Castle – Recap & Review – Wrapped Up In Death

photo: abc

Castle
Wrapped Up In Death
Original Air Date: Apr 5, 2010

Karen Belgrad – The TwoCents Reviewer
karenbelgrad@thetwocentscorp.com

After two weeks of doom and gloom, Castle jumped back into the swing of things with a fun, purely camp hour of television. I think Beckett summed up the hour best : “Rogue archeologists, Mayan death threats, drug dealers claiming to deal in antiquities, and missing mummies? There’s got to be a story that makes all of this make sense.”

Yes, if you came to your television looking for a gritty procedural, you came to the wrong place! I am happy that Castle seems to embracing it’s niche. It’s not raw and gritty like a CSI or Law & Order. I think Castle is at it’s best when it’s smart, witty, and winking at the audience. I’m not looking for exact science/forensics, although I will make note if it seems to far out whack. I’m looking to enjoy the banter, the flirting, and the smirks!

Last night’s ode to Indiana Jones was not a Mensa level mystery, but a fun romp full of quirk and personality. Let’s run down the folks we met along the way and try not to fall victim to the mummy’s curse!

The Victim: Will Medina, archeologist. He was killed by a falling gargoyle and I was sad to learn that the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man was not a suspect. He had just returned a dig from Mexico with ancient Mayan artifacts for an exhibit at the New York History. He had been receiving death threats, had a secret girlfriend, and may have been up to no good. During the dig, two colleagues died mysterious deaths. All of the red flags are pointing to the one specific artifact, the sarcophagus and mummified remains of King Kan-Xul.

Suspect/Acquaintance #1 : Stanford Raynes, archeologist. He stole Medina from another museum to lead exhibition. Turns out he was angry with him, as he blamed him for the death of one of the colleagues, Nicole, that died in Mexico.

Suspect/Acquaintance #2: Rachel Walters. She works in as a mummification expert. Was having secret relationship with Medinah.

Suspect/Acquaintance #4: Rupert Bentley. Co-financier of Mayan expedition. Very worried about publicity/attendance of exhibit. Reveals that King’s mummy carries a curse: “All who gaze upon the face of the Mayan King shall be struck down by his wrath.”

Suspect/Acquaintance #4: Cacaw Te. a Mayan from Mexico. He was very angry that Raynes and Medinah upset their ancient burial ground. He spoke of the curse that accompanies as the reason for all the troubles that have befallen them and their colleagues. He had also been sending death threats written in ancient Mayan.

Suspect/Acquaintance #5: Nortom Grimes. Drug trafficker. Or former drug trafficker, who now specializes in rare artifacts. He was going to buy one of the non-royalty mummies from Medina, but when the specimen was tested it turned out to be, well, not a mummy, but a more recent corpse.

Beckett and Castle have a delightful exchange while trying to solve the case:

Castle (regarding Bentley): “You don’t think he could’ve orchestrated this whole thing just to generate interest in the exhibit, do you?”
Beckett: “Murdered Medina to boost ticket sales, no. That would make this Scooby Doo. And I’m not Velma.”
Castle: “Velma? Are you kidding? You’re Daphne. You’re hot, smart, but not aggressively brainy, but long legs, short skirt –“
Beckett: “Stop.”

It really makes you wonder. If Beckett is the Daphne, would Castle be Shaggy or Fred? Is Esposito Scrappy? And who would be Velma? But Scooby Doo comparisons are appropriate. They’ve had murders at museums, hotels, carousels… all we need is an abandoned fair ground and we’re good to animate!

So to wrap up the mystery… Raynes killed Nicole in Mexico because he had a thing for her. He staged it to look like an animal attack with her bloody clothing and then mummified her body. When Medina realized the mummy was a fake and started snooping, Raynes killed him too.

Castle (to Raynes): “This is the part where you say ‘and I would’ve gotten away with it too if it weren’t for you meddling kids!’”

But hands down, the best part of the hour was anything to do with Castle’s curse. His love of all things Indiana Jones (love the fedora!) led him to curiously open the sarcophagus and view the King’s mummy. He was then befallen by broken chairs, explosive cappuccino machines, crazed dogs, and temperamental elevators. Half were pranks, the others coincidences, but they led Castle to seek out Cacaw Te to reverse his mummy curse.

Of course, being an awesome father, Castle began to wonder if his police hijinks could really get him hurt one day. After to making Martha promise to raise Alexis better than she raised him, Castle reached out to Beckett as an alternate parent for his daughter.

Castle: “If something were to happen to me, I’d want you to watch out for Alexis. She looks up to you. And if her boyfriends get frisky, you can shoot them.” (Beckett agrees) “…and would you also go into my closet get rid of my porn collection before she finds it?” (Esposito volunteers)

I was really happy that this episode didn’t take itself too seriously. The murder itself was almost an afterthought to Castle’s wacky curse escapades. We also got an additional peak into his relationship with Alexis, as he looked crestfallen watching her do her science experiment without him.

So those are my TwoCents. What are your TwoCents? Do you like the lighter episodes of Castle better? Do you think Beckett is Velma or Daphne? Are you looking forward to Tom Bergeron guest starring next week in the Conan/Leno inspired episode? Chime in below with your comments and feedback!

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