ABC

“Bad Santa” 07.10 – Castle

I will have to admit to fangirling a more than average amount when early on in the season Rob Kyker confirmed via Twitter, that we were indeed going to get another Christmas episode this year! That added to my realization that the episode would be post wedding and a Creasey episode, you could say that my expectations were high! As much as I love nearly every episode, I’ve found those penned by Chad and Dara to be among the top of my favorites list!

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With the usual show opening kill, we are introduced both to our victim and the title’s namesake, our “Bad Santa”. I guess he was really taking that whole “Naughty and Nice List” stuff seriously this year! Another S7 aspect that I am loving is the family time! We’ve seen Kate at the loft since season 5, but I love the moments of interaction with both Alexis and Martha this season! It really drives home Lanie’s sentiment from “Like Father, Like Daughter”:

“Perfect families don’t exist. It’s going to be up to you to make your baggage match their baggage, it’s up to you to make your own history.” – Lanie Parish

What I can’t believe is, that we haven’t heard of the Castle Family Holiday Poem before now, and I feel a little bitter about not having those every year! But Kate’s face, demeanor, and reactions through the entire scene had me rolling! When Castle brings up the deadline, Katic really pulls off nauseated well! One of my favorite lines of the season has to be, “What word rhymes with, ‘I’m screwed’?” However, the overall message that this episode gave me was the sense that Kate finally has closure on her mom. This is the first Christmas since apprehending Bracken, and it is truly a delight to see Kate be able to immerse herself in not only her new family, but in their traditions. She is allowing herself, for the first time in 15 years to enjoy Christmas.imageedit_6_8516355995

Onto our crime scene; I love that Kate’s backstory is so well-known, that Castle teasing her about it is canon! I also love that in spite of the situation at hand, this is probably one of the first times we have seen Javi being anything less than a jerk to Castle for the entire season. With the victim identified, as Eric Mercer, an E.R. doctor, that was taking care of an ailing older relative, he hardly seems a candidate for the naughty list!

If you’ve ever read my recaps before, you know how big a fan I am of a well-developed sub-plot lines; this includes the both the story and the characters! So I was completely delighted to have not one, but two to follow along with! I will come right out and state my seemingly unpopular opinion, I never thought “Esplanie” worked, at least not well. Unfortunately, the chemistry has always paled in comparison to Kate and Rick. (Yes, I know I set impossible standards!)(And there is always the transit cop from 07.08….) As uncomfortable as Javi has made Castle as of late, I was really excited to see him squirm! For a tough detective with a ‘nothing fazes me’ attitude, Lanie’s meet the parents proposition stopped him dead in his tracks, then when it escalates to her actual favor, I think stunned is the best way to describe his reaction!

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L: “I’ll be lying to them too, but I’ve been doing it longer!”   J: “Wow….”

 

With our detectives digging deeper into our suspect, we find that maybe Mercer wasn’t as ‘nice’ as he originally seemed. With no ailing uncle to be found, and his only connection with the missing time at work, only connecting him to a known front for organized crime. Kate and Rick made the trek out to Queens to put the pieces together, there they find a complete surgical suite and with that the connection between Mercer and a possible motive for murder.

With mob consultants brought in, Rick’s past come in handy as well when a POI turns out to be none other than one of his sources from the Derek Storm days. With Rick leading the way, they are off to get more information about our “family doctor” (Sidenote: Jealous Kate is one of my favorites!!) I appreciate that she seemed more frustrated with the girl than with Castle, and I love that no matter the situation or location, that Castle loves bragging about his wife! However, Rick’s connections seem to be a dead-end, or at least an unwilling one, even though they obviously knew more than they let on. With a call just in time, Ryan and Espo uncover a connection between the Carlucci family and our crime scene. Yet, even with a suspect in custody, the team is no closer to solving the case.

That is when Rick’s connections come back into action, with one phone call Rick heads to off to a very warned against meeting with Dino Scarpella. As fleeting as the moment between Kate and Rick was, it was such a nod to her desperation from earlier this season, she wants him with her, because in her mind that is where they are both the safest. Once Rick has assured Dino of his “allegiance”, Dino acknowledges that Eric was more than just the “family” doctor, but that he was in fact family,  thusly, he has more than a vested interest in finding Eric’s killer. However, Dino let it be known that no one in the business would be willing to cooperate with law enforcement, that is where the loophole of Rick’s status comes in. With an oath in blood, (ewww) Rick makes the deal, with the caveat that when the suspect is apprehended, he can call Beckett and Eric’s murderer will be brought to justice, in the legal sense. Again Rick plays on Beckett’s past to get her to agree to him reopening the investigation, he knows that she will seek justice for the victim, at nearly any cost. Her concordance comes with a set of stipulations all her own. 1) Gates doesn’t find out that they are re-investigating a closed case 2) Rick is to keep her in the loop on EVERYTHING.

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“You’re blood now Rick, you’re family. Do not let me down.”

 

The B-plot reemerges to provide a little levity to a thus far tense episode. Javi’s meeting the parents face gives me life! I swear his voice went up at least two octaves! As a ‘hugger’ myself, I already kind of love Lanie’s parents! I also have so much appreciation for the Ryan/Espo bromance, and this episode was such a great example of why, it also is a perfect opportunity for Castle Jr. to spin his own story. Not only stepping up with an engagement story on the spot, but convincingly selling it to the parents?! You go Glen Coco!

With Castle vetted, by both sides he continues the investigation from on the inside, Christopher points him in the direction of CyberRita, even the mob needs their own tech specialist. It is uncovered that Eric might have been less than truthful with Uncle Dino and Christopher, instead of asking for the original tapping equipment, he settles on hot credit cards, in hopes to procure a get-away car.

Completely personal opinion moment

I honestly want to think that the Javi/Castle problem comes from a place of significance, because I need for there to be a reason for Javi’s deplorable attitude. Castle has proven himself time and time again. Castle and Kate are back to a great place. Castle will abide by the consequences of his actions…. Javier, back off!!

With the lab results back, Castle and Kate head off to find the elusive blue backpack, and with that backpack, another facet of an already perplexing case. With all signs pointing to another victim, the team is now on the search for yet another body, strengthening someone’s motive for murdering Eric.

Who would have guessed that the loudest biological clock on the show would have been Espo’s. As funny as the fauxgaement plot is, I am so glad that the writers took the opportunity to let Javier ask himself some of the deeper questions. We have gotten glimpses of him and a little of his backstory, but it is nice to see him thinking of his future, and possibly his future with Lanie.

With a combination of a little detective work and some mob info, it is discovered that Eric had actually done work on a member of a rival family. Work that didn’t end so favorably for either party it seems. Our second victim is identified as Lucca Tessaro, who somehow ended up on a Carlucci operating table. It is also exposed that this was not Lucca’s first run-in with the family. Lucca’s connection to the Carlucci’s came through and continues through Dino’s daughter Jane. With Jane’s bracelet found at the scene of Lucca’s shooting, Rick returns to Dino to question Jane’s involvement, it seems to be touch and go for our beloved writer, until Jane reluctantly admits to a Romeo and Juliet-esque relationship. In the midst of Dino’s shock, Rick continues to question and press Jane for information. It is also revealed that there was someone within the Tessaro organization that was making a move for power, explaining why someone might have wanted Lucca out of the way.

Back at the precinct, Javi delivers the information that ultimately cracks the case, there has been a hit on the stolen credit cards. Following that lead Castle and Beckett find none other than Lucca Tessaro. In an elaborate ruse to try and leave the “life” Eric had faked his own death after being shot in a set-up by a rival that was looking to move in on his family’s territory.

With more leads to go on the team regroups at the precinct only to find themselves at a dead-end thanks to international banking laws. But luckily, Rick’s new “friend” CyberRita has a (probably) less than legal way around those! Her digging combined with the expertise and connections of the NYPD lead us to the person that created the account for the funds taken from the Carlucci family’s territory. None other than our NYPD mob consult, Detective McBride, who might have a hard time worming out of the multiple charges he managed to wrack up. Beckett throwing the handcuffs at him was literally the icing on the corrupt cake!bs -05

With Lucca and Jane safe, and Eric’s murderer headed to prosecution, Dino and the boys make a surprise visit to the precinct to thank Rick for all that he had done to help the “family”. In the spirit of goodwill, Dino gives Jane and Lucca’s relationship his blessing, and tells Rick that from now on the families will be united. (Cue the warm and fuzzy mob feelings….?) But the statement that stuck out to me was that Dino was now in Castle’s debt, and I can’t help but think that this favor will be called upon when we revisit the subject of Rick’s disappearance.

As much as the fandom totes the amazing character development of Kate and Rick, I feel like Javier and Lanie, stole their thunder this episode. It was so nice to see Javi actually take something seriously, a glimpse that we very rarely see. I loved his monologue, especially the honesty behind it. It was really some amazing writing:

“It made me think seriously about us, and where we are… Lanie, being fake engaged to you made me realize how great we are together; but not the way that your parents are, or Castle and Beckett, or Ryan and Jenny… I’m crazy about you too, just not in that way. And you deserve what they have.” – Javier Esposito

With all the hope that had been built up from the previous scene, it was about to be all dashed away in the next moment of dazzling character development. It is will a very visibly torn heart that Gates privately informs Mr. Castle that Detective McBride was taken out on his way to central booking and that Rick’s mob involvement did not go unnoticed by the D.A. Resulting in the unfortunate turn of events that Rick is “no longer permitted to work with the NYPD”. Castle’s speechlessness is such a testament to the gravity of the order that has been handed down. But I commend the character choice of him remaining stoically supportive of Kate, for the aforementioned reason of her actually enjoying Christmas again.

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“I am so sorry, Mr. Castle, but the D.A. spoke to the Mayor, and.. You are no longer permitted to work with the NYPD.”

I see no better place to leave this article with than with the penned words of Kate Beckett:

“This has been an epic year. Life’s been full of joy and tears. Solving crimes and catching killers, just like Castle’s famous thrillers. We share a passion every day as partners go, we’re here to stay.”

While I know this review is more than a little belated, I hope you guys enjoyed this one as much as I did! I’d love to hear what you are all thinking about the current P.I. arc! Drop me a line in the comments, tweet me @camifaith_fn and on tumblr at drinkingcastleskoolaid.tumblr.com!

Next Episode: “Resurrection” – February 9 @ 10/9central! Come over and join the liveblogging conversation on Twitter!

All image and gif content courtesy of ABC and Castle, gifs courtesy of drinkingcastleskoolaid

About author(s)

CamiFaith

Cami is a Fangirl first, a blogger second, and a Castle addict, always. Castle blogger for FANdemonium, and Castle Room Host for BeamlyUS. Books are her escape, music is her therapy, and Tumblr is her happy place. Follow her on Twitter (@camifaith_FN and @camifaith), Instagram and Tumblr (@drinkingcastleskoolaid).

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