After the longest midseason hiatus in its history, ABC's Castle returns this Monday night with an episode that does not disappoint. "Tone Death" was written by newcomer Robert Bella and directed by Hanelle Culpepper, her second time in the role.More than ten weeks since Season 8's midseason finale, a case hits especially close to home for Martha, when a body is found atop a set to be used in an upcoming performance. Naturally, Martha insists his son handles the case personally. Alexis joins him at times, and while the case has a few neat twists, it takes a bit of a back seat when compared with the other elements that feature.
Our public fights have made our private time so much more...
ABC have gone to great lengths to promote this episode as a reunion of sorts between the main characters, Rick and Kate, and I have to say they are right on the money. Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic left nothing on the set with this installment, and their performances, along with the other cast members, are outstanding.
In short, Rick and Kate are back together, though very much on the down-low. No one at the precinct is supposed to know this, so there's a bit of sneaking around and pretend conversations, which generates plenty of well written, quality banter. Detectives Ryan and Esposito don't miss a beat either, and it isn't long until they corner Rick and accuse him of cheating.
If you want, we should throw him down a flight of stairs.
High School Musical alum Corbin Bleu picks up a guest starring role in this episode and does a pretty darn good job. A big part of this episode is the music, and it is really good. Bleu stars as a member of an acapella group, and is first introduced when Rick and Alexis go exploring some abandoned buildings. Some hilarity ensues moments later.
As well as hearing Bleu's voice in action, Jon Huertas joins the party too, and the pair perform an impressive impromptu duet which helps to crack the case. Kate also manages to deck Corbin Bleu's character when he attempts to flee. No soaring or flying away from the law here. The title sequence tune gets a special acapella makeover too.
While the Locksat conspiracy is still hanging over television's best crime fighting couple (the word is ushered just once), "Tone Death" gets everything right. While Castle has the unique ability to pull off stunning drama-intense storylines, it's the comedy which has always been the best aspect of the series. There's no shortage of that, and the musical theme fits right in with everything. It brings out the best in the cast, and is one of the best episodes to air this season.
That's all I'll reveal for now! Drop any further questions in the comments below and I'll see if I can answer them. Your thoughts and theories are always welcome too. To check out Castle's ratings, episode guide and more, check out www.seriesmonitor.com/castle. The
"Tone Death", Castle's midseason premiere, airs Monday, February 8, 10|9c, on ABC.
