Castle - Season 6, Episode 9 'Disciple' (RETURN OF 3XK!) [Review + Recap]

Well, this week's episode of Castle was certainly one of the most interesting and disturbing episodes. Just in case killed doppelgängers of Laine and Espo wasn't enough to get you interested, the potential return of 3XK and his equally as crazy girlfriend certainly will be. 

What's that you say? You want a bit more of a detailed recap? Can do! And this one's certainly going to beguile you. The episode opens with a security guard at the docks who finds a women who is seemingly levitating off of the ground, but upon closer inspection, it's revealed she is hanging from fishing wire. Now for the scary part - she looks exactly like Laine. 

Yep, and Laine's pretty freaked out by it all. Cue the arrival of Castle and Beckett, who were previously discussing potential honeymoon locations, except that Castle has been pretty much all around the world - oh dear. It is soon uncovered that Laine and her doppelgänger, Pam, are exactly identical, and nope they're not related, someone has made Pam (aka ex streetwalker) up to look exactly like Laine. Creepy. Even down to a tattoo that Laine has in a private place. Kate and Rick go to see a plastic surgeon who operated on Laine to ask her a few questions. Her name is Dr. Kelly Nieman. 

She is pretty useless in terms of information. However, she is pretty creepy, complimenting Kate on her looks but insisting she isn't perfect, and let's just say she's less that complimentary to Rick. Ryan calls and says that they have located the boat Pam was last seen on, and they go on over to investigate. Ryan and Espo go on the boat only to find another victim, Daniel, who looks exactly like Esposito. 

Both victims were involved in seedy industries until apparently they both got a big break and someone who funded their lavish lifestyle, and also, they both knew each other. Kate likes Kelly for the crime, as it is revealed she was having a 'physical' relationship with Daniel, but she is less than upset about his death. However, there is no evidence and apparently she has good alibi's, so back to square one. The team uncover security footage of Daniel getting into a car owned by the security guard at the beginning of the episode, who found Pam, and they feel confident they have found the right killer. 

However, all the pieces don't exactly match up and Castle is unsure. Castle has had an overarching theory that 3XK is behind the killings, and upon inspection, they find the lab files and other documents missing, having been checked out by the doppelgängers. Uh-Oh. Castle is now certain 3XK didn't die on the bridge, but is back, and now he just needs to figure out how everything fits. The security guard Carl eventually admits to the murders but says he doesn't know anything about 3XK, and as Kate and Rick leave the room he makes a significant comment that they have no idea what is truly going on. Ryan, on the other hand, has discovered that Dr. Kelly knew 3XK when he was imprisoned, and that she is potentially his girlfriend. Double Uh-Oh. 

They rush on over to her office, but it is completely abandoned and the only thing left behind is a Dr.Kelly pen and a note saying 'better luck next time.' Whilst back at home, contemplating the situation, Rick discovers that the pen is actually a flash drive, and plugs it into his computer, only to hear the song 'we'll meet again' by Vera Lynn. 

Kate and Rick are speechless. The episode ends with a lot of potential questions, like as to whether 3XK is back and teamed up with his girlfriend to kill again? Will Castle and Beckett be able to uncover the truth? Who knows, but this was one hell of an episode. The next episode entitled 'The Good, The Bad and The Baby' sees Kate and Rick become temporary parents to a newborn baby who was left at the scene of a murder. Watch the promo below:

Reviewed by Mel. 

Kanye West - Bound 2 [Watch the Official Music Video!] [+ Review]

The new video, (starring a topless Kim Kardashian) for Kanye West's track 'Bound 2' is out, and let's just say it's weird. Ok, it's a whole heap of weird, with a dash of awkward for good measure. Just in case you haven't heard, the new music video [which you can watch below] features Kanye West's new fiancée, Kim Kardashian. Except she's topless, not a big deal, necessarily, but when you pair it with the ridiculous graphics and the fact Kanye and Kim are riding on the back of a motorbike, performing some questionable intimate acts. The whole thing is a heap load of bizarre, and the random wild horses just make the thing possibly even more laughable. I'm not quite sure whether this is some sort of international joke, but it does resemble some hap-hazard project by a bunch of students with a penchant for green screen. If all the above hasn't aroused your attention enough to encourage you to watch the video, then I would suggest you perhaps watch it just so you can be in the know, when everyone else is talking about it, no doubt. Watch the ridiculous video below: 

We hope you enjoyed this ground-breaking, deeply poetic piece of video. You're welcome. 

Katy Perry - Unconditionally

Katy Perry has recently released the music video for her new track 'Unconditionally,' from her fourth studio album Prism. The video has an air of the festive and whimsical, featuring copious amounts of snow, flowers and elaborate costumes. Not to mention a hawk. Perry is certainly capitalizing on the upcoming seasonal event. Watch the dramatic and striking music video below: 

The video sees Perry belting out her power pop record whilst sitting amongst various people dancing whilst snow falls all around. It's certainly atmospheric, that's for sure. The singer switches between a variety of outfits and settings; donning a gorgeous gold number and a slinky black dress whilst standing in a large ballroom, with multiple dancers. The lyrics discuss the notion of accepting a partner's multiple flaws due to presence of a love that is unconditional; a slightly ironic theme perhaps for Perry. The track is relatively catchy and the video certainly helps to communicate the ideas of the pop song, whilst giving is a fantastic visual element. 

Reviewed by Mel. 

Future, Miley Cyrus - Real and True ft. Mr Hudson (Official Music Video) [+ Review]

It seems to be the latest trend to whack good ol' Miley Cyrus on your track and in the video, and rather unsurprisingly, it will get you views. In this particular instalment, Cyrus is lathered in metallic silver and a whole heap of glitter that would make even Ke$ha jealous. Cyrus plays an out of this world creature for the video, which features vocals from the former, Mr Hudson and of course Future (who is by now pretty irrelevant to his own song - oops). The whole focus is of course, heaped on to Cyrus in the video, considering the serious amount of media attention she's received since, well, all of her antics. 

By now, it seems silly to talk about the actual song, what with all the naked Cyrus and alien paraphernalia, but, still - the track is a lot more slower and sentimental than maybe first anticipated. The track, according to future is all 'about somebody sacrificing their life for love,' which seems a bit contradictory to me. So, by now how are we all holding up with the new Cyrus? Are you enjoying seeing her in pretty much every music video and all over TV or is it getting a bit too much? Let us know in the comments! 

Reviewed by Mel. 

Die Hard (1988) Review

Die Hard (1988) Review

                                    'I'm going to count to three, there will not be a four.'

With its release pre dating my existence, unfortunately I was not privy to the Die Hard films until at least a decade after its conception, and even then, I was far too young to thoroughly appreciate what I had just watched. However, many, many, years later I find myself able to truly recognise the exceptional work of the original Die Hard (1998), directed by John McTiernan, as nothing short of ingenious. 

Set on Christmas Eve, the film follows New York City Police Detective, John McClane (Bruce Willis) who travels to Los Angeles to try to reconnect with his estranged wife Holly (Bonnie Bedelia) at a Christmas party in the Nakatomi Plaza Tower, where she works. However, the reconciliation is put on hold when a group of heavily armed criminals seize control of the tower lead by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman.) 

Like previous films that I have watched in my youth and re-discovered in later life, I find myself able to develop a personal attachment to the film and watching in brings back a certain sense of nostalgia, not to mention it is, for me, the epitome of great action sequences combined with memorable characters and a coherent plot line. 

The film has the added attraction of possessing one of the greatest villains in action films – Hans Gruber (portrayed expertly by the phenomenal Alan Rickman) whose inconceivably comical one liners and dramatic performance make him not easily forgotten and earns him a place as the ‘quintessential Die Hard villain.’ A particular favourite amongst many is the resonating line - ‘alas your Mr. Takagi did not see it that way... so he won't be joining us for the rest of his life’ that Rickman delivers with such finesse that make it terribly hard not to like his rather depraved character. Equally, in the original instalment of what later becomes a series of films, Bruce Willis portrays a shunned family man (McClane) and cop turned Christmas time hero rather well, pulling off a convincing performance and too, delivering iconic lines such as ‘yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker’ with the determination, amusement and annoyance that the character possesses. 

The film spawned countless sequels and inspired a whole new range of movies to adapt the genre and plot of McTiernan’s gritty action thriller about a lone man who takes on an entire squad of highly skilled criminals. It is this which shows its significance and defines the very reasons why audiences should go see it. It’s likely that some of your favourite movies have been influenced by this piece; I would describe it as a poignant landmark in cinematic history as it has been referenced in countless descriptions of films. Such as Speed (1994) being ‘Die Hard on a bus’ and Passenger 57 (1994) as ‘Die Hard on a plane.’ It is no surprise that the movie has been continually listed in numerous lists of greatest movies and villains of all time and is always particularly popular with its focus on disaster at Christmas time. It’s not hard to see why this has proven so popular over the years, it encapsulates everything a ‘die hard’ thriller movie goer could want; ruthless action, epic fight scenes, dramatic explosions, sensationally suave villain, lone hero and plenty of comical and intense moments to boot, make Die Hard unable to be forgotten.

4.5/5 stars 

Reviewed by Mel.