SPOILERS AHEAD

“Private Eye, Caramba!” is a fun and sexy episode! In the opening scene, a beautiful young woman dressed in a glittering gown runs down a dark alley and just before her neighbor is able to buzz her into her apartment, someone grabs her. The next thing you know, the young starlet is dead. Anahita Menendez (Cindy Luna) was one of the stars of a hit telenovela but there is much more to her death than meets the eye.

Private Eye for Hire

Castle has his hands full trying to find a very small purse for a hot-blooded telenovela star

Castle (Nathan Fillion) is struggling to find clients for his new PI business but that soon changes when his lovely wife, NYPD Detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic), throws him a bone, so to speak. It seems Sofia Del Cordova (Daya Vaidya), the victim’s friend and also a telenovela star, is missing the rather pricey “clutch” she loaned Anahita. Sofia hires Castle to find the purse, worth an estimated $500,000.

International Intrigue

As Beckett and Esposito (Jon Huertas) investigate leads at the television network, showrunner Francisco Herrera (Franco Barberis) tells them Anahita had a possible stalker situation with her former assistant Marcus Segundo (Erick Lopez). But Marcus tells Beckett the whole fight was an act that Anahita orchestrated. With the show’s grueling filming schedule, Anahita couldn’t take any time off so she paid Marcus to attack her so she could take a short break.

Esposito says his aunt is a huge fan of the telenovelas but I think it’s clear who the real fan is.

As the investigation continues, Beckett learns Anahita met with Layla Nazif (Nazneen Contractor), the daughter of a billionaire, and high ranking Saudi official, at the opening of an opera on the night of her murder. Could Anahita be a spy? After all, Layla gave Anahita a USB drive during their meeting. Could it contain Saudi secrets or details of a government conspiracy? Like Ryan (Seamus Dever), I’m channeling Castle’s crazy conspiracy theories. Too bad M.E. Sydney Perlmutter (guest star Arye Gross) isn’t a fan of Castle’s theories, even when spoken by Ryan. I’d still like to know when Perlmutter began loathing Castle. Did Castle write something about him in one of his “Nikki Heat” books? Better question – where is Lanie (Tamala Jones)?

When Beckett questions Layla, she learns Layla is a huge telenovela fan, much to her father’s chagrin. The conversation ends abruptly when Beckett asks about Layla’s meeting with Anahita and the mysterious USB drive. “I have diplomatic immunity,” Layla proclaims. And with that, she leaves.

You’re Fired!

Castle struggles to find leads to locate Sofia’s clutch. And when Sofia interrupts Castle and Beckett’s late night rendezvous, she informs Castle he’s fired. This, of course, only fuels Castle to work harder so he shows Sofia all the things he’s been working on, including stalking Anahita’s social media accounts looking for any mention of Anahita, including photo uploads. One of the pictures leads Castle to a white stretch limo that dropped Anahita off. The mystery deepens when Castle finds the limo, only to be taken captive by its driver, Harlan Mathis (Jackson Hurst), a former Marine who now dabbles in private security and all around gun for hire. All signs point to a huge international conspiracy but things take a turn when Castle actually finds the missing “diamond encrusted” clutch.

Sofia shows up to Castle’s office to claim her purse but when she asks for all its contents, Castle knows something is amiss. Sofia pulls a gun and demands the “UBS!” (Apparently she still can’t say USB no matter how many times everyone says it.) Castle manages to take the gun from Sofia, a gun we later learn is a prop from the show..

All Latina Network

Showrunner Francisco Herrera couldn’t lose his two stars…why do they always say “I didn’t mean to kill her?”

It turns out the international intrigue is nothing more than plans to set up an all female Latina television network. Sofia and Anahita wanted to branch out and found an interested sponsor in Layla, the Saudi diplomat who had a passion for telenovelas. But Francisco couldn’t lose both his leading ladies – the show would be canceled without them.

Interesting Dialogue

I’m really enjoying the old-school private eye jargon the writers are infusing into these past few episodes.

Castle, as he ponders over the lack of business for his newly minted Richard Castle Investigations: “It was 11 in the morning; my phone was quieter than a dead church mouse. My head hurt after a night of hitting the sauce like there was no tomorrow; for all I knew, there was no tomorrow. I was about to pour a smile into my coffee, have a little hair of the dog that bit me when she walked in…”

Beckett stops by Castle’s office and the conversation quickly heats up as they do a little verbal role play.

Castle: “Spare me the tall tales, Precious. A dame like you – you got an angle.”

Beckett: “You’re pretty quick for a gumshoe.”

Castle: “Come on; spill the story. Time is money and I’ve got none of either.”

Beckett: “Alright, I’ll give it to you straight – I’m just a girl looking for a private dick.”

Castle: “Whoa! Then your search is over, sweetheart!”

Overall

“Private Eye, Caramba!” is entertaining and quite naughty at times. I enjoy the way the writers are running with the whole private investigator angle. I hope they will give Castle some meatier cases to work on and help him figure out a way to get information without lying to the DMV. I thought if you were a licensed Private Investigator, you were able to access certain information. Maybe I’m wrong? Any private dicks out there who would be willing to clear the air for me?

What did you think of “Private Eye, Caramba!?” Do you have what it takes to be a private detective? Leave me a comment below and/or tweet me @judybopp.

Tune in to Castle, Mondays at 10/9c only on ABC.

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Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.