Ep 1. Deep in Death

In the season 2 premiere of Castle, titled "Deep in Death," we find our favorite crime novelist, Richard Castle, still reeling from the revelation at the end of season 1 that his muse and inspiration, NYPD detective Kate Beckett, has a boyfriend. However, Castle is soon distracted from his personal woes by a grisly murder case that hits close to home.

The victim is a prominent businessman named Howard Peterson who, like Castle, was a frequent guest on a late-night talk show hosted by Bobby Mann (guest star Tom Bergeron). When Peterson's body is discovered at the studio where the show is filmed, Castle is brought in as a consultant because of his connection to the victim. Despite Beckett's initial reluctance to involve him in the case, Castle can't stay away from the crime scene and soon begins to offer his own theories about what may have happened.

As the investigation progresses, Castle and Beckett, along with the rest of the team, begin to uncover a web of secrets and lies that lead them to suspect everyone from the victim's business partner to his own wife. Along the way, Castle also has to deal with his own personal issues as he tries to come to terms with the fact that Beckett might never feel the same way about him as he does about her.

One of the things that makes "Deep in Death" such a great episode is the way it balances the murder mystery with the ongoing character development. While the case itself is intriguing and keeps you guessing until the end, it's the interactions between Castle and Beckett (as well as Castle and his daughter Alexis) that really make the episode shine. Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic have great chemistry together and it's clear that their characters care about each other on a deeper level than just as colleagues.

Another standout element of the episode is the guest appearance by Tom Bergeron as the talk show host Bobby Mann. Bergeron is best known as the longtime host of Dancing with the Stars, but he proves to be a surprisingly effective dramatic actor here. His scenes with Castle are particularly enjoyable, as the two of them trade barbs and try to one-up each other.

Overall, "Deep in Death" is a fantastic start to season 2 of Castle. It's a well-written, well-acted episode that sets up some interesting storylines for the rest of the season while also delivering a satisfying murder mystery. Whether you're a fan of the show or just looking for a good crime drama to watch, this episode is definitely worth checking out.