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Castle Season 3 Episode 12

Poof! You're Dead

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AIRED: Jan 10, 2011

8.1

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Episode Summary

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Castle and Beckett investigate the murder of the owner of a historic magic shop found dead in a Houdini's water torture tank. Meanwhile, Lanie and Esposito are trying to keep their relationship secret and Castle ends his relationship with Gina.

FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (7)

Really!?

6.5

By pretty_sure, Jun 11, 2011

Ok, could this episode have been more scooby doo!? The footprints leading into a dead end. If you wanted it to be secret, like it was made to be, why would you leave such ovious footprints? Also my grandma was in a wheelchair for 50 years, and they don't leave tracks unless you are booking it, like a skidmark when a car is stoped and then it goes again really fast.

I love Castle, but come one you can do better then this! This is saturday morning cartoon style, not prime time crime show! Come on Castle, pick up your game!moreless
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6.0

By thefanof, May 27, 2011

Castle has become one of my favorite shows recently as it just seems so fresh every week whereas a lot of my other shows feel like they're not even trying anymore.

That being said, this episode was pretty mediocre in my eyes. Another original premise that I think the show could have done a lot with, but the execution was poor and the fact that we didn't even really get a good conclusion is not something that's going to sit well with me.

The previews for next week's episode look good, but I was disappointed with this show, especially when I heard such good buzz around it.moreless
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Great!!

9.5

By yarnqueen, Mar 02, 2011

I LOVE Castle. It is what I think of as "murder lite", with mystery, romance and humor thrown in on most of the episodes. Every once in a while you get a real twist, like Javier and Lanie, and Kate actually showing Castle a little caring. I agree it's great that he broke up with Gina--too many angles--but I liked that Kate didn't rub it in and actually made a quiet exit when she heard him breaking up.

The flowers at the end were a nice touch, too--something sweet and unexpected, as was her invite to the fast food wagon (or whatever they call it). It's funny, for all their bickering and bantering they DO have these moments of compassion, even tenderness--Castle not only saving Beckett in "Boom!" but showing her a quiet respect for her privacy,even though it was hardly the time: Beckett holding Castle's hand when he realizes that the triple x murderer has let him go just so that Castle can see him kill again and again and torment him: Castle gently pulling Beckett back from her frenzied attempts on lifesaving to find the person who put out a contract on her mother.

This series is fun BECAUSE it has these diverse emotions and viewpoints.moreless
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So so murder mystery, but two surprising twists and a magic theme made this episode not only great, but a great intermediary to the next set of episodes.

8.5

By DaioLamers, Jan 16, 2011

As far as the murder mystery part of the episode goes, I have to say that this episode was a tad bit sub par. The three reasons I'm giving this episode a high score are one: Castle and Gina break up, once again returning the show towards the Beckett/Castle romantic chemistry. The two having separate relationships really took away from the show, and although it may have been a necessary break, I'm just glad things are once again progressing towards their romance. The second reason the introduction of Lanie and Esposito as a romance, which gave the show a twist and will add another layer of depth to future episodes. And thirdly the magic, I really liked seeing the entire cast get in on the whole magic theme, seeing Alexis and Beckett perform those tricks made the episode that much more fun.moreless
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loved it

9.0

By protonefrid, Jan 16, 2011

damn, i wish they would have given us some little hints about Javier and Lanie in other episodes (I would have been content with the type of clues only some people see... or did they have those and I completely missed them???). It kind of came out of the blue but it was fun as hell. given the fact that they all already knew about them, I'm starting to think that most of the comments in the beginning were made on purpose trying to make fun of Javier's reactions. If only we had known they knew back then...

the story was interesting with an unusual twist (fake death... not seen too often is murder investigation series) and they had a twin thrown in the mix (loved how Castle's imagination went wild over that) and some magic tricks (the part when the magician got stabbed on stage had me fooled for a second) and some great compassionate moments from Kate... the ending when she subtly cheers him up was sweet. all in all a great episode, great entertainment... hope it never gets oldmoreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Nathan Fillion	Richard Castle
Stana Katic	Det. Kate Beckett
Molly Quinn	Alexis Castle
Susan Sullivan	Martha Rodgers
Ruben Santiago-Hudson	Captain Roy Montgomery
Seamus Dever	Kevin Ryan

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Brett Cullen	Christian Dahl	Guest Star
Gilles Marini	Magician Tobias Strange	Guest Star
Carrie Genzel	Naomi Dahl	Guest Star

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Episode Photos

Stana Katic and Nathan Fillion on Castle...

© 2010 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.
Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic on Castle...

© 2010 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.
Gilles Marini on Castle from the episode...

© 2010 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.
Gilles Marini on Castle from the episode...

© 2010 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (0)
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QUOTES (7)
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- Beckett: We need to talk to you about Zalman Drake.
  Chuck Russell: (looks surprised) Abracadabra. (disappears from his box in a flash of light and puff of smoke)
  Beckett: (rolls her eyes, walks over to the box, and pulls Chuck Russell out of it) Alakazam, jack ass.
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- Castle: Wonder how Zalman did it.
  He must have lifted something from Jerome's pocket with a receipt from his weekend of sin.
  Beckett: Like this. (shows Castle his mobile phone)
  Castle: You had your hand in my pocket, and I didn't even feel it?
  (changing tone to major)
  Do it again.
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- Lanie: (about a piece of evidence) Well, maybe this will cheer you up.
  Castle: Old man hair.
  Lanie: White rabbit fur. It came from his teeth and throat.
  Castle: So, he was killed by a rabbit who did not want to be pulled out of a hat.
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- Castle: I can't believe you're letting him just walk out of here. If this was a movie...
  Beckett: It's not a movie, and what am I supposed to charge him with, being a twin?
  Castle: Being an evil twin in a magic murder.
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- Castle: (to Alexis and Martha) You are the picture of a civilized evening at home.
  Martha: And you are a caveman.
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- Castle: Are you kidding me? He has an identical twin who wears glasses! That's the worst disguise since Clark Kent and you believe him??
  Beckett: I have no reason not to – look at him! He's devastated.
  Castle: It's an act! Don't you ever go to movies?
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- Castle: I never pegged you as a magic fan; you know any good tricks?
  Beckett: I do this one thing – with ice cubes.
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NOTES (2)
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- International Episode Titles:
  Czech Republic: Kouzla a čáry (Spells and Magic)
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- Original International Air Dates:
  Canada: January 10, 2011 on CTV
  Australia: May 1, 2011 on Channel 7
  Germany: May 20, 2011 on Kabel Eins
  United Kingdom: May 25, 2011 on Alibi
  The Netherlands: June 30, 2011 on SBS 6
  Czech Republic: April 4, 2012 on Prima family
  Slovakia: November 21, 2012 on JOJ
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ALLUSIONS (1)
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- Beckett: With any luck Professor X will turn out to be Zalman's mystery client.
  
  Professor Charles Francis Xavier, also known as Professor X, is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero known as the leader and founder of the X-Men and is in a wheelchair.
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