Hold it right there. Did Castle just do an homage to CSI? If you followed CSI at all back in the Grissom days, the thought must have crossed your mind as well. For those of you that missed it, CSI had a recurring character named Lady Heather. She was a redhead dominatrix that crossed paths with the team during an investigation. See what I mean? Also, Lady Heather was played by Melinda Clarke, who I think makes a perfect other-side-of-the-coin to Dina Meyer. We’ll probably never know if it was all a coincidence, or a tip of the cap to the aging champ. Either way, I liked it.
The introduction of Dungeon Alley had a whole different feel on Castle. It really does play right into the show’s strengths. The opportunities for comedy and innuendo were endless. A few of those stood out to me. Beckett’s non-answers about her impressive bondage knowledge, and how they vexed Castle, were great. Ryan and Esposito’s trip to Lady Irena’s was good fun as well. My favorite though, was just how off his mark Castle was. He likes to play the cool and smooth cad, but it really doesn’t take a lot to start him bumbling.
We saw that in two forms this week. First, with Lady Irena (Dina Meyer). I really liked how all of that played out, and it takes me back to the fact that Lady Heather was recurring on CSI. I wouldn’t mind seeing Irena turn up again in the distant future. There was also a bit of bumbling as Castle approached his latest fatherly hurdle. Cheerleader Alexis? “If she wants to join a team, why not Mathletes?”
As to the case, I totally missed on the roommate, Danielle (Amy Gumenick). I think I gave her a pass because I still think of Gumenick as Young Mary Winchester. That’s more a reflection on my TV obsessions than her performance. I thought her breakdown at the end was actually quite good.
As the twists and turns built I was most focused on Irena. That is, right up until Esposito noted that he’d never seen a knot like the one on the dominatrix’s boot. That is such an obscure detail to mention, I was sure it had to come back. Alas, it didn’t. The big clue was the relationship that Jessica (Vanessa Motta, who is totally a badass stunt double) struggling to end. It wasn’t my favorite Castle case, but it was solid, and did a fine job setting the stage for the Castle magic. And really, more than anything, I was just happy that the show was finally back.
Clacked by Brett Love 
on Mar 08, 2010 @ 23:43 EST5EDT
Melinda Clarke also played a companion/prostitute in one episode of Fillion’s Firefly.
Seems like Castle may play at being suave and outrageous but at heart he’s just ordinary guy, worried that his daughter is wearing too short skirts as a cheerleader and as fascinated as Ryan and Esposito by the porn. Beckett is the one who handles role playing really well.
A turn-about as Martha offers good parenting advice to Castle.
Dina Meyer also played a madam on NCIS. She’s got it down pat, so to speak.
I too totally missed the roommate. To the point that I was like “aww, they’ve been roomies since freshman year, just like me and my roomie!!” only to later go “OH NO, ONE OF US WILL KILL THE OTHER!” as they revealed that she was the killer.
*POST AUTHOR*
Oooh, creepy. Now you’ll have to sleep with one eye open.
Maybe it’s Kelley’s roommate who has to sleep with one eye open….
I kept thinking it would come back to the victim’s associate at the college, that ‘Gilmore Girls’ alumnus. I think I held onto that theory stubbornly longer than I should have….