ABC’s ‘Castle’ season 8, episode 6 review: Adam Baldwin, Nathan Fillion make ‘Cool Boys’ cool
“Castle” and its writers had a tough challenge laid out for them Monday night: Tell a compelling, interesting installment, and do so without one of your main stars. Stana Katic was MIA for “Cool Boys,” and yet the show managed to pull off something that stood on its own two feet. We don’t want to see this happen often (or really the rest of the season), but this was even more fun than we thought it would be going in.
Much of the reason for the story’s success comes down to a certain guest star in Adam Baldwin. The former “Firefly” actor obviously has that tie with Nathan Fillion, but the writing played very much to his strengths: Aggressive action sequences, but then also lighter moments where he can play a little bit against type. We learned a lot about his Ethan Slaughter character tonight, including that he was married to a famous opera singer and that he majored in musical theater in school.
Is this the sort of thing that merits a return appearance from Baldwin? Sure, eventually. We know that he is busy on “The Last Ship,” but we’d love for this to be an annual gig for him. (Granted, it’s possible that there may not be a ninth season.)
We admit that the case itself was somewhat flat when it comes to the circumstances and the events. Ryan and Esposito got a chance to be the shining stars of the crime-solving, but we enjoyed them more bouncing off of Slaughter and Castle than forcing the perp to make a confession. We’re not really going to remember that mystery in this episode at all; instead, we’ll remember Fillion and Baldwin singing show tunes, Ethan cooking, Ethan meeting Martha, and also Rick attempting to cower away when Slaughter showed up at his office. Also, Ethan at the end of episode tried to use Castle’s connections with the Mayor to do his bidding.
In the end, cool boys was … pretty cool. We didn’t know what to do with an episode sans Beckett, but at least we laughed often, and there was a nice moment when Ethan handed down some advice to Rick at the end: Don’t let Kate go through her struggles alone. Find a way to make her needs the priority. Hopefully this will apply to the story moving forward. Episode Grade: B.
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Curtis Highbridge
November 12, 2015 @ 3:42 pm
The plan? Kate leaves Castle under the pretense of putting a safety zone between she and Castle.. Kate files for a divorce. Big headlines all over the world. Betryal? or Mindfulness of Castles safety?
Allie
November 12, 2015 @ 4:49 am
I loved Firefly and used to really like Adam Baldwin, but, even though I share most of his political views, I can’t stand him any longer. He’s so argumentative and so fake with his fans and has become like a conservative, male Kim Kardashian..a total attention hoe. It’s kind of funny to say this, but he’s a meanie…seriously a bully/meanie (there, I said it.). But, with that said I do enjoy the characters he plays. Slaughter needs to become a permanent part of the cast on Castle. But please, Adam, ditch the horrid toupee/wig thing. It’s so hideous. Just do a crew cut so you don’t look like an overgrown Ronald McDonald.
Just Ducky
November 11, 2015 @ 5:44 am
This whole tedious idea that Beckett had to split is really wearing thin. If she really wanted to protect him she would share her issues with him and work on it together- a far better story line. Their romance was a key to the chemistry of the series and now they have destroyed that. If this continues the ratings will continue to fall.
Teri
November 11, 2015 @ 12:36 am
Liked better than I thought I would. It was well written and the hubby laughed throughout. The boys kept things moving so not to miss Beckett too much.
Rick Montross
November 10, 2015 @ 2:53 pm
Why was Stana not in this episode – even for a second?? Also, the last
time I saw a “star” miss episodes like this (if she was doing some other
project?) was when Adrian Paul wasn’t in some of Season 6’s Highlander
(for other projects) and that was Highlander’s last season.
I hope
the writers pull this season out with some great episodes or I will just
stop at last season’s excellent finale and call it quits!
Perlie
November 10, 2015 @ 9:54 pm
Stana was out of the country at Milan fashion week when the episode was filmed.
Buddy
November 10, 2015 @ 2:10 pm
I can understand how they are developing the story line. For instance the idea of a divorce (does not have to really happen just file the papers to indicate intent to further protect Castle) possibly indicates that Beckett is arriving at a point in her secret investigation where she is going to name suspects, etc. If so, hopefully it all means that maybe we will be let out of the dark and start seeing some progress being made in resolving the issues and moving forward. Regardless the whole idea is to strengthen the Caskett marriage by subjecting them to trials and tribulations in their marriage but enough is enough – move it along quickly before I tire of it.
Ira Allan Ginsburg
November 10, 2015 @ 12:04 pm
I think this episode was silly, and not necessarily in a good way. Maybe I smiled once or twice but that was the extent. In my opinion, the most significant aspect of this episode was the short conversation castle had with Martha, when she reminds Castle of just how Beckett’s mothers death effected her. In addition, slaughters advice to castle was the first time in this whole season where someone made sense. I think castle should have been finding out why she left all along. Even though if he finds out it will put him in danger, that is the show and they always work better together.
Vikki
November 10, 2015 @ 6:43 pm
Funny that it was Slaughter that made sense since he has never seen Castle and Beckett together as a couple. Also, his advice to put her first had me fall off my chair. Has Castle ever not put Beckett first? Seems Slaughter gave that piece of advice to the wrong spouse.
cinm54
November 10, 2015 @ 6:04 am
It was a horrible episode. Boring, embarrassing, come on, singing a duet as the killer’s are ready to well……kill you? Frankly, this is Castle, not Firefly, which I am sure Nathan’s heart is still with. Hiring all his friends will not save this show.
Buddy
November 10, 2015 @ 6:00 am
You are altogether too generous with the B grade. I would give them a D at best. Start addressing what is important (the Caskett split) rather than merely filling in air time. Oh, excuse me but I forgot that the show runners have no talent.
SYLVIA2036
November 10, 2015 @ 11:24 am
I agree with most of what you say but what were the writers supposed to do with this episode with Stana in Europe at a fashion show – it would appear she was putting this before the good of the (Castle) show!
Ira Allan Ginsburg
November 10, 2015 @ 11:56 am
As I’ve stated elsewhere, there could have been a short scene with Stana filmed when she got back from her vacation/honeymoon. Probably the best place to put that scene was when Ryan suggested that they call Beckett and they could’ve had a 30 second conversation.
GC
November 10, 2015 @ 9:56 pm
I had read that Katic would be in 1 scene, but that must have wound up on the cutting room floor. Maybe it will be on the season 8 DVD, which no one may buy.