Castle: Scared To Death

By Michael Seese

Kids have Scooby Doo. Grown-ups have Castle episodes like "Scared To Death." Like "Close Encounters of the Murderous Kind" and "Undead Again," you knew that no supernatural forces were at work. Still, you wanted to go along for the ride, to see whatdunit, I mean, whodunit. The major difference is that in those episodes, Castle wanted his out-of-this-world explanation to be the answer. This time, he was (if you'll excuse the obvious homage) scared to death that he was right.

Since Scared To Death was a horror episode, the writers made sure to serve up all the right slasher film cliches:

- The creepy clerk at the Brunswick Inn. (My wife opined that he was Nigel's half brother, and the murderer. Not correct. But still, a good guess.)
- The brother in the insane asylum.
- The cabin in the woods.
- The unknown person in the bushes watching Castle and Beckett as they approached the cabin.

Oh, and kudos to me... When Leopold how he could have sent DVDs to Val or "the other witness," I thought (and Castle said), "We never said anything about the other witness."

Even though Castle was shaking in his shoes, he (and others) managed to get in some good lines.

Castle: "Based on the fact that she looks like an Edvard Munch painting."

Beckett: "Find anything yet?"
Castle: "Yes, a closet with more stilettos than yours."

M.E. Perlmutter: "Detective Beckett. And defective Castle."

Beckett: "You want me to outlive you?"
Castle: "Yes, who else will tell my tale of heroic sacrifice?"

Wes Craven (nice cameo, by the way): "So you call me up in the middle of the night to join my fan club?"
Castle: "Ha ha. No."

And the looks:

- Castle's lip actually quivering when he said, "I'm next."
- Castle's and Beckett's glances as they watched the DVD together.
- Beckett's overall barely contained laughter as she tried to cajole Castle into (perhaps) their final amorous encounter, and then her smirk as he walked into the standpipe.
- Finally, at the very end, as Castle counted down to "his" midnight. "Three, two..." Smile.

I must concede that I have a few complaints:

- I can understand why they had nurse Lockhart out at the cabin. Some plot device was needed to draw Beckett outside, leaving Castle and Heller alone inside. But doing it to prove the innocence of Leopold...really?
- Along those lines, she dug up Nigel's grave...really?
- By the way, how did she and Amanda know that Heller would be up there? Sure, it could have been (limited) public knowledge that he owned the cabin. But it's a big logical jump to think he'd abandon the relative safety of New York City to venture out there alone.
- Oh, and a defibrillator wouldn't leave any mark?

Oh well. It was still a good ride. And I'm looking forward to "The Wild Rover" tonight. 

In the world of Castle, DVD stands for "Deadly Video Disc."  Click to tweet.

Castle: "Hunt"

By Michael Seese 

One word: WOW!!!!!!!!!!

(I suppose I should add another word to this, and all Castle reviews: SPOILERS!)

I try to avoid hyperbole, but that may have been the best Castle ever. I recall, years ago, reading a review of the Ron Howard movie Apollo 13; the reviewer called it a great film because, even though you knew it would end well, Howard still managed to keep it thrilling. I would say the same about "Hunt." (After all, we knew that they wouldn't kill off Alexis.)

The episode started out great (and in sepia), and just got better. I thought the scene with Castle and Gaston, where Castle asks about the latter's daughters and then says, "Now imagine them gone" was terrific. Then came the scene in the church, where Castle meets Jacque Henri. It was even better. (OK, it bordered on suspense movie cliche...whatever.) The underground scene, with Henri and his "audio mole" (I couldn't find a listing of the character's name) listening to the phone call between Castle and Alexis was even EVEN better. And Beckett's interrogation of Pauline...even even EVEN better. She really dialed her intensity up a notch. And then the rescue...

Again, sorry for the hyperbole, but that may have been the best two minutes of any Castle episode. First, unless you're WAY more insightful than I am, we all assumed Castle had been captured. But the manner in which they presented the rescue -- Castle's Dad (who in IMDB is credited only as "Castle's Dad") talks to Volkov and detonates the walkie-talkie, and then the actual escape sequence is intercut with flashbacks of "Spy Dad" explaining HOW Castle is going to get Alexis out -- was simply brilliant. Truly, as an author, I hope that some day I can write something so clever. (Though the technique really applies more to a screenplay; it would be hard to pull off in a novel.)

In addition to the plot / action, visually "Hunt" was a stunner. The lighting when Castle picked up the strand of hair was gorgeous. And I loved the camera pan through Volkov's mansion: opulent room, opulent room, another opulent room, girl in cage.

I have no real "looks" to report. 

Most of the lines which stood out were less "Castle," and more "Die Hard." (And most were delivered by Castle's Dad.)

- "Your friend there was pretty good. But he was out of his league."
- "Oh, don't be an idiot. I'm the good guy."
- "Given how bad you feel about your $200 phone, you might want to pick up that $3,000,000 briefcase."
- "You've been playing cop for years. Are you ready to play spy?"

Castle: "My dad's a spy? Does my mom know?"

Whew! After this, I can see why they're giving us a three-weak break. (That doesn't mean I like it, of course.)

Feel free to share your thoughts on "Hunt."

The "Hunt" is on for Alexis. Can Castle find her?  Click to tweet.

Castle: "Target"

By Michael Seese

What a gritty, emotion-wringing episode! Of course, given the plot, could it be anything but? Still, it was nice found a way to let Castle maintain a little bit of his trademark humor.

Martha: "My heart is never wrong."
Castle: "What about your first marriage? And your second?"

Beckett: "Do you want a coffee?"
Castle: "No thanks. My adrenaline will suffice."
 
The latter came after Castle's tête-à-tête with Stevens, the "wheel man." Personally, I'm glad they had Castle go medieval on his heinie. (Off-screen, of course.) It's what any father would want to do. And since in other situations Castle has been less than macho -- the bar fight in "Headhunters" comes to mind -- I thought it was good to see his other side. Or, as he stated:

Beckett: "I didn't think you had that side to you."
Castle: "When it comes to the people I love, I do."

Director Bill Roe employed a visual trick the show has used before: sepia. When Castle and Beckett met with Agent Harris, the room was awash in a light brown tone, giving everything a warm glow, which contrasted nicely with the chill of the scene. I would point out that the interview with Sara's parents involved no such visual effect.

Naturally, the funniest lines came before Castle found out that Alexis had been kidnapped:

Castle: "Well, it was acceptance until you started applying your fiendish logic."

Castle: "He was hiding in plain sight. A foreign agent in deep cover, on a special reconnaissance mission."
Beckett: "Why would he shoot up a van?"
Castle: "Maybe Jack Bauer was driving it."

Castle: "Though by definition, science fiction is not science."
Esposito: "It has the word in it."
Castle: "It's...that's an excellent point."

This was not an episode for "looks."

If I may pat myself (and my wife) on the back, our predictions were pretty spot-on.

Last week, I said that Beckett's line, "Castle, you don't need to see this," would refer to a blood-soaked jacket. OK, so it was a blood-soaked floor of the van...close enough. I did, however, say that this revelation would be at the very end of part 1. So call me 50/50. This week, when we found out that Hasim possessed an arsenal that rivals Ted Nugent's, my wife said, "He was probably paid by her family to protect her." She nailed it. Then at the end, when Alexis ran out to the roof, I said, "She's probably in Europe." And to be 100% honest, in my mind I thought, "Paris." Though as I've said elsewhere in this blog, I kind of have Paris on the brain right now.

So here is my prediction for this week: Sara's parents were behind the kidnapping. We'll see if I'm any percentage of correct on that one.

We're definitely looking forward to "Hunt."

Feel free to share your thoughts. 

What happens when Castle learns that Alexis was really the "Target."  Click to tweet.

Castle: Reality Star Struck

By Michael Seese

Three nights...three episodes of Castle. So we're all caught up. For about seven more hours, that is. I enjoyed "Reality Star Struck." Perhaps because "reality" TV is an eye-rolling phenomenon in my world, and therefore, anything that skewers it is OK in my book.

Naturally, the absurdity gave Castle plenty of grist for his acerbic wit. Yes, lots of lines and looks. But before I get to that, I suppose I could discuss the plot. Much like "Recoil," the murderer (SPOILER!) turned out to be someone who had not even been considered a suspect. And, if memory serves, like "Recoil," the killer had not even spoken a line up to the "We know you did it" speech. At least in this case, the murderer had a name. Last week, I think he was just "the driver," at least until taken into custody.

As an aside, when they arrested Penelope, I couldn't help but notice the several small scars on her left shoulder. I wonder if Gina Torres (who, incidentally, appeared in "Serenity" with Nathan Fillion) has had her rotator cuff repaired, as have I.  

As another aside, when Castle and Beckett busted Penelope and Bob in bed, my wife said, "They staged it for the ratings." And she was right!

I thought Captain Gates's obsession with "The Wives Of Wall Street" represented yet another peek into to quirky other side, much like her love of the "Gemini dolls" in "Secret's Safe With Me." And Castle's descent into fandom during his all-nighter was portrayed stupendously. Then the writers brought it all together by having Castle and Gates animatedly discuss it. 

 On to the lines.

Ryan: "I feel like the rooster in the hen house. Except for there's only one hen. A very bossy hen."

Peter Monroe: "You have to find who did this. The audience will want to know."
Castle: "Yeah, not to mention her family, D.A."

Castle: "All these clues will fit into a beautiful murderous mosiac."

Castle: "It's like eating one potato chip."
Beckett: "I usually eat one potato chip."

Castle: "You two back together? Spoiler alert!"

And then the follow-up.

Castle: "I wouldn't make fun..." (Laughs) "Fish in a barrel..."

The latter probably accompanied my favorite "look."

So...

I'm going out on a limb here to say that tonight's episode probably will score low on the "chuckle-meter." I'll make two predictions. When Beckett says, "Castle, please, you don't need to see this:"

1. "This" is a blood-soaked jacket belonging to Alexis, and
2. The moment he sees it, and the camera shows everyone's worried faces. the show will fade to black. 

Feel free to chime in on "Reality Star Struck." 

If you met Castle, would you be "Star Struck?"  Click to tweet.

Castle: Recoil

By Michael Seese

I don't have a lot to say about "Recoil." I thought it was a good episode: dark, intense, and other adjectives I've used before. As such it proved to be light on the lines and the looks, which are what I tend to talk about. So I'll just have to forge on, absent my usual material. 

As I've said before, I do appreciate ongoing story arcs. I think it's good when every single plotline is not conveniently wrapped up after 48 minutes. To refresh our memory, they started with your standard, "Previously on Castle..." Naturally, they had to show Beckett pistol-whipping Senator Bracken, so that we could see the scar on his left cheek, and say, "Oh, nice touch. Good continuity." I don't imagine we've seen the last of the not-so-good Senator.

There were lines, of course. They just tended to the pithy end of the spectrum.

Beckett (to Bracken): "Is there anyone you can think of who would like to kill you?"

And then:
Bracken: "It must be a dream come true for you."
Beckett: "In my dreams, I get to pull the trigger."

And in addition to her hateful looks, Castle spent the scene in Captain Gates's office positively glaring at Bracken.

We may actually have the time to see "Reality Star Struck" tonight. That would make for a great Castle trifecta this weekend.

Why do Castle & Beckett "Recoil" whenever they see Senator Bracken?  Click to tweet. 

Castle: Death Gone Crazy

By Michael Seese

I has been a while. Think we're still two shows behind.

"Death Gone Crazy" featured perhaps the greatest number of finger-points of any episode I can recall. I think I counted three or four instances of, "I didn't kill him. But I think I know who did." 

Who was it: the rejected ex-girlfriend? The conservative campaigner? The bodyguard? My wife's early bet was Gary Moore, the COO of Beau Randolph's company; mine was Candice Mayfield. (It was just the way she said, "I've never even seen this guy [Randolph] before.") But in the end (SPOILER!!!) it was someone who hadn't even been considered a suspect.

Typical Castle fair. (Still good, mind you.)

Actually, I think this one featured more characters than any I can recall. Seven suspects, based on my reckoning. And, as mentioned, the murderer never really was a suspect. That's probably why Martha had a token appearance at the beginning, and Captain Gates had the day off.

My favorite lines...

Esposito: "Tennis shoes are practical. They can support your..."
Castle: "Eject."

Esposito: "Whoa! Did you hear that? She broke his nose."
Ryan: "Yeah, so?"
Esposito: "So? That's hot."
Ryan: "Who are you?"

Then building on that, "She broke a guy's nose. She's got to be freaky."

Ryan: "I never thought I'd say this after sixth-grade graduation. Our bra research is done."

They even gave Beckett some grammar chops.
Castle: "Two words: Vito Corleone." 
Beckett: "Technically those are names, not words."

Looks:

Castle's bug-eyed look rant when he discovered his daughter's vlog. "My day is not today. That day is not today. Today is the day of the Internet stalker."

(As an aside, when Castle talked to Alexis about it, I thought she got rather snippy, rather quickly. For once, he was being genuinely caring and advice-giving, rather than preaching.)

And Castle's face throughout the interview with Mindy.

 Next up: "Recoil."

Feel free to share your thoughts about "Death Gone Crazy." If you still remember the show, that is... 

Has "Death Gone Crazy?" Ask Castle & Beckett. Click to tweet.

Castle: "Secret's Safe with Me"

By Michael Seese

I hate being more than a week behind in my Castle-watching. If I had known that kids would get in the way ...

I could write this show! Midway through -- when Castle and Beckett went back to Anjelica's to confront her about the insurance fraud -- I said out loud, "The butler did it." And I was right! Castle was even gracious enough to use my exact words. Then, when they went to commercial I said, "Why commit the fraud? Just sell the $4 million bracelet for $4 million, and pay off your debts." And when they returned, what did Beckett ask Anjelica?

Overall, though, this was a mixed episode. There were a lot of good points. The homage to "Da Vinci Code" was a great way to start. 

In my writing, I enjoy throwing in pop culture references. (Did I mention I could have written this one?) 
 
I thought it was hilarious when Captain Gates turned into a giddy child when she saw the "Gemini" doll, and then became a fawning fan of Castle, the author. And I love the quirky characters they throw in. Last week, it was the makeup artists; this week, it was the you-store-it owner who looked at the victim's picture and said, really drolly, "She was a lot less bloody when I saw her."

My primary complaint was the plethora of plot implausibilities, some bordering on deux ex machina. Castle and Beckett wanted the contents of storage unit 317. A lot. Obviously, so did Felix. A lot. They didn't think to question him right then? Really? Wendell was able to take a photo of an artificial eye fragment and actually find the owner? Really? And then poor Wendell just happened to use the subway station which happened to have out-of-order cameras, allowing Kirby the butler to shove him in front of the train? Oh, and no one standing on the platform saw it? Really?

Oh well.

As always, much of the dialog had me in stitches.

Castle: "I learned so much," in reference to the time he and Alexis had "the talk."

Castle: "Mother used her Jedi mind tricks on me." (See pop culture reference comment above.)

Lanie: "Oh, you are in trouble." (After Beckett busted him rummaging through her desk.)
Castle: "I'm not in trouble." (Hangs up.)

Castle: "I'm a best-selling author. Why wouldn't I have two grand in my pocket?"

Castle: "I think my hand's getting sweaty."
Beckett: "I know. It's kind of gross."

And the capper, which was 50% a "look."

Beckett: "Take your hand off your tool."
Ryan & Esposito: (snicker)
Beckett: "Shut up."

My other favorite look was Castle's raised eyebrow when Beckett did not disavow her "kinky past."

Hopefully we will get to "Murder He Wrote"(I think that's next) sooner than next Tuesday night. 

PS: You'll notice I added some photos...thumbs up or thumbs down?

Castle: "Head Case"

"Castle" is my favorite show. Actually, it's the only show we watch. So by definition, I think it has to be my favorite.

Though the interplay between the two main characters is great, at the risk of forfeiting my "hetero card," I watch the show more for Castle than for Beckett.

I like Nathan Fillion as an actor. IMHO, no one else could be Castle. I think his expressions and delivery are great. Stana Katic is good, too, of course, though I think she looked better with her season one short hair. Plus, as a cop, it makes more sense to have short hair...it gives the bad guys one less thing to grab on to. For that same reason, if you saw Monday's episode, you'll notice that Ryan removed his tie before they went on their first raid. My buddy the cop wears a clip-on for that very reason.

Speaking of Monday's show, we actually got to watch it live, which hasn't happened in...gosh, I can't remember how long. Of course, when you have a DVR, why watch something live?

So I thought I'd share a few thoughts, good, bad, indifferent. There are no spoilers per se, though I do discuss some tidbits.

- I like William Atherton. Usually he plays complete jerks--and he's very good at it. So I liked this role...25% jerk, 70% businessman who believes in his enterprise, 5% likeable.
- When they first visited the cryo-lab, Beckett had on heels that were at least 4" high. Yeah, perfect for chasing a suspect. (Yes, another hetero warning.)
- The pigeon with the .45 slug in it? I'm sorry. I'm not a ballistics expert, but I'm pretty certain that if you shot a pigeon with a .45, there would no longer be a pigeon.

- I always am amused by fiction (or for that matter, reality) which involves the cryonic preservation of humans, until "modern medicine can cure their illness." Ted Williams has been frozen, though I believe it was his son who actually did it. Don't these people realize that if they are revived 200 years in the future, they won't even be qualified to be garbage collectors in the "new world?" They'll be primitives.

Also, I thought it was funny that Alexis brought up the rejection letter which Castle has framed and hanging on the wall, a plot element which may or may not have been brought up before. (I'd never seen or heard about it.) Prior to learning of the letter, I had concocted the following snippet of dialogue.

Castle: "Do you have any idea what it's like to pour your heart and soul into something, send it off to a complete stranger, wait in agony, and then receive a rejection letter? Because you don't see it as a rejection of the novel. You see it as a rejection of you. They're not saying your writing stinks. They're saying you stink."
Ryan: "Wow. How did you handle that?"
Castle: "Handle what?"
Ryan: "The rejection letter."
Castle: "I don't know. It never happened to me. I had five publishers engaged in a bidding war over my first manuscript. But I've heard it happens."

So what did you think of the show?