History Recap / CastleS5E1AfterTheStorm

* AffablyEvil: Bracken claims to be serving the greater good, he claims he's helping people and the occasional murder is just the price that has to be paid. He maintains the act even when he's responding personally to blackmail.

* BlatantLies: Beckett, Castle and Esposito's attempt to hide their unofficial investigation from Gates is unconvincing to say the least but she can't prove anything.

* CatapultNightmare: Castle has one at the very beginning of the episode (Following a PreviouslyOn montage that ends with someone threatening to kill Beckett), and then is worried that he woke up alone in his bed, until Beckett enters, [[SexyShirtSwitch wearing his shirt]] and holding two coffee cups.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: Beckett asks Esposito if he has a backup piece, a few minutes later, Maddox will also have a backup piece.
* FriendOnTheForce: With Beckett and Esposito suspended Ryan briefly serves as this for the episode, as he's still active on the job and can pass them information.
* GroinAttack: The episode ends with Beckett reinstated, but having to serve out the remainder of her suspension. When Castle asks what she'll do with her free time, she smirks, he jumps, and the elevator doors close.

* PetTheDog: Gates pulls back from her hardass position and decides to let Beckett and Esposito back on the Force (although still insisting they complete their suspension). She also reveals that she's figured out that they're covering some sort of secret for Montgomery but she's content to leave it alone and not tarnish his memory.

* SmugSnake: Even while Beckett points a gun at him Bracken is sure he's in control of the situation even justifying his actions and seemingly trying to claim the moral high ground to the woman he orphaned. While he's right that she ultimately won't kill him when she convinces him she has blackmail on him his smugness vanishes behind a look of impotent fury as he has no choice but to concede and even to not retaliate when she hits him.

!!This episode shows examples of..

* EarlyAppearance: Bracken shows up in a TV ad for his campaign, with Gates complaining that he downsized the force, two acts before he's revealed as the BigBad behind the murder of Beckett's mother.

* ClosetShuffle: Due to still wanting to keep their relationship a secret, Castle all but shoves Beckett (over her objections) into his walk-in closet just in time to avoid his mother catching them in bed together.

* {{Blackmail}}: [[spoiler: Beckett against Senator Bracken, the man responsible for the death of her mother, bluffing that she has Montgomery’s evidence and will release it if Bracken comes after her or her loved ones.]]

* ClosetShuffle: Due to not being ready to announce their relationship yet, Castle all but shoves Beckett (over her objections) into his walk-in closet just in time to avoid his mother catching them in bed together.

* SmugSnake: Even while Beckett points a gun at him Bracken is sure he's in control of the situation even justifying his actions and seemingly trying to claim the moral high ground to the woman he orphaned. While he's right that she ultimately won't kill him when she convinces him she has blackmail on his smugness vanishes behind a look of impotent fury as he has no choice but to concede and even to not retaliate when she hits him.

* FriendOnTheForce: With Beckett and Esposito suspended Ryan riefly serves as this for the episode, as he's still active on the job and can pass them information.

* RelationshipUpgrade: Castle and Beckett officially get together this episode.

* TheReveal: We finally learn who “[[FanNickname The Dragon]]” is: Senator William Bracken, a former Manhattan A.D.A. who used the money from the ransoming scheme Montgomery, [=McCallister=], and Raglan were involved in to finance his first political campaign.

* TheReveal: we finally learn who “[[FanNickname The Dragon]]” is: Senator William Bracken, a former Manhattan A.D.A. who used the money from the ransoming scheme Montgomery and the others cops were involved with to finance his first political campaign.

After four seasons of "will they" or "won't they," Richard Castle and Kate Beckett finally give in to their feelings for each other in the much anticipated Season 4 finale. Season 5 picks up on the proverbial morning after, with Castle and Beckett facing new questions -- Was this a one-time fling, or are they now a couple? But before they find the answers, they must take on the forces responsible for Beckett's mother's murder that now threaten Kate Beckett's life.

* TheReveal: we finally learn who “The Dragon” is:

* RealtionshipUpgrade: Castle and Beckett officially get together this episode.