Kill Shot

Season 4, Episode 9, Aired
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8.7
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The team has their toughest case ever when a sniper on a killing spree in New York City has no apparent motive. The case is especially hard on Beckett as she tries to hide her progressive PTSD moments which are surfacing.

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Fan Episode Reviews (11)

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  • At Close Range

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By sh811a, Dec 11, 2011
    Sometimes the worst kind of disease isn't external but psychological. Psychological diseases are always the worst because they are something that you carry with you weather you know it or not, they can truely take an affect on you personal life from how you treat people around you to what you do and desire out of life. These are things that are uneasy to cure because there are no drugs for it but really it's a matter of dealing with it the right way.
    This is another really dark episode where there are no laughs. The episode is almost a bit of an Elmare Lenard story (hense the title of the episode is the title of one of his books), like in most of his stories his protagonists are always people that are crippled psychologically they not just have to deal with the external sittuation they got themselves into but their inner demons that have plagued them.
    Kate is really at her best in this episode, you just feel heavy pathos for her as we just see taking it's toll on her, the fact she has a case against a sniper triggers her post trama, truth be told cases like that always make me uncomfortable because with Snipers you never know where or when they'll hit.
    We just seeing her break down little by little, despite how much she hides it. That to me has been one of her weaknesses, not opening up about certain things but keeping them inside, and we see this mentality is finally doing real damage. It was just sad just seeing this happen to her, like one moment when she was in her pad she then divulges into drinking liquor heavily as a coping mechanism, to her arm being cut showing she coming toward self mutilation; along with a bit of self lothing. Just seeing that made me want to hug her and say, "Don't hate yourself you just being human, theres nothing wrong with being afraid."It's bad and her friends can easily see it, I really liked seeing the emotion in their faces especially Castle whom was like any good friend/boyfrend concerned for her well being and wants her to get the right kind of help.
    Though I feel some of the credit should be handed to Esposito, whom just as much drove the episode. I love that moment when Esposito confronts Kate and talks with her how the sniper rifle is just a tool and that person that shoots it is as human as anyone like any human can be hurt or destroyed. But I love what he says about post tramatic stress that it's not a weakness it just means your human, just because your scared doesn't mean your not tough when it comes to a near brush with death being tough doesn't matter. And that she should think of her weakness as a strength intead to remind her that she's still alive and she has another chance at life. It makes sense he would be talking to Kate about this since he's an ex Marine and he's been on enough tours to not just be behind a sniper scope but also carry the looming threat of crosshairs being pointed at him.
    On a sidenote in a way this episode makes me glad I can feel a sense of fear. I think that the mentality that feeling fear makes you a coward is bullcrap. To me it's when you don't do the right thing when you should or putting people down who do things differently or that you don't do truely makes one a coward.By feeling fear I was able to make a lot of right choices, avoid perils and do things I didn't think I could do but I did because my fear I felt was a sign at times that I wanted more out of life not less. At least that what I believe.
    Kate in the end shoots straight by actually opening up and deciding she finally wants change in her life, to actually be happy. I hope she finds it because she deserves it.moreless

  • Interesting Episode.

    8.0
    "Great"
    By karlmeszaros, Dec 10, 2011
    I agree with the other reviewers as I too prefer the lighthearted episodes and Castle/Beckett banter. This episode didn't have much of that, but a sniper is a very serious matter, as is PTSD, which people do struggle with. I disagree that someone with Kate's personality wouldn't get it. That's not true. Mental health issues are far more prevalent in our culture than most realize and they can happen to anyone. It's sad that in our society, there is still a stigma attached to it any a lot of people suffer in silence.I've never been shot or had anything worse than a minor car accident happen in my life, but I would think that any major life event can cause depression, anxiety disorder, PTSD or any number of other diseases that are just as real as any physical ailment.I think this episode was well done. The first one of Season 4 (Rise) was all about the post-shooting Beckett and her relationship with Castle as well as an adjustment to the new Captain (I miss Capt. Montgomery more with each episode). In this show, the case was central to the backstory and in fact the cause of it.Castle giving her the space she needs was undoubtedly very, very hard but it's what she needed. It was also nice to see Alexis and the role she played in identifying a key piece of evidence central to solving the case. I love the Rick/Alexis relationship as much as any in the show.For me, there's no such thing as a bad Castle episode. This one wasn't the best of the season, but it was an enjoyable one.moreless

  • I want CASTLE back. This entire season has been one downer episode after another. Please go back to what made this show stand out from the others.....the light-hearted fun I've come to love.moreless

    3.5
    "Bad"
    By joshmorrowfan, Dec 07, 2011
    I want CASTLE back. This entire season has been one downer episode after another. Please go back to what made this show stand out from the others.....the light-hearted fun I've come to love.
    While I appreciate Stana's talent and she did an admirable job in this episode, I am exhausted watching Beckett this season. And I'm even more tired of seeing her horrible treatment of Castle week after week. Just wrap up this now absurd storyline about her mom's murder and MOVE ON!!
    I also whole-heartedly agree with whoever asked where the hell Castle was this episode. But I'll go one further...where has he been ALL SEASON?? The show is still called CASTLE, right?moreless

  • Castle cannot do serious, please stop trying.

    4.0
    "Poor"
    By bigarbel, Dec 07, 2011
    Second "serious" episode in the season after the season opener and it was almost as bad (I gave that one a 2).
    This series is supposed to be a bit more tongue in cheek and the episodes with these properties are always a joy to watch.
    Unfortunately for some inexplicable reason they need to have episodes where one of the characters has a serious dilemma and needs to be helped to overcome it. In all these episodes the character of Castle takes a back seat and is sorely missed. Most viewers seem to see these very bad dramatic episode as very good (mostly citing "good character development" as excuse), but this is not the case here. Come on admit it, these are sleep evoking at best.
    Dear producers of this show: you are not capable of making any dramatic episodes so please stick to what you are good at: episodes with some funny elements and where Castle takes centre stage.
    I am already looking forward to the many "disagree" I will get, proving my point really.moreless

  • 409

    7.0
    "Good"
    By thefanof, Dec 05, 2011
    "Kill Shot" was a very powerful episode of Castle, and it was a good show, but I feel like it "insisted upon itselfa little bit," to borrow a Peter Griffin expression. Stana Katic is fine at what she does, but she is not capable of pulling over one of these ultra-emotional storylines and her battle with Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome was actually a little hackneyed at times.
    Still, a strong ending, and a strong beginning and middle as well. This is what Castle can do when it has those more serious episodes.moreless
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  • TRIVIA (2)

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    • The Petrazano painting called "The Persecution of Kings" is in reality another version of the "Death of the Virgin" by Caravaggio: the placement of the people is the same, only the color and background change

    • Before the attempted attack on the school bus, the sniper was seen assembling his weapon, including attaching the scope. However, in order for these attachments to work properly, the gun must be sighted-in by testing the scope alignment and firing test shots to ensure the scope is accurately predicting shot placement. Without being sighted, the scope is usually wildly inaccurate and useless.

  • QUOTES (8)

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    • Castle: How worried should I be about Beckett? She's never snapped at me like that before. (Esposito stares at him) ... and meant it.

    • Beckett: Castle. Thank you.
      Castle: For what?
      Beckett: For not pushing and giving me the space to get through this.
      Castle: Always.

    • Beckett: I want to be more than who I am. But I don't know if I know how to do that without letting my mom down.
      Burke: She's dead, Kate. You can't let her down. The only person you can let down is yourself. Her death is a part of you. And you're gonna have to make peace with that, just like you're gonna have to make peace with the scars from your shooting. But it doesn't have to limit you.
      Beckett: How am I supposed to let go?
      Burke: I can help you. But the question is, are you ready?
      Beckett: Yeah, I think I am.

    • Beckett: What are you doing?
      Castle: Just waiting for my partner. Maybe you've seen her. Pretty girl, thinks she can leap tall buildings in a single bound, carries the weight of the world on her shoulders, yet...still manages to laugh at some of my jokes.
      Beckett: She sounds like a handful.
      Castle: Tell me about it. Anyway...if you do see her, tell her she owes me about a hundred coffees.

    • Esposito: I've been where you are. I know what you're going through.
      Beckett: Javi, I'm fine.
      Esposito: You're not fine. You're just trying to act like you are. (show the rifle that shot her) This is just a tool. It's a hunk of steel. It has no magical powers, and the person that fired it is not some all-powerful God. He's just a guy... with a gun, just like the guy we're hunting now. And like every other bad guy, he's damaged goods.
      Beckett: So am I.
      Esposito: That's right. And that's okay. You think it's a weakness? Make it a strength. It's a part of you. So use it.

    • Beckett: This is where it all started. He pulled that trigger right in this room. One second, Sarah Vasquez is alive and dreaming of the perfect wedding, and then she isn't.
      Castle: Kate...
      Beckett: You know he saw her face when he killed her? People always think that snipers are so removed from their targets. But he wasn't. He is as close as we are right now, looking through that scope.
      Castle: We're gonna catch this guy.
      Beckett: Yeah. Like we caught the guy that shot me.

    • Capt. Gates: Ford's not our man. His alibis for both shootings are solid.
      Beckett: Are you sure?
      Capt. Gates: I think I know how to check an alibi, detective.

    • Burke: The psychological trauma is every bit as real as the physical trauma.
      Beckett: Listen, people are dying out there. I don't have time to get all weepy over a couple of scars.
      Burke: Okay. So what's the alternative, walking around feeling like you have crosshairs on your back, thinking every glint off a window is a sniper's scope?
      Beckett: Look, there's gotta be a pill out there or something, right? Something to take the edge off.
      Burke: Medication can help... but not right away.
      Beckett: Well, then what?
      Burke: Well, for one, I think you should consider stepping away from the case.
      Beckett: You don't think I can handle this?
      Burke: I'm saying...you don't have to. You're not the only cop in the city, Kate.

  • NOTES (1)

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    • Original International Air Dates:
      Canada: November 21, 2011 on CTV
      Australia: March 18, 2012 on Channel 7
      United Kingdom: May 2, 2012 on Alibi
      Germany: May 4, 2012 on Kabel 1

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