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.
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.
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.
