Castle - Episode 6.19 - The Greater Good - Review

‘The Greater Good’ was installed to make us explore a little more about what makes Gates, well, Gates. After an Alexis flavored episode, followed by a Beckett centric one, last week it was the boys who shined, now we gain access to the Captain’s backstory. Maybe Lanie is next because this season on Castle: You get an episode! You get an episode! Everyone gets an episode! (Yes, internet memes are starting to rot my brain…) Seriously though I am loving the diversity in the episodes, it makes everything slightly more interesting.

This week, its death of a young trader working at big investment firm, that drags the lovebirds out of the loft. JP Harding Investment Bank is described as the epicentre of greed and corruption, as well as the engine of capitalism, so of course the CEO stays the prime suspect. (But not in our hearts, because having him as the killer would be way too easy!) I loved the look Castle gave Mr. Burman after he calls Beckett an SCC prick.

“Maybe the invisible hand of the market killed Peter. It would explain the lack of defensive wounds.”

The case at hand gets interesting when it’s discovered the Wall Street wolf was wearing a wire. (The many Wolf of Wall Street references made me wish I’d seen it.) The US Attorney shows up to the precinct, and one of the two women is Gates estranged sister. The victim, having been caught with cocaine, is a criminal informant inside JP Harding and Gates’ sister, Elizabeth, is building up a case to bring them down. (And Elizabeth’s glares are just as powerfully terrifying as Gates. Poor Castle!) It’s obvious from the start their family dynamic is far from smooth. Castle hypothesising out loud that something happened between them in the past made me laugh out loud. Really Castle? Thanks for stating the obvious. Also, him offering Beckett a dollar (A dollar? You’re a millionaire!) to ask Gates what happened made me roll my eyes.

I love that we’ve witnessed the character evolution of Victoria Gates. Montgomery was easy to love right off the bat, but with Gates it’s more subtle, you appreciate her, but in her time. I especially enjoy the evolution of her relationship with Beckett. The fact that she was the one Gates finally opened up to was a nice touch. This episode emphasised Gates’ ‘by the book’ attitude gang disliked so much. It seems they aren’t the only ones, because her following the rules was also what created the gap between the sisters.

“Thank you, but we were all just doing our jobs, following our captain’s lead.”

The ‘Greater Good’ vs the truth was an emphasised theme during this episode. (Duh, it’s the title!) So, it was only fitting the victim had been wrongfully arrested in search of the greater good. It was a nice touch to have both sisters finally agree and soften up on the subject that had brought them apart over ten years ago.

The great Caskett Wedding Crisis of 619 was their endlessly growing invite list. I agree 580+ wedding reception would qualify as slightly out of proportion. (When is anything going to go smoothly for them?) It ended on a kind of cheesy note if you ask me, but hey, I do enjoy them even when they’re sappy. Yay for Maddie and Aunt Theresa making the final cut!

“Aunt Theresa? Really? After what she posted about me on facebook?”
“She took it down.”

I’m loving the idea of a roller coaster at Coney Island wedding though! Beckett why such a downer? Also, are they on the same timeline as us, because planning a spring wedding in April seems to be cutting it a tad close?