This episode was simply amazing. I'll probably make more comments after I watch the episode again, but here's what I can remember.

First, I love how Castle seemed to instantly pick up on what was going on. When he first confronted Lanie, he didn't know the specifics of course, but after he saw "Dr. Death", he put the pieces together. The look that he shared with Lanie while in the conference room was great.

Castle's response to the whole ordeal was great too. He said something like "I'll do whatever you need me to do, even if that means doing nothing.". He's learned from last time to give Beckett her space and respect her wishes. Also loved how Martha pulled Alexis out of the room during that scene, and how Alexis had a look on her face like "Wait! I wanna stay and see what happens!"

We got to see Beckett's father! I suspected we would see him this episode, but I tried not to get my hopes up too much.

That was incredibly noble of Castle to give up that $1 million (or whatever the amount was). He wasn't doing it so that they could progress in the case, he was doing it for Beckett. Even when you do have that kind of money at your disposal, it really shows how much you care about a person when you're willing to give it up in an instant for them.

That entire scene where Castle was held at gun point had me on edge. I'm sure that Beckett would have responded a little differently if it was anyone else with a gun at their back. Not to say that Beckett wouldn't have let the guy go if it was someone else that was at gun point. But she's finally looking her mother's killer face, and anyone would be reluctant to let him go. The way she tried to get the Captain to stand down was wonderfully delivered too. I think she was pleading so desperately with him because it was Castle that was in danger. Love how Castle managed to get out of his hold, and that was a nice shot by Beckett. She didn't mean to kill him of course, which means she probably shot him there on instinct.

And we have reached another turning point in Castle and Beckett's relationship. Beckett has mentioned before that Castle can be helpful on cases, but this is the first time that she's right out said that she enjoys having him there with her.

That's all I can remember at this point. :)

Oh this episode, my heart is still recovering…..he called her kate, she didn't want to let her mom down, then she breaks down after the shooting and then the line about the pigtails. Gasp, I'm having a fangirl moment…….must watch again, now, and discuss later.

spinja said:

And finally – I don't know how to feel about the rather weak, asexual acknowledgement of Beckett finding it fun to have Castle around.

Meh.

What – she needs another girlfriend?

I was majorally disppointed that there was not one touch between them.

Actually I was okay with that because just the scene previous, she let Castle touch her and be her physical rock during her breakdown. I think a Kate of a season ago would've pulled away from him. Just allowing him to be there for her was big…

And, re-watching bits and pieces just now, I realized that this is one of the few episodes where Castle had no "aha!" moments that only he could've cracked… yes, he fronted the $100 grand that allowed them to eventually make the breakthrough, but mostly he was just there… cracking the joke when things got too dire… offering encouragement when he could feel her doubts starting to swell… he said he'd do anything for her–any of her boys would've–but when she says at the end she couldn't have done it without him, I'd like to think that's what she meant… and then telling him that… well, that's all I needed for tonight…

hehe, personally I never worry about these two not having enough heat… from what I've seen of this series so far these two just hint at turning it on and it sets the curtains on fire.

WOW, this episode was just fantastic, from top to bottom a fantastic episode, every note was perfect.  Stana really shined in this episode, I think this episode should go on next years Emmy reel.

From the "Now I own a boat" with accompanying jestures to the end with Beckett sharing with Castle that she likes having him around and wants him to be around when she finds who hired her mothers killer.  Just perfect.  I never would have thought with the subject matter of this episode that they also could have advanced Beckett and Castle's relationship so much further without it not being sterotypical.  But the last scene just rang true for their characters.  Loved, loved, loved it.

And is it Monday yet?  

Wow, lots to digest tonight. First off let me type that the acting in this ep was fantastic, the interplay between Castle and Beckett was the best I think it has been. I know people want 'more' between them but in this ep the physical was there without being 'there'. Confusing but I felt it, NF and SK are really in a groove playing off eachother.

Favorite scene was a simple one, when Castle said do you know why I picked you to be my inspiration, Beckett said no, and Castle said because you were tall! Then he implied she needed to go be 'tall' and do your job, it was classic and just what needed to be said.

The actor who played the killer was great btw, he was the scariest most believable killer of them all so far, I was really worried he would shoot Castle, he was hard-core. I am also glad the fake Jonny Vong did not die, Beckett would have never forgiven herself.

My beef with this ep is as a few others have stated, it felt rushed, but for me only at the end. The first 45 min were fine, I enjoyed the pacing, but then at the end they crammed in a lot. The scene with Castle at the apt should have been a tad longer, and the end obviously should have been as well. Someone mentioned a few posts up that Beckett never had a split second to realize that she had gotten to kill the man that killed her mother, it only needed to be a second but it needed to be there. The shot could have just been her realization that this was really not the closure she needed, so she panics and realizes she NEEDS to save his life. That part of the scene was def missed, but I understand that they only have about 43 minutes to tell this story. Maybe a two-parter would have worked, but maybe it would have been too much, I am not sure. Andrew Marlowe said bits and pieces, ref Beckett's mother, and this was a huge step forward.

The last scene was perfect however and made me very happy. It was absolutely PERFECT. I don't need them to anything other than look at eachother like they did, it progresses them forward.

Overall this is an A episode all the way. Castle gets better and better every week.

so many AWESOME parts of the episode, i don't think i can stop talking about all of it if i started. haha.
one of my fave parts was castle telling kate 'because ur tall' and kate's reaction, her face was just perfect, full of emotions.

i also loved her talk w/ her dad, she was very 'kate'..not 'beckett', she was very soft,and her whole talk w/ her dad was very touching.

but my absolute fave part was definitely the part were kate tried to save the guy,then cried after realizing he's dead. very very sad , it even had me crying, but that part was SO good, it was very real, the emotions and such. :)

Wow. That's about all I can say. I was worried when it was taking so long to get to what we already knew about the first murder, and I respect those who think it was rushed. I can see that argument in hindsight, but having watched the epi 3 times now I don't feel like it was rushed at all. And I think as wynnara said, Beckett allowing Castle to put his hand on her in comfort right there in the precinct in front of all of her co-workers was a HUGE moment and a turning point in their friendship/relationship. As was her going to his home. So it made the scene at the end very sweet and poignant for me–finally she was putting it into words and he didn't regress to the 12-year-old like when she complimented him on being a good father.

I was ready to cry the whole episode but it didn't happen until the very end when she said she's gotten used to him pulling her pigtails. SUCH a sweet scene and really perfectly done.

I had no doubt that they were all amazing actors but in this episode they were over the top AMAZING. Stana took my breath away so many times, I've always loved the way she delivers her lines but her acting last night was SO powerful. And Nathan matched her line-for-line.

Truly amazing work by everyone connected with the show. Wow.