ABC’s ‘Castle’ season 8, episode 13 review: Richard Castle’s food memory
Who knew that it would be Korean food that would start to inform Rick of his missing time? “Castle” Monday night provided one of the most random flashes into the long-discussed “missing time” that we have seen to date, and it told him, eventually, that he has to head to Koreatown in Los Angeles in order to figure out what to do next. At first, it seemed like he was ready to head to Korea itself.
This little cliffhanger was tacked on what was otherwise a fun-but-forgettable episode, one that put Rick front and center as he tried to infiltrate an ESL class in order to solve a case. His alter ego? Jean Luc, a French Canadians still trying to get a grasp on the language. We do want to give Nathan Fillion some credit for nailing an accent that we feel many Americans don’t quite know even exists. It’s different from the standard French accent you tend to hear, and he hit that perfectly. (Fillion mentioned on Twitter during the show that he had spent several weeks as a teenager in Jonquiere, a town in Quebec. That research probably proved useful.)
As a whole this episode did a good job of getting everyone involved, whether it be Esposito (interesting wardrobe choice this time), Ryan, and even Alexis and Hayley, who had one of her larger roles on the show in some time. Alexis ended up stepping in help teach the class at the end of the episode, which suggests further to us that Alexis Castle is basically Mystery MacGyver and can figure out a way to prove herself useful in any situation.
Did we feel the story was lacking more Beckett? Absolutely, but we’ve also felt that way for most of the season. The biggest mystery of this entire season is why we’re not getting more Stana Katic, even if we are led to believe that she is spending a lot of time with Vikram on LokSat. Episode Grade: B.
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Judy Berlin
March 4, 2016 @ 6:07 pm
I wish you were my college professor, with that grading I would have first in my class. The only positive was that great scene with Rick and Classmates pigeon holing the judge. Classic Castle. Minus, Vikram and Hayley and that creepy FBI guy. Minus Castle and Beckett separated, the seven years of erotic chemistry gone. It certainly seems that whether real or written in the script that they cant stand being on screen together, even for a few short minutes. The plot of course was another recapitulation of the entire season, banal and boring to the nth. While it is virtuous to address social issues, there are two sides to the question of illegal aliens, they are not immigrants and the continued hatred of the FBI and the FEDS except for Idiot Rita i9s tiresome. I would say C which slightly better that all the rest
john z
March 2, 2016 @ 2:24 pm
I dont know, there was a lot of stupid mixed into the episode. Castle world famous author, etc, but goes under cover in ESL class, really ? The fake shooting, yuk, Haley and Alexis , double yuk. I am just sick of the cheap shallow writing that is season 8 as a whole. The break up was just the icing on the crap cake , IMO. Grade wise I give this ep a “meh” .
Jody Henderson
March 2, 2016 @ 1:26 am
I will admit I was, and still to a degree, a supporter of season eight. But even I’m getting tired. And one of the knock-on effects of the Rick/Kate separation that’s really effected me, is the destruction of the relationship between Kate and Alexis. The writers spent two seasons building this loving relationship, and now it’s gone. I hate the Haley mentor role. I just hope the writers can salvage what ever is left of season eight.
georgee
March 1, 2016 @ 10:27 pm
B rating is right, remove the BS separation you would have an A. I just read a article posted in ABC Castle News stating that the show runners are unaware that the separation of Rick and Kate was causing major problems. WOW what planet are they on, this BS separation has been the biggest problem this once wonderful show has. They both must have there heads in that rabbit hole. Maybe if they would just read some of these comments they might have a different tune. But like one person that is running for president likes to say, at this point what does it matter.
Jim45
March 1, 2016 @ 9:09 pm
This episode was in the can before the storm over the lack of Katic and Fillion on screen interaction hit it peak, before Lee got the ax, when the show runners thought they could do no wrong. All those things have changed. (The early scene with Katic and Fillion in the loft looked like a re-shoot of a Martha/Castle scene to pour some water on the fan’s growing fire.) Over all this episode was mediocre. It was twisty, but you knew the teacher was the bad guy from the get go.
The next 2 episodes are vehicles for Fillion and Katic so I don’t expect much in the way of interaction between them in either. Okay, they’ve been getting one of these for the past couple seasons and that’s fine. The evidence of a change to the show we loved in seasons 1-5 or even 6 & 7 will come in e16. JMO If that evidence is there the show might recover. If not it’s toast.
georgee
March 1, 2016 @ 9:06 pm
B rating is right, remove the BS separation you would have an A
Teri
March 1, 2016 @ 8:17 pm
Stana surely negotiated the less time on screen. That is obvious. We have to live with it just to have her still at Castle. Like when the whole cast(except Lanie) is integrated into the episode. That is what makes Castle so enjoyable.
Leo
March 3, 2016 @ 12:06 am
Agree, less time on set, less time in spiked heels, no more 18 hour days, more time to have a life. She may have been making beaucoup bucks, and no time to enjoy it.
Judy Berlin
March 4, 2016 @ 5:57 pm
What she may have also negotiated is a complete separation from the rest of the cast. She mostly stands around with a stiff face delivering banal lines without emotion. She is only alive in scenes where she “fake” shows her dislike of Castle