castle finale: 'Did I say that I need you, did I say that I want you? Oh, if I didn't, I'm a fool.'

[borg_princess]

I haven’t written an ep reaction in a long while, but since everyone and their dog is doing a Castle finale post, well, let me hop on the bandwagon. (caps courtesy of rawr_caps- I did the combining, tho, as you can prob tell by the amateurish blends, lol)

Comments

[lone_pyramid]

I don't have time to respond to everything you've said here (RL responsibilities and deadlines, alas), but as a quick response, I think that Kate (I like the name Kate, don't like Rick, so...) was deliberately shown as OOC in order to drive home how very much her obsession with finding Johanna's killer has consumed her. Remember when Castle first started asking about it, how she said she couldn't go there again because she drowned herself in that case for three years and it took a year of therapy to realize that it wasn't healthy? Yeah, well, now she's looking into the case again, and has been confronted with it twice in just the past five months, and it's consuming her again. Her father became an alcoholic; this is her equivalent, and it's just as ugly.

(I may or may not write a fic where Castle remembers that Beckett warned him about her inability to handle her mother's case and how he realizes that they wouldn't be where they are now if he'd stayed out of it. But that has too much potential for "woe is me, I iz so guilty for everything bad in the world" so I'm not sure I can do that effectively.)

If no one else gets around to making my other points/explanations (I can clear up a few of your questions, I think!) then I will be back. At some point. Assuming the niece and nephew don't kill me after a weekend of keeping them entertained. ;)

[borg_princess]

I don't have time to respond to everything you've said here (RL responsibilities and deadlines, alas)

I understand! I wish I didn't babble on so much, I only meant to talk about three main things but when I watched it to refresh my memory/get quotes...it blew out into THIS.

I do like the name Kate and don't mind Rick, I should prob clarify that in case anyone gets offended, lol, but in reference to Castle and Beckett...it feels too normal. There are lots of Kates and Ricks in the world, but Castle and Beckett's more unique. That's just my wacky head, though. (same reason why it was always Roslin and Adama with me as opposed to Laura and Bill, etc.)

Remember when Castle first started asking about it, how she said she couldn't go there again because she drowned herself in that case for three years and it took a year of therapy to realize that it wasn't healthy?

:O :O :O

Y'know, when I was writing this, I was thinking of you in particular. Last time you shed light on Beckett's thought processes and motivations (must be part of being a writer! You've got a good handle on her inner world) and I'd hoped you'd comment and enlighten me and ARGH, YES, HOW COULD I FORGET? I had forgotten that. I forgot about therapy, I forgot about how hard it was for her to let go and how it consumed her. Thanks for the reminder!

I may or may not write a fic where Castle remembers that Beckett warned him about her inability to handle her mother's case and how he realizes that they wouldn't be where they are now if he'd stayed out of it.

I like this idea. I get your concern that he might take too much on himself and be all woebegone, but maybe you could focus more on the 'I'm her partner, I'll be with her, help shoulder some of that burden' instead of the 'I fail so hard, I let her down, I ruined her life'. With that previous reminder, I think her comment about how 'I'm going to catch who did this and I'd like you there when I do' (paraphraaaased) has much more significance in that light. It suggests that his presence helps ground her a bit.

Although...you'd think if the case ate her up so much it left her needing therapy, then it's even weirder to me that she stood outside crying instead of punching Castle and running back in to get those guys and severely hurt them to get the truth.

Assuming the niece and nephew don't kill me after a weekend of keeping them entertained. ;)

EEEEK. Better you than me! Good luck with that! *hugs*

[lone_pyramid]

Oh, no worries on the extended post! I'd totally be right in there with the discussion if I hadn't had to clean the house this morning, and now the kids are here, so free time is limited until sometime Monday afternoon.

lol, I'm glad I could help you figure things out in a way that lets you still fangirl Beckett. :D

Although...you'd think if the case ate her up so much it left her needing therapy, then it's even weirder to me that she stood outside crying instead of punching Castle and running back in to get those guys and severely hurt them to get the truth.

Yeah, she totally could've taken Castle, no matter how much bigger he is. I guess we can write that off to temporary paralysis due to being overwhelmed? Not only is she neck-deep in the case at this point, but she and Castle had a hell of an argument where she kicked him out and he left (which on the one hand she wanted, but on the other hand probably hurt like hell, because, always, right?) and now she's just found out that her mentor had a hand in the events leading to her mother's murder and is about to die to protect her. Brain and emotional overload, anyone?

IDK. I love Kate, so she gets the benefit of the doubt. :)

[theaquamarine]

Wow, first of all! What a great post and great comments!

/Yeah, she totally could've taken Castle, no matter how much bigger he is./

Totally jumping in here- but I really agree!! Beckett could've taken his ass down in one second, but I think the distinction was that this is *Castle* and not anyone else. If it was Ryan or Esposito, I think Beckett would have stomped on that instep or broken that nose to get back to Montgomery... but because this is *Castle* she just can't. He's the one she just threw out of her apartment, who loves her unconditionally, who betrayed her so deeply (in her mind) by telling her to walk away, and now he is back and trying to save her life once again. I think there might just be something about Castle that makes Beckett vulnerable and ... I don't know... incapable of physically fighting him back... something that she isn't even consciously aware of. So she LET'S him drag her out of there and comfort her as the final blows of this one more betrayal, this one more loss truly hit her and she just completely Loses It with a capital L. After an episode like this... I don't blame her.

Sorry. That was really long and rambly!!

(And, I don't know how to do italics or anything! I hope my slanty marks and astericks weren't totally obnoxious!! This is a great discussion ya'll have going here!!)

[kgrier]

I agree with this. I think she was just so incredibly overwhelmed by that point, I'm not even sure she would have put up much of a fight for Ryan or Esposito. Well, Esposito, anyway (she's got size on Ryan).

I think this explanation is reinforced by her caressing Castle's cheek. It's the most intimate moment they've shared the entire series, even considering the "undercover" kiss.

[borg_princess]

She's got size on them both! I'm always amazing when I see pics of her next to the guys, 'coz they seem big but she looms over them. :O Maybe it's the heels, lol. But Castle's still her height/taller than her. ^_^

Wow. I did not see the caressing? I'll have to rewatch that bit. It was really dark and the detail on my computer screen is a bit lacking, but jeez, that's kind of a big moment for me to miss!

[kgrier]

Oh, yeah, yeah... It's always a double-take when she's in a lineup with the boys! I was thinking more overall bulk; I mean, I know Seamus weighs more than Stana, has more muscle, but it always appears as though she's got it on him. Either way, I believe Esposito and Ryan would have had significantly more trouble getting her out of the hanger.

And, definitely go back and catch that! After Castle props her up against the car, puts his hand over her mouth and brushes the hair from her face, she reaches up and caresses his cheek. So incredibly moving. Stana killed that scene.

ETA: Also, I don't know if anyone touched on it since last I read this thread, but... I wanted to give my opinion of Castle's reaction on learning Beckett was visiting Lockwood. I don't think it was shock so much, and not at all surprise; I think it was disappointment. I think it was him registering a sadness that she's getting so involved, falling so deep, into her mother's case again, and maybe a helplessness because he doesn't know what to do for her to make it right.

[lone_pyramid]

lol! No no, long and rambly is all of the good when it comes to flailing over fandom. (Well, in general, though I probably shouldn't speak to that on someone else's journal. *g*)

I like that thought, that just the fact that it's Castle who's pulling her away is enough to keep her from really fighting back. That kind of feeds into the reason why Montgomery only called him as backup to get Beckett out, instead of Eposito and Ryan too. He knew Castle would be able to get her out of there, knew that Beckett would not respond well at all and wouldn't want anyone to see her break down.

I am also a complete sucker for my OTPs having vulnerabilities only with/in front of each other. Heh.

(Slanty marks and asterisks totally not obnoxious. Though for future reference, if you ever want to use them, < i > to start and < / i > to end (remove spaces).)

[borg_princess]

I probably shouldn't speak to that on someone else's journal

Lol, as if I'd disagree with you on that point! I do adore finding people who not only put up with my long and ramblyness but reciprocate!

I am also a complete sucker for my OTPs having vulnerabilities only with/in front of each other

Interesting explanation there. I might be able to deal with that, then. Because it did bother me that tough Beckett who could take down guys twice her size was suddenly unable to get away from Castle, y'know? If I go for the shippy answer, that makes it better. ^_^

[lone_pyramid]

Much can be forgiven when attributed to the ship. *nods*

[borg_princess]

a) That is how I roll. :P
b) Your icon! Oh, sweet nostalgia. And bitter disappointment. *sighs*

[lone_pyramid]

a) I'm rollin' right along with you.
b) Listening to my music on the way to work yesterday, Dido's "White Flag" came on, and the line "I will go down with this ship" made me want to laugh because I thought that that's kind of the Elizabeth/John mentality. We so went down with that 'ship, and ficced and vidded our angsty little hearts out as we went.

[borg_princess]

Thanks, bb! And I appreciate your input as well. ^_^

Beckett could've taken his ass down in one second, but I think the distinction was that this is *Castle* and not anyone else

Okay, see, that makes it easier for me to swallow. I was in disbelief when Beckett was all 'let me go, Castle' as if she couldn't break his grip and get free on her own, y'know? Like, seriously? But if it's a matter of her not being able to do it because she can't hurt him...yeah, I could get behind the shippy explanation. ^_^

I still think that she could prob take him down without hurting him- like, even digging her nails in and using her elbows could've done the job, maybe- but it was a really tense emotional situation, so. *shrug*

No worries about the slants/asterisks- lone_pyramid's given an explanation how to do it, but feel free to ask if you have probs.