I am completely torn about this episode. On the one hand, ‘Countdown’was intense, suspenseful and a solid narrative; on the other hand, however, I am so incredibly frustrated because it feels like we had taken three steps forward with the past few episodes and then ten steps back last night on the Castle/Beckett front. Just when I thought we were finally getting somewhere, The Powers That Be pulled the rug from right under my feet and I am not happy about it. At all.
The episode started right where ‘Setup’left off, which was great. Captain Montgomery is working with Fallon to find the bomb and Castle and Beckett are stuck in the freezer with no possible way of getting out any time soon. If the situation wasn’t so straining, I bet Castle would have cracked a Titanic joke there. Alexis and Martha came back home and couldn’t reach Castle, so the teenager called Ryan, concerned about her dad.
Back in the freezer, things are getting really dangerous really fast and Castle and Beckett are on the verge of unconsciousness. So we get this really great dialogue in which Beckett opens up to Castle and thanks him for being there for her and starts to tell him that she wants him to know how much she… and then she passes out. Let’s assume she was going to say that she loved him — we know that whatever it was, it started with an L — and that she felt that this was her last chance to tell him that. It made sense; after all, they were about to die in there.
It was all very bittersweet and I am sure that every Caskett shipper was swooning about that scene. Then they get rescued and Josh, of all people, shows up; he didn’t go to Haiti after all. I still didn’t understand why he was in the ambulance in the first place, but whatever, he is a doctor and he is technically Kate’s boyfriend, so I overlooked that detail.
Castle and Beckett lock eyes and he asks her what Motorcycle Boy’s return means to their relationship. And right then and there was when I felt a little cheated because Kate smiles and says that maybe it means that she and Josh have a chance.
What. The. Hell.
This is the girl that less than an hour before was (supposedly) professing her love for Castle. Now she is all giddy and smiley because her always absent boyfriend returned — I’m assuming it was only because his flight to Haiti was canceled — to rescue her. So really, TPTB, what am I supposed to take from that? Is this the same girl that you have been doing an amazing job with character development this entire season? Because with just one line you set them back to late season 2. The look on Castle’s face was heartbreaking.
From that point on, I was slightly peeved about the whole thing. The episode in itself was great; the suspense, the build up to the climax, the whole package was typical Castle. Except for the whole character development thing, which just happens to be what this show does best. It was frustrating that an episode that was surrounded by so much hype failed to deliver in the one aspect that I believe the majority of the fans enjoy the most.
I know some people were expecting some grand gesture or proclamation of undying love and all that. I wasn’t, to be honest, because I know that’s not how this show rolls. It’s all about subtext and reading between the lines. I understand what they did from a storytelling standpoint, I really do. I understand, but I don’t like it. What was wrong with continuing with the way things were? Slow progress is better than retreating.
I give praise to TPTB for trying to do a 24-like installment. Things were intense throughout the episode, but there were a few things that bugged me.
First, for two people who nearly died of hypothermia, Beckett and Castle recovered remarkably fast;
Second, I know that Castle always has great insights and all, but it felt like he had all the good ideas in this episode. I’m sorry, but I don’t buy it. No matter how many books he has written or how long he has been following the detective around, they (the NYPD and DHS) are still more experienced in this sort of situation. It bothered me that he was the only one to come up with ideas while Beckett stood in the background.
Third, I won’t even get into how cliché the whole stopping the bomb at the last possible second was, but what Castle did was incredibly stupid. I know this is TV and it’s fiction, but a procedural show like Castle is firmly rooted in reality. I am no bomb expert by any means, but I’m sure that pulling all the wires would have caused the whole thing to go off in the real world. Sure, that allowed for a great Castle/Beckett moment, but still, it fell a little flat for me.
After they saved the world — or just NYC — everyone goes back to the precinct to celebrate. Agent Fallon congratulates them on a job well done and the trio makes amends. I actually quite liked Agent Fallon this time around, even more after learning his motivations to save everybody (his wife died in one of the towers at 9/11). Then Castle and Beckett have another moment and he is about to say something meaningful when he sees Motorcycle Boy coming towards them. So he backpedals and leaves a confused Kate behind. What saved that scene — and let’s face it, the episode — for me was that even though Josh is all over her, she is looking at Castle leaving, confusion and regret written all over her face.
Or maybe that’s just my positive thinking.
Bottom line is that ‘Countdown’was a solid episode. It gets a B+ for effort. But I really didn’t like what they did with the Josh storyline and not only because I want Castle and Beckett to get together as soon as possible. I didn’t like how they portrayed Kate as a woman who can’t make up her mind. She is my favorite character and they have always presented her as an independent, strong willed, intelligent woman.
Here’s hoping this was just a blip and won’t happen again. That last scene — while it was incredibly frustrating because it felt like the Demming arc all over again — gave me hope that maybe Kate is finally starting to realize just how much Castle cares about her and that her feelings for him aren’t one-sided. It’s hard not to notice that the man is utterly smitten with her. The scene in the freezer and the one in the ambulance when he wakes up asking for her more than proved that.
Now, come on, Beckett. The ball is in your court now, girl. Do something about it.
Mr. Marlowe and co., please don’t disappoint me. I didn’t like feeling cheated and jerked around like I felt last night. Don’t let it happen again. Please.
So what did you think of ‘Countdown’? Go vent your frustrations or gush about the episode in our Castle Forum.
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The bomb part wasn’t that bad, only the action of Castle broke the “movie-bomb” cliché a bit (big timer, different colored wires, disabling it at the last second… etc…).
By pulling all the wires, there was a chance to blow it up (due to short-circuit), a “almost certain” chance, but, there was still a very small chance to save the day, and between that and letting it blow up, Castle went for it.
Seeing Castle’s history, that was exactly what i expected him to do, it wouldn’t be “Castle” if someone else came in at the last minute and saved the day by doing it the “right way”.
Thank you for this! This is the first review I've read that closely reflects what I think about the episode and why I have such mixed feelings about it.
I'd like to add that they've now written themselves into a corner, because going forward from here will be tough to do in a satisfactory way.
Did anyone catch the Jack Bauer reference with two bad guys names? That was way to obvious to be coincidence given the storyline.
One guy named Jack and the other Bauer? It was impossible not to! LOL
The bomb part wasn't that bad, only the action of Castle broke the "movie-bomb" cliché a bit (big timer, different colored wires, disabling it at the last second… etc…).
By pulling all the wires, there was a chance to blow it up (due to short-circuit), a "almost certain" chance, but, there was still a very small chance to save the day, and between that and letting it blow up, Castle went for it.
Seeing Castle's history, that was exactly what i expected him to do, it wouldn't be "Castle" if someone else came in at the last minute and saved the day by doing it the "right way".
Exactly. Of course it probably would just set the bomb off, but not doing nothing would DEFINITELY set the bomb off, so what was there to lose?
I just watched the episode, and I've got to ask. Why does everyone assume ripping out all the wires should make the bomb explode? If there are anti tampering measures like fail switches, redundant circuitry, motion detectors, etc., I buy it. But there is no requirement that those things be involved. It's a movie trope that all bombs are hard to disable.
Just my thoughts.
Yes, I get that. That's exactly what I assume he was thinking too. I guess they were just lucky nothing happened.
Yeah, that's why Esposito said "you don't know how lucky you are", and Castle says "yes I do" — but his statement has the double meaning of the bomb and having Beckett in his life. That's also why the Captain said "I didn't have the heart to tell the mayor (or was it the governor?) that you didn't have a clue what you were doing." It's supposed to be absolute dumb luck. A last-second act of desperation that just happened to work, and they all realize it. Nothing to "guess" about it.
Thanks! I couldn't put my finger on why I was kind of annoyed with Beckett last night and it did almost take me out of the episod too. You nailed it exactly, that fan girly response about Josh really was OOC, and just threw me for a bit, I would have expected a "don't know or we'll see". She's the one who "hold's it close to the vest, is not a sharer". That was the exact moment, that threw me, thanks for helping clear that up for me. And I'm not a die hard must "ship" now, I'm quite content with the pace set so far, and quite happy to follow at AM's pace, I just don't like OOC moments.
I didn't mind the pulling the wires out, yeah last possible second was a bit cliche but they were going for the "24" ish feel. It was going to blow up anyway, so what do you have to lose at that point and the way he did it was totally Castle and his response was totally Castle, so I actually liked that part alot.
While I agree with some of the sentiments in this review, the disappointment the reviewer felt is entirely based upon two misunderstandings.
The first is that Beckett was going to say "I love you" in the freezer. That's a HUGE assumption, and would have been extremely poor writing if it were true. Totally not in character for her, she does NOT know that she's so much in love with him. Since it was not clearly said, it's hugely presumptive to base your disappointment in what came after on something you don't even know she was going to say.
The second is that Josh came back because his flight was cancelled. Um, no? Where do you get that idea? It was never said in the episode, there's nothing about the airports being shut down due to a terrorist threat. Quite the opposite, they were trying to keep it quiet to prevent panic. Shutting down airports due to a terrorist threat would most definitely have CAUSED a panic. When Castle says to Josh that he thought he was in Haiti, he only replies "I didn't go."
The intended implication from this is that he CHOSE to not go because he knew it was bothering Beckett, that he's decided to be more serious about their relationship. In that context, it's completely appropriate for Beckett to think that maybe they now have a chance.
Go ahead and be disappointed if you want, that's your right, but try not to base it on things that DIDN'T HAPPEN.
I fixed the Josh part in the review. I only watched the episode once late last night and I guess my exhausted brain made that up.
About the whole love thing, of course I’m assuming, and I’d bet that TPTB wanted us to assume exactly that. Why would they go to such lengths as to have Beckett say “I just want you to know how much I l…”? They want to create this entire frenzy that has taken over the fandom today. If people are disappointed or not, it doesn’t matter, they’re still discussing the show exhaustingly.
My biggest problem with the episode (and I never said I was disappointed with it) was the way they wrote Beckett. It felt like she was completely OOC at times and since she’s my favorite character, it really stood out for me.
All in all, it was a good episode. It was just the relationship aspect that I wasn’t entirely happy with.
I fixed the Josh part in the review. I only watched the episode once late last night and I guess my exhausted brain made that up.
About the whole love thing, of course I'm assuming, and I'd bet that TPTB wanted us to assume exactly that. Why would they go to such lengths as to have Beckett say "I just want you to know how much I l…"? They want to create this entire frenzy that has taken over the fandom today. If people are disappointed or not, it doesn't matter, they're still discussing the show exhaustingly.
My biggest problem with the episode (and I never said I was disappointed with it) was the way they wrote Beckett. It felt like she was completely OOC at times and since she's my favorite character, it really stood out for me.
All in all, it was a good episode. It was just the relationship aspect that I wasn't entirely happy with.
Honestly, I didn't get that 'out of character' vibe at all. Beckett's been dating this guy at least six months, and clearly has some emotional investment built up. She's also been aware of her own feelings for Castle even longer than that, but after season 2 she put those feelings away, presumably resolved not to let them out again, and Beckett is not one to drop a resolve like that easily. These last few episodes, that's been getting harder to do, but then suddenly her boyfriend of half a year backs out of a major trip, for her? (Airports would not have been closed: that would be far too public and panic-inducing. As far as we know, it was Josh's decision to stay.) She broke up with Will because he chose work over her, and went to Boston. Josh has just put Kate ahead of his work, and that says a lot, especially with Kate's history. She dumped Demming to take a chance with Castle. She's not going to do that with Josh, or at least not easily.
I strongly doubt she was going to tell Castle she loved him. Yes, we were meant to think of that possibility, but not to take it as said.
At the end, though, I agree absolutely: from the moment she realizes why Castle changed the end of his sentence, that expression on her face was full of regret at not hearing what Castle was about to say. And again, it's in character. Something had changed between the start of the show and the end of it, and it's all in her eyes in the seconds before the bomb is set to blow: she's holding Castle's hand, looks into his eyes, and kind of smiles. It's as if there was a moment of clarity. They're both about to die, but that expression says, if they must die, at least they're together…
And then they don't die. It wasn't a stupid move to pull the wires, by any means! Chance the bomb will blow if he does nothing: 100%. Chance it will blow if he tries something desperate: very, very slightly less than 100%. The second option is better.
Fresh off of that, how can she not feel some regret at missing what Castle was going to say?
I really loved this one, and for all the Caskett disappointment people have been talking about, the episode left me with a wonderful sense of hope. These two are just getting closer and closer and closer to taking that leap.
I agree completely, except that I was disappointed in the episode.
In terms of the action/adventure/mystery, it was very well written. Edge-of-the-seat all along.
The relationship part made me angry and ready to give up. Marlowe very deliberately brought them three times (including the tent conversation in part 1) to the edge of finally being honest with each other and three times through a manipulated contrivance kept them from talking. Unlike my kitty, I don't enjoy being teased with what I want only to have it pulled away at the last minute.
This was nowhere near as good as Knockdown.
I agree with you… but, thinking positively, i'm just relieved this happened now and not as a finale episode. If anything this type of episode lays the groundwork of totally obvious mutual attraction. Now having faced death so many times, I really think Castle will do something, say something… actual somethings. My hope is, however, that Beckett come to her own realization that Josh is not for her. Let's remember their personalities. Beckett is a closed book. Castle expresses himself on a serious note when he writes. I think it's a frustrating episode that will ultimately pay-off in the end :)
"but, thinking positively, i'm just relieved this happened now and not as a finale episode. If anything this type of episode lays the groundwork of totally obvious mutual attraction."
So true! When they were bickering over directions in the car, trying to find the van, they felt so much like a married couple – it felt like a quick flash to the future. Yeah, Josh is still in the picture, but the look on Kate's face watching Castle leave at the end, I see plenty of room for a Caskett shipper to feel completely optimistic.
Parts of this are true but, the whole assumpion that Josh’s flight was cancelled doesn’t by me. I’m not trying to sound mean, I just trying to tell you my opinion is all :)
It sounds weird, but I know EVERYONE is entitled to their own opinion but sometimes when I read reviews like this it makes me feel that people don’t fully appreciate the show for what it is. These actors and actresses and (I hope) Andrew Marlowe are busting their butts to deliever an awesome episode each week and without fail, they do. Please don’t get me wrong, sometimes we may not be happy about how a certain someone acted or how this should have happened but there is always time. Time for amazing things to happen, I think Andrew M has alot more up his sleeve than he is leading us to believe ;) People might tell me to stop reading things like this if it doesn’t make me happy or something along those lines…but I value Lucianas opinion very much!!! :D
I thought the Bomb scene was brilliant! Perfect build up to what was to become an intense scene, but if Castle just stood there and let his Beckett die and also let himself die when he has a daughter and mother at home, he would have been made out to be quite stupid for doing that! Heck, it was risky business pulling those wires in the first place cuz I was waiting for it to go tick, tick, tick…BOOM! (aha hint hint, last season:P) but he TRIED. Thats what matters most I think :) If it were me I would have done the same thing, stupid as it sounds but I would really prefer to be known for trying to save myself and others than being known of someone who could have tried o stop it but didnt even attempt to. :D
Anyone else notice how heartbreaking Fallon face was when he told beckett he was sorry? Made me think that he had grown to like two people and for them and a whole city, to be wiped out because of Him. Also he probably thought back to his wife that was killed in 9/11…he was on the phone to her too when tower 2 collapsed and he couldn’t save her :(
I don’t know if anyone agrees with whatever I’ve said, I thought Fallon was an excellent cop and I hope the actor either returns or gets his own show (not a spin off though!) because I’ll defiently tune in ;)
I’m not trying to sound mean, ’cause natually I’m just not like that…I just wanted to share my thoughts with you guys and let just hope season 4 double parter is as intense and amazing as “Countdown” was!!!!! BRING IT ON! :D :D
Agreed 100%. But taking everything aside I believe “SetUp / Countdown” was far from being the best dramatic eps of Castle. Last season’s two parter, “3xK” and “Knockdown” were all much better. I was left disappointed by this two parter. As far as Caskett goes I do think the writers have to get somewhere and quick, the fear that putting them together will be bad for the show is only true if the writers F it up, let’s get creative people!
Yes, the writers are going to drag us the full distance. Yes it can get worse, as anyone who got caught up in the Sci-Fi love story Farscape can tell you. Writers can, with great sadistic joy, send their characters to the opposite ends of the universe and even when they get all the way back, even to the point of mutual declaration of feelings, shatter them into a million pieces and spill the piees helplessly into the ocean on a remote planet for the -MOST FRUSTRATING SERIES FINALE EVER.
– so I’m willing to wait it out a bit for Rick and Kate.
Castle knows what he feels – but despite his image is a gentleman who respects Kate’s choices and feelings.
Kate, if that look she gives him as he makes his long lonely way back to the precinct elevator is any indication, is aware of her feelings for him, and that she is in fact, in the arms of the wrong man.
She is aware of this now, or should be, being a detective and all.
About why Josh was there: Last episode they were at odds because Beckett asked him not to go away again (Haiti) but to stay in NY with her. Since they didn’t close the airports (they wanted to keep quiet there was a bomb threat), I assume he reconsidered and stayed behind because she asked him to. That is why she said that they now have a chance.
As to why he was with the paramedics, Esposito said they assumed Beckett was with Castle until Josh phoned the station looking for her. Since Alexis had called earlier that she couldn’t get in touch with Castle, this told Esposito and Ryan that they were both missing and they went looking for her.
I thought Beckett was going to say “I love your books and they got me through my mother’s murder” in the freezer. I doubt she knows what her feelings are for Castle himself yet.
About why Josh was there: Last episode they were at odds because Beckett asked him not to go away again (Haiti) but to stay in NY with her. Since they didn't close the airports (they wanted to keep quiet there was a bomb threat), I assume he reconsidered and stayed behind because she asked him to. That is why she said that they now have a chance.
As to why he was with the paramedics, Esposito said they assumed Beckett was with Castle until Josh phoned the station looking for her. Since Alexis had called earlier that she couldn't get in touch with Castle, this told Esposito and Ryan that they were both missing and they went looking for her.
I thought Beckett was going to say "I love your books and they got me through my mother's murder" in the freezer. I doubt she knows what her feelings are for Castle himself yet.
I didn’t think what Castle did about the bomb was stupid at all. If you think about it, the bomb was about to go off anyway so why not take that one last hail mary pass and pull out all the wires. If he did nothing, they would have died and the city would have been contaminated, there was no guarantee it would have worked but even if it didn’t at least he would have died trying.
I didn't think what Castle did about the bomb was stupid at all. If you think about it, the bomb was about to go off anyway so why not take that one last hail mary pass and pull out all the wires. If he did nothing, they would have died and the city would have been contaminated, there was no guarantee it would have worked but even if it didn't at least he would have died trying.
j'approuve à 100% ce qui a été dit^^
I was very dissapointed with the episode, because like every single fans, I
want them to be togethter. But at the same time I know we are getting close
to the season finale, so they must create the right atmosphere to show
something that I'm positively sure will leaves us with our mouth wide
open, wanting more, just like they did last season. (Even when that means
to leave us with a huge anxiety)
BTW, Becket is a detective, but when it comes to Love, I believe all of us are
kind of fool, so probably she doesn't really realize how much Castke
means to her. :P
This episode was great . I loved it.
It was very layered. It doesn't matter if it is liked or not. It was extremely well crafted.
The fact that so many more people than usual are on here debating about it – just goes to prove my point. I can see why some people don't like it. But it would be too unrealistic if everything was black and white. It would be like a deux ex machina to bring caskett together and they're in love forever after.
I love that there are shades of grey. I like that it gave so much food for thought and ammo for discussion. It's good that Josh isn't some one-dimensional guy who everyone loves to hate. He does have some good qualities, and isn't a stereotypical rival other boyfriend. He stayed back just to be with Beckett. It goes to show she's good judge of character.
Also on the show being 24ish – it was a good hommage, if anything – jack bauer mentioned twice anyone?
The bomb sequence was anything but cliche. Think about it; a bomb will explode in 3 seconds (after beckett holds castle's hands, and he makes his choice). If he doesn't do anything the bomb will explode for sure.
1 second left. If he tries something – there is a chance it won't go off. Worst case scenario or disadvantage: It goes off one second sooner.
So castle made the smartest move possible with probability and optimism on his side.
I haven't seen this option taken ever before. (correct me if I'm wrong). Its usually that the defuser has massive talent. Castle was the man for the job here. He got to save the day being Castle.
All in all – I love this episode only for the fact that it wasn't perfect. Castle saves the day, but doesn't get the girl. I like the fact that there is some nagging thing i don't like. That things didn't go all the way a fan would fantasize or want. I like that show isn't just trying to please everyone by giving people what they desperately want. It leaves viewers wanting more.
And that is a mark of a special show.