Episode 301: A Deadly Affair

The Ryan Report -- Episode 301 "A Deadly Affair"

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Castle’s back!

…and I’m not sure how I feel about it. I mean, he was gone all summer and I was looking forward to seeing him… But when he first came back, it just felt odd. Like, things couldn’t possibly be the way they used to be.

I guess part of it was not hearing from him. I’m not going to lie, I was a little hurt that he didn’t call. Or email. Or even just shoot me a smiley face text.C’mon, I send Jenny one of those at least three times a day!

So when Castle finally showed back up, I didn’t have the best reaction. I sort of, ended up shooting at him. He was holding a gun. Hey, I didn’t hit him.

Suffice it to say, it was an awkward reunion. And when Castle was back the precinct, nobody – Beckett, Esposito, Montgomery, myself – was too happy to see him. I started to think it was all over. Maybe we go back to our crime-solving ways and he goes back to his best-seller writing, beautiful women dating, jetsetting ways (…his way does seem a lot more fun).

But later that night, as I was telling Jenny about my day (“You shot Richard Castle!!??” “No …just near him.”), I started to think about things from Castle’s point of view. And I realized that I’ve gone through what Castle is going through now – being on the outside looking in. And it wasn’t fun.

See, when I was 13, I went away to summer camp and heard some very scary stories and learned some very silly songs. I had a really, really great time. I couldn’t wait to get home and tell my friends about my summer camp adventures (and pass off all the hilarious knock-knock jokes I’d learned as my own.) But when I arrived back home, I didn’t find the big, warm welcome that I’d expected. All my friends had spent the summer at home together, having their own adventures. Suddenly they had these inside jokes that I didn’t know, obscure references that I didn’t get – almost a whole new secret language. They’d all start going over an awesome memory from the summer and I’d just sit silent, not really getting what they were talking about. And that’s not even including their constant references to “The Porcupine”… which no one ever wanted to take the time to explain to me.“Ah forget it, Kev. You had to be there!”

So for those first few days after I got back, I just sort of hung out in the background, feeling hurt and kind of excluded. It’s the strangest thing when you discover that other people have a whole history that you had no part of. It was sort of like It’s a Wonderful Life, but with fart jokes and firecrackers-in-mailboxes stories. But you know what? Over time my friends and I made up new memories, new inside jokes, new obscure references, a new secret language. It just took time.

So, I’m thinking that while it may be a bit awkward or weird for the first few days, eventually it’ll all go back to normal for Castle, Beckett, Esposito, Montgomery, Lanie and me. When you’re out there solving murders, saving the city and just generally having fun with your friends, it’s easy to forget what happened then and focus on what’s happening now. That’s what I did when I was 13 and it’s what I intend to do now. I might even send Castle a smiley-faced text or three.

Although, not a day goes by that I don’t wonder what the hell “The Porcupine” was…