Valkyrie: [s6e1]

: Moving the action to D.C. makes the episode feel more like a "generic action-thriller" compared to the charm of the 12th Precinct.

: In a moment of romantic gravity, Beckett uses Castle’s full legal and given names—Richard Edgar Alexander Rodgers Castle—when accepting his proposal.

: Back in New York, Alexis returns from Costa Rica with a new "fruitarian" boyfriend, Pi, adding a layer of comedic friction to the Castle household. Critical Perspective [S6E1] Valkyrie

: This marks the first time a Castle season premiere ended on a two-part cliffhanger.

: Despite the distance, the episode leans into "shipper heaven" with domestic morning scenes and Beckett wearing her engagement ring on a necklace. : Moving the action to D

While the episode succeeds in raising the stakes, it faces some criticism for its dialogue and the "melodramatic" nature of its ending.

“We all know Castle won't die, but then again I suppose that's not really the point of the cliffhanger.” Reddit · r/CastleTV · 12 years ago Notable Moments & Trivia : Back in New York, Alexis returns from

The episode picks up with the immediate aftermath of the Season 5 finale: Kate Beckett’s move to Washington D.C. for an FBI task force and her acceptance of Rick Castle’s marriage proposal. The "honeymoon phase" is quickly cut short when Castle, unable to resist meddling in Beckett’s new federal world, finds himself accidentally contaminated with a deadly, airborne chemical bioweapon.