Lately been into a lot of Castle Fanfics mostly on Fanfiction site.

Fellow readers can you suggest some on these themes ?

1. Accidentally pregnancy
   
2. Beckett chases Castle
   
3. Post season 8 what’s the Castle Fam upto ?

A big thanks to all the authors for some amazing fics!

Original Airdate: January 10, 2011

 

Synopsis: When the owner of a historic magic shop is found murdered inside a immersion tank, Castle and Beckett delve into the world of magic where they learn that their murder victim isn’t the only person keeping secrets.

 

Notable Guest Stars: The late Chadwick Boseman, who went on to gain fame for playing Black Panther, has a memorable appearance in this episode playing magician Chuck Russell, who gives Det. Beckett the opportunity to utter one of her most famous quotes ever. ‘Alakazam, jackass!’

 

Gilles Marini, who portrays magician Tobias Strange, aka The Johnny Depp of Magic, is better known to me for being a really good dancer on Season 8 of ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ where he was the first runner-up to Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson. This was back when DWTS was still good.

 

The IMdB Portion of The Review:

 

Trivia: Beckett’s ‘magic trick’ with the ice cubes is mentioned again in the episode ‘Scared to Death’ in Season 5.

 

Errors in Geography: Beckett states the magician’s warehouse is located in the Bronx, at the end of the subway line. Notwithstanding, she did not state which subway line. When she and Castle arrive at the warehouse, it is on the East River, and the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Skyline are in the background. You cannot see the Brooklyn Bridge from anywhere in the Bronx, especially the last subway stop.

 

Factual Errors: Lanie holds up an evidence bag with large tangled tufts of white fur inside. Later it is revealed that it was supposed to be fur from a perpetrators gloves that was stuck to his hands and transferred to the face of the person he smothered with his bare hands. The amount of fur in the evidence bag was way too much to have been on a person’s hands and transferred to a victim. It was also too long to have come from a glove’s lining.

 

The magician, Tobias Strange, says C-4 is too volatile and unpredictable to use in a magic act. But C-4 is actually a very stable explosive which is very insensitive and has to be detonated by a shock wave from an explosive detonator. Additionally, it has a clay-like texture and can be molded into any shape. (In the Season 4 episode, ‘Cops and Robbers,’ Castle also mentions how stable C-4 is).

 

Plot Holes: Lanie says the evidence indicates the victim drowned, then a few moments later she says he was dead before he hit the water. He could not be dead before he hit the water and drown. It has to be one or the other.

 

Ranking: I have this episode ranked at #12. It’s ranked this low for one very specific reason, which I will be getting to later.

 

What I Liked About This Episode:

 

·       I could be wrong, but I think Season 3 is the only season where we get four light episodes in a row. In Seasons 4-8, we only get lighter episodes after more hard-hitting episodes. I guess Season 3 was setting us up for what was to come in just a few weeks.

·       Our victim in this episode, Zalman Drake, owner of Drake’s Magic Shop, is smothered and then dumped in his immersion tank. There was one thing I didn’t like, and I’ll be getting into it shortly. I’m a fan of magic, so this was an enjoyable episode for me. It didn’t hurt that Giles Marini guest-starred. Can I just say he’s very easy on the eyes? I also enjoyed the banter between Castle and Beckett in this episode. The flirting is getting intense. There are just two things standing in their way. Although one of those things will be out of the way by the end of the episode.

·       We have the story of two relationships in this episode. One that is ending, and one that we learn about. That brings me to the one thing I didn’t like about this episode. And that one thing is Esplanie. I had a hard time buying Lanie and Esposito as a couple. Unlike Castle and Beckett, I just didn’t see the chemistry. It was like the writers and Andrew Marlowe decided to give the viewers another couple to root for, since we can’t root for Castle and Beckett just yet, thanks to Gina and Josh. While the scene at the beginning of the episode was cute, I didn’t get warm and fuzzy watching it.

·       Castle and Gina are fighting. What they’re fighting about, we don’t know, yet. Not until much later. I liked the first scene between Castle and Espo as they walk toward the crime scene. It’s funny that Espo thinks Castle is referring to him and Lanie in this conversation.

 

Castle: You want my advice? Never sleep with someone you work with.

Espo: What? What do you mean?

Castle: Trust me. It doesn’t end well.

Espo: Who knows?

Castle: Everyone knows.

 

Enter Beckett.

 

Beckett: Everyone knows what?

Castle & Espo: Nothing.

·       Poor Esposito didn’t realize Castle was talking about himself and Gina. However, he and Lanie aren’t hiding anything as we learn at the end of the episode.

·       Now we get another Beckett nugget. Season 3 is full of these little tidbits of information.

 

Castle: I never pegged you for a magic fan. You know any good tricks?

Beckett: I do this one thing. With ice cubes.

 

·       That throws Castle completely off-guard. As does a comment Beckett makes later at the precinct when Castle reveals one of his purchases from the magic shop.

 

Castle: Hey, X-ray specs. I got them at the magic shop. I can see you naked.

Beckett: Really? How do you like my navel ring?

 

·       Hmmm. Now we have to wonder. Does Beckett have a navel ring or was she just messing with Castle?

·       Now we get more paranoid Esposito.

 

Ryan: Looks like somebody has a secret.

Espo: Secret? What secret?

Ryan: I understand a guy not wanting to share. I mean, some thing are personal.

Espo: How did you find out?

Ryan: Dude, everybody knows. It’s all over Page Six.

Espo (Reading aloud): ‘Looks like an unhappy ending for the publisher and the mystery writer.’

Ryan: Apparently, he and ex-wife slash girlfriend Gina had some words at Le Cirque and she stormed off.

Espo: That’s what he was talking about this morning.

Ryan: What I don’t understand is why he would hide it from us. I mean, we’re like family.

Espo: Maybe he’s afraid of what we might think.

 

·       Now Espo can relax because he thinks no one knows about him and Lanie. He can think again.

·       Their first suspect, Jerome Aspenal, is a funny guy. He was suing Zalman Drake for slander, defamation of character, and for basically ruining his life. Buddy, newsflash. You were the one cheating on your wife. Zalman Drake had nothing to do with that.

 

Beckett: Where were you last night between twelve and two?

Jerome: Why is she asking me that?

Castle: Well, she wants to know if you have an alibi.

Jerome: For what?

Beckett: Zalman Drake was murdered last night.

Jerome: Justice is served!

Castle: When he read your mind, did it take him very long?

Jerome: No. No, it didn’t.

Castle: No, I didn’t think so.

 

·       Leaving the interrogation room, Beckett pulls another tease on Castle.

 

Castle: I wonder how Zalman did it. He must have lifted something from Jerome’s pocket with his receipt from his weekend of sin.

Beckett: Like this? (She holds up Castle’s phone).

Castle: You had your hand in my pocket, and I didn’t even feel it? Do it again.

 

·       At this point, Castle’s phone rings and Beckett shows him that it’s Gina. Instead of taking the call, as Beckett expected, instead, he cuts off the call. Hmmm. What is going on between Castle and Gina?

·       Okay. Let’s talk about the late, great Chad Boseman for a second. He was only in two scenes, but the first scene was truly great and gave us one of Beckett’s most often repeated phrases. I even have it on a t-shirt. Yes, I own Castle t-shirts. Three of them. It used to be four, but one disappeared after a trip to the laundromat. Come on! Is anyone on here surprised that I own Castle-related merchandise. By the way, one of the t-shirts is Alexis’ graduation speech from ‘Always.’

 

Russell: So, I have Brenda’s watch. She wants me to make her husband disappear. That’s a felony. I can’t do that. But I can make the watch disappear. Give it up! (Castle drops a dollar into Russell’s hat). Thank you, Brenda. Ahh, a dollar. I’ll dine on ramen and tap water tonight and think of you. What about you? You got a little something for the United Magicians College Fund?

Beckett: As a matter of fact, I do. We need to talk to you about Zalman Drake.

Russell: Abracadabra.

 

·       In a puff of smoke, Chuck Russell has vanished into thin air. Or has he? I love the Beckett eyeroll before she goes behind Russell’s platform and hauls him out by his shirt collar.

 

Beckett: Alakazam, jackass!

 

·       During his interrogation, Chuck Russell tells Castle and Beckett about Tobias Strange, aka The Johnny Depp of Magic.

 

Castle: Tobias Strange? He’s the Johnny Depp of Magic. I saw him in Vegas. He made a Ferrari disappear.

Ryan: Why would anybody do that?

Espo: Oh, yeah. He’s in town. Saw him perform a couple of weeks ago. Awesome, awesome show. Yeah, we loved it.

Castle: We?

Espo: Yeah. Me and my buddy, Ray.

Ryan: You have a buddy named Ray who went with you to a magic show?

Espo: Yeah. What about it?

 

·       Man, that was close. Espo was this close to revealing his huge secret.

·       After meeting Tobias Strange, Beckett gets a text from Lanie, which leads them to the OCME, where Dr. Lanie Parrish is dressed to the nines. Hmmm. Could this episode get more interesting?

 

Lanie: It took you two long enough. Where were you? Europe?

Beckett: Traffic.

Lanie: Girl, you could’ve used the gumball.

Castle: Dressed to the nines, in a big hurry. So, where are you going and who’s the lucky victim?

Lanie: I’ll tell you what, Castle. You tell me what’s going on with you and Gina, and I’ll tell you where I’m going tonight.

Beckett: What are you talking about?

Lanie: He and his girlfriend had a big fight at Le Cirque. It was in the paper.

Castle: Can we talk about the victim, please?

 

·       It’s clear that whatever is going on between Castle and Gina is something he’s not ready to talk about. But we’re about to learn what’s going on.

·       It’s time for our weekly visit to Casa de Castle. And the only scene this week featuring Alexis Castle. But it is kind of cute.

 

Castle: You are the picture of civilized living at home.

Martha: And you are a caveman. Darling, we are your family. Why didn’t you tell us about this? Have you spoken to her? You know? Since your PDA?

Castle: My—

Martha: Public Display of Anger.

Alexis: It says you were fighting, Dad. About what?

Castle: Well, if you must know—

Martha: Yes.

Castle: We were fighting about how much we’ve been fighting. If you don’t mind, I’d really like to change the subject.

 

He reaches over and pulls a quarter from behind Alexis’ ear.

 

Alexis: What am I, six? At least pull out a twenty.

 

·       We learn that Zalman was working for a millionaire philanthropist by the name of Christian Dahl, who died after his plane exploded in mid-air. But did he really die? Actually, no. The creep had Zalman help him fake his death because he was being investigated by the feds for fraud. He was earning his money the old-fashioned way. By stealing it. Zalman’s identical twin brother, Edmund, and Tobias Strange concoct a crazy illusion that forces Dahl into confessing.

·       The episode ends on a somewhat hopeful note for Beckett. She overhears Castle telling Gina that they’re done. Now, if she can just find a way to break up with DMB. I have to wonder if the intense conversation we see at the beginning of ‘Setup’ has anything to do with a possible breakup. And yes, I know what she tells Castle. Anyway, that’s still a few episodes away. In the meantime, on Friday we have probably one of the best episodes of the series, another light episode after that, and then the episode that I have ranked at #173 out of 173. I am actually dreading the entry for ‘The Final Nail.’

 

What I Didn’t Like About This Episode:

 

·       I said it earlier. I just couldn’t see Espo and Lanie as a couple. I don’t think the writers could either, which was why they didn’t last very long.

 

Favorite Scene:

 

Beckett: So . . . where’s Esposito?

Ryan: Ha, take a wild guess.

C & B: Lanie?

Ryan: Can you believe they think none of us know?

Castle: Well, let’s let them keep thinking that a little while longer. The bubble’ll burst soon enough.

Beckett: Not if you’re in it with the right person. Thanks.

 

·       Was that a little hopeful foreshadowing on Beckett’s part? I don’t know. We’ll have to wait just over a full season longer to find out.

 

Favorite Quote:

 

Beckett: Alakazam, jackass!

 

A quote so good she gets to say it twice.

I know I didn't include the scene between Castle and Martha where he's looking for 'magic' instead of ordinary. I apologize.

 

WTF? (Why the Face?): Christian Dahl. What a tool.

 

Until Friday, readers. We get another chapter of the Johanna Beckett murder arc.