In the season one finale, there's a lot of subtext between Kate and Will Sorenson over sprinkles. She used to love sprinkles, she used to love Will. But now she's moved on. At the end of the episode sprinkles are growing on her and she's spending more time with him and sharing his sprinkled doughnut.

There's a lot of similar subtext going on in Season 2 episode 12, A Rose for Ever After.

WHITE

Prior to ep 12, everyone was talking about how the only time Kate has worn white in season 2, Castle spilled coffee all over her. Kate Beckett in season 2, generally doesn't wear white, so it caught my attention when she shows up in this elegant white top. I see it as representative of passing the torch of the "flame of Castle's love" from Kyra to Beckett.

Kyra's formal wedding dress was spectacularly white, of course, and Beckett was dressed in the romantic colors of fuchsia and red, lest we forget that she is Castle's love interest. (Like that was gonna happen!) In those opening scenes, Castle is overwhelmed with his old feelings of what might have been. [Did anyone else think the shot of him standing there holding a piece of wedding cake was kind of sad?]

Then Kyra meets with Castle, (wearing a romantic red sweater) and they make out. The next morning it's Beckett wearing white. During that day, Castle and Kyra "wrap things up" and Kyra intentionally passes him off to Beckett, justifying Beckett's white top.

When Kyra finally marries Greg, I'm sure no one missed that her dress was black with just a hint of white around the neckline, to remind us that she will always be a treasured part of Castle's history. But the torch has already been passed, and Kyra put the exclamation point on it by tossing Beckett the bouquet.

CAKE

"If you don't get married, is it just a regular old cake?" There's a lot of subtext in this scene and I'm not talking about for Kyra and Greg. What Castle is hearing under the surface of that question is, "We [Kyra & Rick] didn't get married, so is this just a regular old cake?" Castle answers her, it's still a wedding cake. She gives him a slice of cake and he's standing there, holding it through the whole scene, but he doesn't eat it. It's a wedding cake, meant to be shared between a bride and groom.

It speaks to me of his longing for the fairy tale, that he hasn't given up the hope of finding The One and finally having a Happily Ever After. 16+ years ago, Kyra didn't want that, and now she's got Greg… She goes off looking for him.

Beckett shows up and offers him a ride. He offers her what he's been offering her all along. "Cake?" Yet again, she turns him down. "No thanks." But the subtext isn't about cake at all, but a relationship and a future together. So he leaves the cake uneaten and accepts what she is willing to share with him, companionship and a ride.

We have a hint of this undercurrent in episode 11 with the divorced amnesiac. "Do you think they have a chance?" Ryan asks Castle. Castle, who is jaded by his two divorces and mocks his failed marriages at every turn, could easily have given a cynical answer. But he didn't. He is a writer who writes happy endings and, thankfully, he is still looking for his. Otherwise we wouldn't have much of a show would we?

:tm:COFFEE:ib:

I also find it interesting that coffee serves as a barometer for Caskett's relationship. Season 1 Beckett won't touch Castle's coffee. First half season two they're bonding over it, he's making it for her, bringing it to her, and even spills it all over her. (And she doesn't castrate him over it, demonstrating how far they have come.) Then in Episode 12, he shows up with premade coffee, very sweet and thoughtful. She chews him out over the chair and doesn't touch it. I am betting that around the time Beckett figures out how she feels about Rick, she'll start bringing *him* coffee!

Reminds me of the role socks plays in the Harry Potter books. But that is a discussion for another forum.

Sure, it's just a white top. But when, in season 2, has Beckett worn a white top?

1. To make it look more dramatic when Castle spills coffee all over her and

2. In the wedding episode.

A white top suddenly appears in her wardrobe for a wedding episode. That's intentional. It's a very minor detail, but it's intentional.

Did you read the rest of the post?

Umm, that was not at all how I intended to come across. I'm new here, and just wanted to put my best foot forward. That's all. Sorry, did not mean to offend.

i don't think you were reading too much into the white shirt. i take notice too when there's a new colour introduced. i think i even posted on another thread that i found it no coincidence kate was in white during a wedding episode.

Sometimes I think it's fun to look into things like that. Even if it isn't necessarily what the writers intended, it's still entertaining to see if we can find things that were unintentional (if that makes sense).

Wow, very interesting theories, Lady Brenlis!

I noticed the white shirt right off the bat, but didn't attribute any symbolism to it… but with as many colors she has that same shirt in, it's probably no coincidence that we didn't see the white one until this episode. She's worn the other ones multiple times, especially the red one.

I have to say, I was wondering what was the deal with the cake myself, particularly the bit with him just standing there with it looking all forlorn. (How much did I want to give him a hug right there?!) I love your take on it.

A relationship told through coffee?! HAHAHA! That is just adorable. And so them.

Great post, Lady B!

Thanks everyone. Farscapefan, I'm glad to know my comments made for a more poignant viewing experience.

Unniw is dead on with the level of detail and planning going into each episode. The wardrobe people spend a lot of time thinking about the themes of each episode and how to use the wardrobe to further that along. Most of the time, Castle and Beckett operate as a team, and it's interesting to me how their wardrobes are quite harmonious. Not matchy matchy, but her scarf might be the same color as his shirt or something like that. They look like they belong together. You can see for yourself in When the bough breaks.

In Harry Potter 5, Order of the Phoenix, Harry was feeling very mad at the world, like everyone was against them. So wardrobe had a lot of people (especially Ron & Hermione) in horizontal stripes and Harry wore something completely different. The point being to emphasize him feeling at odds with *everyone.*

Back to coffee, I am betting that around the time Beckett figures out how she feels about Rick, she'll start bringing *him* coffee!

:ib: Is this little image :ib: is a take off of Beckett's Innocent Bystander Mug? I love all the little peeps!