Castle – Season 5 – Episode 1 – After the storm

 After Castle and Beckett finally gave into their feelings for each other. Was it a one time fling or are they a couple now. While they find an answer to that question, they have to take on the force that was responsible for Beckett's mother's death. Now that force is threatening Beckett's life. 

**** Spoilers ahead – Don’t read if you haven’t seen this Episode yet ****

Finally the wait is over. Castle awakes and finds the bed beside him empty. When Beckett walks in with coffee, he’s relieved that it wasn’t a dream. They talk about the fact that they are both in and it’s not some kind of “I almost died and quit my job crisis” for Beckett. As they are about to get to round two, Martha calls for Castle. He tells Beckett to hide in the closet. It’s a super funny scene since it reminds us of High School kids.

Martha reminds Castle what a good kid Alexis usually is. He tells her he’d be much more comfortable having that conversation with more clothes on. In the kitchen, while Castle talks to a hung-over Alexis and Martha, Beckett sneaks out of the Apartment.

Ryan and Gates try to figure out who Beckett’s shooter is and what he stole from Montgomery’s house. Ryan is on his own, because Gates can’t spare any extra cops since they all are out to protect Senator Bracken.

Smith is tortured by Maddox to get the information where the file is.

Castle goes over to Beckett to apologize for hiding her. Beckett wants to know if he is embarrassed to be seen with her. He tells her that everything is so new and he wants to keep it to himself a little longer. She replies with “Still it wasn’t your finest hour”.

When Ryan knocks on the door, Beckett wants Castle to hide in a closet. He refuses to do so since the difference is that he has his pants on.

Ryan wants to talk to them about the case. Beckett tells him that she resigned. Ryan keeps talking though and they figure out that the photo that was stolen from Montgomery’s wedding album is from the man whose been keeping Beckett safe. Castle points out that if they don’t get to him first, Beckett will never be safe.

Beckett is conflicted. She thought everything was over. She doesn’t want to start it all over again. Castle tells her that they don’t have another choice.

Esposito talks an old Army friend into helping him finding out who Maddox real identity is.

Castle and Beckett figure out that the watch the man in the photo is wearing is an expensive piece. Only 17 of them were sold around that time and 9 of them to a law firm that had just won a law suit against a Tabaco firm. Ryan finds out that the burner phone that was used to call Castle used VOIP and dailed in over a Wireless Network at the Magellan Yacht Club in Connecticut. This way they figure out that the guy they are looking for is Michael Smith.

Beckett and Castle find Smith at his apartment, badly tortured but still alive. The file is burning in the fireplace. When Smith is wheeled out he tells Castle “The file… she’s not safe”. Then he also mentions 86.

Castle and Beckett look through Smith files to find a hint where the second copy could be. Beckett is ready to give up and tells Castle he is grasping for straws. He refuses to give up. His persistence pays off and they find out that Smith has a property at a street that starts with 86.

When they arrive at the empty house they find out where Smith’s old apartment was. Maddox surprises them. He zip ties their hands and locks them into an old bathroom.

While Maddox tries to find the safe with the file, Beckett and Castle try to get rid off the zip ties.

It’s a pretty cute scene when Castle says that if they get murdered he’d feel ripped off. Beckett says she does too. And Castle says they at least had last night but that they should have done that 4 years ago. Espo gets them out. He found out the real identity of Maddox: Sedrik Marks. Once he knew that it was easy for him to track him. Together they surprise Sedrik. When he grabs the file, it triggers a bomb and kills him.

Gates takes Beckett, Esposito and Castle to task. They all say they were out for a walk when they heard the explosion and Maddox’s death was just bad karma.

Beckett, Castle and Esposito are disappointed. The file is gone. Ryan stops by with the rest of the paper shreds. They try to put the papers back together and stumble over a money order that went to an account number. They check the account number in the Federal Banking Database and find out that the account belonged to William H Bracken nowadays known as Senator Bracken. Back in the days he was District Attorney.

Castle worries about Beckett but she tells him that she is fine.

Michael Smith is awake again. Beckett and Castle go to talk to him. He says that he owed Montgomery but not her. Bracken is untouchable.

When Castle and Beckett are outside of the hospital the cop that was supposed to guard Smith comes out because dispatch has pulled him away. When they hurry up to Smith he is just declared dead of a possible heart attack.

At Beckett’s apartment she tells Castle that she will never be safe again.

While Castle is asleep she sneaks out. Castle tells Ryan and Esposito. They find out that Beckett has asked where Bracken is.

Beckett sneaks into the Fundraiser where Senator Bracken is. She bumps into him and slides a cell phone into his pocket.

Castle, Esposito and Ryan rush into the hotel to look for Beckett afraid she might kill him.

Beckett calls Bracken. He tells her he is not interested in playing games.

The three guys find out that the Senator is in a meeting with a donator. Ryan wants to call it in. Esposito tells him he will break his arm if he even tries. Ryan tries to justify himself that Beckett might be out for blood. Castle reasons with him and he gives in.

Beckett meets Bracken alone. She wants to hear the truth from him but he says that you should never expect that from a Politian. It’s a power battle. He tells her that no one will ever believe her since he holds the power. Beckett informs him that she has the file. She threatens that she will make it public in case of her death or if anything should happen to one of the people she cares about. They come to an understanding. The deal he had with Smith is now their deal. She also informs him that she is done with being afraid and that it’s now his turn to be afraid. She smacks her gun into his face. It will leave a nasty scar and whenever he sees it he should think of her. Then she walks away.

Castle, Ryan and Espo rush in and see Beckett who is holding on to her gun. Castle wants her to tell him that she didn’t do it. Bracken walks past them. Beckett lets them know that they reached an understanding.

Beckett wants her job back from Gates. After all she has the top case closure rate in the precinct and the man that shot her is dead. Gates knows that she’s covering for Montgomery. She admires her loyalty.

Still Beckett has to serve out her suspension, same as Esposito.

Beckett still knows what to do in the meantime since she grabs Castle on the elevator.

I gladly give this Episode ✭✭✭✭✭. I really loved this one. It was worth the wait. I really enjoyed the way they explored Castle and Beckett’s new relationship. It was beautiful and funny at the same time. Andrew Marlowe just throws us some little bits and makes us want more. And that’s how I know that we will never lose interest in Beckett and Castle as a couple. It’s going to be every interesting to see them in a relationship.

The writing was once again brilliant. The Episode had witty humor and heartache. Every time Beckett talks about her mother it breaks my heart.

Another thing this Episode had was the beautiful score Music. It underlined the actions perfectly.

I just have to mention the incredible acting of Nathan, Stana, Jon, Seamus, Molly, Susan and Penny. But I have to give an extra shout out to Stana. Watching her act is heart breaking beautiful. She never fails to deliver her lines as perfect as possible. And she never fails to make me feel what her character feels. This is a raw talent and I’m really happy she is able to use it.

All the scenes with Castle and Beckett were really beautiful. It was nice to see him taking care of her and how she didn’t push him away.

The scene with Martha in Castle’s bedroom was hilarious. Also the scene with the hung over Alexis. Good to see that Alexis is also so a teenager who makes mistakes.

What really broke my heart is the way Esposito held his gun into Ryan’s face and called him Judas. But at the end they still have each other’s back.

In my opinion this Episode had some of the best dialog so far.

I really enjoyed the scene between Beckett and Bracken. It was definitely a power play. And from my point of view Beckett won. She turned her fear into power. That’s an awesome skill.

Yeah, so I loved this one. So far my new most favorite Castle Episode ever. It all worked perfectly together. The brilliant writing, the beautiful score music and the incredible acting all turned “After the Storm” into a fabulous Episode which made me smile, laugh and hurt. Who cares if Castle gets an Emmy or not? We all know already that Castle is better than that. ;)

***** Quotes*****

Castle: “If we don’t get to him before Maddox does, you’ll never be safe again.”

Beckett: “This was supposed to be over. I can’t go back again. Not now.”

Beckett: “You’re just grasping at straws.”

Castle: “Yes. I’m grasping at straws because if that file is gone that means they are coming after you and there’s absolutely nothing I can do. So yes if there’s a straw I’m grasping it.”

Castle: “If we get murdered right now I feel ripped off.”

Beckett: “Yeah me too.”

Castle: “At least we had last night. We should have done that four years ago.”

Esposito: “Done what four years ago?”

Beckett: “You got an extra piece?”

Castle: “Nice. What about me?”

Esposito: “Oh you mean an extra extra piece?”

Beckett: “Don’t move. Don’t even breath. Reach for it and I blow your head off.”

Castle: “Thanks for the warning  Smith.”

Gates: “I’m not interested Mr. Castle because you are specialized in fiction.”

Castle: “Bad karma.”

Beckett: “So they’re coming for me.”

Castle: “Ryan got two teams stationed outside.”

Beckett: “Then what about tomorrow and the day after that?”

Castle: “Let me take you some place, Kate. Some place you’ll be safe.”

Beckett: “I’ll never be safe!”

Bracken: “I’m not interested in playing games.”

Beckett: “You better get interested. I have information that will destroy your career and I will use it unless you do exactly as I say.”

Esposito: “Put that phone away for I break your freaking arm.”

Bracken: “What do you want Miss Beckett?

Beckett: “The truth!”

Bracken: “Never expect that from a Politian.”

Beckett (disgusted): “Who do you think you’re talking to? How can you justify yourself to me? My mother was stabbed in an alley because of you. She bled to death alone in a pile of garbage. So safe me your campaign speeches about great things.”

Bracken: “You sound a bit delusional. You know, but then again who are you? A disgraced cop obsessed with her mother’s murder. And who am I? I’m a decent man looking out for the little guys. That’s who the public sees. And every time they elect me, I’m humbled. I strive harder to live up to that ideal. I wanna be that man. And I won’t let you or anyone else get in my way.”

Beckett: “I don’t think you’re in a position to threaten senator.”

Bracken: “See, here’s what you don’t understand. It’s not who has the gun but who has the power. Do you really think that’s you?”

Beckett: “I have the file.”

Beckett: “So you’re right it is about who holds the power. Now… I could release that file and destroy you but what would that mean for my life expectation? So here it’s how it is. The deal you had with Smith, that’s our deal now. And if anything happens to me or anyone that I care about that file does public. Am I clear?”

Beckett: “That’s a yes or no question.”

Beckett: “And one more thing. Whoever it is you think I am, whatever it is you think you know about me, you have no idea what I’m capable of or how far I’ll go. I am done being afraid. It’s your turn now.”

Beckett (smacks the gun into Bracken’s face): “That’s gonna leave a nasty scar. Every time you see it, think of me.”

Castle: “Kate, tell me you didn’t!”

Beckett: “We reached an understanding.”

Esposito: “But what about your mom?”

Beckett: “I’ll get justice for her, just not today. Till then, get it for others.”

Gate: “I admire your loyalty.”

Castle: “What are you gonna do in the meantime?”

Beckett: “Oh I’m pretty sure I can think of something.”

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So how did you like the Episode?