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Castle: The Double Down

by Jane Boursaw, posted Sep 29th 2009 3:00AM
Castle: Inventing the Girl
(S02E02) "What is it about full moons that brings out the crazies?" - Castle to Beckett

That line above exemplifies what I love about Castle. Richard Castle is enjoying the bizarre perps and collars traipsing through the police department; he's eating snacks and having fun, while Kate just rolls her eyes at both him and the people. They're such total opposites -- Beckett so cool and controlled and Castle like a giddy kid -- and I hope they don't mess it up by having them hook up. I was just reading a story in one of the entertainment mags, where Stana Katic says that, too. She doesn't want them to get together because it's so cliche.

The crime of the week had the usual twist to be figured out. In this case, two murders were committed by "the other guy," meaning two guys who meet on their morning water taxi ride start talking, realize they both want someone dead, and then scheme to kill each others' person. Thus, they would have alibis during the time their own person was murdered.

Anyway, I knew when I heard the husband say, "I didn't say I love you," referring to his last words to his wife, that he was involved in her murder. It's just too lame a thing to say. And he didn't look the least bit anguished about it either.

But the case is really secondary to the other shenanigans, like Castle making a wager with detectives Ryan and Esposito as to whether they or Castle and Beckett will solve their case first. Then Beckett finds out about it, doesn't like it at first, and eventually comes on board.

And being a word-girl, I always enjoy it when Castle makes specific points about words and language. I, too, would be annoyed that the killer would write "your out of time" across the victim's face. "Whoever killed her also murdered the English language," says Castle. Here's a little primer on that particular word usage, so I believe he got that one right, as well. And then there was the use of "tragic" and "ironic," and him having to explain the difference.

So it looks like Beckett's mom's case will be a continuing thread throughout this season. Clearly, she's not as ready to let it go as she would have Castle believe. You knew this when she started talking about how awful it was for the murdered person's loved ones to think their death was random, and then find out it wasn't. "I guess you could say it doesn't matter, the person is still dead ... but it's the why that matters," she tells Castle.

Other stuff:

I still love Castle's "Writer" bullet-proof vest.

Castle thinking that the fight between Martha and Alexis was real, and then finding out they're rehearsing a scene for Martha's call-back.

Castle's reference to Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train, only in this case, it's Strangers on a Boat.

Castle and Beckett strategizing to make the other detectives' perp confess first, by storming into the interrogation room and saying the husband already confessed.

Fun quotes:

"Secrets, murder and gambling ... three of my favorite pastimes." - Castle to Ryan and Esposito

"Nothing smooths rocky like Rocky Road." - Castle to Alexis on her troubles with Owen

"Ah, young love. First banana splits, then splitting assets." - Martha on Alexis and Owen

"That is so ... budding psychopath." - Castle to no one in particular, when Alexis tells them about the "other girl" and her craziness regarding Owen

"Crash was on this morning, followed by Footloose, so I guess anything can happen." - Det. Ryan referring to previous discussions about Crash and Kevin Bacon

[Watch clips and episodes of Castle and other shows on SlashControl.]

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17 Comments

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skytalon

I finally caught up. The caption said it was "budding sociopath", not psychopath. Just wanted to let you know.

I love the show so much. I mean if it wasn't for Nathan Fillion, I wouldn't have even watch the series premiere. I am not a fan of procedural shows because of the gore and stuff. I still get nightmare from the one in CSI with the woman on the klieg light(stumbled into that episode by flipping channel). *shuddering*

October 09 2009 at 8:53 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
O Bloody Hell

> I think the real reason Stana doesn't want Castle and Beckett to get together is because she and Nathan hate each other in real life.

dragongirl, nothing personal, but you really obviously don't grasp personal dynamics well enough.

For her and Castle to hook up would be a disaster to the show, if it wasn't a one-off event to re-introduce tension when they get too comfortable with one another.

The show works partly because of the tension between them -- yeah, you DO want them together, no doubt, and yes, I think they DO belong together. But that changes the nature of the show -- it would no longer be about the murders they solve, with their witty interaction adding spice. It would then be about their relationship as a couple.

The same sort of fan attitude ruined Lois And Clark back in the 90s -- the female fans demanded L&C get together, and the show got cancelled within a year or so when they did. Because it was no longer about L&C and the things they did to get the bad guys -- it was now about their marriage.

As the old saw goes -- if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

The show works as-is, don't connect the two central characters just because you'd like to see it in real life -- it ain't real life, they aren't *actually* people suffering from not being together, and it would ruin the show.

The show works because of the dynamic between them -- the tension, both personal and sexual, and because they ARE attracted to one another, while clearly also at odds because of underlying personality traits.

October 01 2009 at 4:34 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
philly_phenom

I like the feel of the episode - which is a good thing, because this is probably the fifth time I've seen a show use the "Strangers on a Train" storyline, so the ending was pretty predictable.

The opening almost felt like "The Unusuals" which made me smile (but also made me a bit sad). The only thing missing was the dispatcher :)

September 30 2009 at 1:40 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Becky

At this point, the cliche is for the bantering couple to never get together, dragging out their flirting until it's no longer fun for them, the audience or anyone, while TPTB run around yelling, "Moonlighting! Moonlighting!" Whatever. Relationships don't have to ruin lives or shows.

September 29 2009 at 6:31 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jane Boursaw

Oops - thanks, Keith. No wonder that title made no sense to me. Changed it.

September 29 2009 at 5:03 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Jane Boursaw's comment
Gudlyf

Eep you changed the post slug -- no wonder I couldn't come back.

Who's editor here anyway? ;-)

September 30 2009 at 2:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Gudlyf

FYI, the episode title used here is for next week's episode. Whoopsie.

September 29 2009 at 4:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
irish_dragongirl

I think the real reason Stana doesn't want Castle and Beckett to get together is because she and Nathan hate each other in real life.

September 29 2009 at 12:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to irish_dragongirl's comment
Alicia R.

How can you hate Nathan? *shakes head*

September 29 2009 at 2:28 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Nerwen Aldarion

Umm I've read just about any interview that pertains to Castle that I can get my hands on, listened to the commentaries on the DVD between Nathan and Stana and have even followed their twittering, websites and just about anything that you can find about them.

Not once did I find anything that suggested they hate each other. In fact she is the first person to compliment him and vice versa. She doesn't want the couple to get together because she says she wants to "savor the relationship like fine wine" her words not mine.

While I'm of the vernacular that a couple getting together doesn't have to ruin the show, I do agree that season 2 is too soon for the main couple to start dating.

September 30 2009 at 7:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
bjwanlund

FINALLY! A return to light-hearted Castle AT LONG LAST! Seriously though, the "intense episodes" really should be more spread out...

BJ

September 29 2009 at 8:01 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Lorie

LOVE this show! I laughed when the ME told Castle "Eyes off the girls".

September 29 2009 at 7:52 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
gillygirl

I think Fahad meant the second season of "life" so 'went' is correct since the show is in the past now.

September 29 2009 at 7:12 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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