I stopped watching Castle a couple of years ago, because it started taking itself too seriously. I know it's hard to run a long-term show on froth, but that's what made the show unique. And the minor characters were a major selling point: odd, quirky, and it was so nice to have significant characters who weren't the killer. On other shows, the guest stars are either the victim or the killer, they never waste time on red herrings or grace notes.

I didn't even object that much to Beckett and Castle getting together, though I wondered at the appropriateness of police partners being romantic partners from an official standpoint. The biggest hurdle became wondering how NYPD was legally justifying having the presence of a civilian in these investigations. How many defense attorneys called shenanigans on Castle's involvement? But then, cop shows long ago stopped at the arrest/confession/death of the perpetrator, they don't show how a competent defense would throw the whole thing out. (I so want to see Jethro Gibbs being cross-examined by a defense attorney who knows their stuff)

The gun bit was well-played. The bookshelf business was also cleverly done - I appreciated that Castle's extra interior design flairs all got put to practical use.

The only part I really mind is Kate leaving - it looked like she was taking off to pursue the Truth or whatever, but then the previews for next week look like business as usual just, what, they're separated? I suppose it may make more sense next week.

Never expected realism. And Kate did not take off to pursue truth. She is intending to probably pursue truth as police captain. If she does, she intends to stay seperated from Castle to keep him out of the line of fire. If she has not yet made u0 her mind she will stay seperated until she decides not to pursue truth. That is sort of what is implied She is seperating from him until she makes up her mind. If she decides to pursue truth she will say seperated. If she decides to give up pursing turth to save her romance then she will go back to Csgtle. And I thought the gun and bookcase thing were neat too. Plus the whole AG guy saying "You are so cool" was nice grece note. Butl etreme heavihandness was awful

The little opening bit where Alyx had found out the gangsters wife's lover was his brother and not his chef and he was relieve casue he had four brothers but only one chef was a wasted opportunity. Keeping the ganster from killing his brother since Alyx had provided the info would have made a much better and frothier plot - very season 2 reminisicent. And Castle would have felt obliged to stop murder without getting the guy arrested since he was a client who had never lied about intentions.

Castle: I'm not at all happy about this twist. The show was already on the maybe list for me because I haven't really enjoyed the last couple of seasons. I'll probably give it a few more weeks and only because of a feeling of loyalty I have to NF.

Yeah, it's very quickly leaving the tier of "watch while paying attention for details and nuances" and landing on the tier of "good to watch as I'm checking my email," but I stick it out for loyalty to NF and love for Ryan & Espo.

I would like for NF to make me s'morelettes. That I feel pretty confident about.

I would like him to get a new role.

I would like him to get a new role.

I'd like him to reprise an old role...sigh.

What? Why no, I hadn't noticed the Firefly reruns running again the last few weeks...

I noticed that PBS is starting what looks like a new series of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries ... at least, the previews didn't look familiar.

There is a new series on Netflix! For a moment, I thought PBS was doing an american version of Miss Fisher with Nathon Fillion!