Castle Review: Season 1, Episode 9 "Little Girl Lost"

 By Elizabeth Beall

**SPOILER ALERT! If you have not seen this episode, please go and do so before continuing!**

Oh Castle.... What's a relationship without a little competition to add drama? So far on the show we've been treated to at least two ex-wives for Rick, but Beckett... Well, she's still single, and she is still not quite falling for a certain someone's "ruggedly handsome" charms.
This case hits a little close to home for Beckett: a young child abducted from the home. She's dealt with it before, and it didn't end well. That and--oh look! The FBI is involved... and the agent on the case is an ex-boyfriend of Beckett's.

The "Good Parts" Version:

-Castle is trying to earn "boyfriend points" by greeting Beckett on the scene with her favorite donut and order of coffee. Trouble is, he also brings up his fan site... Which Beckett is apparently familiar with--for "research purposes", of course--and Castle's ribbing about it ("You subscribed to my website? Wait a minute... are you Castlefreak1212? Castlelover45?") earns him a bear-claw in the mouth. Lesson learned: No woman wants sass before she has her coffee.

-The case involves the abduction of a two-year-old girl from the home of her hard-working parents. Mom works at the hospital, Dad paints for a living. He was in the next room when it happened; one moment, the girl was there, the next moment, gone.



-Enter the suave, dashing, smooth-talking, driven Agent Will Sorenson. He's got the history with Beckett that Castle wants, he knows things about her that Castle can't possibly get her to confess, and in short, he's got the position that Castle thinks he wants--and yet, Beckett seems reluctant to be working with him again.... And on the plus side, we get more of the Wisecracking Castle!

-"Really? You're going with the instincts of Nancy Drew, here?"
"Is that supposed to be an insult? Because Nancy Drew solved all her cases."

-Beckett: "Oh, why don't you two just drop your pants and get it over with!"
Castle: "I'm game!"


-Beckett ends up sending Castle home because Will doesn't want him around... and poor Rick discovers that Martha's "money-making scheme-of-the-week" happens to be working out of his office as a "Life Coach." "Mother, can I interest you in the kitchen as a better location? The wide open space... proximity to beverages... and sharp implements..."

-Can I just also take a moment to point out that THIS EPISODE MARKS THE FIRST MENTION OF JENNY O'MALLEY, RYAN'S THEN-GIRLFRIEND, PLAYED BY SEAMUS' (THE ACTOR'S) REAL-LIFE WIFE JULIANNE!!! He was my favorite character to begin with... and the fact that he's the first one to have a steady girlfriend.... portrayed by his wife... I was over-the-moon. Granted, it's just a mention, but... The tie says it all...


-The ransom demand has been made... and it's oddly specific: exactly every penny the couple has, and not a cent more. Could the kidnapper be closer to the victims than just a stone-cold professional on a spree?

-When it comes time to make the drop, Beckett finally stands up for Castle in the face of "the Feds", deciding to allow him to volunteer to make the drop.

-This episode really plays up the "Will They/Won't They" angle... because all networks know that, "If all else fails, use romantic tension to make viewers want another season." But while Castle is getting ready for a potentially dangerous money drop with an as-yet-unidentified killer, Beckett comes in... and she's more worried about this Nikki Heat novel that he is working on, and the cover image ("It's just a silhouette. She's holding a gun." "She's *naked*!" "She's posing strategically.") than about his actual safety... at least as far as she'll let on. ("Castle? Screw this up and I'll kill you.") Oh yeah, they definitely will.

-Of course, it all goes south, because the kidnapper seems to know exactly what they're going to do just before they do it, and can prepare accordingly--But Castle proves more clever than Will gives him credit for, because though they lost the bag with the money, he managed to slip the burner phone into it--right after texting Beckett from the phone. So now they can track it till the signal dies.

-The nature of the case has made Castle nostalgic. He goes home and starts imagining what it would be like if someone abducted Alexis... Which of course gives him the break he needs to realize that the kidnapped child had a favorite bunny that she carried all the time. A stone-cold kidnapper would have just taken the kid and left the bunny... so where is the bunny?

-It was just the break they needed, and by looking for the bunny, they find the girl, not far away--at the house of her Aunt. The overworked Mom had arranged the whole abduction, intending to use the money to take custody of their daughter away from her neglectful husband. The big reveal and wrap-up gives a sour note to the end of the episode--almost as if the writers were still trying to figure out the best way to end an episode.

-Of course, Will keeps dropping hints that he wants to get back together with Beckett--he'd even like it if she decided to come back to Boston with him--but she is not sure anymore if that's what she wants. The Beckett he knew was very career-driven, but meeting Castle seems to have brought a sense of "family" to her that she probably never expected. She turns him down.

Again, I am not really digging the whole "crime without a criminal" method. It was fun to find out a little more about Beckett's past, both in the ex-boyfriend and the return of the murdered mother case. 

However, I believe it must have been sometime about this episode, or the last few, that the network confirmed a second season, because already we're getting deeper into the lives of the characters with their own arcs and back-stories—things aren't quite so "temporary" anymore. It took nearly ten episodes for this show to get itself organized with the crime solving technique and the character involvement, but in the words of Casablanca, "I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship." 

"Little Girl Lost" gets a 4/5.

Castle Review Season 1 Episode 8 "Ghosts"

By Moira Kirkland

***Spoilers! If you haven't watched this episode, please go and do so before continuing!***

Kudos to the creative team behind Castle for coming up with so many unique ways for a person to die in just the first season--which had such a quick run, it couldn't even be termed a full season! Here we are, already at the eighth episode, and today's crime scene features a woman drowned in a tub full of motor oil. Seriously, nothing is quite so creepy as a face that appears in what you thought was a black screen.... Stolen identities, ghostwriters, bombs on an oil tanker, environmental activists... and a past that hasn't quite let go like people always assumed.

The "Good Parts" Version:

-Castle's got a new poker crowd! This time, it's the gang from the 12th Precinct who are fast becoming best buds with the "ruggedly handsome" mystery writer--and also getting a dose of Martha! "When he blinks too much, he's bluffing.... Oh, now he's tapping, that means he's got a good hand..." Nobody calls tells like a mother, which is why Susan Sullivan is quite possibly the best actress to ever play the mother figure for somebody like Nathan Fillion; the pair are wonderful, and the wits are perfectly matched, one can't help but sense the fictional genetics in the chemistry.

-Speaking of chemistry, what better way for a guy to show he likes a girl than to fold on a perfectly good hand just so she can win the pot? Things are looking good for the Caskett ship!

-I'll admit, Castle had me hooked with his "soccer mom lover's liaison" angle as to why a woman like the unfortunate victim would be in a sleazy hotel like that one in the first place! It was fun, though, to see that, gradually, Castle is winning the guys--they're not writing him off (no pun intended) as just a crackpot tag-along anymore. Trading theories with Espo--how fun!

-So the identity was stolen--but the layers lead back to a true crime writer that I recognized: Joanne Kelly from Warehouse 13! Joanne doesn't quite pass off the writer-vibe as well as Nathan Fillion does, but that's okay, because she's just a ghostwriter who has been recording the story from the victim's past that she had been running from her entire life, which may have been the thing that caught up with her.

-The woman, Cynthia, had teamed up with two others to plant a bomb on an oil tanker, which blew too soon and injured the captain who was still on board, and killed one of the others. The fact that the killer drowned Cynthia in motor oil was more than just poetic justice--it was personal. So the question becomes: who else knew about the bomb plot and would have the motive and means to kill Cynthia?

-After a brief interview with the one surviving member (and the guy who built the bomb and blames himself for the faulty fuse that caused the early explosion), Castle notices that his account diverges from the story Cynthia wanted to publish. Being a writer, he knows something about how and when to reveal key information, depending on the kind of message the writer wants to send--so why would Cynthia be giving her ghostwriter false information? Or perhaps the ghostwriter is taking creative liberties? If so, why?

-The more leads they find because of the ghostwriter, the more people they encounter who know about the book that Cynthia was going to publish, which gives rise to a new motive--true crime novels are one thing when published under the watchful eye of the perpetrator--but now that Cynthia is dead, the ghostwriter could be sitting on a bestseller, with very few people who would care if she sensationalized the story. Of course, the airtight alibi exonerates the writer--but if she didn't, who did? A connection is coming--but what could it be?

-In talking with the family of the captain who had been on the oil tanker, Castle and Beckett discover that the son had been trying to hunt Cynthia down--but it turns out that was only to find out why she'd been sending regular checks to his mom, accompanied by a note that said "I'm sorry." The trouble is, the ghostwriter--who should have known about it, since it would have aided casting Cynthia in a more favorable light--knew nothing. So if Cynthia didn't send the money, who did?

-Can I just point out how much I miss these poker games scenes? I can't recall exactly when they were phased out, but one just doesn't see them much anymore on the show! It takes a poker game with the "Gotham crew" (the judge, the mayor, and the police chief) to figure out this new twist in the mystery. Plus, Beckett demands in because she is mad at Castle for "throwing" the last game... and yet, when given the chance, Beckett "throws" it right back! Who says romance has to involve kissing and bedroom scenes?

-A well-placed comment in the middle of a flurry of contemplation prompts Castle to come up with another wild theory: what if the conspirator everyone thought was dead, really wasn't? And what if she was the one who murdered Cynthia, after living all this time under a false identity, just like Cynthia had?

-And BOOM. Turns out the writers have one more twist for us: Cynthia had discovered this woman was alive... and Cynthia had invited Susan over to kill her in the motor oil and so the story could be told however Cynthia liked... but Susan figured it out and turned the tables on her.

-As a final wrap-up for the case, Castle figures out the ghostwriter's slimy ploy to publicize the fact that she was in contact with Cynthia, which would only invite more publicity for her book if Cynthia were actually arrested and placed on trial. (And yes, I do believe there is a sleazy "tabloid reporter" based on the ghostwriter as a character in Castle's books!) Lesson learned: don't mess with a writer. Even if you "succeed" in hoodwinking them, you'll more than likely end up as material, and the portrayal will not be flattering.

-Finally, Castle and Beckett confront each other about intentionally throwing the poker games... and decide on a rematch. The pot? Gummy bears.

On the whole, I think this episode was on the weirder side, as far as the mystery goes. There weren't any intensely action-packed chases, a lot of it was subtle, mess-with-your-mind-and-emotions kind of stuff. I liked seeing the relationship between Castle and Beckett develop further, as everyone in the Precinct begins to welcome him more as one of them instead of passing him off. I'd give this episode a 4/5.

Castle Review: Season 1 Episode 7 "Home Is Where The Heart Stops"

By Will Beall 

***Spoilers! If you haven't watched this episode, please go and do so before continuing!***

So it's been seven episodes already... and Beckett is still rebuffing all of Castle's efforts. The return of the ex-wife in the last episode of course didn't help... but still! The show was nearing the end of it's first season, views had slacked... but maybe everyone felt like it was time for one or the other to commit to the obvious! Since when had it taken so long for a TV show couple to fall for each other?
Not that I'm complaining! So many times a "ship" moves way too fast, in my opinion, so the fact that the folks on Castle are taking the time to get the viewer acquainted with the characters before putting the leading couple securely together is refreshing--because it makes the relationship all the sweeter when the two of them finally get around to it. Plus, it's just more realistic that way.

The "Good Parts" Version:

-So for this episode, there have been a string of home invasions where the robbers have stolen millions in jewelry--but this time, there's a body stuffed in the wall safe.

-It's the fourth break-in, and everything else is the same: no forced entry, jewelry gone--but murder?

-Points to the show for lightening it up with a trade-off between Castle and Beckett over jinxes: when "blessing" Ryan's sneeze, Castle claims a jinx on Beckett, who then turns it into a "reverse double jinx" and "according to time-honored tradition you cannot speak until I release you." That should keep him from running his mouth off when she's trying to inspect a crime scene!

-Okay, I just had to put this video in here JUST BECAUSE IT IS SO FREAKING CUTE that there was no other way for me to describe it or quote it at all. Just watch it. Molly Quinn is awesome.

-Castle: 'Pulp'? You think what I write is pulp? Listen, I will have you know that the 'New York Review of Books', not the 'New York Book Review', mind you. The 'New York Review of Books' said that Derrick Storm is this year's...
Beckett: I read that piece. And you have to admit it was a little hyperbolic. So what'd you pay the reviewers?
Castle: A case of Chateau Neuf de Pape, but that's not the point. The point is, you read the 'New York Review of Books'?
Kate Beckett: Oh, so many layers to the Beckett onion. However will you peel them all? 
Castle: --->

-Castle meets Beckett down at the shooting range to discuss getting the photos of the stolen jewelry so that he can figure out why someone would suddenly decide to kill over the pieces.

Of course, she refuses--till he bugs her enough about shooting to get her to agree to give him the photos if he can nail the target. Ha! Apparently somebody didn't watch "That one Joss Whedon show" to know that in a past life, Richard Castle was a full-on space gunslinger! How clever of him to slop around and pretend like he has no idea what he's doing until after she agreed to let him have what he wanted!

-And it's time for another totally adorable father-daughter scene!

Castle: "How was your date with Owen?"

Alexis: "It wasn't a date, it was a study group!"

Castle: "Uh-huh; how many in the group?"

Alexis: "Just the two of us." Riiight... totally not a date...

-To ascertain what kind of a jewel thief would steal the sorts of jewelry that were stolen, from those four specific people and not any others, who better to ask than a jewel thief? Yes, amid all of his high-profile fans, Castle also has some... ahem, references on the shady side, one of which is a man by the name of Powell, who had total anonymity in his thievery--until Castle based a character on him in one of his Derrick Storm novels... and thanked him by name in the Acknowledgements. Apparently, Powell has had it in for him ever since. Thieves enjoy their privacy.

-I must say, Castle is pretty clever. Getting a suspect to open up and provide a lead to the real culprit by pretending he just wants to "get the details right" in his upcoming book is a pretty creative idea!

-The victims have a charity event in common, so Castle gets two tickets to the black-tie event, and wants Beckett to come along. He even buys her a dress accompanied with a note that says "Bibbity-bobbity boo!" (which is delivered after a fun scene where Beckett has Laney over to help her pick a dress out of her closet which is sadly outdated)... and I must say, she looks stunning!

-Of course, this is Castle's world, so everyone knows him and assure "Katie" that he's quite the catch... One helpful woman confides that they call him "the white whale", seeing as he's both rich and handsome.

-Here is how Powell gets his revenge: bringing Martha with him to the event, where she volunteers to be the caller auctioning off his book... and "as a bonus, he'll throw in a dinner date." The bidding heats up after that! (There is even one guy who bids... yech!)

-Lesson learned: beware the creepy, grinning, outgoing chicks who seem to make it their business to know absolutely everything about yours! Turns out the "inside source" these thieves had was the boyfriend of the charity's "Donor Development Liaison"--which means he would have access to all the information about the donors.

He had done time with the murderer, who protected him in jail, but threatened the same treatment if the boyfriend didn't get him what he wanted.

-Of course, that was all the information they needed. They head over to the guy's apartment--and for once, Castle does his utmost to stay in the car when Beckett asks! This was a really sweet scene where Castle starts to "play cop", goofing with the CB and twisting the wheel while humming a "chase" theme! (Which then plays when the perpetrator hauls him out of the car and tussles till Beckett can catch him! This is the first time they do that... but not the last! Stay tuned for the episode where Castle grunts out the Castle inter-scene vamp!) Poor guy, he really tried... good thing Beckett didn't chew him out this time.

-The killer is caught, the stolen goods recovered, and all is well in the world. Finally we see the very beginnings of the relationship that just gets more beautiful as the seasons continue, when Beckett stops by for a morning visit and Martha and Alexis welcome her to breakfast like one of the family, wanting to hear all about the previous night. "We've already had Richard's version," says Martha, "and he can be a little vague on the juicy details."

This episode was pretty awesome. The suspense was good, the mystery compelling, and things are shaping up for this brand-new little show! From the non-verbal winks and nods between actors that were completely in tune with their characters, to the way the show emphasized over and over again that, "ladies' man" though he be, there are really only two (about to be three!) women who really matter in Castle's life--which is as it should be. I'd give this episode a 9/10.

Castle Review, Season 1 Episode 2 "Nanny McDead"

By Barry Schnidel

**SPOILERS!**
If you have not watched this episode, please do so before continuing!

Sooo once again, disturbing image in the first scene: body in the washing machine, while a cell phone rings with Pink's "So What." Oddly enough, the song kind of relates to the nature of the mystery—more on that later. As we foray into the world of homicide in New York, this episode shows the darker side of the business of nannying, and makes us wonder if all big-city freelance jobs resemble a daytime soap, and also makes us grateful for rigorous psych evaluations in the hiring process--more on that later.

The "Good Parts" Version:

-So Castle's got a bunch of waivers to sign if he wants to dog Beckett. She gets a call about the body in the middle of it and thinks she's left him behind. Ha!

The only adequate response to "Whaddaya know? He's a fan!"

-Beckett starts heading up to question the family who employed her, and Castle's just waiting outside the elevator. How did he know she'd be there, and how long was he waiting? Who knows? He's got info on the family, too—from the doorman, who is apparently a fan. 

-D'aww! We have Castle's first-ever intro! "Just NY." Yyyeeeaaahhhh.... We're gonna have to work on that one.

-In the world of Crime Tropes, this one takes it: the couple takes turns getting home in time for dinner, and on the night the nanny was murdered, guess whose turn it was? The husband's.

-This of course gets Castle started: it's the perfect setup for a novel plot! Husband carrying on an affair with the nanny? And according to nanny Sarah's good friend Chloe, those nights when he was supposed to be home were the nights Sarah stayed late... Suspicious?

-Heightening the mystery is the fact that no one can seem to find Sarah's cell phone, which could hold the most pertinent evidence of all.

-"Three men around a computer. That better not be porn, and if it is, I want in." Watch who you're talking to, Castle! One of those men is the Chief of police!

-The husband's alibi is the fact that, yes, he was having an affair—but with his secretary. The nanny would stay late to cover for him while he carried this on at work.

-Castle directs their attention to "The guy who lives in 8B" (next door to the family employing Sarah) He engages in a full-blown premise that leaves everybody staring, hanging on his every word. Such is the gravitas of a writer, and only Nathan Fillion could pull it off with such panache.

-I love how supportive his family is of all this: Alexis asking "Who got murdered today?" and Martha swaggering in crooning, "Catch any perps, kiddo?" Susan Sullivan I think enjoyed the "veteran of the screen and stage" persona, being a veteran herself; while the claim of being the "crazy homeless lady on NYPD Blue" is fictionalized, I did discover that she has been on crime dramas like Perry Mason and S.W.A.T. Go Martha!

-Heehee, I forgot that one usually wears protective covering when examining a body at the morgue. Castle points this out—and I do believe this is about the only time they ever do that. "I thought you guys usually hang around eating ham sandwiches and cracking jokes, like gallows humor stuff." Only on TV, right?

-Castle makes comments on Beckett's straight-faced interrogation style, and invites her to poker.

"What, you mean your hangout with James Patterson and the rest of the New York Times Bestseller List? Too rich for my blood."

"We could always make it strip poker."

"No thanks; I prefer mystery to horror." PERFECTION!!

-Ryan: "I'm telling you, marital bliss is a thing of the past. Name one happily married couple."

Castle: "DeGeneres and DiRossi."

Really, Castle?? I gotta say, Kevin Ryan is my favorite character. He's just so sweet and charming and innocent! While sexual tension ranges all over the map with other characters, Ryan dates a girl, likes her, proposes, marries, and becomes a father over the course of the show. He's probably the cleanest, steadiest character, being in only one relationship (with his IRL wife, I might add!!) which also means he's no good at flirting (or recognizing advances... He's a good-looking dude, after all!) and he's got great moral values. I like him a lot.

-Reviewing the security footage, Castle realizes that when Sarah made the second trip down the elevator to the laundry where she would meet her killer, it was just a few seconds longer—which means she wasn't coming from the same floor. They figure out that the extra time puts her on the fifteenth floor: where the family Chloe works for lives.

-When they're questioning the couple, the husband hedges suspiciously when Beckett mentions Sarah. From then on, it's a cinch: Sarah's cell phone under his bed, the fact that Chloe obsessed about him leaving his wife and taking up with her (she'd had a copy of a picture she took with the family, but when Chloe framed it, she cut the wife out of the photo), the fact that Chloe would know Sarah's schedule, and discover that the man she thought loved her was actually getting with her friend.

-They go looking for Chloe, hoping to find her before she kills again.

-Castle: "I'm coming with you!"

Beckett: "Okay, but remember, this is accompany and observe, not participate and annoy."

Castle: "Participate and annoy is more fun, but whatever."

 
-of course, it doesn't come out till then just how psycho Chloe is; she's sitting in the laundry room cutting herself as she confesses to killing Sarah out of jealousy.

-The perp is caught, and Castle begins writing his first Nikki Heat novel.

As far as episodes go, this one was actually rather lousy in the "crime" department. The whole string of clues, evidence, and conclusions was very cliche and straightforward. Not that I think all crimes should be messy, but I was never really intrigued at all. The conclusion was far too inevitable. It does go a little further in advancing Castle and Beckett's effectiveness as a crime-solving team, and for a technical "first case" it isn't that bad. I'd give it a 6/10.

Castle Review: Season 1 Episode 1 "Flowers For Your Grave"

 By Andrew W. Marlowe

**SPOILERS!**
If you have not watched this episode, please do so before continuing!

What if the things you wrote came true? What if, by writing a story, you could bring your characters to life? That's all well and good for a great fantasy story--the world could use a few noble unicorns, maybe some Elves...

But what if you wrote murder mysteries, and every time you killed a character, someone real died?

The premise of Castle functions something like this: Richard Castle (the inimitable Nathan Fillion) is a moderately successful murder mystery writer who has suffered for some months from debilitating writer's block. Not even killing off his most notable character for the sake of defying predictability could shake him from the slump. Then a homicide detective (stalwart Stana Katic) shows up at his launch party and wants to bring him in for questioning, because a recent murder was staged exactly as he described in one of his books. Of course, he had nothing to do with the crime... but the draw of solving a real mystery is just too much, and he keeps showing up at crime scenes and appearing at the station to give his input. Working together (and using his prodigious connections, since Castle's fanbase includes a lot of government officials), Castle and Detective Beckett solve the case--and Castle suddenly receives inspiration for a whole new series featuring a sexy homicide detective with a pain-filled past who is devoted to her job of catching bad guys and finding out the truth.

Every story has a beginning and an end... but the real entertaining stuff is everything in between!


The "Good Parts" Version:

-I admit, I started watching this because I was like, Hey! That's the guy from Firefly!! But when it starts out by showing the murderer's hands spreading rose petals over his already-dead victim's body... I wasn't sure what to make of it....

-And the fact that the scene cuts between this chilling "staging of the body" and an apparent book launch party going on at the same time was a little confusing, until we realize that the show is establishing it's two key players in the first five minutes of the show: the narcissistic, "ruggedly handsome" celebrity author who has just killed off his most popular character because "It had just gotten too predictable, you knew what was going to happen next"; and the hard-lined woman detective who takes a very professional approach to everything in life--and apparently has no "life" outside of work (the ME teases her, "Who says romance is dead?" and Beckett shoots back, "I do, every Saturday night")

-The murder itself is straightforward enough--but the fact that it's staged exactly like a scene from a book that Kate Beckett has read... by an author she apparently appreciates, because she has bought all his books... That's where it gets weird.

-Also at the book signing are Castle's mother, Martha Rogers, and daughter Alexis; the show does a good job giving us an adequate first impression of both characters: Martha is the exquisitely dressed former stage actress and busy hitting up all of the eligible men ("I just got a hit on my graydar. Bingo. No ring. Stand back, kids. Momma's going fishing, " she chirps) and Alexis is the perfect picture of the daughter of a celebrity man-child: she's brought her schoolwork with her to the party.
She deals with her father's antics with all the casualness of the owner of a hyperactive dog--and yet I think it is the dynamic between Nathan Fillion and Molly Quinn that makes this show so delightful; the two trade banter like a real father and daughter, and he's incredibly tender and protective of her, and while she can sometimes be snippy (as would be expected from the progeny of a writer, just saying!) her snark is overlaid with the utmost respect for her father. I freaking love Molly Quinn. She is awesome.

-Beckett brings Castle in for questioning, to see if he can shed any light on why "her" crime scene would look so much like a scene from his book. He, of course, can't help hitting on someone so ravishingly good looking (being such a "ruggedly handsome" individual himself) but Kate isn't fazed. She rebuffs him at every turn, he absolves himself, and she dismisses him, thinking that surely she will never have to deal with him again. Meanwhile, Castle's imagination has suddenly sparked back to life in a way he didn't think possible....

-While Kate is trying to get to the bottom of these murders, Castle is busy getting us introduced to the other key players in this show: cop buddies Kevin Ryan and Javier Esposito, who regularly team up with Kate, and the Medical Examiner, Laney Parrish. The way they tease her when she brings in her entire collection of Richard Castle novels for "research", or Laney teasing her about her lack of a love-life is a lot of fun to watch, and speaks to the fact that these are her "family" inasmuch as Martha and Alexis are Richard's family.

-Castle, of course, doesn't like the lengthy procedure involved with a real investigation (it always seems to go faster in the books, does it not?) so he is not above using his connections to speed things along--much to the chagrin of Beckett and the entertainment of Ryan and Esposito. ("A control freak like you with somethin' you can't control? No, no. That's gonna be better than Shark Week!") 

-Two more bodies emerge, and once they figure out that the stagings are part of the works only "hardcore Castle fans" would ever read, Kate gets the idea to bring in his fan-mail to pick up any more possible suspects. Of course, this leads to a mentally-unstable young man who Beckett is almost positive would be capable of killing people and setting up the murders--exactly according to the way she had profiled the perpetrator. Plus, he has connections with both victims.


-Castle plays poker with James Patterson and Stephen J. Cannell--the former I have read and did not enjoy, and I'm wondering if the same goes for the other guy. They discuss the case when Richard presents it as an idea for a novel--and all three agree that there is something missing in the case, some important detail.

-After a night of thinking deeply (as all writers are prone to... myself included), Castle revisits the precinct and deduces--from using the delivery of a signed copy of his latest book as a cover for taking the crime scene photos from Kate's desk--that a meticulously devoted, mentally disturbed man like Kyle could not have been the murderer, because in the first staging, the rose petals used were different than the ones explicitly written in the book. A near-autistic young man like Kyle would not make such a deviation. Ergo, the murder is a cover-up, not a systematic serial.

-The original murder was the girl floating in the pool a la a scene from one of Castle's worst novels--and both Castle and Kate arrive at the conclusion (and the location of the connection, the office of the girl's father) separately. Kate tries to take command of the situation and be professionally succinct--but Castle's writerly mind is getting the better of him, and he point-blank asks some rather brash questions.... which then reveal that he is, in fact, dying, and that the girl's death meant that the whole of the inheritance would be going to her brother.

-The brother has an immediate alibi, which Kate accepts... until Castle points out how, if he were writing the story, the killer would of course get his passport stamped to give himself an alibi, but that would not necessarily mean he actually went anywhere. Kate--who has had about enough of Castle second-guessing her, causing her to question her own judgment--cuffs him to the car and goes back in to question the brother--but he's already split.

-I love the way Castle totally pulls a stunt like you see in the movies, trying to get the keys to the cuffs, dropping them on the pavement, then slipping his shoe off to pick it up with his toes!

-The killer comes down the fire escape just ahead of Beckett, so of course Castle goes after him. There is a brief stand-off where Beckett is trying to talk the man down, as he has a gun to Castle's head and threatens to shoot him, but then Castle totally takes him down and escapes while Kate arrests the real killer.

-End of story, right? But no, this is just the beginning. Castle has found his muse again--and he gets the mayor's approval to follow the homicide detective around for "research purposes." Apparently he finds Kate Beckett inspiring enough for a whole new series featuring a New York homicide detective named Nikki Heat. Looks like the two of them are stuck together for who-knows-how-long!

And so the story begins....



I loved this pilot. It presented the key characters in just the right way, it launched a story arc that was full of potential, and most of all, the chemistry between the actors was perfect.
What is really powerful, though, is the writing. The banter, the quips, the characterizations, the balance between light-hearted sarcasm and heart-felt serious discussion. This show has a great team of writers--and NEWS FLASH: In case you didn't know, the Richard Castle novels actually exist.  I've read most of the Nikki Heat series (all except the first one) and there are 2 Derrick Storm novels and they are exactly like the show. Not like your ordinary "TV-novelizations" that just feel like another episode of the same show, but actually really drawing from Castle's various experiences throughout the show, and the people he meets (everyone from the precinct has a character in his novels, from "Kevin Bryan" and "Javier Rodriguez" to "Lauren Perry" the medical examiner and "Police Chief Montrose" (after Beckett's captain, Montgomery; also present are not-so-subtle references to the other of Nathan Fillion's most famous work, in the appearance of Detectives Malcom and Reynolds!!) as if it were really Richard Castle writing them! (I seriously doubt it's Nathan Fillion himself, but either he has considerable "creative consulting" into the books, or the writers were just so fantastic at creating the character for him that they could reproduce a near-copy on paper!)

All in all, this was a solid pilot, even though the actual mystery sort of seemed to take a backseat to all the characters getting acquainted. I give it a 10/10!!

A Preemptive Strike By Leslie

*Comes out of the Panic Room and surveys the carnage: Jess lays, strapped to the Frankenstein table from "Monster Movie", nearly comatose; Emily is passed out at the control board, her paralyzed hands still gripping the lever; Calmly, Leslie takes her seat in an odd-looking armchair with a lightbulb attached at the top*

Well, I suppose my turn had to be coming, hadn't it? But since the two are... *ahem* indisposed for the moment, I believe this is my opportunity to conduct my own interview with impunity. Ready?

1. Primary Fandom? Off the top of my head, as far as famous fandoms go, I would certainly say Sherlock ... But really, that's a class unto itself, rooted in a long tradition with expert show runners. As far as "regular" shows that I avidly follow and have seen every episode at least twice and am deeply immersed in all the fandom and fanfiction at LEAST as ardently as Emily is devoted to Supernatural, it would be Grimm.

Why in the world would you choose that show? Bias, obviously--it's filmed and set in my area! But, aside from the setting, I am deeply a fan of the awesome writing--from the development of the protagonists and the consistency of the villains, to the inventive story arcs and the fact that it's been three seasons and there is still lore from the first season that has yet to be pursued. I am convinced that it certainly has the potential to be every bit as amazing as Supernatural.

2. Secret fandom crush? What the... How the heck did that get in here? [looks between the two comatose girls, secretly suspecting that one or the other (or both) might be a poltergeist] Oh brother... I guess I had it coming, didn't I? Well guess what... It's Gabriel Vaughn, from the little-known show, Intelligence. (Don't know him? Bummer! Hey, it's not my fault a perfectly good show got cancelled by the time it got its legs under it!)

Yeah, I know... Somebody that good-looking would be an obvious choice... but I'm not the kind of girl who is a sucker for good-looking men, because there are a LOT of hot jerks out there, am I right? 

So... Why him? Because I adore his portrayal: he is chivalrous, snarky, strong, humble—and a solid team player to boot! If there is anybody I'd want to have my back in a dangerous situation, it's him.  I always love that when a protagonist is actually moral. Nothing sullies a good crush like rooting for a guy who would not be the sort of guy you would date in real life.

3. Favorite character couple? Hmm, I might have to go with Detective Kevin Ryan and his wife Jenny on Castle--even though she's only been on a few times, with him being a secondary character and all. But the relationship is fantastic. THEY ARE TOTALLY THE CUTEST COUPLE ON TV!!!

Really? What makes you say that? Well, for starters, they're a real-life couple--and the chemistry really shows. And in an era of television where it seems like so many shows ride on romantic ambiguity, the existence of a solid relationship in a show is a thing of beauty. (And considering that it's ABC--the most notorious offender for Unnecessary Romantic Angst--it's even more remarkable!)
   

4. You mentioned earlier that you write fanfiction; what kind of fanfiction do you write? Mostly it's "fan-made episodes" of shows that I really like, the ones that have plenty of lore for me to work with. So when I write a fanfiction, you're going to get a complete story.

How many fanfics have you published? I've started 25, to date. Twenty-one of them I managed to complete, and the other four are still in progress.

Holy smokes! Any of them one-shots? Nope, not a one; my shortest fic is 5K+.

Which fandoms? Well, let's see: I have Merlin, Batman, Warehouse 13, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Stargate SG-1, Chronicles of Narnia, Intelligence, Grimm, Once Upon A Time, Eureka, A Gifted Man, Percy Jackson, Haven... and I most recently started a Supernatural/Grimm crossover.

I don't see any Sherlock or Doctor Who in there.... I am convinced I will never be good enough to write a Sherlock episode. You might as well get me to write an entire feature-length film. Nope, never gonna happen. And there is some Doctor Who... I did a Stargate SG-1/Doctor Who crossover, but it didn't really work out and it kinda got picked on a lot because I am definitely a bigger Stargate fan than a Whovian. 

HERESY! Sorry, that's just the way it is.

Do you do any shipping of different characters than the original show, just to see what happens--or maybe because you disagree with a ship that happened? No; I'm really not a fan of fluffy smut, and I don't really do any non-canon shipping in any of my fanfics. It's just good, canon fun, the "Episodes That Should Have Aired", as I like to call them.

Hmph, well okay, moving on...

5. Best finale ever? Eureka's Grand Show Finale.

Really? Yep.

Not even going to think about it? Nope.

Yeah right... I bet you'd break down crying if I mention the R-Word. What R-word?

Reichenbach. HA! Well, I'll admit, that got me pretty good... but as I said before, I regard Sherlock as a class all of its own... hence it's just Eureka versus the rest of TVLand. And Eureka wins.

Why? If you haven't seen the show, you won't get it... but believe me when I say I had the BIGGEST FREAKOUT OF MY LIFE (Pre-Sherlock, of course) when it ended... but in a good way... and no other show finale has even come close. 

Suddenly, over by the lever, an errant spark flickers at Emily's fingertips, and she drags herself upright.....

Oh boy.... here it comes....

Oh Leslie, What About Mal From Firefly/Serenity? (Also Known As Richard Castle, Captain Hammer, and Hermes?) What are your thoughts on him? Nathan Fillion? Brilliant man... absolutely stunning actor, he can deliver the most screwball lines with absolute sincerity, and evidently he's the same great guy off set and on... Richard Castle has to be his best role, though; he gets to be a father, a romantic... and I'm pretty sure he nails the "writer" psyche pretty dang well...

The great thing about Nathan is that he has been a part of so many big-ticket items (and he knows it) so practically every appearance since Firefly has contained some reference to another show. (Like all the Firefly references on Castle--plus some guest appearances by Zoe Washburne and Jayne!--and when Hermes assures Percy Jackson that "Hercules Busts Heads" is the "Best show on television... except Castle.") He totally does it. (Incidentally, the Richard Castle novels are jam-packed with references to the show! It's hilarious!)

Favorite SPN episode that you have seen? Gee whiz, it's always about SPN for you, isn't it? *eye roll* Well... for laughs I would have to go with The French Mistake, obviously... But as far as the dynamic between the brothers and really delving into motivations and psyche in a truly AMAZING way, I'd have to say After-School Special. Just, you know, accentuating the difference between how Dean views life outside of hunting as... really, as what he says in Slash Fiction: "I deserve something good in my life right now." He is convinced that what he does while hunting makes him such an amazing guy and a perfectly irresistible hero that it doesn't matter what he does in his "me-time." Whereas Sam, even at that young age, around people they will only see for about a month and then never again, is still looking out for kids who are getting picked on, looking for the kids who need his help. 

Favourite Buffy character and/or episode? (Haha... Told ya you'd like that series...) Spike, duh. James Marsters is the reason I started watching Buffy! (after his guest appearance on my favorite show at the time, Warehouse 13) His accent is wonderful, and he's got such a panache and flair in his delivery, and his comedic timing is dead-on. He knows how to "sail the dream-boat" without preening and making all serious fangirls gag; he's a "villain" but he's too likeable and noble to really be hated ever at all!

Bored, Emily starts fiddling with buttons on the control panel. She strikes one, and Jess stirs...

Why do you love Nathan so much? What is the thing you see in him that makes you go back for more? Geesh, excited much? No really, the thing I love most about Nathan is his impeccable delivery. He can find himself in the strangest situation and he handles it perfectly. There is not a missed beat, a dropped word--and his ad-libbing is a thing of beauty. The thing that keeps me coming back to shows like Castle is the absolute assurance he has given that he can deliver the most shoddy writing with total conviction. He's just an all-around great guy who receives marvelous roles and knows how to entertain viewers without resorting to juvenile tactics, potty humor, or nudity (except when some corn-ball writer can't help himself.... but even then, Nathan owns it without the slightest hesitation)

What are your thoughts on Caskett? Early on in the show, I remember groaning, "Oh dear sweet mother of pie, not another one!" But then... 

As it turned out, the writers managed to take "yet another romantic fling" and turn it into a thing of beauty. It starts out cliche, but--unlike so many TV relationships--it actually works out, and it's obvious that both sides are willing to do whatever it takes to stay together, instead of calling it quits and packing it in the minute the going gets tough. There is a lot to be learned from being able to write a leading couple like that!

Who is your favorite character in Grimm? Yay Grimm!! I'd have to say...

 Sean Renard... and not because of the shirtless factor... I'm actually a super-fan of the actor, Sasha Roiz. My choice of Renard is also due to the fantastic writing.

Renard served as the "Villain Enabler" for Season 1--and so of course I hated him. HATED. HIM. SO. BADLY. He was in league with all the bad guys and he was powerful, and he was able to use his authority to make things difficult for the hero.

Season 2 brought on a love triangle--which in every other show spells the kiss of death for the hero who has basically felt that he has to lie and keep his alternate ego a secret because he's afraid of losing his girl... and then of course her lack of knowledge threatens her life and their relationship... but Renard (the second man of the triangle) responds to the goings on LIKE NO OTHER MAN IN TV HISTORY and ends up on the side of the good guys, helping them out (at least so far...). Seriously, that Love Triangle Resolution is the best thing to ever happen in a TV show, and it certainly was the best thing to happen on Grimm. (That, and the hero ends up actually telling his girlfriend the truth, and SURPRISE, she accepts it!)

Leslie sees that there are no further questions.

Are we done here? Guys? Wait... no, Emily, what are you doing?

 Wat r u doin? Stahp! Get away from that lev--Jess? Help me out here!

NOOO!!!!