Kill Shot

This episode steps away from the usual formulas that have made this series so great, and yet it achieves greatness without them.

Castle is less the juvenile. The family bonding is not as much a part if it all. He does get one big clue from family. The banter is largely missing because Beckett is incapable of it for most of the episode.

Stana Katic shows a different side of her acting skill and it's marvelous. Beckett is still drawn into herself, but her facade cracks and crumbles so the viewer can see her at her most vulnerable.

I do love the episodes where Castle shows his brilliant deductive skills and he's on fire in this one. Even so Beckett is totally the center of the story.

Added later: I am always hard on Gates and with reason. I have accused her character of being cardboard. In the last episode, the casino one, she begins to show some development as a human being although still arrogant and rigid, knows best. But I have a major complaint here. She should have seen it. It is her job. Sure, the team was covering for Beckett, but that's not enough excuse. And later she does come to tolerate Castle, but come on. He broke the case. She is just as much at fault for not recognizing the asset he is with his out of box thinking. Gates, have you ever heard of brainstorming? You don't have time not to do at least some.

As for family, Jon Huertas comes through big time in that role because after all that team is family too. It was great to see how Castle turned to Esposito to pull Kate out of the pit.