“Montreal” was one of those episodes that kept me guessing, very nearly til the end! I remember watching it and saying, “This episode is called ‘Montreal’ he has to go there sometime!!” 
What a welcome back that reporter gave him! Nothing says “Welcome Home” like a scathing interview, I have a feeling that Rick is going to feel the same distrust and aversion to the press that Kate has for the entirety of their partnership! However, Castle is able to turn it around for his own devices, offering up a $250,000 reward for anyone that comes forward with reputable information about his whereabouts for these past two months. I especially like the line choice about Rick not being able to do that to his family or his fiancee, it defends his stance of not knowing what has happened! It is made even better by Castle using the NYPD’s resources to help field the new stream of information or better yet, misinformation. Plus it gave us this little gem!
The case is one of those that is just so “Castle”, I mean he is a nine year old on a sugar rush! I loved that he was back to his normal, goofy self, however, I retain the right to be suspicious. So with the untimely demise of our toymaker, Castle is back on the case, with “a mystery he might be able to solve!”
Side note: ESPLANIE IS BACK!
The case served as the moments of comedic relief that were needed from the heavy and much intended weight of the episode. It was great to see that Ryan’s role as “Castle Jr.” was something that the two of them could slip back into easily. But as we see from the Lanie/Beckett sequence, (We need more of these scenes!) not everything can ever be “just like it was.” I commend the writers for showing us that Kate is still struggling with her decision, but ultimately chooses to trust her heart and what she knows about Castle, in spite of what the evidence and her cop instinct is telling her.
“Are you ready to hear the truth?” And a collective YES comes crying from all Castle fans! However, with this show… things are never that easy, answers must be worked for and earned! And they certainly haven’t been by the 12 minute mark! But this information payoff was a hilarious nod to both Fillion’s days as a space cowboy and the much argued for wedding in space!
I also like the trend this season of fleshing out the current stories of all of the supporting cast! Martha is dating, Ryan is struggling from new daddy stresses, Espo and Lanie are back together, and Alexis and Kate seem closer than ever! It is a subtle way of reminding everyone, that even with Castle gone, life went on.
One of the tip phone calls finally pays off, when photographic proof show up of Castle in Montreal, with….. Fake Jenkins! Alexis might just be the next Detective to come out of the Castle family! Her quick thinking ties the mystery key into the bank location in Montreal, and with a small amount of pleading, Alexis and Castle are off on their next great adventure, with the threat from Kate, that Alexis’ presence should stop Castle from doing anything stupid….
Well that doesn’t actually stop him, with the famous last words of, “I have a plan!” The are granted access to the safety deposit box room, and through no lack of suspense are able to open box #38. The contents being three letters; one addressed to Kate, one to Alexis, and lastly, one to Martha. Inside contain SD cards with what Rick had assumed would be his final words to the three most important women in his life. From what was said in Kate’s video, I can only imagine what was said on the other two.
“Kate, if you’re seeing this, well if you’re seeing this, I’m probably dead. I want you to know I never intended to leave you, not like this, not on our wedding day. But it wasn’t my choice, I wish I could tell you what’s going on, I wish I could explain. But just know that I love you, I’ve always loved you. Always.”
I feel like a key line, that was set to parallel what is going on with Castle is when Kate, in the context of the case, replies, “Every answer just leads to more questions.” And as much as I love that dog for solving the case…. Castle is right about the nun in a previous life!! But Caskett getting interrupted is time honored, so we go with it for now!
With Kate occupied tracking down whomever was smuggling the drugs into the toy factory, Castle is left up to his own devices. And in the most desperate move I’ve seen Castle make since “Hunt”, he is off on is own with an address and a mission. Cue “Fake Jenkins”, who appears seemingly out of the blue. Satisfied that Castle remembers nothing, and dead set that it remains that way. He holds the information that Rick now seeks, however, he is under request from Castle himself to keep it concealed. Castle ensuring this request even further by telling him, if asked, remind him of Hollander’s Woods. So now that leads to even more questions! What happened to Castle for the past 2 months and what happened that February day when Castle was 11? Is there more truth to his backstory than was previously implied?
As hard as Castle asking to forget is to swallow, it is made easier by his revelation that he must have done it so it would be safe to come home to Kate. Nevertheless, I feel like this Rick is not going to let this mystery go unsolved.
There is so much character development in the final scene!! Kate equating this to her mother’s case and how the not knowing consumed her. But Castle knew and made the choice to forget, to protect her and their future together. Which Rick in a grasping of straws is ready to jump into immediately, to find something familiar that he can hold onto. Kate has been there, in that place, and she knows that getting married for that reason is wrong and doesn’t honor everything that they’ve been through. Though she assures him that they will get married and that she’s here. And not going anywhere. Her call back to the “solid ground” line from Alexis’ graduation speech definitely caused a lump in my throat.
AND THEY’VE RESET THE WEDDING DATE! – We have one month to wait Castle fans!! A November wedding it is!
Gif content courtesy of ABC Studios Gif credit to drinkingcastleskoolaid.tumblr.com
(In spite of what he knows… this does not look like the face of a man who has come to peace with the situation! Yay for a new mythology!)
Want to talk about the episode? Drop a line in the comments or reach me on Twitter @camifaith_fn and on tumblr at drinkingcastleskoolaid.tumblr.com! I would love to hear from you!
How can you arrest something you can’t see? Will even Beckett be a believer this time?? Be sure to tune in Monday, October 13th, for 07.03 – “Clear and Present Danger”
