Castle – Next time, let’s do it without the tiger

When I heard about the concept of “Cuffed,” I was pretty stoked. I mean, Rick Castle and Kate Beckett handcuffed together for an entire episode? Those are my type of shenanigans, and in my book, Castle has always gotten their relationship right. Plus, I always love it when shows put one or two of their team members in peril, forcing the rest of the team into a different dynamic to find their friends. Bones is great with this, particularly the season two episode “Aliens in the Spaceship.”

But that is where I get into trouble: comparing Castle and Bones. If you listen to some of my colleagues at CliqueClack, the two shows have little in common. I disagree completely, but it is usually Castle that I’m comparing favorably. In this case, the shadow of similar storylines, specifically on Bones, is too much for me to keep out of my mind when I’m watching this episode.

We have had a couple of Castle-and-Beckett-centric episodes this season, and having “Cuffed” focus on the same would be overkill. But the set up of having the two physically connected for the majority of the episode just begs for the emotional connection between the two of them to be further explored. It’s an opportunity wasted; save this concept for later in the season when its right to focus on their relationship again.

This show would definitely benefit from more Ryan and Esposito moments. Their conversation about the “Pre-Wedding Road Trip Test” was hilarious. These two have such a great partner dynamic, and they, understandably, take a back seat to Castle and Beckett. But I’d have no problem with seeing them together more often.

The :45 Minute Guess: This is one of those unique episodes where we’re not trying to figure out whodunit. There have been a couple of these already this season, but in this case the question is: “What the hell is going on?” If the act break hadn’t ended on the tiger coming for Castle’s head, my guess was going to be human trafficking of some kind for some nefarious purpose. In retrospect, the box with air holes should have been a bigger hint. So, as for the “what the hell is going on?” Just for giggles, I’m going to say that Castle is riffing one of my favorite underappreciated movies, The Freshman, and is going to serve Mr. Tiger up in a display of culinary prowess. Because, really, at this point? There’s no point in guessing.

Notes & Quotes

• “I’ve told you, it’s none of your business.” – Lanie
  “Of course it’s none of my business; that’s why I want to know.” – Castle
• “So do you have a story to explain all of this? The old woman in the cage, John Doe with his identity removed, us handcuffed but still alive?” – Beckett
  “I don’t think that’s a story you’d want to hear.” – Castle
  “Why not?” – Beckett
  “With those elements, I can’t think of a version that ends well – not even a Disney version.” – Castle
• The shot of them opening the truck with box with airlines? Gorgeous.
• So … did Castle help Beckett put the boots back on??

Clacked by Ivey West
on Dec 06, 2011 @ 08:30 EST5EDT