Update

Hi,

I've been very busy. There's been a large layoff at the office and the rest of us are scrambling to pick up the slack. I'm also moving and helping out at the Polaris convention next month.

I'll be officially on hiatus until September.

Travellingone.

Instacap: Castle Ep 1x08: Ghosts

A body in a bathtub of blood.

The team is at Castle's Castle (no, that is never going to get old) playing poker. We get a horrifying image of Mom Castle naked since her game is strip poker.

Beckett and Castle exercise their sexual frustration via the cards. Mom Castle is being annoying.

Beckett wins and promptly gets a call. Yup, for the body in the tub. Castle is excited.

Ah, it's not blood, it's motor oil. This reminds me of Quantum of Solace - the ending scene.

The hotel clerk is your cliched uninterested douche. Random drag queen walks by.

Motor oil lady (Allison Goldman) booked the room for five days. Castle says sex, Beckett says drugs. Whatever the reason, she was hit in the head and given a 'lube job.'

Her husband, Vaartan from CSI, told Castle and Beckett that Allison took a part-time job to help with the finances and to get back into the city when her husband lost his job.

Allison didn't work at the job (surprise!), so Ryan, Esposito and Castle decided that Allison had a boyfriend. Beckett pwns all of them. Castle really just encourages the frat house gossip, doesn't he.

Vaartan comes in with Allison's death certificate, except Allison died in the sixties, when she was three months old.

Back at Castle's castle, he's discussing the case when his mom calls him on letting Beckett win. The only she doesn't say is, "Oh, you like her! My boy likes a girl!"

Allison's online life reveals that she was talking to an 'author,' named Lee Wax. Castle is disgruntled.

Beckett gives him his poker winnings prompting Castle to hiss, "My mother called you, didn't she?!" She hisses back at him and while this description sounds like two cats, they do hiss at each other. Castle offers to set up a new game.

They walk into Wax's apartment and sees a shrine to Allison. Wax, who is female, turns out to be a ghost writer for Allison aka Cynthia Dern - domestic terrorist and very, very wanted.

Cynthia Dern set off a few bombs on a oil tanker. People died, the captain was paralysed. Wax offers more details - Dern wanted to write a book before surrendering. Castle calls Wax on Dern's bullshit saying she was hoping to get public opinion on her side.

Now the oil bath makes sense.

Dern refused to talk about anyone in her past. Wax admits she contacted a few of Dern's compatriots. She also asks to be kept in the loop, but Beckett tells her, "Nooo, I'm babysitting this one and I might want to sleep with him and you would get in the way."

Ok, she didn't but still. Wax hits on Castle instead. He manfully resists.

Beckett and Castle go to visit the captain and learns that their son, Adam (Pike) has been working to help his parents. They talk to Adam who tells them he was bartending the night Cynthia died.

Castle tells Beckett he hopes that Adam didn't do it because the family deserves a happy ending.

Just then Esposito comes up with news: Swanstrom, one of the bombers served 15 years for his part in the crime. Turns out he was given up by a tipster - a young female tipster.

Swanstrom seems to be well-adjusted for a guy who served 15 years. He built the bomb, but Susan Mailer and Cynthia were the ones who decided when it was supposed to go off.

Alexis points out that a ghost writer only knows what the storyteller tells them. Now that the storyteller is dead, Wax now has a true crime best seller. Castle confirms this by talking to Wax's publisher.

Beckett gets a call - Adam's alibi is no good. Turns out Cynthia might have been sending money to them for years. He went to the hotel to confront her that night, but never talked to her. Instead he moves the plot along by telling Beckett that a woman got off the elevator and went to Cynthia's room.

Castle thinks it's Wax and taps on the interrogation window. Really, he's like a big kid.

Wax denies it, obviously. She also didn't know about the money.

Castle randomly tells Beckett to remind him to never write a memoir.

Poker game - I guess James Patterson and Stephen J. Cannell were busy. We've got Beckett's boss, the mayor and Homer Simpson. They all discuss the case and in the talk-though come to the conclusion that Susan Mailer was trying to defuse the bomb.

During this, Castle asks Beckett to beat the pants off him. His actual pants.

And why did it tak them that long to decide that Susan Mailer was still alive? Who else figured that out about 20 minutes ago?

Also, Monistat ads are creepy - I never want to think of thunderstorms in my crotch. Or tweeting birds come to think of it.

Back at the Pikes, Beckett and Castle take a look at the cheques (no, not spelling it checks) and find Susan Mailer posing as Mary Wright. She was the one sending the Pikes money.

Mailer found Cynthia and threatened to expose the actual truth. Cynthia begged her to meet and so they did at the hotel. Cynthia offered Mailer a drink but Mailer is a teetotaler and refused, hiding in the bathroom. There she saw the bathtub filled with oil.

Cynthia was going to drug her with the wine and drown her. Instead, in the struggle, Cynthia hit her head on the sink and Mailer dragged her into the tub.

Back at the station, Wax comes in to chat, but Castle, who is smart AND pretty tells her that he figured her out. She told everyone she was in contact with Cynthia, hoping someone would come forward, get Cynthia arrested and get the book she wanted to write. She flounces out.

Beckett comes back and they chat, offering their views of the case. Then Castle gives her her winnings from the previous game. Castle still tries to get her to go for strip poker.

Hee!

Instacap: Dollhouse Ep. 1x10: Haunted

We (and I say we because I'm by Theoriginalspy watching this ep) flashback to Dominic being put into the attic. It's still horrifying.

Adelle is back to using the dolls for her personal purpose. She might be the only one who gets to use them for free.

Spy and Travellingone simultaneously: "Topher is still a douche."

Boyd is having attachment issues.

How do you get the memories from a dead woman?

Dead friend (Margaret) is surprisingly well-adjusted for a dead woman wearing someone else's body.

No wonder she's well-adjusted, she was raised by a murderous nanny and planned her 'life after death.' She was a patron of the dollhouse.

Topher is being all extra-brainwashy today. He seems to have created the perfect girlfriend/friend. She's a gamer.

Awkward extended moment between Mellie and Ballard.

Margaret thought she was awesome only to find out she was considered quite the bitch and her family hated her guts.

Nicolas (the son) is going to hit on his mom. Ew.

Great line I will never get to use(TM): "I don't want to comfort you with my tongue."

Random: I could live with Adelle's wardrobe - it's amazing.

Spy and Travellingone (again, simultaneously): "Oh Victor." We like him. The actor just seems like he's having a great time. This week, he's horse breeder.

Ballard is the most boring part of this show. He gets his FBI buddy to run Mellie'e prints. Mellie's numerous aliases pop up and immediately get erased.

Back to Topher and his friend (did anyone get the Firefly reference?)

The finger of Margaret's death is pointed at Bill.

Random: Not a flattering dress on Mellie.

Is Mellie offering to be a doormat for Ballard? I guess, since he apparently takes her up on the offer and angry sex (not in a good way) ensues.

Echo/Margaret ride her beloved horse and Margaret is recognized by her son. Turns out Nicholas was a client of the New York branch of the dollhouse.

In the meantime, Victor and Jack (Margaret's toyboy) walk in, arguing. Turns out the prize horse isn't - he's all dosed up. Nicholas and Margaret hide and listen.

Victor walks away and Jack sees Nicholas and Margaret. Nicholas distracts Jack by shivving him.

Back at the dollhouse, Boyd tells Adelle that she was killed by the same drugs that were used to dose the horse.

Boyd is being catty. Turns out it's Topher's birthday and he has no friends. He creates a friend to celebrate his birthday. That is so sad.

Back at the ranch it's pretty obvious who killed Margaret.

Jack saves the day with a big shotgun. It's like that other Jack, who also saved the day with a big shotgun (and a tractor).

Margaret rewrites her will and gets to fix her mistakes from beyond the grave. She also willing goes to 'die.'

I found this episode to move very slowly. Did anyone else?

Instacap: Castle Ep 1x08: Home is Where the Heart Stops

Oh, a feather used to enter a scene. It lands in a pool of blood. Hmm, a murdered pigeon. In New York that's entirely possible.

Nope, a body in the dumbwaiter.

Castle and his daughter are fencing while Granny plays a soundtrack. Alexis is being teased by Castle about a boy named Owen.

Series of home invasions.

Oh, she's stuck in a safe, not a dumbwaiter.

The brain trust concludes that the home invaders might know their victims.

Beckett talks to Joanne, daughter of the latest victim and we get a moment of Beckett trying to reach the daughter. It fails as the guest actress is out-acting Beckett.

Castle and Beckett banter sharply as Castle tries to get her to open up about her mother and Beckett calls him on it.

There's a new perp, pisshead, chucklehead, suspect. His name is Mitchell and he's sexist.

Unfortunately for Beckett, Mitchell doesn't look like the guy since he was being arraigned the same day the home invasion crew struck.

So she shots a gun.

Dude, this is Torchwood. The gun scene from Day One.

Castle is enjoying the gun and negotiates for the file.

Beckett, don't you think a writer who likes to research would know how to shoot a gun?

Granny annoys me, but quoting Anais Nin was hilarious.

And she gives us the next plot point. That means visiting Powell who may or may not slit his throat since Castle ruined his life.

Or punches him. He has a very nasal voice.

Oh maybe not. He pours Castle a glass of wine. They're friends. Castle gives him the photos of the jewels and Powell confirms that the home invaders lived among their victims.

I put money on the daughter being involved.

Of course putting someone in a safe is unnecessary. Jesus.

Anyway, Powell and Castle walk through the most recent crim scene while Powell gives him the rundown.

Just then the doorknob twists. Powell disappears and Castle freaks. Oh please, it's Beckett. Failure at creating tension.

Castle has a fan in Mitchell.

theoriginalspy says, "A jewel thief with a mortgage is a crappy jewel theif."
But Mitchell has information he's willing to trade if he can help Castle be authentic.

Oh, ego.

But anyway, if we didn't know already by the body in the safe, the crew is dark.


Joanne confirms that her mother wore the fancy jewellry at charity events.

The common event involves the Modern American Dance Theatre. I mean, yeah the arts are suffering, but really?

MADT's Director knows of Castle as he slept with a friend of hers. She's also reluctant to give Beckett her confidential donor list. She also portrays the bitch very well.

Beckett is frustrated so she works on a warrant. Castle decides to take her to a black tie event to talk to the confidential donors.

Beckett doesn't have the appropriate dress, so Castle, knowing this, sends her one.

Castle always looks good. He also doesn't want his mom there.

His mom lends Beckett a necklace and gets the name of the location out of her.

Beckett's dress is gorgeous and Castle was obviously thinking of her breasts when he bought it.

Beckett's body language is uncomfortable. Ryan and Esposito are stunned to realize that Beckett was a girl.
Castle introduces her to Bob the Mayor.

Random socialite tells Beckett (and us) that Castle is very eligible and the girls have tried to land him. He's the white whale. So does that mean Beckett is Ahab?

Castle gets accosted by Rachel, head of donations who is after his cash and not his, uh, whale. Rachel introduces her boyfriend.

Castle runs away to Beckett and dances with her. Random, her boobs are everywhere - kudos to the costume designer. It's a great dress.

Powell and MADT director appear. Castle thinks they're the home invaders, but instead they've sold him as part of the auction.

Hosted by his mom.

But boobs, dancing and auctions, Ryan and Esposito find a viable suspect and arrest him. Yup, it's Rachel's boyfriend.

Rachel's bf is terrified but gives up head guy. The team SWATs up and barges into head guy's apartment. How do we know, well, we see Mrs. Delgado's thumb.

Castle plays cop with the car while he waits. Head guy lands on the car and tries to carjack Castle. Castle, being an idiot, fights him. Head guy reaches for the gun and gets Beckett's ankle on his wrist.

Beckett gives Joanne her mother locket back and share her own experience losing her mother.

Well, as much as Beckett shares.

Later that day, Beckett goes back to return the necklace and gets roped into eggs and family time.

To end, who has been able to get Castle's tune out of their head? I haven't be able to as yet.

Instacap: Castle Ep 1x07: Always Buy Retail

Voodoo? Obeah? Black magic? Pick your poison.

Very athletic sex with the first ex-Mrs. Castle. She decides to move back to New York.

Awkward!

Also, randomly naked Nathan Fillion.

Hm, not quite the blowjob face one expects.

Dectective Ryan does actually read unlike previously thought in episode.

Castle confirms that he's shallow. I suspect we're all ok with that.

His other source, Michelle, practices voodoo and gives them more information.

Random - voudoo? The pronounciation is throwing me off. I know it as voo(long 'O')doo.

Another victim - Darcy Cho.

Alexis' mom gets her daughter out of school by telling the principal her father (Alexis' grandfather) died. Also, ex-Mrs. C? Completely irresponsible and a twit.

The team find a connection between the two victims and find a guy who happens to have some material that was also present at the crime scenes.

He of course denies it and points the finger at a Charles Oni who sounds like a cross between a slumlord and a human trafficker.

Oh my god, the deep fried twinkie is deeply annoying.

She calls Castle "Kitten." Further proof that Castle has bad taste in women.

Alexis begs for help, yet Deep Fried Twinkie (DFT) moves the plot along by identifying Darcy Cho's Chanel as fake.

I have an entertainment who can do that and she's far less annoying.

Remember what I said about Castle's bad taste? Yeah, he married his mother.

And he confirms it.

One more voodoo symbol - meant for Charles Oni.

Castle bonds with the TV shop owner, who also moves the plot along. Fun actor, though. He gives the team a pic of the guy who's after Charles Oni.

The guy, Mukhta Baylor is a very, very bad man - counterfeiter, trafficker of drugs and humans, etc.

Random: Beckett and Castle are dressed in the same colour again.

Cop raid time!

Lol at Castle's ringtone for his daughter. It's DFT wanting his money.

Baylor drives by.

The cops quiz him and he has nothing and gets harassed by them. No ass-biting though.

They find another woman who bought the fake Chanel bag and yes, she has the passport in the bag. A desperate Baylor walks in and starts firing. Castle and Beckett dive behind the couch.

Castle has a point - it could end badly but this is television, so Castle pops a champagne cork (convenient, that) distracting Baylor. This gives Beckett time to shoot Baylor.

Now some flirtation between Castle and Beckett. It's very sexual, but really all Castle wants is not to be called Kitten.

Hmm... I just pictured Jayne calling him Kitten. Good times.

Alexis tells her father she loves her mother, but doesn't want her around.

DFT tells them she got a huge role in L.A. so she's not moving to New York.

Who did it? Yup.

You know, there's a tradition of the Castle kids raising themselves.

What's the point of Gran?

Note: I am going to recap the last ep. of Life on Mars. I'm just a little swamped at work and I'm house-hunting.