Castle 3.something: "Anatomy of a Murder"

[icepixie]

The mystery was actually mysterious this time, which was nice after the last couple of episodes. Beyond that it was sort of blah. alethialia has a good description of why here.

One thing I find hilarious and a bit sad is how over on TWOP, several posters are all OMG BECKETT WAS SO BITCHY AND MEEEEEEEAN TO CASTLE!!!11!!eleventy!!! for her "What did you do this morning, Castle?" I...okay, first of all, how was that not obviously a joke? I'm pretty sure I've said that exact phrase to family and friends in similar situations, and we all knew it was a joke. Second, dude, Castle had just been taking potshots at her boyfriend. If Beckett was mean, than Castle was equally so.

I did actually like Gina, whom I wasn't sure I would like. I'm glad they didn't make her evil. If I weren't fairly invested in Castle/Beckett, I would actually be interested in watching her and Castle sort out their issues. It was nice that this time around, he figured he needed to apologize, and do so sincerely, whereas it was implied that with the doll, he never did. I think they might actually be using Gina to give Castle some character development and/or to make him grow up, which would be good. (This reminds me of the Sully arc from Bones, which was just about the only stalling tactic that show used that I even halfway liked.)

*shrug* Maybe they'll do the same for Josh and Beckett. Although I tend to think Castle has more maturing to do than she does.

Comments

[alethialia.livejournal.com]

People think Beckett was being mean? Bah. Idiots. Stana delivers those lines very dryly, sure, but that's supposed to be part of their charm, that trading of barbs.

I think they might actually be using Gina to give Castle some character development and/or to make him grow up, which would be good.

Oh, yes, this is such a good point! I didn't love their storyline, mostly because it was SO on the nose. I've talked before about how Castle views himself as a Big Damn Hero, which, ya know, in the real world just isn't a grown-up way to live your life. This episode took aim at his hero complex, showing how petty it can make him. I say it was too on the nose because Gina quite literally calls him out for wanting to be the hero (and irl, people don't address such issues quite so directly), which felt a bit unrealistic to me. But she's not actually wrong. And part of growing up is knowing when to let others have the limelight/learning that it's not all a competition.

So, yeah, you're totally right that they're using her to make him grow up...albeit in a clunky, somewhat heavy-handed way.

(Btw, think you've got an extra " at the end of your link to my post...and yet I got a pingback anyway. Idek.)

[icepixie]

People think Beckett was being mean? Bah. Idiots. Stana delivers those lines very dryly, sure, but that's supposed to be part of their charm, that trading of barbs.

Exactly! But several posters have complained about how she's being disrespectful of him by implying any kind of criticism of his job, or something like that. I...welcome to the real world? Jeebus.

Totally agree with you about the clunkiness overlaying the good idea of poking at Castle's hero complex. Usually they aren't quite this clunky; hope they get their subtlety back soon.

(Btw, think you've got an extra " at the end of your link to my post...and yet I got a pingback anyway. Idek.)

Huh. Good for the pingback bot? I fixed it, anyway. :)

[rensong.livejournal.com]

I watched it on Monday night when it aired, and the only thing I actually remember the last 10 minutes or so. So, yeah, not the most memorable episode, but I did find the last little scene about breaking out of jail kind of adorable.

[icepixie]

I guess it was sort of cute on the surface, but if you think about it at all, it kind of falls apart: yes, Beckett said she'd get him out of jail, but maybe she meant via legal means, and anyway, maybe she doesn't consider it a sign of true love like Martha and Castle do. Plus Beckett getting the DA to drop some pretty hefty charges on the guy if the girl walks, just because they're so in looooove? Somehow I don't quite buy that...

[rensong.livejournal.com]

For me, the gesture wasn't so much "True love!" because ew, sap, but it definitely hit my "Aww, BFF!" kink. Even if they aren't technically best friends.

And immediatly after that my next thought was "Yeah, but she'll do it legally".

[fallingtowers.livejournal.com]

I usually bring minimum expectations to my Castle viewing experience, and thus they always manage to pleasantly surprise me. In this case, I was happy that they are fair towards Gina and her relationship with Castle. It makes me sad, though, that I've already seen her bashed in Castle/Beckett shipping circles for ... um, existing, I guess.

And the TWOP posters must be kidding. The fact that Castle and Becket are always mocking each other more or less mercilessly is sort of the point of the show. I'm trying not to read gender bias into these statements, but am failing miserably.

[icepixie]

I usually bring minimum expectations to my Castle viewing experience, and thus they always manage to pleasantly surprise me.

I did that all through S1 and most of S2, and when they continually exceeded my expectations by such wide margins, it was impossible to keep them down where they belonged... *g*

It makes me sad, though, that I've already seen her bashed in Castle/Beckett shipping circles for ... um, existing, I guess.

*shrug* Having lived through this on pretty much every other show I've ever watched, I expected nothing less. I know I did the same thing when I was young and stupid. *sigh*

And the TWOP posters must be kidding. The fact that Castle and Becket are always mocking each other more or less mercilessly is sort of the point of the show. I'm trying not to read gender bias into these statements, but am failing miserably.

Yyyyyyyup.

[bulleteyes.livejournal.com]

They also seem to be allowing his mother to be less of a clown. Her hair color and makeup are toned down also.

I've been watching Susan Sullivan for decades. Such a lovely woman.

[icepixie]

She does seem to be a bit toned down, although I never really thought of her as a clown...more as delightfully over the top. I know she irritated some people in S1, though.