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Castle Season Six Premiere, “Valkyrie” Recap/Review: Behind The Words

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I am still over-the-moon over the season six premiere of Castle!  If you were on Twitter that night the show trended number three worldwide for its 10pm East Coast time slot – well above NBC’s “Silence of the Lambs” and “James Spader” trends for “The Blacklist”  – which were eight and nine respectively.   For the Nielsen ratings  Castle has held it’s audience, premiering with 11.48 million, barely edged out by newcomer The Black List, who had  12.62 million.  Castle is in its sixth season!  This under-appreciated show is the Peyton Manning of Monday nights, it just gets better with age!

Castle 6x01 Beckett and McCord 1

If you’ve seen the episode, you know why this show continues to do well.  The production values are excellent, the acting is stellar, and the storytelling is extraordinarily done within the tradition of the broadcast dramedy.  This is a show that may not win Emmy nominations, but that will be down in television history as a game-changer for how romantic relationships are developed on TV.  Granted, some might say it’s more of a throw-back to shows like  “The Thin Man”  which aired in the late 1950’s or “Hart to Hart” & “Scarecrow and Mrs. King, both with aired in the early 1980’s.  The idea that characters being in a series romantic relationship would be enjoyable for people to watch wasn’t taboo then.  Most people know that the show “Moonlighting” created the myth that this wasn’t the case – and that idea has dominated the television industry ever since.  That is, until Castle. At the end of Castle season four the will they/won’t they couple Detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) and millionaire writer Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion)  became a honest-to-god item.  Fans continued to tune in, officially breaking the so-called “Moonlighting Curse.”  Still, old habits die hard for long-time television watchers.   So when Richard Castle proposed to Kate Beckett at the end of season five there was speculation that this would be the dreaded big break-up pulled by so many shows in the past  – and even currently on air. It was not!   Beckett said yes to Castle, in that delicious back-and-forth comic banter that “Caskett” is famous for.  Just because it’s that’s fabulous, let’s take another look!

“Richard  Edward Alexander Rogers Castle, yes.  Yes I will marry you.”  While the list of names is funny to hear, Kate says them with serious intent.  She chooses to mirror  the gravity of Castle’s proposal.  It lets him know that like his asking, her answer is the most serious thing that she’s ever done.   I wondered if the writers chose to use all Rick’s name as a gag or some kind of symbolic meaning of Beckett accepting all of who Castle is.  However, writer/executive producer, Terri Edda Miller (who is also the wife and muse of  Castle showrunner and creator Andrew W. Marlowe) tweeted that actually the writers were divided on which name Kate should use – so they just used all of them!  Sometimes things really are that simple.

Regardless of why, I thought using all the names really worked, so I’m glad they couldn’t decide.  Somehow,  that choice did make it feel like Kate was saying yes to everything that Castle is – including the big diamond that he could afford to buy. Remember when she balked at how much money he had during last season’s episode in the Hamptons? She’s come a long way!

The wonderful music underlying this episode is by Robert Duncan, who does all the music scoring for the show.  Aside from his Emmy nominations, Duncan has won several awards from The American Society of  Composers, Authors And Publishers (ASCAP) – his most recent being a 2013 win for  “Top Television Series” music.  Guess which series?  Yep, it was for Castle!  Duncan creates especially beautiful musical themes for the Caskett moments and this proposal scene is no exception.  Standing out for me musically were: single piano notes into soaring strings, to a playful, dancing melody as they banter, and then soft piano,and strings that helped support that sense of love with trepidation Katic has as she tells him about the job and Fillion’s fear that job means she’ll say no – until the realization dawns that she’s afraid he’s only asked because of that job. (Nathan’s expressions really tell that story – no dialogue needed!)  The music is never intrusive, like well-done make-up, it enhances and highlights the scene without masking the beauty that already is present.

If you’d like more about the proposal scene you can goto my focus review Beckett’s Decisions focus review where I get into more of the nuances and implicates of the that. I did that focus review because Kate’s answer is just a small part of “Valkyrie.” Story-wise, this the biggest season premiere ever for Castle – but not just because Kate says yes. Usually the finale and premiere work like a two-part episode, but this year “Valkyrie” is the second installment of a three episode arc.  Because “Watershed” is season five, technically this is the first of two, but the fact is, this story of getting to and through a major life change is taking three episodes to tell.  With the actual episode time being 43 minutes each, time wise, this story arc is a bit longer than a two-hour movie!

After that great kiss at the swings the show fast-forwards two months ahead.  The warm orange light turns to a chilly blue as we take in the single white tower that is the Washington Monument, so even without the text across the screen, we know we’re now in Washington D.C.. Next is seeing Beckett – dressed in a crisp white shirt and dark blue suit is running down a suspect through the busy sidewalks. (Apparently the feds not only wear conservative clothes, but they also have to where slightly more sensible shoes – Beckett’s traded in her high-heeled boots for high platforms. Hey, I said slightly!). She gets the guy cornered in an alley, but he comes out with a hostage and demands she slide over her gun. Badass Beckett is back! She’s gotten a new toy for her Glock, a small silver disc that explodes smoke into the air. It fits on the top of the gun, so that when she slides it over it explodes and the guy can’t see.  It’s just enough time for her to get over and beat the crap out of him before flipping him against a garbage bin and handcuffing him. Nice! Unfortunately, the hostage turns out to be the guy’s partner in crime. She pulls out a gun and shoots Beckett square in the chest! Beckett goes down in slow motion, her white shirt already soaked with blood.  It’s a shocking moment – especially if you were spoiled and knew someone was going to get hurt in this story arc. It’s not just the shock of the shooting. It’s that the show just did this storyline at the end of season three! That concern is only for a moment though. Agent Rachel McCord (Lisa Edelstein) enters the alley with her gun drawn, runs over to where Beckett is on the ground like this:

Castle 6x01 Kate is shot

Oh, no! Not again!

At least she’s still breathing!  But instead of trying to spot the breathing, Agent McCord says:

 Agent Beckett, congratulations. Because of you the Chez now have our nuclear launch codes.”

The perp and the “hostage” come out clapping.  It was a practice drill!  Still, it looks like not only was it real for the audience, but Kate seemed to be relieving her experience of actually being shot in the chest.   That’s a reaction I think most people would have – PTSD or not.  Talk about a reenactment! Back at the headquarters for this special team run by the Attorney General’s Office, Rachel is briskly talking to Beckett about the signs she missed. Beckett is defensive until they get to the point that according to the intelligence packet the “suspect” was working alone. I’m positive that McCord’s advice about trusting her instincts over intell is one that will be revisited throughout this story arc.  What’s interesting to me is the idea that Beckett needed to be told that.  Beckett has always moved on her instincts – it’s part of what has made her such an excellent cop.  Last season it was how she ended up saving the life of her nemesis Senator Bracken.  Between the pulled back hair and white shirt, the stark lighting and now hearing that Beckett isn’t trusting her instincts, there’s a strong message that this federal thing isn’t Beckett.  The agency has her slowed down in her thinking and being. I’m sure you noticed the way Kate looked as she touched the “blood” on her shirt right before her colleague, Matt Hendricks (Joco Simms), came up to reassure her that, “Everyone screws that up.”   Maybe so, but that moment of the exercise is still haunting her.  That why she takes the serious tone when Hendricks flippantly says, “Better to die in training than the field.”  For a moment, Beckett did die in the training – because she relieved her shooting.  That’s an experience she’d rather not go through again.

Another big thing about this federal agent thing is that  it plays havoc with her social life.  She turns down drinks with Hendricks and some other feds because she “hasn’t had a weekend off in ages.” She is not happy when McCord and the Agency director  come up to announce weekend plans are canceled because a priority case has come up.  Castle  6x01 Beckett isn't happy 1

It’s with good reason, too.  When she calls Castle to tell him she has to cancel we find out they haven’t seen each other for six weeks!  (Granted, Castle says he was the one who cancelled last, but obviously this has been going on for…six weeks!). Castle is not having a good return from his book tour.   Not only has Kate cancelled, but he came home to discovering that Alexis had come home a week early from her Costa Rican vacation with some extra baggage – a young man named “Pi.”

Okay all who don’t like Pi say “Aye!” In terms of type, Alexis apparently has moved as far away from her Ivy league ex as possible. I’m not as sure she’s moved away from getting her heart-broken.  Later we find out that Pi lost his passport. How convenient, right? I hope this guy is just there for comic relief, but if you met a guy in the middle of paradise, why would you come home early? I’m guessing that was Pi’s idea. It’s a great cover. Who would suspect a ” fruitarian” of violence?(That info’s also from later.  However, they didn’t make that term up! I don’t suggest trying the practice though. Over time eating only fruit is known to cause major protein and vitamin B deficiencies, and an adult implementing one for their children can have the kids taken away for abuse.)

If Pi turns out to be a bad guy I think Alexis may have some personal emotion trauma – because I don’t think Pi has been sleeping on a couch while with Alexis….we’ll hear more about this guy one way or another next week. This week he’s a comedy act. Plus, he may have been the thing that pushed Castle over the edge.  Beckett gets home super-late and exhausted.  In the bathroom she starts getting undressed and under her shirt is her usual chain with her mom’s ring – and Castle’s engagement ring! The two things that symbolize what mean the most to her are being kept next to her heart (Awww!)  Anyway, as she’s doing that she senses someone is behind her.  She whips around, gun drawn, only to realize it was Castle.  Surprise! He couldn’t stand another week not seeing her!  And then…who am I kidding, this is a video moment!  Pay attention to Kate’s face as she’s looking at the rings though.

Beckett is upset with the way this job has been keeping her from Castle.  She’s looking at the ring and that scowl crosses her face…if there were a thought bubble at that moment it would say something like, “I should be with Rick right now, instead I’m stuck alone in this apartment….” (The music sounds like a variation on the  Always theme…darker it’s darker in tone and a lovely touch!) Then like a genie, there he is!

I’m happy to see Castle and Beckett showing more of the passion in their relationship.  Last season they were still figuring things out, so we didn’t get to see these, “I want to rip your clothes off now” moments.  With that ring though, clarity is present for them both about what the relationship is, so it’s no holds barred!  The “I love you’s” on the phone earlier, and the Castle-climbing by Beckett that has nothing to do with trying to escape anything, (The only tiger in sight is Beckett, did you see that pounce?) all show the security that’s come with communication.   Even the fact that Castle showed up when he’s, “not supposed to” says a lot.  Yes, I know he never stays in the car, but when it comes to doing what he thinks she needs, Castle will do it.  This time he’s doing something expressly against what she’d asked for – because he needed to.  He needed to see her.  He trusts that even if she were mad, it wasn’t going to break them up.  They’ve promised to work through anything that comes up together.  This is the kind of trust that makes relationships last.

There’s also much more acceptance of each other.  Watching Beckett deal with Castle wanting to look at her case is adorable because you can tell she thinks he’s adorable.  She admits that she misses working with him, but she’s not about to jeopardize her job.  That’s when Rachel McCord comes in to get Beckett.  McCord is surprised that he’s there, but Castle’s reaction to meeting Beckett’s new partner is funny!

Why is he so smiley about meeting Rachel...

Why is he so smiley about meeting Rachel…

Castle is just thrilled to meet “Rachel”  McCord!  The way he keeps grinning, I’m betting he thought Beckett’s new partner was a guy!  No doubt that wasn’t a question he would ask, that would imply not trusting Beckett and he does.  It’s just that their solving crimes together has been special, so finding out she’s not doing that with another man makes him happy. Rachel isn’t exactly like Captain Victoria Gates (Penny Johnson Gerald) has been towards Castle, but I do think she’s been warned that he can be too curious for his own good.  Plus, she doesn’t want Beckett distracted.  In that way, I think she is similar to Gates in that she has specific ideas about how to be good at this job.  For McCord, I suspect love and being a federal agent are things she believes don’t mix – especially if you’re a woman. There is actually crime in this episode, but the seriousness of it takes a while to relieve itself.  Beckett accidentally drops a picture of a blown transformer from the crime scene.  Castle been trying to be good, but with the picture in his hand curiosity gets the better of him.  He just has to try and figure out what she’s working on.

The first thing he does is call Detectives Kevin Ryan (Seamus Dever) and Javier Esposito (Jon Huertas).  Ryan is busy practicing swaddling a baby doll tucked in his bottom drawer  because his wife Jenny (Juliana Dever) is due in four months.  Esposito is being appalled by this when Castle calls.  Per usual, Castle has to bribe the guys for help – this time it’s court-side Knicks basketball tickets – but the detectives look up the serial number of the transformer for him and are able to get the location.  Only after they give him the information does the computer come through with the fact that the same transformer has been tags by the feds.   That’s when Esposito asks if the number is from a real case.  Honestly, I don’t know how come Esposito and Ryan didn’t get suspicious before.  They should know Castle by now! The reason the transformer’s important is that is caused a blackout. I’m going to speed things along here and just explain part of the case.   Actually, I’m going to let Beckett and McCord explain it.

How many people think Beckett lied back in season two when she said she preferred her white board to all of agent Shaw’s fancy smartboards?  Judging by the way she’s using them now I’d say that was her covering her envy.  Beckett plays things close to the vest, it’s not surprising that her disdain for federal toys was a cover.

So, Beckett and McCord approach the golf course guard, but before they can ask any questions, he asks them, “Is this about the blackout the other night?”  How did know that?  “The other guy”  had just asked him about it.  That other guy is Castle! Beckett is shocked and mortified, McCord is mad and concerned Beckett told him something.  Of course Beckett knows she didn’t and McCord believes her – warning both of them that this had better not ever happen again.

I will be really upset if McCord is involved with the bad guys because the character being built by Lisa Edelstein is one that’s supportive of Beckett.  She’s tough on her because she wants her to do well in this boy’s club – but also probably doesn’t want to be seen as favoring Beckett.  Generally when it comes to women working with women you here much about the competitiveness, less about the mentoring that can also occur – and how it’s different from how men mentor women.  I’m enjoying watching this unfold, and hope it gets to continue through Edelstein’s story arc.

Beckett isn’t as mad as you’d think – especially when she realizes that Castle covered up the fact that she’d accidentally dropped one of the classified photos.  She’s also pleased that Castle came to all the same conclusions she did.  At the same time she warns him he’s got to stop trying to “help” her with the cases at her new job.  D.C. is not New York and never mind being fired – she could goto jail.   Castle gets it, and agrees.  After sharing what he found out – a man in a “late model 90’s gold sedan” was watching the golf-course two days prior to the transformer blowing.  Unfortunetely, that promise is too late.

Castle 6x01 caught on camera 1

That man in the gold sedan was watching and targets Castle to get some information.

Getting back to this idea of mentoring, we find out exactly why McCord doesn’t tell on Beckett.  She assumes that Beckett must have talked in her sleep – because she did the same thing once.  McCord emphasizes that she made sure this only happened once, and advises Beckett to do the same.

This is going to be a problem.  The only way to make sure it doesn’t happen again is if you don’t sleep with anyone if you’re on a case.  Ergo, if you’re on a case most of the time….six weeks might be mild.   McCord is going to want Castle and Beckett not to see each other when Beckett’s working.  If Beckett says she didn’t talk in her sleep she’ll have to admit to dropping the photo.  Besides that, we’ve already seen how well Castle does staying away from her cases – and how much Beckett misses Castle.  Trust me, Beckett will be quitting this job and heading back to New York. (We knew that.  I’m just talking about the factors that are going to send her there.)

After getting the footage of the golf course two days prior, the feds are able to identify the man in the sedan as a retired black ops guy named Jack Bronson.  They bust into his place and find all the gear one would need to pull off the job of stealing that encryption system.  Beckett finds a strand of a woman’s hair, which could mean the guy has a girlfriend – but that’s it.  Bronson’s the guy.  Doesn’t that seem too easy?  It is.

But first, let’s enjoy Beckett’s reaction to Castle promising to cook her dinner.

Beckett’s already hot for him, can you image what she’s like after that wine? (Sure you already have!) However, clearly, McCord’s warning didn’t stick with her. Really, you’re going to be extra loose and uninhibited while working on a federal case? Yeah, she is so going to leave this job!

Not right away though. Right after they hang up Castle gets kidnapped by the guy in gold sedan – Jack Bronson. He’s driving crazily and doesn’t look too healthy. His main questions are do they know about him and “do they know about Valkyrie?” Castle’s no clue what that is – so he asks. All the guy gets out is something about “The dreamworld” before dropping dead, while driving. The car ends up crashing into glass bus shelter!

Because the feds have been looking for that car, they show up at the crash site.  When they realize Castle was in the car with their now dead suspect – and no encryption system, McCord has him placed under arrest.  Poor Castle is then put in an interrogation room and questioned by Beckett’s and McCord’s boss, Carl Villante (Yancy Arias).  He freaks Castle out by suggesting Castle was involved with the suspect.  Castle insists he was abducted at gunpoint.  Turns out they already knew that.  Villante just wanted to make sure Castle told him everything – and teach him a lesson about interfering with federal business. Guess you can’t hide stuff from your boss!  Beckett tries to get him released but Villante says “let him sweat a bit.” Beckett feels bad – but there’s nothing she can do.

Furthermore, after Villante has a little talk with Beckett is sent in to tell Castle he has to go home.  It sounds like he’s not going to be allowed to stay with her in D.C….   She’s being pretty naive.   Him not working with her might be better because, “when we come home each night we’ll have something to talk about – like normal couples.”  can’t work.  Not only because the whole “normal couple” possibility has never been them as part of their attraction is the synergy in case-solving.  More importantly, Beckett won’t be coming home to him each night.  Apparently that’s what she wants though…

The hair Beckett found has given them a new suspect – Jeanette Miller.  She was Bronson’s girlfriend of the last six months and was an aide to Senator Shelton – a “ranking member of the foreign relations committee.”  It makes her the perfect accomplice as she would have the contacts to sell the stolen encryption system. The next day Castle’s sent home and the Feds, using that fancy facial recognition system, are able to locate Jeanette, carrying what is likely the encryption system, and heading towards  D.C.’s Union Station (FYI – that hooks the local metro up to things like Amtrak.).

While that’s going on, Castle’s home.  The only person there is Pi.  This is when we find out he’s a fruitarian and lost his passport.  Lost it when is what I’d like to know.  He couldn’t have gotten out of Costa Rico without it.  Also, there is nothing in particular in Castle’s behavior that would lead you to thinking things “didn’t go to well” with Beckett and that “maybe he should talk about it.”  Castle’s attitude is directed at Pi, so why does he think Castle should talk to him about what went down in D.C. Sure, maybe Pi is just an intuitive w00-woo kind of guy and a bit dense…or maybe he’s connected to this case.

Castle does take Pi’s advice about going to talk to someone though.  He goes to see the guys.  In their talk Esposito identifies that what Castle thought was just the guy mumbling before passing out is actually of significance.   “Dreamworld” is a secret military base in the gulf. (I want to know how they manage hiding that given the kind of  satellite coverage in the world.  Secret cloaking device?  Hidden under a dome…? Wait, that’s the wrong network!)  It’s a major deal – something bigger than an encryption device.)

Beckett and McCord are at Union Station tracking the new suspect.  The blonde woman is heading somewhere, but before McCord gets the guys to move in, Beckett says to wait.  She thinks Jeanette is meeting her buyer.  Sure enough, the woman stops by some lockers unlocks a special combo lock.  That’s when the feds arrest her.  Sure enough the encryption system was in the locker.

In the interrogation Jeanette claims Jack was being set up, that someone called him to meet at the golf course but never showed.  He told her to they’d have to go on the run and that there’d be money in the locker…When asked about why the interrogation system was in the locker she says maybe it was part of the setup.

So McCord isn’t buying the story that  Jeanette is innocent,  but Beckett isn’t so sure.  She says, “Well, people do crazy things when their in love.”    At that  McCord, says “I’ve noticed” – referring to Castle and Beckett, but Beckett actually has a reason for doubt.  Whether the woman’s involved or not, looking at the whole thing it’s clear to her that Jack really was set up.  A black ops guy leaving his stuff around, getting caught on security footage at the golf course, and storing the stuff in his own locker makes no sense.  One slip, maybe – but three?

The question of why set the guy up also comes from Beckett.  The encryption system being stolen was a diversion for what the thieves really wanted.  A scan of what else is in the building reveals the eighth floor is “classified…..

Back at Castle’s loft, Castle is googling “dreamworld” and “secret military base. ”  Alexis asks if he’s avoiding Pi before figuring out he’s meddling in Beckett’s case again – despite his promise.  Once again, just as he says no one will know, the feds come in and grab him!

It’s not what we think.  It has nothing to do with the computer search.  I don’t think anyone saw this coming.

All I could think of was what Beckett went through  when she found out, and how she had to pull it together to be able to give the information to Castle. Castle has to be in shock. I don’t think he’s processed much beyond “A day to live.” Babe…so sweet.  To be continued, so cruel!

Obviously we know Castle isn’t going to die, that’s never the point of these storylines, it’s the emotional journey that gives it the power.  The 24 hour window means next week will be really intense!

Now, a quick bit of speculation – NON-SPOILER.  There’s no way that the title Valkyrie is accidental.  I did a bit on what the title means – if you want the whole breakdown click here.  Otherwise here’s the basics: Valkyrie are Norse goddesses whose job was to decide who lived and died in battle.  They would swoop down and kill soldiers, some whom they took as lovers.  The Norse goddesses are blonde.  Yep, I’m pretty sure Jack’s girlfriend set him up, and that the organization she works for is planning on taking out “Dreamworld” with that toxin!

What about the senator Jeanette worked for – is he involved? I wonder if Beckett will be calling in her favor from Senator Bracken to find out?  Historically, there’s also, “Operation Valkyrie”  that occurred in World War II.  It was a failed attempted by the German opposition to Hitler to take back control of Germany.  The plan was to assassin Hitler, take control of the cities, shut down the Nazi secret police (SS)….  Marlowe does love conspiracies, and he loves the 1940’s…. Could this be another opportunity for Castle and Beckett to save the world?

Is it Monday yet?  This next episode is going to be one angst-filled Caskett ride – I can’t wait!

Join us on GossipandGab.com for our ABC Castle season six news previews and episode reviews!  Bookmark us or friend us on Facebook or Twitter for all our latest updates. You can also follow me on Twitter

 

 

 

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