Observations while rewatching Kill the Messenger

I enjoyed this episode then, and I still do. Here we get a lot of Captain Montgomery, and that strengthens our investment in the so-called “minor” characters. But we know they are not so minor, after all.

The always-glamorous Martha is still refusing to accept her aging in style. Even though she is older, she is still glamorous, but she (like so many of us) wants to hang onto her youth. Rick’s good-natured ribbing is accepted and returned back on his own head with more grace and humor than I would have expected.

At the first crime scene, we see that Rick really likes his stories embellished with movie and literature references. Having a crime without an interesting story behind it is boring to him.

There is Rick – following the team on a fully-armed tactical break in, wearing his WRITER’s vest.

Castle is a cat person! That explains the dog attack in Wrapped up in Death.

This is a very good Montgomery episode. We get a peek into a piece of Roy’s history for the first time, going back to a ten year old case. This would have been within a year or so of Johanna Beckett’s murder. With the retroactive continuity of Knockout this would have been while Roy was trying to be the best cop he could be.

Rick & Roy watching Beckett breaking the news to the bike messenger’s sister was a nice quiet moment. Both of them admire her empathetic connection to victims’ family members. Hope she can keep that after her mother’s case is closed.

Rick’s “Are you OK?” to Roy shows that he cares for the all of the team members, not just Kate.

At about 10 minutes in, you can see just a flash of one of Richard Castle’s books in Ryan’s hand. You cannot see the title, but the color looks like Heat Wave. Rick notices it.

This was Chet Halliburn’s first mention. His off-screen presence will bring out a lot from Martha. We will never see him. Too bad.

Roy is rethinking his involvement in the old case, with some of the newer information coming to light. We know what Beckett thinks about cops who settle cases too easily, but in this case, Roy is coming to the realization that he did the same thing, but on his own. Rick’s input as a writer (in support of Beckett’s suggestion) proves pivotal when he says “But it is a mystery. And all mysteries are the same – motive, opportunity, cover-up, conscience” is convincing to Montgomery. Rick & Kate are working well together well when they aren’t trying to.

Another appearance by Perlmutter! And he is eating lunch on the exam table. There’s a reason he hangs out with dead people. He is not as crabby this time.

“Are you two together?” (Simultaneously) “Not Yet” and “Absolutely not” – answers that are being dissected at length in the Castle & Beckett Onion threads respectively.

I happen to be reading Naked Heat, and just reached the place where Captain Montrose is dealing with a departmental review, just like here with Capt. Roy’s review. This feels odd to reach the parallel events at the same time. Too meta.

Then, Winston Wellesley. I never saw him as the Sheriff of Paradiso (Firefly:The Train Job) until after seeing him in this episode. That was weird.

We know now that Capt. Roy is no stranger to high-level coverups. And he is not intimidated by this one. I’ll throw out a thought: What connections did Roy use in calling in some favors to get the prison duty roster? This isn’t the only time he has been able to go outside the normal chain of command to get information for a case. And he’s got the balls to stand up to a powerful senatorial candidate. Rick’s “That was awesome!” sums it up perfectly.

A Sony VIAO laptop running Apple OS?

Rick knows that Kate has read most, if not all of his books. His “But who am I talking to? You already know this.” Seems like an attempt to get her to let something of her fangirl slip. She doesn’t bite.

Is this the first time Rick & Kate are referred to as “Dynamic Duo”? Even Perlmutter sees something happening between them.

Finally, Roy and Kate can give some family members some answers, to give them some closure. But neither has closure to their own respective cases.

Then there is a brief family moment between Rick & Alexis, where he tells her that she doesn’t have to worry about protecting their family reputation because it is already in ruins. We have been seeing that that is just his public persona, and not who he is when no one is looking. And what we have been seeing behind the veil has been becoming more public as the series has progressed.

Martha’s “How superficial do you think I am?” followed by Rick’s “Intensely.” mirrors Kate’s similar question of Rick in… oh, great, what episode was that? Oh, yes, it was Always Buy Retail. Thanks Nev827.

Captain Montgomery, you are already missed.

Your turn.

the dog attack in Wrapped up in death may happen because Rick is truly cursed or another prank from Beckett/Esposito/Ryan or just coincidence. you never know. I think Castle is an animal person. don't think he hates any animals.