CASTLE Review: The Nose Knows All

Castle Smells an Opportunity

Castle finds himself drawn to help Mia when he realizes that her sense of smell confirms that Beckett is still massively attracted to him. But he also ends up helping Mia, who he realizes is hiding from the world out of fear. Not unlike wife, it seems.

Beckett needs to come to the loft for the rest of the stuff that didn’t fit in her tiny bag when she left, which is pretty sad all around. Before she can get there for that purpose, the real owner of the stolen painting tries to hold Castle hostage. There’s plenty of worry here for her husband, with a rare use of Rick — and a hug.

Castle and Beckett end up getting the opportunity to go out, and try to figure out the last piece of the puzzle, since Mia’s nose was broken in the scuffle with the hostage taker at the loft. They theorize in sync like the team they are, and find evidence of the killer’s hair. It turns out, the victim’s own brother killed him for the money he could acquire from the painting.

With the killer caught, all that remains is the sad task of Beckett going to the loft to pick up some more clothes. But, what could have been a heartbreaking moment of finality was actually a pretty heartwarming moment of connection.

Beckett walks in with the voiceover of Mia in the background – along with some pretty awesome complementary music – informing Castle that of course Beckett still loves him, and that she has been manufacturing the sense of love and passion for years, but what the two of them have is the real deal. She spies Castle’s jacket, picks it up, and inhales deeply, with a smile.

When Castle returns home after talking to Mia, he finds his wife has left, but she left behind a gift on his bed. A well worn NYPD tee. Castle picked it up, and inhales her scent. He smiles. Beckett left something of herself behind. She’ll be back.

NEXT: Something Stinks for Ryan … And Esposito