'Castle': Beckett Wants to Feel Shiny

Fulfilling a dream can only bring someone happiness if it's attained honestly. That is an underlying thought in "Castle: Lucky Stiff." Winning the lottery might seem like a good thing, but it can have deadly consequences, a fact known all to well by this episode's latest murder victim.

Imagine a man who posses all the money he needs to find material happiness lying in a pool of his own blood. The striking reality of what money can't buy would be a cold blow to anyone who walks in on this scene. That is where Jay Hixton's body is discovered by his butler, Reginald Easley. It is also where Castle and Beckett converge on a mysterious crime scene, and Castle can't help but wonder if butler did it.

Hixton's life was a true rags-to-riches story, and the first few years after winning the lottery nothing seemed out of his reach. He even purchased a plot of land on the moon, a purchase that he and Castle had in common. But, in the most recent years prior to Hixton's death his life had seen a dramatic change. He spent much of his time giving away money and volunteering at a soup kitchen. On the surface it seemed that Hixton had no reason to worry, but there is no doubt that he remembered just how he attained that winning lotto ticket. Castle and Beckett journey through a twisted trail of deceit, drugs and death to find his murderer.

Meanwhile, Martha falls into a little fortune of her own. Her former boyfriend died and left her a million dollars. At first Martha is over-joyed with her good fortune and tears up the town in a fantastic shopping spree. But soon, like Hixton, she realizes money can leave a person feeling guilty and tarnished, after all Martha had not planned on staying stay with her boyfriend. In an un-Martha like moment, she returns the money to his estate, only to find she can't.

One of the most memorable scenes in "Lucky Stiff" occurs when Beckett and Castle arrive at a nightclub in search of a drug dealing murder suspect. Kate and Castle pull up in front of the club in Castle's Ferrari; however, Castle isn't driving, Kate is. She is wearing a form fitting mid-thigh length black dress that Castle can't keep out of his line of sight.

Once in the club Kate distracts Castle by sending him for drinks. She locates the drug dealer she's looking for and snuggles up beside him. After all, who can resist Kate? As the drug dealer enjoys Kate's seductively batting eyes, he asks what she wants. Kate replies, "I want to feel shiny."

A lot of character growth is accomplished in Castle's world during the "Lucky Stiff" episode. Martha determines to do something good with her inheritance, and makes plans to start an acting school that bears her name. She also dedicates it to her boyfriend's memory. Castle, on the other hand discovers what Kate would do if she won the lottery, and he fulfills her dreams. He creates a scholarship fund in memory of her mother, Johanna Beckett. For a few tense moments Kate seems to reject the idea of Castle meddling in her personal life again, but she surprises Castle with a huge smile and thank you.

Castle airs Monday nights on ABC at 10:01 pm ET.