Review: Castle - Vampire Weekend

(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?