death that she would loop him into the investigation when the time is right. They agreed in the finale that they'd not keep secrets from each other (aka I'm off to work with Vikram but you think I've got a meeting someplace else, etc).

Yeah, but why isn't it right to tell Castle about the investigation now? It's not like Beckett even knows any details that are dangerous since she doesn't really know much.

 

Why is Caleb Brown part of LocSat again? I'm old. Sometimes the only word I can remember is 'aphasia'.

Actually enjoyed this quite ridiculous CoW. And last week's CoW.The separation arc not so much.

If the PTB would just wrap it up and get back to solving cases, the show would benefit, since the cases this season have been much better.

In the episode with the cruise ship, they found out the drugs matched the owns Vulcan Simmons used to sell, which means Locksat sells them now. Caleb was sent in to defend their suspect, and convinced him to confess to keep the cops from looking further into the drug dealing system.

I agree about the cases being better this season.

[madmaverick]

Eye roller of the night for me: the notion that Castle managed to get put into a holding cell across from the defendant. Also, I'd hate to be a court defendant in the Castleverse. You apparently can't explain your side until Castle figures it out first.

 

Well, 3XK managed to get just about into Castle's holding cell. ;)  

 

As for the defendant, I think she had explained her case to her lawyer and the defence was waiting to present its case after the prosecution.  Of course, court procedure tends to go out the window in hour long TV dramas. ;)

 

Yeah, but why isn't it right to tell Castle about the investigation now? It's not like Beckett even knows any details that are dangerous since she doesn't really know much.

 

Exactly.  I wanted to laugh when Beckett said she was 'closer', when she still barely knows anything.  And aren't two heads better than one?  Don't know why Vikram, almost a stranger, continues to be her only confidant in the case.  The writers give this storyline lip service when there's no real movement on it, and it just ends up meaningless, illogical and annoying.

[TWP]

Now, I didn't say that the eye rollers tonight we're the worst ever. Super villains have their own class of eyerolling, that's for certain. My understanding from limited background is that the depositions from witnesses including the defendant's formal claims would be disclosed before trial and certainly to the jury in opening arguments to create doubt. Maybe I'm wrong about that.

Anyway, as I always say, in some form or other, it's TV!!!! We're the product as much as we are the audience. The networks have to deliver a quality us to the advertisers. Doesn't mean they have to deliver quality TV to us ;-). In that contexr, Castle is awesome -- every night, including last night.

[CastleSeason8]

It was a pretty good ep when you compare it with what we've gotten so far. There was alot of eye rolling on my part, but if i got beyond that, i didnt mind it. I much prefer non-idiotic Castle, so the initial court scene was great. Liked the references to old cases. The nose thing? Please. An ear tug would have been better and more in tune to their history.

Vikram is wasted space. I dont think Caleb will be the bad guy in the end. Nice to see the whole cast there - even briefly. Agree that it makes no sense that suddenly the boys are fine with Castle, but S8 motto is sweep things under the rug, so...

Caskett scenes were good, but man, blink and you miss them.

[Samantha84]

TVOvermind reviewer has been getting it right w her reviews: Nice Room, Except for the Elephant

[verdana]

Witness for the Prosecution – A Good Cop/Bad Cop Review

 

The final scene of them together in the loft made me happy, too. Champagne, firelight, and a kiss that will no doubt lead to more… perfect for Valentine’s Day. If the writers and showrunners would simply give us stories like this every week without all the stupidity, fake fights, and tired plot lines, the fans would be thrilled. Don’t you agree?

 

Oh yes Melanie's preaching to the choir on that one.

 

Good points…

– No Hayley.

– No dumb Lanie stuff.

– The case was fun and interesting.

– Ryan and Espo doing what they do when the writers allow it.

All in all, the best episode this season, but it didn’t take much to achieve that honor.

 

– Lokstat. Please make this go away. Send it to the place in TV LaLa Land where Beckett’s mother resides along with 3XK and Pi. And send Vikram with it. The whole strip club thing is a huge elephant in the room, as is the supposed danger level associated with Lokstat. No one appears, even slightly, to worry about danger, yet they mention it like they’re a bunch of scared rabbits. NOT!

 

Lee would like Locksat to go away, don't we all....

[verdana]

TVOvermind reviewer has been getting it right w her reviews: Nice Room, Except for the Elephant

Thanks Samantha. Joy brought up nose rubbing gag and Lee mentioned it too in his review and I agree with both of them that it's juvenile and trivialises everything but it's been a pattern of the season so far - making everything into a joke. Yeah lets being back the sexy and clever humor please. 

 

The audience can be told Locksat is dangerous until the cows come home but if there's no sign the characters are actually behaving as if the big bad is a viable threat to them the whole premise falls apart. 

 

Medical Examiner Lanie Parish (Tamala Jones ) asked out sexy state prosecutor Marcus Weller (Christopher B. Duncan)?  Does this mean Lanie is going to have a storyline?  That would be good!

 

Oh wow I missed this, so Lividity Lanie is getting a life outside of pawing over dead bodies and she can start grappling with a live one, finally Tamala might have something more to do, better late than never. 

[BellyLaughter]

 

Oh wow I missed this, so Lividity Lanie is getting a life outside of pawing over dead bodies and she can start grappling with a live one, finally Tamala might have something more to do, better late than never. 

 

I'd be willing to put good money on this being the last we hear about Marcus and Lanie....in fact I would bet my house on it....if the bank didn't already own most of it!!

[KaveDweller]

Oh wow I missed this, so Lividity Lanie is getting a life outside of pawing over dead bodies and she can start grappling with a live one, finally Tamala might have something more to do, better late than never. 

 

We just heard Beckett talking about Lanie asking the guy out. Tamala didn't get to do anything.  I wonder which writer she pissed off.

[jhlipton]

I had just come from watching a show where a beating victim was not allowed to contact family because he had to be put under 24 hour psych eval due to head trauma. Wouldn't the hospital want to contact relatives so they could get paid when patient went nuts?

 

I'm sure you'll get a "second chance" to enjoy it.  LOL

 

Not a bad case, but Nina really did kill Sadie.  She should have yelled for 911, then administer CPR, not induce massive blood loss by yanking (several times!) the poker out of Sadie.  Dumb!!!

[madmaverick]

We just heard Beckett talking about Lanie asking the guy out. Tamala didn't get to do anything.  I wonder which writer she pissed off.

 

Or maybe she's the sneaky winner in it all.  She may be the one getting paid the most for the least amount of work. ;)

[Brit Babe]

This was a better episode but if it had aired during the early seasons it would still be on a list of bad episodes. Are the 12th precinct just generally incompetent or even Castle at this point as the eye witness.... wait don’t answer that. I could tell which route this was going down once we saw the flashback.

 

Caleb - I have the same question why is he considered Loksat? I recently saw the actor on an episode of Hawaii 5-0 and I honestly cannot take him or his bouffant hairstyle seriously.

 

Laine - it surprises me when we see her on screen nowadays even though she is there from week to week her role is non existent nowadays but we have to put up with mumblings from Alexis. Also, does the PI business make any money as I haven’t seen any real clients ever?

 

No fake fighting is a positive however the writers/actors etc all seem to have forgotten that Caskett isn’t just about the kiss/sex at the start/end of episode but about the swordplay as Stana has put it. However that would mean the actors have to spend time together which isn’t going to happen.

[pepper]

Not a bad episode, but it aired the same night as the re-run of "Ghost", which is the episode where the woman was found drowned in a bathtub full of motor oil. And, not being a "real" fan any more, I was surprised to find both of them on my PVR on Monday afternoon (holiday in North America). Yes, I should have noticed the air dates posted in this very forum... Anyway, I ended up watching them, to quote Drake ba' to ba'. And the only thing better about the show in 2016 is Beckett's sense of style. Still, if you only compare this episode to what we got last season and earlier this season, it was good!

[33kaitykaity]

Brilliant bit stunt casting of Tuc Watkins and Cassie DePaiva, two OLTL vets, as the husband wife.  

[John Potts]

I completely missed that the Defence Attorney was on Team Evil - if a somewhat sympathetic one. But the whole "let's pretend we're broken up" and the "secret love sign" were just silly. Still, the actual case itself was suitably twisty, even if I completely lost track of who the murderer actually was (I thought it would be the Male Host - although I was wrong, at least he was guilty of something, if not the murder). Though from the first, I was suspicious of Castle's "eye witness" account of the murder, because I immediately went, "No you didn't, you saw her standing over a dead/dying body!" - as the episode went on to show. For somebody as attached to finding bizarre explanations for deaths, you'd think he'd be less inclined to immediately jump to a conclusion not actually based on the facts.