‘Central Park’ Recap: ‘Castle Sweet Castle’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 212 of ‘Central Park’. To revisit the previous three episodes, click here.
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It is definitely safe to say, that a great deal of people out there… view the past as a negative aspect of the human experience and it makes sense as to why. After all, yesterday is a place where tough memories reside, of days that left us in tears or shaken with terror and we are so bothered by those thoughts and those moments, that a mantra as to how to handle them has come to fruition. In that, we are to let go of the past at all costs and let it slip into oblivion so we can be free of memories that haunt us now and again and, in some cases, stunt our emotional growth. But while there is some merit to letting go of sour days gone by, the fact of the matter is… the past isn’t awful as we make it out to be.
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Granted, yes, there are tough memories we carry with us, but there are also a bevy of beautiful ones as well. The kind that bring a smile to our faces when we ponder upon them and they too guide us, since good days can teach us just as much as bad days, and the past can also… remind us of what matters when we reflect upon the right memories and well, that more positive aspect to the past is top of mind today because it served as the central theme to this week’s episode of Central Park. But it sure didn’t seem as though that was initially going to be the case in ‘Castle Sweet Castle’. For when we catch up with the Tillerman family here, they’re dealing with some day in the life stuff for certain. 

Because Paige nearly got stuck in the basement while doing laundry, courtesy of the sticky ol’ door present in this old Central Park castle/home. Which motivated her to ask Owen if by chance, the time had come to move the washing machine upstairs so that no one ever risked getting trapped down there again, and that idea sounded so familiar that both she and Owen came to realize, they’d made plans to commit to such an act long ago and let that slip while raising their family. Which in turn motivated them to reach out to the city’s historical preservation department to ensure that they could make this far more convenient move happen, and that’s when this show took the time to examine how the past can guide us to a better tomorrow.

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For in essence, Paige and Owen kept things the way they were because they wanted to keep the memories and wonder and majesty of when they first moved into the Central Park Castle alive. But by seeing how much they committed to that and how hard they tried to keep a part of yesterday alive, they were able to realize that growth and change are necessary and that they cannot hang onto yesterday forever and that in turn… motivated them to really press for the change to the castle. To signify their goals and desire to evolve as a couple and a family and they were granted that gift and we were treated to a beautiful and subtle message in this leg of the story. One that informed us that we can honor the past and still evolve in a manner that we need to in order to become better and complete people and that wasn’t the only fascinating observation about the past, and how it can be good for us that this episode had to offer.
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Because back at the Brandenham, Bitsy was dealing with an unpleasant surprise. For the Rolls Royce that had been in her family since she was a little girl, broke down. Prompting Helen to try and get her into a new ride, which Bitsy refused to do, in fact, she was so hell bent on keeping that Rolls going that she aggressively bid on the exact same model so it could be stripped into spare parts for the family ride. A move that initially speaks volumes to a negative use of the past, since it seemed as though Bitsy was refusing to let go. But when armed with the knowledge that keeping that car alive was vital to keeping the memories of her father alive, this sequence takes on a whole new light and informs us that keeping the memory alive of those we love in special ways… is indeed a healthy thing and can accomplish wonders for our soul and our mental health. 

If anything, this was simply… a powerful episode when all is said and done, since it really did deal with some wildly philosophical concepts in the most subtle and beautiful and fun way imaginable. Which just goes to show, that this series really is unlike any other animated saga out there and offers something for everyone. Because those looking to be entertained will always have plenty of jokes and musical numbers to enjoy, but those who want more from this tale, will find deeper concepts to chew upon and once again, this level of analysis and commentary leaves the viewer hungry for more of this series. To see what other incredible aspects of the human condition it is going to explore as we inch toward the season two finale. Until next time.  

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