“Probable Cause” (S5E5) was probably THE best episode of Castle I’ve seen in a long time.  Maybe ever.  And I love Castle.  And I think every episode is great.  Especially when Nathan Fillion makes a Firefly or Buffy reference.  Oh, and when Castle doesn’t get special treatment because he’s in trouble?  Love it.

So, back to the episode last night, “Probable Cause.”

While investigating a shocking ritualistic murder, Beckett and her team uncover surprising evidence linking Castle to the killing. As the evidence against him mounts, loyalties are tested, and when surprising revelations come to light, Beckett begins to wonder how well she really knows her new lover and partner of four years.

I need to stop gushing about how much I love this episode.  But first, here’s what happened…

First up, there’s a murder.  No surprise there.  It seemed pretty standard for our gang to go and investigate the crime scene as they usually do.  Found evidence of murder, some fingerprints, the usual.  EXCEPT.  The fingerprints belong to Castle.  The ones they found at the crime scene.  And they were there BEFORE the gang got there.  Mysterious.  And makes Castle a murder suspect.  Only they try to dismiss it when they find another suspect who was a lover to the victim, Tessa.

The next piece of evidence is jewelry that Tessa received from her alleged lover.  So the gang follows that lead.  Straight back to Castle.  Castle allegedly made a withdrawal for $12K in a cashiers check and took it to the jeweler where the alleged lover purchased Tessa’s earrings.  So the evidence is piling up.  And Castle keeps denying.  And Beckett keeps questioning.  It’s hard to see her question Castle because they’ve been partners and are now in love.

In an effort to relieve Castle of his murder suspect status, they go to the chief who orders his apartment be searched, his computer swept.  More evidence.  They found gloves, and that Castle’s computer had been wiped clean.  They found a deleted file that contained a story idea for the perfect murder.  And emails to Castle’s alleged lover, Tessa.  Beckett is overwhelmed.  Esposito and Ryan finally admit they know the two were dating.  And the other alleged lover of Tessa’s alibied out.  Castle has no alibi and  is officially arrested for Tessa’s murder.  And Castle still denies it.

Beckett has a really nice moment with Lanie where she tells about all the alleged emails and Castle’s alleged lover.  Beckett gives Lanie this really concise, genuine and sweet description of Castle and how he can’t be the killer they think he is:

You should have seen him, Lanie.  He looked like a little boy, he was so scared.  I know him, Lanie.  He is an immature, egotistical, self-centered jackass sometimes but he’s not this.

Castle in the holding cell is a whole other plot twist of drama.  Tyson, or 3XK, shows up as a cop to threaten Castle.  He killed Tessa and framed Castle.  Way to go for exposition.  He explains how and why he framed Castle.  He wanted to disappear and for no one to be looking for him so he could start killing again.  Tyson said it wasn’t about the killing, it was about the planning and the preparation.  The perfect frame job.  Tyson isn’t seen in the holding cell because he’s slick and tampered with the surveillance footage.

Castle confesses to Beckett about Tyson being there, and she finally sees that the case makes sense and that Castle is being framed.  In a desperate attempt to save Castle’s life, Beckett goes back to the chief to beg they keep him there instead of sending him to central booking.  No such luck.  But Castle manages to escape custody and meet up with Beckett in the NY Public Library, where she first arrested him.  Castle has a lead on the case.

Tyson hired a lookalike to pose as Castle to withdraw money and purchase jewelry.  He also got Castle’s fingerprint, and was able to plant the rest of the evidence.  Charges were dropped, but Castle escaped from custody, so he’s still in trouble.

Beckett takes Castle back to the precinct to deal with his escape from custody, when they get caught on bridge while it’s opening.  They were planted there by Tyson, who rearends them, then captures Beckett to draw Castle out of the car.  Castle shoots Tyson, and he falls over the bridge into the water, never to be found.

Castle finally puts together the last of the puzzle.  Everything had been set up so Tyson could disappear.  He planted everything, and wanted them to find all the evidence.  Public and dramatic and final, so he could go back to killing with no one knowing.  Talk about an unfinished ending.

I love how characters keep coming back.  I never really like Tyson, or his murderer person, 3XK, but it makes for a great season to season story that never seems to be finished.  And I can’t even begin to gush about how much I love the plot twists and Castle being framed and not being the golden boy for a minute.  Nathan Fillion really nailed this character.  And the fact that Castle played true to his nature of having to solve the case when he is the suspect.  Classic.  Castle and Beckett really do make a great team.

What did you think about last night’s episode?