The words “creative genius” tend not to enter my vocabulary much, especially when describing the current crop of television creators out there today. Yet time and time again, I cannot help but refer to Castle creator, Andrew Marlowe, as a creative genius. After penning Monday night’s “Linchpin," the epic conclusion to Castle's annual two-part event, there is no longer any other way to describe him.
Last season’s “Countdown” was touted as some of his best work as a writer. While that particular episode was filled with the same brand of heart-pounding suspense, intense drama, and brilliant moments, there was something about this season’s “Part Two” that raised the bar even higher for the uber-talented creator and scribe. The stakes were higher, the twists were more shocking, and the secrets that were revealed surely set the stage for the rest of the season’s arc.
Though "Linchpin" featured a story of epic, edge-of-your-seat intensity, and a case that held more twists and turns than a game of Snakes and Ladders, there still remained, as always, a great deal of heart and drama as well. After all, at its core, there is still a classic love story being told, and nobody tells it better than Mr. Marlowe and his team.
The heartfelt moments began almost immediately. After Castle and Beckett escaped from their watery prison, Beckett stood alone on the pier until Castle came back to join her, a pair of their ever-symbolic coffees in hand. Kate uttered a simple “thanks” to Rick, that one word being all he needs her to say. When he told her that she would have done the same for him, she replied with a coy comment and that trademark Beckett grin, reminding each other and the audience that the playful banter between them will never die, even though they nearly did.
Soon after, when Sophia confronted them about their going rogue to question Blakely, she turned all of her anger towards Castle, prompting Beckett to quickly defend him. Sharply hinting at what really happened between them all of those years ago, Sophia certainly got Kate’s attention. As they arrived back at the precinct, in the also ever-symbolic elevator, Beckett finally got up the nerve to question Castle about his involvement with Sophia. While he admitted the truth to her, he also attempted to put Kate’s mind at ease, insisting she was his only true muse. Despite how quickly Beckett got back to business, this would not be the last time the subject came up.
Later, when Sophia questioned Castle about his involvement and interest in Beckett after seeing his secret electronic murder board in his office, he simply yet so meaningfully told her, “She’s different.” Those two words captured the very essence of Castle’s feelings for his partner.
When Kate was left alone with Sophia in the last half of the hour, she took the opportunity to question the CIA agent about her history with Castle, a move that, in and of itself, showed that Beckett is ready to confront his past as a means to move towards their potential future together. When Sophia told her the truth, admitting that a part of her wished that nothing had ever happened between them so they could have held on to that longing that made them who they were together, it seemed to give Beckett pause. Kate later told Castle, though, that Sophia had told a great many lies. Perhaps she knew in looking back at that moment that her rival was merely playing games with her.
Even still, nothing could change that one telling moment when Kate mirrored Castle’s meaningful words from earlier in the episode. Sophia lamented to Beckett, “You know how he can be." Beckett simply responded with, “Yeah, I do.” Again, three simple words that captured so much of what she was feeling, all felt through her tone of voice and that small grin that appeared so subtly across her face.
In the end, despite the truth about Sophia being a traitor and his father potentially being a CIA agent himself, Castle still managed to push aside his own issues to once again reassure Beckett that she was his true inspiration. He likened his character of Clara Strike to Kate rather than Sophia, even letting Beckett know that he believed that was why he had been drawn to her in the first place. Once again, perhaps fate has always been working its magic on these two, even long before they met.
When Castle asked Beckett if she believed they had truly saved the world, she reminded him that no matter what else they stopped in the process, they had saved the life of an innocent young girl. To her, that was all that truly mattered. That was “enough” for her, for now, a clever reminder of that meaningful term we have heard throughout this season.
As the two walked away and made their way home, Beckett playfully gave Castle a nudge, a moment reminiscent of last season’s ending to “The Final Nail," an appropriate throw-back given that that was the first time one of Castle’s heroes was knocked off of their pedestal. Clever writers indeed.
Yet amongst all of the hope and promise of this beautiful ending, one can only help but wonder if there is another linchpin hiding just around the corner, a seemingly insignificant event that will spark the revelation of the secrets that Castle and Beckett have both been keeping from each other all season. One event that will set the stage for what may be their most difficult challenge yet.
With Andrew Marlowe at the helm and only seven episodes remaining in this fourth season, one thing is for sure: the best is yet to come.
Castle airs Mondays at 10 p.m. ET on CTV/ABC.
What did you think of "Linchpin?" Comment below.
