Castle Review: Never Underestimate Richard Castle! (Season 7 Episode 11)
Castle being banned from working with the 12th precinct might be one of the smartest moves that’s been made on this series. I mean seriously, Castle as a P.I.? Fabulous.
Castle arrives at a crime scene and surprises Beckett with his P.I. license, hoping that means he will be able to investigate alongside her. When that doesn’t work out, he insists he is still going to work the case, just from someplace else. The result is a competition to see who can solve the case first, and new way to keep the show fresh and interesting.
It’s also an opportunity for Castle to be, you know, Castle. He’s actually a pretty good private investigator, despite various shenanigans and getting maced in the face. He is nothing if not resourceful, tracking down the dog and bringing in his own interviews. And at the end of the day, his attention to detail still turns out to be helpful to the precinct.
Castle’s new role also offers something new for Castle and Beckett’s relationship, which is even more important now that they’re a married couple. The competition draws the two together and gives them a chance to interact in a new way. Of course, they can’t stand not being able to work together, so they trade information in secret. It’s like the two are having an affair as they find passion and excitement in putting their heads together to solve a case when no one else is around.
Castle: Just think about how it feels when we work together.
In a lot of ways, we’re reminded of all the reasons Castle and Beckett fell for each other in the first place. For an added extra special touch, the music that plays in the background gives a nod to classic detective films.
The competition isn’t just between Beckett and Castle, though. Ryan and Esposito are equally determined to solve the case first, and they even high five one another when they nab some DNA evidence before Castle has the chance. They’re clearly proud of themselves, especially since they had faith in Castle’s ability from the beginning.
Beckett: There’s no way hes that resourceful.
Ryan: He got you to marry him didn’t he?
The ending of this episode is probably my favorite part. Beckett says Castle impressed her, and we see that there are still some fun surprises in store for their relationship. She shows him she approves of his decision to be a P.I. with the perfect gift: a detective hat and a magnifying glass!
This won’t be the last we see of Richard Castle, P.I., and I think that’s great news.
So what did you think of “Castle, P.I.”? Be sure to give it a rating, and leave your thoughts in the comments below!
Reviewer Rating:
User Rating:
Ashley Bissette Sumerel
Ashley Bissette Sumerel is a television and film critic living in Wilmington, North Carolina. She is editor-in-chief of Tell-Tale TV as well as Eulalie Magazine. Ashley has also written for outlets such as Rolling Stone, Paste Magazine, and Insider. Ashley has been a member of the Critics Choice Association since 2017 and is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic. In addition to her work as an editor and critic, Ashley teaches Entertainment Journalism, Composition, and Literature at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.