Castle (TV Series) Kill Switch (2014) User Reviews

Brilliant episode

[raggedlyhandsome · 9/10 · 25 November 2014]

This was awesome. It wasn't an ordinary episode of Castle. But it worked pretty well. They already did an episode like this. Cops and robbers, and it was perfection. They seem to know how to write these kind of episodes.

So, the plot was pretty simple. Espo's taken hostage. Hostage episodes can be very tricky. They can either be good, or be awful. Fortunately, this one was good. And I like how we finally got some updates on Esposito and Lanie's relationship. Maybe we can expect a happy announcement by the end of the season. It would be really great to end the season with them getting either engaged or married. And, of course, finding out more about Castle's disappearance.

There were some pretty sweet scenes in this episode, those scenes are always my favorite. When it's more about the characters, and not about the plot. Javi's and Ryan's talk in the car, and Esposito saying Lanie's name right before he was about to take down the bad guy.

I'm giving this a 9/10. The only thing I think was a little rushed is the way Esposito got to the subway. But, nevertheless, still a good episode.

Speed Vibes

[EllieMBlake · 8/10 · 6 April 2023]

Espo is Keanu Reeves and there's a Sandra Bullocky transit cop too! Cliche pizza, Beckett working the case and saying there's nothing we can do by staying at the scene, the opposite of the Espo / Ryan burning building episode.

It wasn't as much fun watching this one. It didn't have as much cheeky humour, though Castle's too soon jokes were a great touch. There was instead, exploration of relationships and the emotional issues, guys struggling to talk about their feelings or face them, and how life / death situations can bring clarity - a theme often repeated throughout the series.

The snide salesman's remark about inclusivity stood out in light of today's diversity /privilege conversations.

The scenes away from the train detracted from the tension. It would have been far better to focus on the train as those scenes were done exceptionally well.

The last quarter of the episode is a bit too much of a reminder of the horrors we've experienced in recent years. Maybe that's why I'd rather just a speed-type episode on the train. :p.

Average Castle

[slimfan · 5/10 · 25 November 2014]

I enjoy Castle - big fan of Nathan Fillion - but their Production Designer & Wardrobe person leave something to be desired.

As a New Yorker, I can usually forgive the obvious non-New York locals (like the #7 train going to Brooklyn) but this episode just went too far. Firstly, there has NEVER been a subway car that looks remotely like the car in this episode. Secondly, the turnstiles are all wrong. Thirdly, they can't decide if this is a 7th AVENUE station or a 7th STREET station - the outside sign read "7th Avenue" and the sign inside the station read "7th Street" - they're not the same thing.

Worst of all though is that the wardrobe stylist is completely unaware that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority PD does not patrol or have anything to do with the NYC Subway system; that's the exclusive job of the NYPD. Officer Aragon would never be on duty or even in uniform on the train.

So the plot of this episode was weak but the production design spoiled what would otherwise have been a mediocre episode.