First and foremost, I am so sorry for not posting a review about last week’s Castle. As most of you know, this is not my day job and I have been insanely busy at my actual job – hence the lack of the time to sit down and write a review. That said, I really, really enjoyed “The Fast and the Furriest”. Although it was a filler episode, it was still really fun and entertaining with that balance between great character dynamic and chemistry and the actual case. It seemed like TPTB had finally found the balance between Castle and Beckett’s relationship and the rest of the show.
And then “The Squab and the Quail” happened. I am still not sure of my feelings about this episode. Even though it wasn’t a bad one, I just really, really despised the way they wrote Castle. I think they tried to make him come across like a typical guy (no offense to anyone), but it just seemed a little out of character. I am totally on Team Kate about this because he is taking her for granted and I think he has been for a while now. Maybe it’s just me, but it seems that since they got together, there’s been a dramatic shift in balance between them. Now Kate is the one who wants to talk, who is doing the chasing and who is so completely head over heels in love with the man, while Castle seems to sort of have lost interest. So I am not sure what they are trying to do with this or where they are going, but as of right now, I am not sure I like it.
Anyway, as for the episode, I liked Erik Vaughn (aka Mr. Fantastic), but I thought he was a tad too eager – not to mention disrespectful – in his pursuit of Beckett. I completely understand how Kate almost fell for his charming ways, but I was totally cheering her on when she pushed him away and when she was completely honest with Castle and told him about the kiss. I thought this episode had its fair share of funny moments and maybe the only obvious continuity issue was that Gates now seems to know about their relationship, for she didn’t bat an eyelid when Castle stormed out of her office in jealousy when Kate was assigned to spend the night protecting Mr. Fantastic.
Now maybe we will see the continuity issue once “Still” airs next week, because from the promo – and leaked sneak peek – it seems that (SPOILER ALERT!) everything is just fine between them. And with the way the episode ended (and my heart totally broke for Kate at that moment, but more about that in a second), I doubt Kate would be able to act all lovey dovey with him as if absolutely nothing had happened. Not season 5 Kate. Unless they’re making her change back to her closed off self after Castle shuts her off. Because, really, there is no way Castle is that stupid. He knew exactly what she meant when she asked him where they were going and he chose to avoid the real question. At least that is my take on it based on the character I have come to know and love for the past five seasons.
I really don’t know. What do you guys think?
Follow Us
It’s just not you Luciana, I’ve been complaining about Castle’s lack of interest in Beckett for months, she’s the one keeping the relationship afloat and he just goes with the motion. I can’t believe this is the same guy that has been pursuing Beckett for four seasons. As Beckett said “it wasn’t too long ago when me wearing a sexy outfit would get an immediate response from you” and she was right, even the way she smells used to elicit a response from Castle, now he’s just sleepwalking.
I don’t think I’ve seen an episode of Castle in which, when it ended, I felt almost nothing but annoyance – with Castle, because of the qualities you noted, with Vaughan for feeling he had a right to her private life, even with Beckett for not telling Castle to go soak his head.
However, I don’t agree with you about the clarity of what Beckett meant in the “where are we going” line in the last scene. That just felt to me like a really clunky bit of writing shoehorned in to fit the plot. It just didn’t seem real to me that she would ask such a question at that very moment (BEFORE the massage, really?) and in such a vague way.
I can see this staying unresolved through the finale, while Kate is being given options to go in different directions, compounded by what Kate will learn about her mom. This will cause Caskett to separate for three or four episodes next season until Rick realizes Kate wants more than a lover and he needs her more than he thought.
Sorry but I’ve got to come to the defense of my boy Castle on this one. The guy has been in two marriages that did not work out because of a lack of love between him and his ex wives. He has told Beckett that he loves her twice already and she has never said it to him. The guy has risked his life countless times, waited a year while Beckett figured stuff out and has been there through it all with her and it is clear that he is in love with her yet she hasn’t told him she loves him. Castle really wants this relationship to last so he does not want to rush into it with her to quickly like the other marriages. He wants to be sure she feels the same way about him and so far she has not let him know that. I completely see why he is not rushing into anything although I would not just ignore or skip around the question, I’d confront her with it. That being said, if it were me and she was wearing that calling me to the bedroom, that controller would be on the floor faster than she could finish her little dance.
But for me, this is about Beckett not taking the next step and telling Castle she loves him, not about him ignoring the question. He wants to make her love him before he moves to the next step.
You know what, I think Vaughn was just in the right place at the right time, saying the things that Beckett has been yearning to hear from Castle, and his character acted as a true wake up call to Castle. And it was about time Beckett gets some attention from other men! Though they was they wrote Castle this episode was a bit dodgy to say the least, it will be interesting to see how they resolve this. Either way, I for one enjoyed the episode!
I really liked this episode. It was fun first of all. Eric Vaughn came into the scene like a perfect man who can push some buttons with Beckett and Castle. And he did a great job (I have a soft spot for Ioan Gruffud ever since his days on British tv). And it’s about time Kate puts more effort then Castle. It’s a common thing in a relationship that a man relaxes a bit when the chase is done. If Castle was the one pushing Kate to move to the next level, she would be terrified. And I get that he wants to be sure of her feelings before he makes any proposition. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a good thing that he’s taking her for granted, but I feel she’s so used to him doing the work, showering her with affection, that now when they are cozy in their relationship and he’s not that eager, she’s missing all the attention. and that’s ok. for me they are still thru to their characters.
I enjoyed the episode very much, and I agree with Ema and TJ. Vaughn helped to stir things up, and it was much needed. Hopefully it will help Castle and Beckett move forward in their relationship in the long run.
From what I understand, “Still” was pushed back a week because of events in Boston, as it deals with a bomb. So, if “Still” actually should have come before the “Squab and the Quail” this leaves me a bit wondering. In “Still” there is another life/death situation in which Castle/Beckett recall their history. Then, Monday’s episode in which Kate is wondering where they are going. SPOILER ALERT! In the “Still” promo, Kate says something like Castle I think we are just at the beginning. Couple that with Monday’s comment, “Where are we going?” and I have a problem. That is my understanding anyway, that “Still” should have come before Monday’s episode. As for “The Squab and the Quail” so-so in my opinion. It’s nice to have a woman dance in front of you in a sexy outfit, but it’s even more important to actually hear her say “I love you.” If I’m Castle, who has expressed his love quite openly and clearly, this would leave me a bit cautious as for as my heart is concerned. Hey, it’s TV, in real life there is more discussion of feelings I think, especially when one has said the “I love you,” and the other has not, and especially since they are in a very serious relationship. A disappointment for me was Kate telling Vaughn that “It’s complicated.” Really? After all the history, angst, life and death situations between them–complicated? I couldn’t believe she said that.
I watched “Still” last night and there is a continuity issue, because it basically doesn’t really make sense given the context of the episode. I guess things will only start to make sense on ep 23. Hopefully.
I’m gonna have to eat crow.
There is the risk of a contuinity issue but having seen both episodes I don’t really mind overall because Marlowe’s overall storyline/theme of this season is all about the highs and lows of relationships especially those between a man and a woman in everyday life. Someone wrote a great review on this episode who was able to pick up on the metaphor and symbolism of the episode’s title. Quails and Squabs are types of birds with mating patterns. Marlowe was able to link this with the oevrall issues and storylines of everyday love and relationships between two people who are committed. Here is the review which explains it – http://gossipandgab.com/19867/castle-episode-22-aired-as-21-the-squab-the-quail-an-everyday-kind-of-love
I know that everyone is complaining about castle and beckett BUT this is what everyday relationships all about. Now that castle has got the girl he is slacking off and relationships (especially long term relationships and marriages) is something that you have to work at all the time in order to prevent the relationship from going down. Beckett has been following through on everything that she has promised and is thinking about about the future while castle (who knows very well what she meant) is not yet ready to deal with the future or with the idea of being in the relationship for the long haul. That is the theme that has been running throughout this entire season in regards to the Beckett/castle relationship.
And the final two episodes will probably force them to confront this head on hence the title of the final episode “watershed”. Watershed has its own meaning to it and is one to watch out for. So all in all while the episodes were switched around and may affect the show a little bit it doesn’t affect the overall theme and issue that Marlowe is exploring in regards to castle and Beckett.
THE THING THAT I FOUND MOST DISTURBING ABOUT CASTLE’S ACTIONS WERE HOW HURTFUL AND CUTTING HIS REMARKS WERE ABOUT BECKETT DOING AS ORDERED BY HER SUPERIOR. THE ONE ABOUT “SHAKING UP’ AND THEN IN THE HOTEL ABOUT “WHAT KIND OF PJ’S DID YOU BRING?” AND AFTER THE GUNSHOT SCENE, “WHAT’S GOING ON ,KATE?”
IN A TONE THAT WAS CONDESCENDING. ALL THESE BITTER COMMENTS FROM THE GUY WHOSE HEAD TURNS AT EVERY PRETTY SKIRT THAT WALKS BY AND CAN’T REJECT ANY ADVANCES MADE BY A PRETTY FACE AND ALWAYS ACTS HELPLESS WHEN THEY START GETTING PHYSICAL WITH HIM. HE IS IMMATURE, SELFISH. AND WRAPPED IN “ALL ABOUT ME. NO WOUNDER KATE IS HESITANT TO EXPRESS HER LOVE.
Don,
A couple of things. First, FIND YOUR CAPS LOCK KEY. Second, Beckett earned every barb Castle threw at her plus a couple more. Yes, she was ordered to watch the guy, but was she ordered to drink on the job (acutally a gross violation of regs for any force), to sit close to him on the sofa, touch his face and answer personal questions (a gross violation of protocol)or to let the guy kiss her (a violation of common sense, regs, protocol and decency). Oh, and let’s look at the twisted little game she plays after the shooting. First, she lies about where Vaughn was standing (in an official statement, I might add), lies about him stumbling twice and then only admits he kissed her when Castle catches her in her lies. Next she has the audacity to say she won’t lie to him (you just did several times dearie) and to try and guilt him about making things harder. Oh and of course he’s Eric not Vaughn. So she’s unprofessional, untrustworthy and has already indicated in front of Castle she’s got the hots for him but Castle is the jerk for not being fully trusting and understanding of the fickle Beckett. Sorry, if she were one of my direct reports, she’d be on unpaid suspension at least (oh, did I mention she left the blinds open in a safe house), and if she were my girlfriend, it’s abject apology time. I mean really, Castle’s not in the mood when she is is a capital offense but all of this misconduct on her part is just, meh?
I agree with you totally! I had missed some of Beckett’s actions and especially hadn’t noticed the open blinds! You are spot on. It seems both characters in this story need some growing up to do in regards to this relationship. A relationship not based only on attraction and deep feelings, but on experiences of life and death most couples never experience. She was playing with fire and got burned. Castle and Beckett have a long way to go I think in matters of the heart. Thanks Rotwang