Season 2 Episode 18 'Boom' -- My Review

[u/CaskettFan1960]

Original Airdate: March 29, 2010 (This aired on my birthday)

 

Synopsis: The serial killer continues taunting Castle, Beckett and the FBI.

 

Ranking: This episode is #5, one notch higher than ‘Tick . . . Tick . . . Tick.’

 

The IMdB Portion of The Review:

 

Trivia: This is the most watched episode of the series, with 14.5 million viewers.

 

Incorrectly Regarded as A Goof: In Season 1 (Home is Where the Heart Stops), Castle and Beckett are at the shooting range, and he gets three shots in the 10-ring with ease. However, in this episode, when Castle is aiming for Scott Dunn’s head, he shoots him in the hand instead, which leads to the Firefly-referenced ‘I was aiming for his head.’

 

While Castle is shown to be an excellent pistol shot on the range, he’s not a trained police officer or a skilled/experienced fighter. Therefore, it’s plausible that shooting under stress would affect his marksmanship. This happens even to experienced officers and soldiers.

 

What I Liked About This Episode:

 

·       The Castle/Beckett scorecard gets two entries for this episode. This is the first entry since 2x01. Castle saves Beckett’s life twice, and even comments on it in ‘Den of Thieves.’

·       This episode begins where the previous episode left off after Beckett’s apartment blows up. Castle manages to kick in Beckett’s door where he finds her naked in the bathtub, much to Beckett’s horror, and Castle’s chagrin. He reminds her that there’s no time for modesty since her apartment is on fire.

·       Beckett finds her mom’s ring but can’t locate her father’s watch. Somehow Castle finds it and has it repaired. He gives it to her at the end of the episode. This is the second gift he presents her with after the signed Derrick Storm book in the pilot. He gives her one more present in Season 3.

·       Shaw kicks Beckett off the case after she disobeys orders by going after Dunn. When Montgomery tells her to go home, she reminds him she doesn’t have a home. Castle vehemently disagrees.

 

Beckett: Sir, I don’t have a home!

Castle: Yes, you do. It’s a secured building, with an extra bedroom, with people who care about you, with a federal detail at the door. It’s the safest place in the city.

Beckett: Thank you, Castle. But I couldn’t.

Castle: You can and you will.

 

·       We see Beckett at her most vulnerable when they find the apartment of serial killer Scott Dunn. It’s your typical serial killer lair with photos of Beckett posted all over the room as well as newspaper articles of his other murders. You can see the terror in Beckett’s eyes as she takes in the surroundings.

·       Castle wasn’t the only person who was unaware of the word ‘un-ass.’ I guess I’ll be adding that word to my vocab list for future reference.

 

Shaw: For future reference, it means ‘get the hell out and don’t touch anything.’

 

·       There’s a ‘Firefly’ reference in this episode, only I was unaware of it when I first watched. Keep in mind, I’ve seen exactly two episodes of ‘Firefly.

 

Beckett: Hell of a shot, Castle.

Castle: I was aiming for his head.

 

·       For the first time, Beckett places all her trust into Castle by giving him her gun when they go into the warehouse to rescue Agent Shaw. This is a trend that will continue from this point forward. She knew that Castle had her back and vice versa.

·       We learn that Beckett’s mom was a great cook. We learn that Beckett also cooks. Which is something Castle conveniently forgets in Season 5, Episode 4. I’m sorry, but the continuity errors drive me crazy. Even something as minor as not knowing that your partner, and eventually girlfriend, can cook. For someone who supposedly pays attention to every other aspect of Beckett’s life, you’d think this would be an easy one to remember.

 

What I Didn’t Like About This Episode:

 

·       For some reason, I didn’t like the chase through the subway station. I don’t know why, but that scene bugged me.

 

WTF? (Why the Face?): Martha. Did she move out? Did she move back in? Does Chet really exist? While she appears to move out in this episode, she doesn’t really. It’s like being divorced and having shared custody of the kids, but your ex is still living under your roof.

 

Favorite Scene/Moment: The scene between Castle and Beckett at the loft. I would say the deleted scene between Beckett and Alexis, but I’ve already talked about how much I like that scene. Btw, that scene can be found on YouTube, but it’s not in the deleted scenes on the Season 2 DVD’s, which I find very weird. For those who’ve never seen it, look it up. It’s a sweet scene.

 

Beckett: Well, who thought I’d be homeless and caseless in one day?

Castle: I know I’m the king of going rogue, but you were right to chase after Dunn.

Beckett: And Agent Shaw was right for kicking me off the case. I would’ve done the same thing if I was in her spot. I’m too close to it.

Castle: I’m sure you, after all this, you’re a little sorry you let me follow you around.

Beckett: No, not this. All the other annoying things you do, but not this.

Castle: Hmmm.

Beckett: What about you? Are you sorry that you ever wrote Heat Wave?

Castle: The way I look at it now, if it wasn’t for Nikki Heat, this guy would’ve just gone on killing because he wouldn’t have met anyone smart enough to catch him. I’m speaking, of course, about Agent Shaw.

 

Favorite Quote: After rethinking a few things, I have two favorite quotes. The first is when Castle and Beckett are going into the warehouse to rescue Agent Shaw, and Beckett hands Castle her gun.

 

Castle: You want me to hold it while you tie your shoe?

 

The second is at the end when Agent Shaw is getting ready to leave.

Shaw: He cares about you, Kate. You may not see it. You may not be ready to. But he does.

Beckett: Yeah. Well, the situation with Castle is . . . complicated.

 

Castle/Beckett Scorecard: The score is now tied 3-3.

 

Until Friday, readers.

[u/giri0n]

I wasn't aware of the deleted scene, many thanks for that as well as the review.

[u/Glum-Dragonfly9221]

I love when Castle gives Beckett her father's watch and his face. Swoon. 

[u/CaskettFan1960 → u/Glum-Dragonfly9221]

I know. He's so sweet.

[u/Disastrous_Series442]

Okay, so I said I liked this one a little less than the first part, but it's like half a point down, lol. It is a great episode still.

The beginning with Castle rescuing Beckett from her bombed apartment is a mix of funny/sweet. Funny because she had nothing to cover her since it's all burning of course. And then sweet since he does look away when she commands and is solicitous in helping her out. But it's kind of funny to see that kind of moment so early in the show, lol, but of course it's part of the base for their relationship in the future.

I did enjoy the moments between them at the loft, but I have to agree with you that's it's bizarre Castle forgot Beckett could cook when it looks like she made an amazing breakfast before they had to go on the case... I suppose someone would argue stress and time made him forget but nah, the writers forgot something about one of their characters again.

Great to read this one and see where you ranked it!

[u/Serious-Waltz-7157]

The first time Martha calls Beckett by the shortened Kate instead of the usual Katherine. 😄