Happy Valentine’s Day Castle Fans! In case your sweetheart forgot, or you are flying solo this year, ABC thought up the perfect way to show their love, a bonus brand new Castle episode! But first, let’s catch up on what happened last Monday!
In Castle’s S8, Winter Premiere, an episode pinned by a Writer’s Room, newcomer, Robert Bella, we are treated to a very familiar dynamic. As many people likened the beginning of S8 to S4, “Tone Death”, had a very S5 flavor to me. Castle and Beckett are back to being together, but not “together”. Side note, Ryan and Espo might be an excellent pair of a Sergeant and a Detective, but their observations skills when it comes to Rick and Kate are lacking!
In true “Castle” fashion we are introduced immediately to our crime scene, in a unfortunate turn of events, this one involves Rick’s beloved mother and fan favorite, Martha. But before we can uncover the how and the why, we jump to Kate and Rick at the loft. I am going on the record of not really liking the tone of this season, but I am glad to see them back together and striving to be honest with each other. Under the guise of her Captain duties, Kate has arranged a rendezvous “lunch meeting”, with Rick, and has been ever so, “productive”. Kate ultimately declares that she is done playing the “lone wolf” and is ready to bring Rick in on all things LokSat as soon as she can. And be honest who wouldn’t want a little “support and comfort”, from one Rick Castle??
It seems as if Martha had called in the cavalry, with Alexis already at her side and Rick arriving as fast as he could. The victim, personally identified as Robin King, an acquaintance of Martha’s, she presses Rick to promise that he will work/solve this one personally! Digging a little deeper into who Robin was, uncovers a slew of unsavory details and suspects.
So off they head to the precinct, to continue digging, and hopefully discover the motive behind Robin’s untimely demise, all the while, gaining more leads to flesh out about Robin’s whereabouts. I am not sure which I love more, Kate calling to check in with Castle, or the S1 Beckett flashback we got, as she exited the elevator!
Then to top it off, we get another display of their less-than stellar acting chops. I have to say that it takes an amazing set of actors to be able to act so well, at being so bad at acting.(If you can follow that sentence, you get a cookie!) But I can definitely see what they meant about the “secret dating”, bringing in a whole new level. I’m not sure we have seen Castle stand up to Beckett at all this season, so that was a nice change. I also love the return to “the boys”, being, “their boys”, poor little Ryan looks so heart broken that “Mom and Dad”, are fighting again!
Still not sure on the “how?”, but Castle joins Espo in interrogation as they press, “Momma”, for the details surrounding her last meet with Robin. They discover that since her time in prison, Robin has been running with a new crew and Castle deduces that that is who Robin must have been meeting up with in Spanish Harlem. Cut to Captain, (professionally) debriefing Castle in the break room, only to have to flip the switch from attraction to aggression in one fell slap! (Noted: Beckett hits hard)
As Castle prepares to leave the now less than hospitable environment that is the 12th, he notices an alert on Robin’s phone in the evidence pile, and in true P.I. fashion, no clue is a bad clue. Except on however, that you cannot interpret. I personally am very pleased to see the bubble cigars have returned and I am glad to see that Alexis is still pitching in at Castle’s P.I. firm. With very firm insistence from Martha, this is truly turning out to be a family affair. I think one of my favorite lines from the entire episode, would have to be Castle’s admittance to, “I don’t speak emoji.” But as usual Alexis is able to use her insight into the world of all things younger than Castle, to help make a break in the case. And nothing, I mean nothing could have prepared them for what they would find! I also have to commend both Alexis and Rick for reaching out for help. (How many times would they have kept themselves from trouble, if they would have just called for backup!?) Even if it was Aca-unnecessary this time? In a page taken straight from the world of, “Pitch Perfect,” Castle and Alexis, much to their delight, stumble upon a clandestine Riff-off set in an abandoned shopping mall.
The search for Robin’s new crew is over, it is discovered that while in prison, Robin formed an acapella group, the Aca-Cons. And while the majority of the group consists of one time offenders, that were members of the NBP (No Backslide Partnership) committed to staying straight, there is an exception to every rule, and that exception’s name is; Agnes.
While out on the hunt for Agnes, Ryan and Esposito confront Rick, about what he has done to encourage the new hostile climate change between Beckett and himself. After denying any wrong doing, (to no avail), Castle admits to having a relationship with a Russian model named Svetlana. And needless to say the boys are anything but happy about it.
Whilst innocent, Agnes is able to shed a little more light on Robin’s more recent whereabouts. Robin had tried to hire her as a bodyguard to ward off someone from the acapella competition. After she was unable to find Robin at the theater, on the night of her death, Agnes figured she would be the prime suspect and ran. (Oh yeah, and the boys are still mad at “Dad” for cheating on “Mom”)
So off the team heads to gather information from the acapella competition that the Aca-Cons were preparing for. As Ryan and Kate head off to search Robin’s dressing room, Espo and Rick set about interviewing potential witnesses. However, some are less than willing to cooperate leading to an epic sing off between Esposito and Chad Danforth? Ha! But really, Corbin Bleu guest stars as a rival acapellaist, Hunter, proving that in acapella, we might not be all in this together. Ryan and Beckett are able to find more clues to fill in the time frames leading up to Robin’s death, and Ryan seeks to comfort Beckett in her time of need. He admits to being crushed at Castle’s revelation of Svetlana, and is no less devastated when Kate throws her lie into the mix. Two can play at this game, Kate reveals that she too is seeing some one, a Dr. Livingstone, I presume…
Quick question: Why do the suspects ALWAYS run? Not that I am complaining about getting to see an epic take down like this!
It is soon discovered that the competition was fixed to block the Aca-Cons out of a winning spot, Robin confronted the head judge, Dr. Larson and Hunter, threatening to go the Nation Board with the news of the fix. When suddenly and almost without explanation, Robin agrees to let the indiscretion slide, as long as Larson declined the bribe, and gave her a copy of the Aca-Cons’ introduction reel.
Following the leads that Robin herself gathered, the team puts the puzzle together of exactly what happened to Robin on the night of her arrest. With Castle away, conducting the more “less-than” legal investigations, Rysposito assures Beckett, that she is granted “custody” of them in the break-up. Beckett calls in Robin’s arresting officer, to answer some questions that she has about the case. When his answers don’t all add up, it is clear that he was in on the cover up to frame Robin for the actions of someone else. Once again, Alexis shows off her skills, and hacks the photo account that holds all of the answers that they are looking for.
When questioned about how Linda, a co-founder of NBP, met Robin, she stated that it was through the prison system, however the photos on that account, told a different story. She had met Robin the night of the car theft and subsequent crash that landed Robin in the hospital and then later taking the fall for the theft, in prison. After admitting to fleeing the scene, Beckett accuses Linda, of killing Robin, to prevent the truth from coming to light about her involvement. Linda vehemently denies the accusation, claiming that she has already come clean on all of her wrong doings. It is soon discovered, that the only other person that knew about the car accident and the cover up was Linda’s husband, the other co-founder of NBP. In efforts to preserve all that he and Linda had worked for, he confronted Robin, which became physical, and unfortunately lead to Robin’s death. Martha, understandably angry, shows him, that Kate isn’t the only one that can do some damage. (Go Martha!)
I also love how proud Castle consistently is of the people in his life. I know he is just a character, but it takes an amazing person to be able to recognize greatness in everyone around him. 
With the case wrapped, and Rick’s excuse to be at the 12th drawing swiftly to a close, the boys make it ever so clear that they’ve got Beckett’s back in this, not Castle’s. Castle seems to take it in stride as he suddenly remembers his hot date with “Svetlana” and rushes off to get ready. They offer their listening services to Kate in case she needs to talk it out, but she declines and hurries off to her date with “Dr. Livingstone”, leaving the boys to wonder where is all went wrong.
What do “Svetlana” and “Dr. Livingstone” have in store for us? Drop me a line in the comments, tweet me @camifaith_fn and on tumblr at drinkingcastleskoolaid.tumblr.com! Or find out tonight at 10|9C, with ABC’s Valentine’s special showing of 08.10, “Witness for the Prosecution”! And don’t miss ” Castle” 08.11 – “Dead Red”, tomorrow at its regularly scheduled time.
Happy Watching!
Tonight’s Ep: “Witness for the Prosecution” – Tonight at 10|9central! Come join the liveblogging conversation on Twitter!
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