Plot
I know, I know what you're thinking. Only four out of ten? How could I do that to Castle? Honestly, I think part of it was just the high expectations I had for this episode - and they weren't met. Yes, Castle and Beckett got engaged. Yes, that was totally awesome. But it took place in about the first two minutes, and after that it didn't feel like they were really engaged. I mean, it wasn't as though their relationship had taken a step forward - instead it took a step back. They were no longer living together, they barely interacted on a daily basis, and even Castle gave a speech saying he didn't feel like they were the same couple anymore - and I agree. That said, it's early in the season, and I'm hoping that given half a chance, things will settle down. The plot of the episode felt slow, more than a little contrived and very spoon-fed (by which I mean that the audience didn't get a chance to guess at the solution - every piece of evidence was just given to us and we had no chance to try and deduce anything for ourselves). I did enjoy the twist at the end of the episode, but even that wasn't enough to make me enjoy this as much as I would enjoy the average Castle episode - hence the below average rating.
Music
Aside from the very brief reprise of 'I Just Want You' by Robert Duncan (I love that song) I didn't notice anything very awesome or spectactular. It wasn't bad or brilliant, just nicely in the midle.
Acting
Often when shows start again after the hiatus between seasons, there's a lack of chemistry or an uncomfortable feeling between the cast. I didn't notice any of that here - everyone was as awesome as usual, and the newcomers all seemed like good actors, even if their characters were incredibly annoying.
Scenery
While I don't know whether the DC scenes were shot in actual Washington D.C., I did like that the streets looked somewhat different and it had a new feel to it. Beckett's DC apartment was new, as was her new place of work (I don't really know what I'm supposed to call it) and that place was very atmospheric, with dark, sort of blue lighting and a bunch of screens and buttons everywhere. I quite liked it.
Sexism
Not towards either gender, that I noticed. There was a brief scene where there was a close-up on Beckett's cleavage, which would usually be fanservice but since it actually had a plot-driving point to it I don't think it counts.
Bechdel Test
1. It includes at least two women, (Yes)
2. who have at least one conversation, (Yes)
3. about something other than a man or men. (Yes)
This was a close one, because the only conversations between two women were Beckett and WBAE, and almost all of their conversations were about Castle. It only slipped by as three out of three because of the case-related conversations between the two of them. 3/3
2. who have at least one conversation, (Yes)
3. about something other than a man or men. (Yes)
This was a close one, because the only conversations between two women were Beckett and WBAE, and almost all of their conversations were about Castle. It only slipped by as three out of three because of the case-related conversations between the two of them. 3/3