Castle returned on Monday after the (incredibly long) Christmas hiatus with an episode that brought back a rather unwanted person in Castle’s life.
When Alexis came down with mononucleosis, her mother Meredith — the infamous deep-fried twinkie ex-wife that Castle used to hook up with whenever she was in town — decided that, for once in her life, she was going to take care of her daughter and for that she had to stay at the loft. The catch, however, was that Kate’s apartment was being fumigated and she was staying at the loft too. So, you know, three is a crowd and our favorite detective was very unhappy about Castle’s inability to say no to his ex-wife.
For an episode that was just okay in my book, I have to say that I was really glad that they finally started tackling some real relationship issues between our lovebirds. I loved the way they wrote Kate’s reaction and I was rooting for her the entire episode. That aside, I particularly loved how they managed to balance Kate and Castle dealing with their issues and how each of them sought out their friends for advice. Lanie, Esposito and Ryan were so great and so funny in each and every scene that I had a blast watching them.
I didn’t care much about the case — and I think we can all agree — because that was just not the main storyline in “Significant Others”. For the first time since they got together we finally got to see some trouble in paradise and I think that was way overdue. The honeymoon phase is over and, even though Meredith apparently didn’t have a secret agenda to get into Castle’s pants, she managed to plant a seed of doubt in Kate’s mind.
I really liked that they brought up the fact that Castle knows everything about Kate, but she doesn’t know all that much about him, about his deepest fears and desires. For four years they kept pushing down our throats the fact that Kate Beckett is a closed-off person and that she plays her cards close to the vest; Castle, on the other hand, is this goofball that wears his heart on his sleeve. I believed those facts since season 1, but last night’s episode opened my eyes to a whole new truth.
We know a hell of a lot about Kate Beckett and what makes her tick, her fears, everything, because we have seen her through Castle’s eyes and the guy has written four books about her. However, Rick Castle is not really the open book that we all thought we knew. What Meredith told Kate is completely true and I am so glad that this is making Kate think and reevaluate their entire relationship.
Not that I want them to break up — far from it, for the love of God! — but it’s time that we get to know the man behind the Rick Castle persona. We know he is caring and compassionate and generous, but we don’t know much more than that. We know that he loves Kate and that he would do anything for his daughter, but we don’t know how he feels about growing up without a father, about his failed marriages and relationships, just to name a few.
Maybe this will be the link for them to introduce Castle’s dad storyline. That is, if they actually go any further with this plot. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed “Significant Others”. For an episode that wasn’t stellar, it’s earned so many brownie points for finally exploring Kate and Castle’s relationship outside of the precinct.
What did you think?
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I loved the episode. As for the seed of doubt, I think it will just spur her on to find out more about him and it will deepen their committment. I honestly think Meredith didn’t find out more bc she is too self centered to really bother. She probably doesn’t know very much about Alexis either. Kate is invested in him and the relationship and will make the effort. I noticed all through the ep there was always the mention of so you will stay, I’m not leaving , you don’t have to leave, you can come to my plac…..sounds like they are starting to not want to spend their nights apart.
I loved how Meredith conveniently left out her cheating on Castle. :-| Must have just slipped her mind there. Yeah, right.
I say bring on the missing father already. Good grief. I sort of feel like this has been drawn out longer than Joanna Beckett’s murder. If casting really that big of a problem just put Justin Bateman in some prosthetic make-up. LOL.
“Not that I want them to break up — far from it, for the love of God!”
LOL. Loved that line from you Luciana. My thoughts/feelings too.
I would love to think that the seed of doubt Meredith placed in Beckett’s head will pan out to some more in-depth character development/story telling but I don’t know. The writers have lead us down the garden path before only to have a story thread fizzle or disappear or never materialize to begin with (see my comment about the missing father).
We know quite a bit about Castle; he was raised by nannies while his mother pursued her acting career and financially provided for her family. He went to a private school where his mentor and father figure guided him to writing. He met his first great love in college whose disapproving mother ended that relationship. We know Meredith loved the idea of marriage but hated the day to day and ran off with a movie producer. We know Gina, his second wife was career driven. According to Castle it was a sexless union. We know he is a devout father, and a caring son. He is a dead shot with a hand gun among his friends at the precinct he’s never missed. That is a story that remains to be told.
What we would like to know is where he developed his mastery of the macabre in his stories and who his father is and more importantly, why his mother has refused to tell him.
I thought this episode was great, the case was incidental, but the character development of every member of the cast was fabulous. I’m hoping AWM will continue to mix the extremes, romance,comedy and intense danger in each episode like in 5.01 or tick,tick or boom or cops and robbers and a few others. Those episodes are so much more rewarding and AWM has proven his stable of writers are totally capable.
Okay, where is everybody?! LOL. I know I don’t check in as much as I used to but just four comments from only three peopel? Hello? :D
When you don’t get a review, you don’t have an opportunity to opine. There is no place to exchange ideas,so they may have moved on. Although I know they’re out there, waiting for a reason to return.