“Still” started out as an eagerly awaited episode for me. When the first bits of information started to come in that Beckett was going to step on a bomb detonator, I admit I was crazy excited about this plot. Just the million possibilities that I could already think of made it the one episode I was really looking forward to. Then there were rumors that it would be basically a clip show and my excitement went down the drain.
Seriously, TPTB? A clip show? I really, really dislike flashback episodes that are nothing but a montage of old scenes. So I started watching this episode with one foot out the door. Even if the plot had its possibilities of some major ramifications, the fact that it wasn’t going to be a normal episode was really weighing it down for me.
As most of you know, after the attack in Boston, “Still” was rescheduled to air one week later in the US and Canada, but apparently not everyone got that memo because France and Germany released the episode last week on Itunes, making it possible for it to hit the web in a heartbeat. I watched it last week (with German subtitles – thoroughly distracting. Do not recommend it) and, well, let’s say that I was pleasantly surprised.
I am still not crazy about the flashback extravaganza, but they kind of made it work. And the present day scenes with Beckett fighting to stay very still so not to cause the bomb to go off were just really awesome. Starting with the very first scene when Castle brings her breakfast in bed until the last one when Gates reveals she’s known about them all along (I particularly enjoyed her “What, do you think I’m an idiot?” line), “Still” was full of great moments between Castle and Beckett. Not to mention the fact that Kate finally managed to cough up those three little words. I was afraid of how they were going to play this, but the scene was just so bittersweet and poignant that I couldn’t have asked for anything more.
So all in all, it was a good episode with some really amazing moments, but it was far from being the very best. What I am curious about is the season storyline and what their game plan was. See, because “Still” was supposed to air before “The Squab and the Quail”, but having seen both episodes I don’t get how they are supposed to go from confessing their undying love for each other to Kate feeling like he’s taking her for granted and then falling for Mr. Fantastic’s charms. In the end, it makes a little more sense that “The Squab and the Quail” aired first because I can understand Kate feeling like she’s being taken for granted to Castle trying to make it up to her, to confessing their undying love for each other.
Either way, I’m confused. Guess things will start to make sense next week in “The Human Factor”. Or not.
Anyway, what did you think?
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I though they had managed to do a pretty amazing job with “still,” considering the fact that everything was definitely planned out and suddenly they had to squeeze something inbetween in such a short amount of time.
As for the confusion, I think there is some kind of timejumps you know, so when things get serious in “still,” after a while, Beckett will question all kinds of stuff in “the squab and the quail.” As for Castle, the guy has 2 failed marriages already, so just give him a break you know? There is no doubt that he loves Beckett, but whether or not he wants that kind of commitment again is another story.
The changing of the order unfortunately makes Kate look shallow,and that will become more apparent next week. Too bad,because there are two instances in Squab and Quail that lead directly to the Human Factor and Watershed that kept the flow and let you realize where her head is and the other person who warns Rick of what is at hand. This beautifully crafted arch is being tarnished,I wished it could have been otherwise.
I’m not saying everything is ruined, just the flow would’ve been so much more smooth and the tension would have been palpable.
For me it makes more sense, because she has just come off an emotional high, he was readytodie with her and then he starts treating her like normal. “Still” made her think about her future, Montgomery’s speech makes me think she is nownthinking of marriage and she wants to know whether Castle wants that too. So far he has shown no signs of wanting to take the relationship past what it is. She wants assurances that they are together forever, for the rest of their lives. So along comes Vaughn who verbalises what she has been feeling and expertly manipulates her to fet her vilnerable enough to make a move.
-“In the end, it makes a little more sense that “The Squab and the Quail” aired first because I can understand Kate feeling like she’s being taken for granted to Castle trying to make it up to her, to confessing their undying love for each other.”
Exactly. this was my taught too. Guy risked his life to stay with her until the last moment. they were as good as dead. That’s quite big declaration of love. After something like that, Kate gets angry at him for playing games while she’s in the mood. Makes no sense to me. Of course she should be a little hurt, but from this perspective she made a big deal out of nothing…
Include me in the bunch who can’t see how S&Q could have followed this. Beckett’s not sure if their serious? Really? Other than be willing to die for a 1 in 100,000 chance to save your life,what has he actually done for you? I really don’t even see how S&Q fits at all, given how the characters have been handled this season, unless we’re to assume Castle really has regressed that much and Beckett really can’t control herself around a British accent. It’s to the point I’ve pulled a Dallas on S&Q. It didn’t happen, it was just a bad dream.
We saw this kind of epiosde ark last year with 47 seconds, so it is not unheard of that the writers set it up this way with S&Q. Not that I liked it, I actually hated those episodes, except Undead and Always. They way overplayed it. That is my fear now that the two last ones are upon us for season 5, so much that I will probably wait for Watershed and watch the two together. Hate being jerked around. After Still it will be hard to see the last few epis, but I hope it all works out in the end.
Told you, Gates knew all along. Those hoping for a tension free summer with everything ending in hearts and roses, can forget it. This won’t be physical but there will be an unanswered question that could totally change the dynamic. September could settle everything or then again it may not.
i think they did some creative editing with the shows for the reordering. they knew in enough time to do it withoutb having to totally re-shoot an episode.
Marlowe did say that next season would be “complicated”. What exactly that means is up in the air. If a marriage is in the cards then that would certainly complicate things, seeing as that would now complicate the working arrangement. It’s one thing to dance around Gates dating, but married?
We’ll see.
I agree, but for some reason, I just can’t see them going down the marriage route just yet. I might be totally wrong but whatever’s about to hit us, I am bracing. AWM and Co, go ahead and knock my socks off.