As a career woman myself, Kate’s capability and competence drew me to her character in seasons 1 and 2. But the direction they’ve sent her character this season–aside from the PTSD epsiode(s)–is depressing at best. Maybe the writers think they need to reassure male viewers’ egos by turning Rick into Protecting Rescuer Alpha Male (a.k.a. the most annoying and two-dimensional males on the planet, at least to me personally), and Kate into Helpless Female. Newsflash, writers and advertisers: I can almost guarantee that will drive away what’s probably the biggest demographic that this show appeals to. I.e., viewers who were drawn to the delightful yet sadly rare pairing of Competent Alpha Female with Charming Beta Male. What, have all the writers been watching Donna Reed reruns? Yeesh.

And on the subject of details such as Beckett not getting warrants and not clearing rooms (never mind the seat belt cutter and window hammer–even I carry those in my car–and constantly being kidnapped and losing her gun): how many times this season have she and Castle walked into a potential crime scene or suspect’s living quarters and proceeded to touch anything and everything without gloves on? That’s really jarring, when the writers used to be so careful about it before. The small details of Beckett’s attention to doing her job well and by the book were another part of what drew me to her character.

Bottom line, very sadly, is two words I never thought I’d say about a show I once loved: bored now.

It was a relief to find this site and see a bit of common sense. I’m a huge fan of the series, but this two-parter was just insulting. I found myself constantly gritting my teeth at the horrible writing and exclaiming “why… WHY?!” Seriously, I don’t understand why the weakest writing I’ve ever seen in Castle to date was not only passed as an episode, but padded out to a two-parter. What were they THINKING?

This was nothing like the Castle from earlier seasons and episodes. Words that describe what used to appeal about Castle: fresh, intelligent, witty, fun. Words that describe this latest two-parter installment: cliched, disrespectful, lame, boring.

Seriously, have the writers become so lazy that they no longer bother to even make a token attempt at allowing the viewers to suspend disbelief? I couldn’t believe the sheer frequency with which pathetic cliches and sheer stupidity was flashing past my screen. It’s as if I was watching a completely different program… some standard, run-of-the-mill, lame police drama – not the Castle I’ve come to know and love.

As a huge fan of the series, I really hope the writers wake up to the fact that these episodes were a HUGE step in the wrong direction. Because if this kind of ridiculous spoon-fed bollocks we can expect in the future, then I don’t know if I’ll continue watching for much longer.

The terrain-matching thing was goofy with what we saw on screen, but that was actually pretty believable. Google has the capacity to match photos–it wouldn’t be too incredible for the CIA to have a better version that could match the region to a similar photo of the mountain, and then get coordinates for it.

Re: the coffee. Anyone notice Castle brings Beckett coffee all the time and he doesn’t drink it himself? Do we know any writers who don’t live on caffeine?

As a former lifeguard, I had huge issues with the whole car scene besides all the losing the gun issue. If Castle had already ‘drowned,’ how did he get a ‘drowned’ Beckett out of the car and to the surface? Who did mouth-to-mouth on them?

I’m with Melanie that this episode was better than last week, but I knew from the get-go that Sophia was the bad guy.

I’m trying to enjoy a show I love, but I admit I’m getting tired of this too-stupid-to-live Beckett that the writers are creating. Glad I’m watching season 1 and 2 on DVD but, wow, do I see the difference.