Detective Ryan ends up in the middle of an assassination plot when he is on the security detail of a charismatic congressman; Castle and Beckett help Ryan investigate.
Tropes that appear in this episode:
- A Day in the Limelight: For Ryan.
- Call-Back: Castle says Washington could use more people like Beckett, which is a reference to her eventually becoming a senator in "Time Will Tell".
- Conspiracy Theorist: The prime suspect, Eric Chambers, says he is being set up. Also, Castle himself.
- Corrupt Corporate Executive: Carl Shelton, according to Castle.Castle: The billionaire industrialist with his grubby hands on the levers of power? Of course he's involved!
- Frame-Up: Eric Chambers is used as a fall guy.
- How We Got Here: The episode starts with a very shaken Ryan stumbling into a bathroom, washing blood off his hands, and punching a mirror.
- It's All My Fault: Castle and Beckett know Ryan is blaming himself.Castle: So, how's Ryan doing? He knows it's not his fault, right?
Beckett: Well, it happened on his watch. So for Ryan, it means it's all on him until he finds this guy. - Murder by Mistake: For most of the episode, the characters think this is the case. They are wrong.
- Murder the Hypotenuse: Averted. Congressman Lopez was having an affair with Carolyn, but his wife turned a blind eye as she was useful to his campaign as an unofficial advisor.
- No Party Given: For an episode about politicians, it's rather coy about their political allegiances.
- Rage Against the Reflection: Ryan smashes a mirror while staring at his reflection during the Cold Open.
- Room Full of Crazy: Ryan and Castle return to the crime scene and use targets and laser pointers to examine the case.
- Strange Minds Think Alike: Ryan texts Castle when he thinks the prime suspect isn't the killer, as Castle would be the best person to help him.Beckett: You texted Castle and not me?Ryan: Well, when you have a crazy theory, you don't call the voice of reason.
- Wham Shot: When Ryan sees the surveillance footage of the press pass being dropped off in Chambers' mailbox, he's shocked to see that his brother-in-law was the one making the delivery.
- You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Non-lethal variant. Carolyn didn't think Lopez's current chief of staff Megan was suited to running a presidential campaign, so she recommended to Lopez that she be fired. However, Megan caught wind of this and arranged for Carolyn's death at the fundraiser while setting up Chambers as the fall guy.
