ABC’s ‘Castle’ season 7, episode 20 review: Why did Richard Castle disappear?

For the entirety of “Castle” season 7, we have wanted answers to Castle’s disappearance at the beginning of the season. “Sleeper” Monday night was for the most part all about putting together the pieces of what Richard Castle once forgot.

Do we have all of the answers at the moment? Not entirely. All we can say for now is that he was taken as a part of a massive operation to stop Al Qaeda, one that led to him eventually saving tens of thousands of lives. This was the story that he received from Jenkins, and it all tied back to a man named Bilal who he had connections to all the way back in high school. He was the perfect person to execute the mission, so high-profile that he would not be forgotten.

Here’s the thing: Castle was told that he was a hero, just as he was told that it involved a high school friend he doesn’t remember. It’s entirely a case based on circumstantial evidence. This felt almost to us like everyone involved thought that Rick was starting to get close to the truth, so they pieced together a story that would make sense. There are too many gaps in the knowledge to completely buy this:

1. Why was Castle gone for two months?

2. Why did he get shot?

3. Why do they need everything to still remain such a secret?

We don’t feel like this is over, and maybe more will be clear in the finale. If this is the entirety of the story, we’d say that it wasn’t worth the wait since it really didn’t have that much to do with Castle at all. Instead, it was more about people he once knew. Grade: B-.

Did the events of “Sleeper” satisfy you, and did you wish that it was something more? Share with a comment, and head over here to take a look at what lies ahead! Also, you can sign up now to obtain some further TV scoop on all we cover, courtesy of our official CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: ABC.)