Awesome review, as always. An interesting thing to me is that Beckett found out so early what was going on in the case. She is a brilliant detective, we know that, but until then the most usual thing had been to see Castle as the one who found the key that made the story made sense, so it was refreshing that this time it was the other way around and that she let him believe that it was him who discovered it. 

And the interrogation scene... man, could be the best interrogation scene in the series, because it's one of the few interrogations where Beckett lets the personal stuff get in the way of being professional, you know:  Why didn’t you call? Oohhh, so you and Mrs Santori were in a relatiooooonship… Tell me, does she -Gina- makes you do everything in a deadline?  Very subtle, Beckett, hahaaha. 

Although I hurt for Castle, it was also nice to see how everyone, Espo, Ryan, Lanie and Montgomery closed ranks around Beckett. After all, it’s probable that they were not only sympathizing with her pain, but also upset that they hadn't heard from Castle during the summer either and they were also his friends, especially Espo and Ryan. 

Another thing that is worth to talk about is this: do you think that Castle didn’t call Beckett just because he wanted to get away and not interfere in her relationship with Demming or because he didn't know if Beckett really wanted him to call? Kate had that approach with him at the end of 2x24 where she was honest and told him that shed had a great time working with him and asked him if he would come back, but I feel that at that time their friendship was still a bit tentative and that Castle was not sure that she really wanted to know about him. (Certainly, Kate could have called too, not wait for him to do it, but well, I understand that if he was the one who left, in Kate's proud mind, it was him who should initiate the contact). 

And related to this, do you think Castle intended to go back to the precinct with Beckett in the fall if he had never bump into her because of his friend's murder? I remember that at one point in the episode he mentions to Martha that he intended to do it after the Naked Heat tour was over, but right now I'm not sure. In my opinion, I think he would have, eventually. It seems to me that by the time of 3x01 Castle was able to heal a bit from seeing her with Demming and he had also missed her a lot, so even thinking they were still a couple, he would have returned. 

PS: If you ever do those breakdowns for every episode in a possible future rewatch, I'll be here to read them too. In the meantime, for someone who didn’t know about the existence of a Castle tumblr fandom until just a couple of years ago it's a pleasure to be able to ask you questions about the show and comment the answers with you :)

I think he didn't call because he was trying to accept that she didn't having the kind of feelings for him that he had for her. He was trying to give her space to be with Demming and himself space to accept that she was with him. Cause, remember, he's surprised when she tells him they broke up. He expected to come back and find them happy and content, and I think his delay in returning is directly tied to that. Hard to say if he would have gone back -- I tend to believe him when he said he wanted to wait till the tour was over. But, at the same time, there's a scenario where the idea of Beckett in a committed relationship still smarts when the tour is over and he just doesn't go back. Both are easily plausible to me. Re: breakdowns for every episode -- I certainly have thoughts about them all, but I don't know that I'd just freely ramble. But you guys can obviously ask me whatever you want to know about specific eps. I'll do my best.