(S02E06) Ooh, several Joss Whedon references in the first few minutes, including "space cowboy" and Buffy's vampires. Throw in a reference to Frank Miller, and it's a geeky fantasy paradise. I also got a little of my vampire fix, even if they weren't the real thing. I don't know that Kona's that into vampires, so I'm glad this episode aired on my week to review Castle.
It was the usual whodunnit frolicry, with Castle and Beckett trying to piece together a murder mystery involving vampires, werewolves, and a murder that took place 18 years earlier. And the vampires and werewolves were as close to the real thing as a human can get -- with implanted fur, fang veneers, and a disease that made it impossible to go out in the daytime, lest the person catch on fire. There was even a cemetery and a stake through the heart.
The only thing I didn't really dig about the storyline was the reference to artists and "those people" by the parents of one of the victims. I believe the line went something like this: "He was a normal boy and then he fell in love with art, got moody, and started hanging out with those people." As if being an artist automatically makes a person dark and gothic and freaky. I know that's not the case, and it's kind of a tired cliche.
And, oh! Speaking of freaky, that caged Manson-type character was pretty awesome. What an act of inspired brilliance for Castle to haul the father's wife in by the cage and have the madman finger her. I knew something was up when Beckett interviewed the boy's family, and the wife was just a little too quick with her comment that she couldn't think of anything traumatic that might have happened to the boy when he was little. Dead giveaway. The dad seemed a little squirmy in that scene, too.
There's still something brewing with Beckett's past and her mother, but that was just too cruel when Castle started telling the story about finding a friend washed up on the shore in the Hampton's. Beckett is way too gullible to even think about believing that malarchy. There's also something brewing between Castle and Beckett, and I'm not sure I like it.
Other fun stuff:
It always kills me how female TV detectives wear ultra-high heels. Don't they know they might have to chase a perp down at a moment's notice?
"You wanna bite me? You buy me dinner." - Castle to Beckett
Nathan Fillion has such a great maniacal laugh. Dr. Horrible helped, no doubt.
I love the relationship between Castle and Alexis, and the fact that she's ok with calling him no matter what might happen at a party given by 12th graders.
The egg baby story was fun, with Castle watching it, then Beckett watching it. But things turned tragic when Paige killed it. As Castle said, "That's wrong on so many levels."
Loved Beckett's weird little muppet alien costume. Of COURSE she wouldn't show up to Castle's Halloween party in the slutty nurse costume. Castle looked quite dashing, even if the muppet alien surprised him.
Your thoughts on this episode?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-27-2009 @ 2:45AM
Sweetheart5839 said...
This episode had me laughing within the first ten seconds, and it wasn't just the obvious Firefly costume, but mostly Alexis' reference to Castle. "Didn't you wear that five years ago? Think it's time to move on." Classic.
I love the Castle/Beckett tension and back and forth. And after reading "Heat Wave," I can not wait to see more. Obviously, they aren't going to get together anytime soon, but I love their chemistry. Fillion and Katic are amazing on screen and play off of each other incredibly well.
Love this show.
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10-27-2009 @ 2:47AM
Kristal said...
I don't normally watch Castle, but the Captain Mal/Buffy stuff was great! It's exactly the demographic you pander too, since Joss Whedon shows aren't known for their ratings success.
http://toointerestingfortwitter.blogspot.com
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10-27-2009 @ 3:01AM
Greg said...
This episode was great! I loved Castle dressed up as Mal and all the references to vamps, warewolves, etc... It was funny and a great job by all the actors.
I saw another little inside joke on the episode, with Ryan dressed as a doctor wearing a lab coat at Castle's party as the actor was on General Hospital, he played a drug dealing doctor who tried to kill a mob boss but shot his son in the head instead.
Great episode, one of my favorite's of the series. I hope when the DVD's come out there will be some outtakes especially with Nathan dressed up again as Mal.
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10-27-2009 @ 3:33AM
maestro610 said...
Esposito was dressed up as a recon marine and he played Sgt. Poke on Generation Kill.
10-27-2009 @ 4:28AM
Argent said...
the word you're trying to use is 'malarkey' and not 'malarchy'.
and fwiw, i actually think the story castle told was true -- but he just diffused it with a smile to keep her emotionally at arm's length.
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10-27-2009 @ 4:34AM
Lindsey said...
Such a funny episode, but I really love that it's the first to actually introduce the idea that it's a little strange for a grown man to be obsessed with the macabre, even if he's a flouncing man-boy like Castle. It does make me wonder just how damaged he actually is...
But of course, the important thing is that it's hilarious, so mission accomplished. Oh, and how great is it that Castle asks his daughter if she's going to dress up as Idira Gandhi? Hahaha, awesome.
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10-27-2009 @ 4:38AM
Lindsey said...
Nah, that story was much too boring for Castle. I'd expect something a little more traumatic.
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10-27-2009 @ 5:41AM
cathy said...
I totally thought Beckett was going to show up dressed as Nikki Heat.
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10-27-2009 @ 7:24AM
tcminnie said...
I love this show. I'm not a Joss Wheedon fan, so I didn't get any of the references to his shows, but when I say I didn't get it I don't mean I didn't understand them...but that the humor stood on its own and I wasn't wondering what something meant.
I love the relationship he has with his daughter and I think that's what makes Castle not a complete buffoon. He has depth...he just doesn't show it because he doesn't need to.
I like the idea Argent post about...that the story about the drowned boy was true but Castle diffused it. That would be typical Castle.
I love this show!!
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10-27-2009 @ 9:00AM
Creep said...
I'm interested in who did all the art for this episode. Good stuff.
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10-27-2009 @ 9:23AM
PotatoeGuru said...
Ya know, I think a Bones/Castle crossover would be pretty sweet.
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10-27-2009 @ 11:58AM
LC said...
I loved this episode and totally disagree with this part of the article......
"There's also something brewing between Castle and Beckett, and I'm not sure I like it."
Maybe I would need more to understand what this mean BUT I love what's brewing between Castle and Beckett!
What I think would bring them closer is if ONE of them (either Castle or Beckett) gets kidnapped by someone. Either someone Beckett put in jail or someone that wants her to look into an old case.....maybe for Castle it would be a crazed fan (a la Misery) or someone who wants him to solve a case. THEN, it be be up to the other person to figure out what happened to them.
Although they have a different process, what they don't want to admit, at least Beckett anyway, is that they actually think a lot alike.
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10-27-2009 @ 12:01PM
LC said...
Oh and while i agree that a crossover b/t Bones and Castle would be cool.......I think it's highly unlikely.
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10-27-2009 @ 12:11PM
evah said...
Only show I look forward to each week. Great episode.
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10-27-2009 @ 1:40PM
Sarah said...
I LOVED the Firefly reference and Alexis telling him to "get over it".
I think this was a great Halloween episode for this show. And, we got some character backstory and development too. We learned that Ryan draws the line at having sex in a coffin and that Castle may have been traumatized as a child to lead him to his fascination with writing murder mysteries.
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10-28-2009 @ 4:18AM
MT said...
How about Castle in the Capt. Hammer apron while carving pumpkins?
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10-28-2009 @ 4:36PM
Leroy said...
"Those people" clearly referred to the vampire fetishists.
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10-30-2009 @ 4:51PM
tedsgal_2453 said...
Loved this episode so much! My daughter & I just gafawed through the whole thing- and she's a hard sell! I personally didn't get the Firefly reference, but I did buy the series DVD for my hubby for Xmas as he was a fan and explained it to me! This show is just getting better & better!!
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11-01-2009 @ 11:19PM
Trynn said...
I LOVED this episode! Not only were there references to Buffy & Firefly, but we also had Castle's "Evil Laugh", which could have qualified him to join the Evil League of Evil. This was one of the funniest episodes so far.
I love the interplay with all of the characters. The writing is superb. And the acting? Perfection! This is the highlight of my week!
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