The second episode in Season 6, and the second part in the cliffhanger which ultimately, left Castle contemplating his imminent death, aired last night. A previously mentioned, the episode opened with Beckett trying to console poor ol' Castle about how he er..might die in less than 12 hours. Great. Realising the predicament he is in, Castle tells Beckett about 'dreamworld,' and the idea that a special government base may be linked to the theft of the toxin. Beckett pitches her far-stretched idea to a little bit of skepticism, whilst Castle receives his firt doses of medicine to keep him functioning for the time-being until his demise. Beckett, McCord and the team do a search on Dreamworld on databases and a hit comes up regarding 'Brad Parker' who was running some sort of story of Dreamworld that got personally pulled by the government.
Although Castle is helping, he is ordered to stay on base and McCord and Beckett go to question Brad Parker about his story. Parker mentions that the secretary of Defence is involved and that he may have something to do with Dreamworld, if it does indeed exist. Unfortunately for the team, he has no idea about the significance of Valkyrie, leaving them at another dead end. With the only thing left to do being going to 'question' the secretary, they speed off and McCord dodges her way past everyone up to his office and then Beckett hammers him for information (go Beckett!). However, their attempts are futile as he isn't really budging until Beckett and McCord really hit it home and then he breaks down like a crumbling cookie. He confesses that there might be the tiniest chance that Bronson did have something to do with Dreamworld before he 'passed away' and was involved in an operation to kill the #2 in command for Al-Qaeda. McCord is curious at to whether there was an retaliation (no, really?) but the secretary of defence insists that it was "only chatter."
Yeah, because we all totally believe him, am I right? Beckett has other things on her mind and quickly switches to the topic of Valkyrie and whether it had anything to do with the mission. Anything. Even if someone just nicknamed their dog that. But alas, he can't help and doesn't know the significance. Once again, are we really expected to believe him when he's lied before? They reluctantly return to base with only slightly more to go on than before. Castle receives a phone call from his mother, Martha and trying to hide his emotions, (and looming death) he lies and says everything's fine. But of course, Martha's no dummy and knows that something is wrong. Castle asks to speak to Alexis and tells her he loves her and this also triggers warning buttons for Alexis as well. After the phonecall ends(with a little input from Pi) Alexis asks her grandmother whether he sounded weird to her.
Martha later goes to the police station to interrogate Ryan and Esposito about whether they know what's going on with Beckett and Castle, as Beckett isn't answering her phone. They try to ring Beckett, but she doesn't cave and they are left with nothing to go on. Meanwhile, Beckett and McCord have come up with a lead, a second cousin of the leader that died in the airstrike, but unfortunately he has a solid alibi and no apparent motive, as he never liked his relation and in fact, Branson was following him and not the other way around. Also, the second cousin says that he saw Branson in the rubble after the airstrike carrying a female servant's body. So back to the drawing board. But, wait! The tech guy manages to come up with an audio file from the attack and upon hearing it, it reveals that Valkyrie is in fact a person, and even more so, is in fact the 'servant' who body Bronson carried out from the rubble.
It is also revealed that she was a secret agent/operative and that Secretary of Defence (Reid) ordered the attack whilst fully well knowing she was still inside, much to Bronson's distress. Kind of seems a bit of a waste Bronson dying, now doesn't it? Beckett's first theory is to test whether Reid has anything to do with it and bombards him at his house, which leads him to phone up another more important person complaining about it. This leaves Beckett to deduce that he wouldn't want to draw attention to himself if he was involved so it can't be him.
Meanwhile, the team manage to come up with an ID for the women and surprise surprise, it's revealed that her body was picked up by none other than Brad Parker. It is then discovered that Parker was her fiance. Oh, er uh-oh. Guess someone might want to go check on Reid then, considering he was the one who technically killed her. Whoops. The team rush over to Parker's apartment, but of course, he isn't there and they deduce from several documents found in his apartment that he is going after Reid. But we all know there must be more to this. And so does Beckett. When it's revealed Reid hasn't checked in on site to where Reid is, Kate (with much help from Castle) deduce that Parker isn't going after Reid himself, but Reid's wife - because that's what you do when you've lost a fiancee - go after another innocent woman to get back at someone else entirely. Ladies and gentleman, logic for you right there.
Castle is looking pretty peaky at this point and as they arrive at the place, Castle collapses on the lawn. Beckett rushes to his aid, but alas, she needs the antidote and the look of sheer determination on her face signifies the fact that she'll do anything to get it (or the season is going to end right here, right now). Beckett breaks in, guns upuntil she is attacked by Parker and he turns her weapon on her. Dun dun dun! But never fear, Edelstein is here!
McCord comes up behind Parker with her gun pointed in his face and saves Beckett and Castle and Mrs. Reid. Yay! Flash forward to a hospital bed with Castle lying in it whilst cute red-heads Alexis and Martha watch eagerly from the side, as Rick and Kate share a moment.
Beckett and McCord share a 'that's what partners do' type moment and Kate responds 'Yeah' whilst looking at Castle's bedside. Make of that what you will but do we see the possibility of Kate and Castle returning as partners on the horizon? Please, please please. As much as we love Edelstein, Castle and Beckett are the unstoppable duo! So, what did you think of last night's episode? Personally, I thought it was much better than the first and featured many memorable lines and moments from the whole gang.
British Band Morcheeba have recently released the whimsical, flower-filled music video for their track 'Gimme Your Love', taken from their upcoming eighth studio album, 'Head Up High.' The track is light and energetic and the music video is full of vibrant colours and floral imagery. Having been around since 1996 you would have thought the trio would have lost some of their flavour over time, but it would appear not as they still manage to produce a relatively catchy single. Hopefully this will be enough to get them back on the charts once again. You can watch the music video for the track below and see Skye in all her glory:
The video also features appearances from several other women, all adorned with flowers, and wearing colorful make-up and clothing. It's a fairly feel-good video which posesses an unusually calming quality to it. So, is this your first time hearing Morcheeba or have you been a fan since way back when?
The season 3 premiere kicked off last night for Once Upon A Time and boy was it full of unusual laughs, twisted fairytale characters and a whole lot of water. The episode opened with a flashback of Emma (Jennifer Morrison) giving birth to Henry (Jared S. Gilmore) and rejecting the child claiming that she 'can't be a mother.' How heartbreaking. Fast forward to present day and the now very motherly Emma, Regina (Lana Parrilla), Snow White (Ginnifer Goodwin), Prince Charming (Josh Dallas), Rumplestiltskin (Robert Carlyle) and Hook (Colin O'Donoghue) are aboard a ship bound for Neverland battling through choppy waters.
And aboard this boat, the waters aren't the only thing that's not at ease. It's fair to say that everybody on the boat either wants to maim, seriously injure or kill a particular person aboard and no one's being a 'team-player.' Meanwhile, Greg and Tamara arrive with Henry in Neverland and surprise surprise, their attempt to communicate with 'home office' fails miserably, with batteries in their remote turning to sand. Oops. This signifies the all too imminent demise of the pair, who, after being challenged by Pan's men, end up dying rather dramatically.
Greg has his shadow physically ripped out (erm, can somebody say ouch?) by Pan and Tamara is shot by an arrow, however her final demise happens later on. Back on board the ship and the team questions what awaits them, and Rumple suddenly emerges sporting his evening wear - I mean a whole lot of leather. Subsequently he announces he's leaving the ship to search for Henry. Before anybody can even think or react, the witty Mr.Gold twirls his cane and disappears (Magic, dearie!).
Emma prepares for battle by doing a set of physical exercises but then abandons that when Hook comes in and gives her Baelfire/Neal's sword and then they take a shot of alcohol (because that's really going to solve everything). Meanwhile, Neal wakes up in the Enchanted Forest and is greeted/interrogated by Mulan, Aurora, and her beau, Prince Phillip. Neal reveals he knows Emma and that he is the father of Henry, and then Aurora announces she may be able to contact them through her weird dream state. Back on board the Jolly Roger, things have taken a turn for the worse. The ship is being attacked by a Shark,Whale,Kraken, nope - you've guessed it - Mermaids.
The team managed to warn them off with cannons and fire but then Snow and Emma hoist a captured mermaid aboard the ship (with the help of Regina) and quicker than you know it, the angered mermaid has summoned a storm. Regina comes out with some of her classic funny lines and suggests they 'fillet the bitch',
but instead, she just turns her into wood. But it's too late, and the damage is done - the storm is coming. Meanwhile, Henry has ran into the path of another 'lost-boy' who has also 'escaped' and they seek out a safe place to hide together. In the Enchanted Forest, Baelfire announces he is the son of Rumplestiltskin and he and Mulan go to his dad's old castle, only to find Robin Hood waltzing around the place.
Back in Neverland, Tamara is still gasping for breath and currently alive when she crawls into the path of Rumplestiltskin. Bad move. Rumple seemingly repairs her wounds and gets information about where Henry is. So, all is well? Not likely, as Tamara asks the most stupid question ever 'can you forgive me?' and of course, knowing Rumple, the answer is probably no. Quicker than a flash we are proved right as he rips out Tamara's heart and squishes it until it is nothing more than dust. Harsh - sort of.
Meanwhile in the Enchanted Forest Baelfire/Neal has found his father's old walking stick and with a couple of twists a magic door/cupboard appears. Back aboard the ship and the current storm has pushed the boat's occupants to boiling point and Snow bitch slaps Regina, who slaps her back and taunts her about how she wants to make everything better with 'rainbow kisses and unicorn stickers.'
Meow! (although she is right). Then Hook and Charming get into it as well and Emma clocks onto the fact that the storm is caused by their anger and rivalvry and that in fact they are fuelling the storm. So, logically, Emma tries to break everyone up, but for some reason known only to Emma, the only way she can think to stop everyone fighting is to jump overboard (?!) and get hit by a flying piece of debris, causing her to subsequently start drowning. Suddenly the team of the failing Jolly Roger kick into action and send Charming overboard to rescue Emma with help from Hook and some rope. They manage to rescue her and she's not dead (of course, as it would mark the end of the series as opposed to the beginning) and all is well.
At least for the crew aboard. Rumplestiltskin has managed to get on the Island and is greeted by a member of Pan's army and they discuss his relationship to Pan and how they will be enemies if Rumple goes after Henry. Rumple performs more (slightly ironic) hand gestures and plays around with his 'dearies' until the boy produces a small straw toy which reduces Rumple to tears. Hmmm, curiouser and curiouser. Meanwhile, Henry and his friend have found themselves on the edge of a cliff surrounded but use pixie dust to fly away. Seriously? In the Enchanted Forest Neal clocks onto Emma being in Neverland using a magical orb and Henry suddenly realises that his 'friend' is in fact, and has been all along - Peter Pan! Oh the shock and horror - oh wait, most of us had figured that out the moment he showed up, apart from Henry of course, who now finds himself trapped. Oh dear.
Highlights of the episode included Regina, Queen of sass, and her quips about everyone else, Neal's mention of how people in Storybrooke view them all as fairytale character and that there is a Mulan movie, (to which Mulan replies, 'what is a movie?')
and Rumple just being good ol' Rumple. Overall, the episode was fairly good and exceeded my expectations and also gave the audience a lot of points to reflect upon. Do you think Team 'Good' and Team 'Evil' will ever get along? Do you agree with Regina when she quoted about 'Villains never getting happy-endings'? Do you think Hemma (Hook/Emma) will ever happen, or is Baelfire Emma's one twue (cough, Rumple) love?
Downton Abbey series four has commenced, and with episode 2 continuing from Mary, who is no longer in mourning, things needed to take another turn for the dramatic. The unexpected arrived in the form of a long lost letter written from Matthew before he sadly died, which hints to Matthew's intention to leave Mary as the sole heir of his half of the estate.
Oh the shock! Surprise, surprise, the Earl isn't exactly thrilled and thinks Mary not up to the task. Who will help poor Mary? Oh, that's right - Violet! The Dowager Countess is truly on form with her riveting conversation and sly remarks, as well as her general bemusement - 'and the live..livestock.' Violet enlists Tom to help Mary learn about the day-to-day running of the estate so she can be better prepared to handle it, and rival her fathers ideas.
Meanwhile, bloody interferring Thomas has set his hand at recruiting a new sidekick (one that he no doubt can easily dispose of when their use runs out), Edna. The two 'team up' to make poor Anna look bad, but double act Anna and Bates know better and will no doubt use their skills to turn the tables on Thomas and Idiot #2 later on in the series. After all, we all remember what happens when people mess with Bates or Bates' beau.
Also going down in the latest episode are fist-fights - including one over new addition, Rose, who manages to get two guys up in arms over her at a tea-dance for servants. Like something out of a romance novel, Anna begrudgingly helps Rose attend the party and dress like 'normal folk' and then later helps her escape, AND then later helps her dress up as a house maid in order to see the guy who she was dancing with earlier, as he pays a visit to the house where she 'works at' later that evening.
God, Anna's helping everyone today. Speaking of helping others, Molesley is also in a spot of bother, having forced to become a labourman and in a lot of debt, good ol' Bates gets money from the Dowager Countess and acts like Molesley owes him a debt, and he is simply repaying it, in order to get the former valet and butler to actually take the help he desperately needs.
Meanwhile, Edith and Michael Gregson are heating things up (as much as they possibly can, considering both of them are pretty much as dull as dishwater)
and Carson reveals that he had his heartbroken by a lady named Alice, and with the help of Isobel, new arrival Griggs and Carson manage to patch things up over Alice, as Griggs reveals she always loved Carson. Yay, Carson!
It is also eventually revealed at the end of the episode that the letter from Matthew stands, and Mary is owner of half of the estate and she's already contesting some of her father's plans (finally). Obviously, the Earl isn't exactly thrilled as he likes being in control of his affairs, but only time will tell if Mary can change things around or if the Earl will ruin things for the estate and family again.
So, was last night's episode packed full of enough drama and possible storylines to attract and sustain your interest? Or did you give up the gun after Matthew's tragic death? (it was a bit of a big deal)
Alan Carr's Chatty Man 100th anniversary special had it all. Alan dressed in carnival gear aboard a 'float' attached to a golf cart, plenty of side-splitting laughs and high-profile guests including Rihanna and Justin Timberlake. Alan was truly on form, and his first interviewee was David Haye and Alan and Haye chatted about his upcoming fight, I'm a Celeb and boxing in general. The interview was fairly informative and funny, but the real laughs came when Rihanna, (followed by Justin Timberlake) came on.
Rihanna waltzes on, and her and Alan instigate a back and forth banter throughout the entire interview, with Rihanna joking about why she came on the show, and Alan pulling his usual jokey 'peeved off' face. Rihanna talks at length about her sex-life in the show, claiming she has recently become a square and barely does anything. Alan talks about her carnival outfits and her new hairstyle, asking whether her weave ever bothers her. He then starts an analogy about the weave being similar to a rat and whether she wakes up in the middle of the night and tries to swat it. No word of a lie, I literally choked on my food at that point. Don't even ask why - it was just so hilarious at the time. Rihanna's interview with Alan is very friendly, relaxed and informal and you can tell they are both having a good time. After much laughter, Rihanna performs her new track 'What Now' and then after she finishes, Alan emerges from the side on a float in a revealing, bejewelled carnival outfit and Rihanna joins him on the float and they move and shake as the advert break rolls in.
If that wasn't enough for your funny bone, Justin Timberlake then rolls up and talks to Alan about how he's not as fit as he was and has to have more breaks and rehearsals than usual, when he performs. They chat about how Justin 'rides the wave of low expectations' and then act out a sort of informercial in the middle of Chatty Man. It was hilarious. For his special 100th anniversary episode, Alan had a bartender (whose name I think was Jay?) to serve up his drinks, which, obviously, were entitled ridiculous names on his 'menu' and Lambrini was the house special. Rihanna joked how she wasn't too pleased with the list and reeled off drinks that Jay did not have the ingredients to make (himself only having vodka, tomato sauce and Lambrini), which caused Alan to make several jokes about Jay's skills.
Justin Timberlake performed 'Take Back the Night' to close the show, and got the whole audience out of their seats and dancing and clapping along. This particular episode of Chatty Man was one of the best yet, and Alan has certainly had a lot of popular guests on recently such as Miley Cyrus, Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx, whose 'interviews' were also ridiculously funny. Alan has the ability to make even the most boring guests or interviewees seem funny and engages well with his house audience and viewers watching. Overall, a thoroughly good show marks the 100th anniversary episode as one of Alan's best. Hopefully 100 more to come.
