Van said:

Here is how I see them getting together………………
While on a case,Beckett and Castle are trapped in an impossible situation and both believe they may not make it out hole.Declarations are made back and forth,yada,yada,yada and they wind up in each others arms in a passionate embrace just before the team rushes in to save the day. Or…….maybe not.How do the rest of you see it happening? No rush and no pressure but I would love to hear some thoughts.

Here's how I think Beckett will crash the walls of the Castle…………

Some crazed fan kidnaps Alexis.  This is absolutely debilitating to Castle and for the first time he can imagine Beckett's pain. The pain of losing her mother. Of course, Kate tries to comfort him throughout this process.  This allows for close proximity and a whole lot of touching.  While the FBI scrambles to figure things out.  Kate does her own investigation and being the superwoman, supercop that she is…she returns Alexis to Castle safely.  Castle and Martha offer their thanks and gratefulness to Beckett.  Castle, Martha, and Alexis share a hug. Beckett watches relieved and partially wanting in on the hug. Emotionally drained she goes home.  Beckett fresh from a bath stands at her kitchen counter drinking tea and unbearably aware of her aloneness. There's a knock.  She opens the door and there stands Castle.  Beckett suddenly aware that she is wearing her unflattering sweats and her hair hasn't dried.  She invites him in as she can see the intensity on his face.  Something's different.  He's a man on a mission. 

Kate: "What is…."

Castle (interrupts):  "Please.  Please let me say this.  I don't know when it happened but something… you have done something…

Kate:  (Feeling the intensity and not sure if she can handle it interrupts).  "Castle, cut it out.  You've already thanked me. You need to go home and get some rest."

Castle:  (Serious) "Please don't do that.  I think you know what I'm here to say.  If not, you're not as good of a detective as I thought.  I don't when it happened but you have taken a part of me.  I go to that station everyday not because of any murder case.  I can careless about a murder case.  While I'm writing these Nikki Heat novels I have to remind myself that I'm not writing a romance novel.  I need to be near you.  If I don't look in those big green eyes and smell that cherry scented shampoo, I'm shattered.  I sit by the phone and wait for you to call me…I wait for you.  (Beckett turns to walk into her kitchen because she's feeling overwhelmed and knows she will cry if he says another word. He stops her and forces her to face him).  I love you.  I won't deny this anymore.  Today has convinced me that we don't always get a second chance so you have to hear this. (Kate's tears can no longer be contained.)  I love you.  You're smart, and tough, and I'm sure the most beautiful woman alive. (Pause) I know you think I'm not the man for you.  The very idea of me frightens you.  You're not just a character in a book for me.  You're the woman who I want to as my lead character….in my life.  I don't know what is supposed to happen now but I could not spend another day without you knowing how I feel.  I love you and I'm pretty sure that I'm going to love you for a very long time.  (He reaches in to wipe her tear).

Kate:  (She closes her eyes as he hand brushes the tear from her cheek.  Determined not to let the moment pass.  She opens her eyes.  She holds his hand at her cheek).  "I believe you're supposed to kiss me now."  (Castle stunned and relieved pulls her closer.  Gives her a soft kiss on the lips.  Stops to look at her.  Finally a long passionate kiss.)

You guys know what happens next.  THAT"S RIGHT……………..FLOOR ACTION!!!!!!!!!!

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OMG  I could really see it happening that way.  Awesome scenario Van.

nalissa2 said:

Van said:

As for the transition from last week to this week, I agree with those that wrote that closure was achieved at the end of the episode (Sucker Punch).  With this episode being so light and fun it may have been damaging to re-introduce what happened last week. 

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I think we have to remember too that stand alone, self-contained episodes do better in reruns.

Stand alone episodes make it easier for a show to pick up new viewers.  R

abc123 said:

Castle's red handkerchiefs matches Beckett's dress, Beckett's eye makeup (blue/purple) match Castles shirt & tie. Later her shirt matches him.

In a past episode, Beckett asked Castle what would Nikki Heat do after a long hard day. Castle said she would go home, take a nice warm bath with a drink and a good book. In this episode Beckett isn't asking Castle, she is telling him she just wants to go home and take a warm bath.

Then of course the date, they don't see that their clothes is in sink, they are in sink. Even the scene at the newspaper, she asks him about the restaurant, he is paused by the idea of her going on a date, she wants to know just what type of a girl Castle takes her for and then two seconds later she is chasing down a man and putting him in cuffs without pause.

I personally think that Kate Beckett has all the control in what does and doesn't happen in this relationship.
She put the bait out their and he took it. She wanted him to clear up the info that said the were together BECAUSE "There is no us", but she didn't want Castle to hook up with somebody else. So the smarty she is, went right to gloria and got herself a MR July to go out on a date with, then she dropped the restaurant name to Castle and then BINGO, Castle takes the bait and shows up with #3. Funny stuff

Yes, the clothes were so right on.  I loved the play on colors the wardrobe/makeup people gave us. 

Also, Nicki Heat and her warm baths have been recalled before.  In the episode when Kate starts reading the book, she has a warm bath, drink, and book.  I just wonder which came first.  Did Kate always do the bath thing or did she channel her inner Nicki Heat?  Castle mentioned in the episode with Kate's FBI ex-beau that he understands Nicki Heat better than she thinks he does.  I think this is true only to the extent that he still has a lot of layers to the Beckett-onion so he still can't put the whole story together. 

As for Kate being in control of the relationship.  I think that is true but I don't think she is as conscious of her control as you suggested.  Her getting set up on the date seemed to be more for her protection than as a tool to get Castle's attention.  On the surface, Castle is not the man for her.  He is a playboy who seems to have very few inhibitions.  Further, to even think of entertaining a relationship with him would change her life and compromise the status she has managed to build with her colleagues.  She's a girl so I know most of her telling Castle about the date was to make him jealous…..but it was also to re-introduce options and to re-establish herself in the dating world.  If we knew nothing else about the chemistry between Castle and Beckett, we would say she needs to stick to Hot Kitten Saving Fireman or Sexy Light-Eyed FBI Guy.  However, we do know that Castle and Beckett have a deeper connection.  Deeper than either of them realize.  Isn't it great….?!!!      

Unniw, thanks for the info.

Awwwww, you mean Castle peg her again.   He really does know this Nicki Heat chick….