Beckett's 2 Cool For... Recap: Castle - "Need To Know"

[warning]WARNING: Spoilers ahead for those who have not seen this episode.[/warning]

Season 6, Episode 3
Airdate: Monday, October 7th, 2013 at 10/9c on ABC
Rating: ★★★★★

“Castle, you’re not gonna Castle me on this one.” – Kate Beckett

Castle always finagles his way onto a case!

After a high tension, emotionally draining two-part premiere, Castle returns with a by-the-books episode about a washed up sitcom actor found hanging from a crane hook. Charlie Reynolds (Jeff Grace), made a name for himself on the hit 90’s show, 2 Cool For School playing the lovable nerd, Dewey Hancock. When Detectives Kevin Ryan (Seamus Dever) and Javier Esposito (Jon Huertas) begin their investigation, they find out there is more to Reynolds than meets the eye, including a bewildering secret that happens to involve the Feds. At first glance, “Need To Know” seems more like your average filler episode than a plot driving advancement of the season, but just wait until the last, oh, two minutes!

Starting the morning off right, Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) and Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) indulge in an adorable bit of pillow talk over FaceTime before she is called away to another case. Did y’all catch Beckett kissing the screen and Castle grabbing it? It melted my heart! Anyway, Castle decides he needs to escape from the loft and Pi (Myko Olivier) for the day, so he visits the Charlie Reynolds crime scene to insinuate his way onto Ryan and Esposito’s new case. What he didn’t expect is Esposito declining his call and the new guy, Detective Grant* “Sully” Sullivan (Joshua Bitton), not letting him past the yellow tape. Eventually, using his charm, they accept Castle back into the group.

When the team returns to the 12th Precinct they find out the Feds, or more specifically, Agent McCord (Lisa Edelstein) and Agent Beckett, will be taking over as leads on the investigation. Of course, the NYPD are not too happy with standard responses like, “We’re not at liberty to say.” Castle on the other hand is ecstatic.

Castle: “What are you doing here? Why didn’t you tell me you were coming into town?”

Beckett: “I was going to surprise you.”

Castle: “Well done!”

This change in hierarchy motivates Ryan, Esposito, Castle, and sloppy new guy Sully to solve the case on their own… or maybe with a little help from Beckett. They find Reynolds’ agent and former co-star, Ramon Russo (Antonio Sabato, Jr.) to track down any and all leads. While questioning these two suspects, RySposito and associates find out Reynolds recently deposited $125k in the bank for a 2 Cool For School reunion movie, financed by Anton Rankov (spelling unknown), a Russian super fan. This is where Charlie Reynolds goes from nerd to super secret CIA Intelligence asset! Apparently, the Russians were only funding the movie to smuggle deadly weapons into the states and Charlie was tasked to expose their illegal operation.

Ramon Russo is being questioned by Ryan and Esposito.

In a backwards twist of fate, being a CIA asset isn’t what got Charlie Reynolds killed. It was his plans to disappear afterwards. Those plans to run off with girlfriend, Svetlana Rankov (Emily Foxler), Anton’s niece, and leave everything behind severely interfered with Ramon Russo’s comeback attempt. Ramon confesses to fighting with Charlie and throwing him off the roof. Money and fame are always a top motive for murder!

What I would really love to talk about now is Beckett’s constant battle for justice. In season one, what attracted Castle to Beckett the most was her fierce determination and unwillingness to give up, “Most people come up against a wall, they give up. Not you. You don’t let go. You don’t back down. That makes you extraordinary.” At the end of this episode it is once again solidified that Beckett has dedicated her life for the greater good of all.

After Charlie Reynolds’ murder is solved, the CIA takes it upon themselves to enlist Svetlana’s help in spying on her own family; basically a suicide mission. Beckett is severely opposed and appalled by this turn of events and since McCord doesn’t seem to care, Beckett takes it upon herself to anonymously tip off the media, saving Svetlana’s life. This is why we have all come to LOVE Kate Beckett!

Castle ends where it began, with the two lovebirds cuddling on the couch and talking about their future. In grandiose fashion, Castle reveals he bought an apartment in Washington, D.C., which of course ends with a spectacular kiss!

Kate Beckett always figures out how to get justice for every victim.

Agent Rachel McCord interrupts the moment, however, by dropping in unannounced and firing Beckett. She. Fires. Beckett. BECKETT’S FIRED!

What in the world just happened? I never, for one second, thought Beckett would be forced to return to the NYPD for doing the right thing. My mind automatically went to: she will come to her senses and make the right decision to go back to her family in New York. But this, this hurts! I can just feel the heartache she will be going through in the next episode, thinking she failed and she wasn’t enough. Our Beckett will bury herself in misery, but she will dig herself out. Because our Beckett does not give up!

Hits:

The unlucky victim this week was named Charlie Reynolds. They used my last name! I’m sure they just used it as another Firefly Easter egg though.
We find out that “Heat Wave” went straight to DVD. No hot red carpet premiere for us. The way they brought the topic up was pretty funny. Poor Castle.
Castle calls Beckett honey.
Beckett’s ombre sweater in the last scene was gorgeous. Way to go, Luke Reichle!

Misses:

If I click my click my heels three times, will that make Pi disappear?
The new detective Sully reminds me of the actor that was originally slated to play Kevin Ryan.

***

*ABC’s press release lists Joshua Britton as Detective Frank Sullivan, but during the episode Ryan introduces him as Grant. At least, that’s what I heard.

What did you think of tonight’s episode? Let me know in the comment section below or tweet me at @tvgoddess47!

Tune in to Castle, Mondays at 10/9c only on ABC.

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Photos: Credit with copyright. ©2013 ABC Studios. All Rights Reserved.

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Emily Reynolds

Hi, you've reached Emily, your TV Goddess. She has an addiction to TV shows, especially crime dramedies and is always available to fangirl with you! She also loves coffee, sleeping, and tweeting. Read her random but awesome musings on Twitter: @tvgoddess47!!!