CASTLE “Countdown” Review

CASTLE “Countdown” Season 3 Episode 17 – Oh boy do I love sweeps. Why? Because they produce some fantastic television. As I watched this episode, I almost felt like I was watching another show, and I mean that in the best possible way. From the changed title card, to that beautifully poignant opening scene with Castle and Beckett in the freezer, this was all drama my friends. In fact I think I only saw maybe one or two light moments in the entire episode, and yet it still felt very much like Castle.

I think that it was because the characters didn’t change. Sure they weren’t silly and joking around, but the situation hardly called for that type of behavior. All of them were right on track with what one would expect when having to deal with a threat as big as the one they were fighting.

Sigh..and what can I say about the continued will-they, won’t they, unrequited love story that is Castle and Beckett? Like I said, that opening scene killed me. Just like in last week’s ep where we all saw Castle about to say the thing he wanted to say before he was interrupted, this time it was Beckett, sure she was dying, who seemed to be about to say something herself. But when she wakes up, her boyfriend is back and the world isn’t ending so she holds her peace. Castle, seeing that things are on the mend with the boyfriend, holds his as well.

Which leaves them right back where they started before this whole mess, before they nearly died not once, but twice, and could have spilled their guts to each other. At this point I gotta wonder what it will take for them to actually say what we all know they want to say. I mean if staring down a bomb doesn’t do it, what will?

My favorite bits..

I know it’s just TV, but my tummy still started doing somersaults when Castle and Beckett both agreed that they would be dead in a couple hours. Eep.

Castle and Beckett agreeing that sweat freezing on her forehead was not good. Um yeah.

This part nearly making me cry: “Castle, I could use a silver lining right about now, okay?” “I wish I had one.”

Yes! Ryan starting to think that Castle might be right. That’s my man!

Fallon describing all the various “zones” of the dirty bomb. Yikes.

Beckett saying that, as a cop, she thought she’d take a bullet and not freeze to death.

Castle apologizing for being “him.” *sadface*

Beckett losing consciousness right as she said “I just wanted you to know how much I.” – she what??

Castle begging Beckett to stay with him before he passed out too.

The quiet, subtle title card and the way it matched the mood of the previous scene. Wow.

Whoa! JOSH saved them?? That was something I didn’t expect.

Ryan and Esposito’s triumphant fist bump after they told Castle how they found them. I love that it was the combination of their guts, Alexis’ call and Josh’s call that led them to start the search.

Fallon telling Castle that when he first met him and Beckett, he thought they were together.

Castle ordering his daughter and mother away again, but not being able to let Alexis call her boyfriend. The look on his face when they went off to pack just killed me.

Castle and Beckett realizing they finally understood the hell that Fallon must go through much too often with his job.

Fallon and Beckett agreeing to break Radford no matter what.

Fallon losing his nut and pulling a gun on Radford, and Beckett pulling her gun on him. I know we found out that his gun wasn’t loaded but I still believed him at the time.

Castle asking if Fallon took jack-hole lessons or if he was born that way. LOL.

Feeling like a great big jack-hole myself when Ryan told Beckett and Castle about Fallon’s wife.

Fallon lying to get the guys to talk. Okay I take back every single bad thing I’ve ever thought about him.

Castle pulling out some major traffic knowledge on Beckett and finding the right van. Yeah!

My emotions going from terror to sadness to shock to laughter as Castle and Beckett held hands and prepared to meet their fate, Castle pulled the wire at the last second
(figuring, I’m sure, that at that point there was nothing to lose by trying) and then celebrated his victory as he totally pwned that bomb. (And yes, I said PWNED!).

Totally agreeing with Castle that they both knew how lucky they were. I know I would have in their position.

Castle asking Fallon to text him a code word if it happened again. LOL.

Beckett hugging Josh while looking over her shoulder at Castle’s retreating back and his pensive look when he got in the elevator. Wow, talk about heart breaking.

What did you think of this episode of Castle? Got any favorite bits or least favorite bits of your own? I’d love to hear from you!

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