Castle Review: The Good Guys Win

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Viewers were treated to the continuing saga of Alexis Castle this week.

But, thankfully Castle Season 6 Episode 7, gave fans something to smile about when it came to Rick's only daughter.

When Alexis was told that "sometimes the good guys don't win," I really wondered if that would be her lesson by the end of the hour. And certainly the drama of fighting for a death row inmate with less than three days to live didn't disappoint.

Enlisting Castle Help

Honestly, I thought Frank's brother John was the real killer the moment I saw him, so I was satisfied that the Castle writers turned the tables on me. As much as it's fun to figure out who the killer is, it's always more entertaining to be surprised.

I was even a little disappointed in myself that I didn't figure out it was the officer who harassed them in the cafe during that scene. But I remember thinking that it was completely rational that people in a blue collar town in Pennsylvania wouldn't be happy about an NYC college student second guessing their work.

I'll admit, I was pretty ticked off at Alexis by the end of Castle Season 6, Episode 6. Forcing her father to stand in the hallway and then closing the door on him was not her finest moment. And as "Like Father, Like Daughter" opened, her self righteous anger was still apparent.

As Rick himself asked in this Castle quote

So I insulted her boyfriend. What's the prison sentence on that?



In the mind of a teenager, weeks sounds accurate. The only reason Alexis ended up back at the loft was because she needed something…or maybe she was subconsciously looking for a way to reconnect with her Dad. I'm hoping it was the latter.

Despite her cool exterior, Castle positively lit up when she asked him for help and once again his adoration for his daughter melted my heart.

This episode's slightly different formula was a nice change of pace. A road trip is always fun and I enjoyed watching Rick and Alexis working together to solve the case.

Meeting Frank and Maggie brought out something we don't see in Castle very often. His insecure side.

You should have seen the way these people looked at me, like I'm some kind of savior.

If he failed to prove Frank's innocence not only would the man be put to death, but Castle feared his daughter would never forgive him.

The case highlighted some things about Alexis too. She's incredibly smart, driven and passionate. She's like this strange mix of both Castle and Beckett. But she's also extremely naive.

Alexis kept insisting that Frank was innocent because she knew him. In truth, she'd spent very little time with the man and he could have easily been playing her. She even believed that she was safe going inside Lyle Gomez's home because her father was outside in the car. If Lyle had been the actual killer that situation could have gone horribly wrong very quickly.

But how many of us weren't naive and idealistic at 19 years old? Alexis was portrayed as such a mature kid for many of Castle's early seasons that when she's shown as a typical teenager I have to remind myself that she's acting normal for her age.

What was particularly interesting was who Alexis decided to ask for help…and who she didn't. She went to Ryan and Esposito first. With their prodding she went to her father. But she didn't go to Lanie or Beckett.

Not going to Beckett I understood but her decision about Lanie surprised me. Perhaps it was as simple as she said. She didn't think Lanie could help since it was out of her jurisdiction, but that didn't stop her from asking Ryan and Esposito. Or maybe it was because she knew Beckett and Lanie are close and she wasn't ready for any contact with her future step-mom.

Speaking of Kate and Lanie, it was great to see them sharing some girl talk on Castle Season 6, as Kate expressed her fears about fitting into the close relationship Castle has with his family. Brilliant as ever, Dr. Parish pointed out that no family is perfect and that she possessed the power to make her own history.

Beckett did her absolute best to make sure Castle knew she was there for both him and his daughter no matter what and I was thrilled that Castle recognized her efforts…

Beckett: She's practically family. I care about her too.
Castle: You're pretty great, you know that?



On a lighter note, it was funny but far from shocking that Castle would offer up the plan to get married in outer space. No surprise when Kate shot back sarcastically…

Because when I was a little girl imaging my wedding day, being stuck in a small tin can with a thousand tons of rocket fuel strapped to my ass was exactly what I had in mind.

Kate


But as much as I enjoyed both of those scenes, could the writers slip us a Castle kiss every now and again. I'm in this for the romance. I'd like to see a little…make that a lot more of it.

In the end I had but one complaint. As great as it was to watch Kate and Alexis share a hug I desperately wanted to hear their conversation. That would have made the episode truly satisfying.

In life sometimes the good guys don't win but that's why I tune into Castle every week. Because on #HappyCastleMondays, usually the good guys do.

Review

Editor Rating: 4.6 / 5.0
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C. Orlando was a TV Fanatic Staff Writer. Follow her on Twitter.

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Castle Quotes

I need time to stop being mad and you need time to figure out a way to be OK with this.

Alexis

I tried to stay in the car I really did.

Castle