What a great hour of television!

For a show that usually treats us to light-hearted laughter and absurd cases, Castle can do drama and it can do it well. The series aired the second half of the annual two-parter tonight and “Hunt” can easily be described as epic. Quite possibly, the best two-parter in the show’s history. So let’s get to it.

The hour picked up right where we had left off: Alexis is in Paris, the team is doing everything it can to find her and Rick is wasting no more time. he hops a plane to France to find his daughter himself. 

Shady Characters. Castle meets up with an administrative advisor who he had worked with on his Derek Storm novels. He hooks him up with man who tracks down where Alexis was when she made the phone call. A meet is set up and he turns on Castle. Luckily, another man is hiding in the woods and takes out the kidnappers, along with Castle’s “partner.” So, who was it?

Meet Jackson Hunt. Just like Castle, I wasn’t sure why this man cared so much, why there were pictures hanging up in his apartment. And then it clicked. Just as I was writing a note on what I was assuming, Jackson (or whatever his real name is) dropped the bomb: “I am your father."

James Brolin has taken on the role of Rick’s dad. In such a fitting way, he's is a spy. He lets his son know that he has been keeping an eye on his family for years and even met Rick once when he was 10, in a library. 

Brolin’s character sets up an operation that will get Castle and Alexis out from the kidnappers, to the embassy and sent home with a cover story that will not include him. I guess it’s true: like father, like son. The details, the imagination. Everything. Castle and Alexis make it home to Martha and Kate safe and sound.

Two things:

1. This better not be the last time we see Castle’s father.
2. I expected more when they got home. It was just Martha and Alexis. There was no mention of what the cover story was. These are just some small imperfections in an otherwise amazing episode.

Perfect Performance. In the first hour of this two-parter, I praised Nathan Fillion on his outstanding performance. He portrays such a real man, and an even more real father. That continued through “Hunt” as well. In her few minutes on screen, the gorgeous Molly Quinn was excellent. But it is Stana Katic who must be acknowledged. She always puts on such a stellar performance and this installment was no exception. 

Her meeting with the murder victim’s girlfriend was intense and intimidating. Katic brought it in this episode big time.

Can we please just give Emmys to these two? Like, now?

After Thoughts

• Of course Castle’s father is a spy. What other job in the world could he possibly have?
• Never expected Alexis to be the target of the kidnapping. I’m guessing her and Sarah won’t be friends when they get back to school.
• Will Alexis be comfortable going back to school or will she be sticking around home for a while?
• Not much of Javi and Kev in this hour...although they did have an awesome Liam Neeson joke (Check the Castle quotes page for it).
• If Rick and Kate can make it through the kidnapping of his daughter, they can pretty much make it through everything. 

Overall, a great episode from the writers of Castle. I wouldn’t want the show to do too many drama-filled episodes, they do the fun ones so well. But I wouldn’t mind having more that one or two intense installments throughout the season.

So what did you think of “Hunt?” Was the conclusion what you expected? Where does it rank compared to the previous two-parters? Are you excited to have James Brolin as Castle’s father? Sound off in the comments and let us know what you thought. Check out the Castle Round Table and the Castle Cast to marvel over the episode. Unfortunately, we have a break until the next new episode. But that will give us time to take it all in. Until next time, Castle Fanatics!