Rick Castle: Getting to Know Nikki Heat Upclose and Personal

"Castle" airs on Mondays at 10:01 EST on ABC. This season's first episode started off with a bang, and already promises that the upcoming season of "Castle" is going to be one of the best yet. "Castle" has been on for several seasons now, and there are probably hundreds of reasons why a particular episode is listed as a favorite among its fans, but the episode entitled, "Nikki Heat" that aired on January 3, 2011 has to be included in that list. This episode guest stars Laura Prepon, formerly of "That 70's Show."

The show opens with a beautiful blonde woman trying to dissuade an armed man from shooting another. Spilling from her mouth is what she hopes are calming words, but in essence, they fall flat and are somewhat strange. In the first few seconds, you know you are watching Nikki Heat trying to diffuse the situation. Just as you are sucked into the world of Nikki Heat, Rick Castle presses the button of his remote control and you are sitting in Rick Castle's living room, and boy is he furious.

You enter Castle's world as he rants about the studio's selection of Natalie Rhodes, a B-movie actress selected to portray his heroine Nikki Heat in the upcoming screen adaptation of his book "Heat Wave." Castle laments that the only movies she is known for are lusty teenage movies and slasher movies. He is horrified by both the idea of his life's work being brought down to that level, and the way his original dialogue has been changed by a screenwriter.

The murderous plot of the "Nikki Heat" episode is far less interesting than the sub-plot of which Castle and Kate Beckett are both coping with Natalie Rhodes. Natalie characterizes herself as a method actress and shadows Beckett from the beginning of the episode to the end. It is her goal to re-create Beckett, the policewomen on whom Castle based his character Nikki Heat, to the point she knows Beckett better than Beckett knows herself. Kate is at first excited by the idea of working with a real famous person, but soon becomes annoyed by Natalie's presence.

Unfortunately, for Castle, Rhodes has never read any of his books and only recognizes his name as an author when he makes a point to tell her that he is her creator. Natalie is far more interested in Beckett and her style of police work than anything else; however, she does love the screenplay adaptation of Castle's book. Castle, of course, is quite offended, because of his disgust with the dialogue that the screenwriters used to diffuse the armed man situation, and because of the fact that Natalie Rhodes has been cast to play Nikki Heat when she had never even read his books.

Castle's annoyance soon turns to appreciation as Natalie reveals her dedication to perfecting the persona of Nikki Heat. She changes clothes, dons a wig and is soon known around the squad house as "creepy Beckett." Of course, Castle is drawn in to Natalie as she transforms herself into Heat. After all, Nikki Heat is a creation that has in essence walked right out of his dreams.

As Castle's infatuation with Rhodes blossoms, Beckett begins to dislike Natalie. She is uncomfortable about how accurately Natalie is able to assume her mannerisms, her speech and her looks. She is also infuriated at the thought of Natalie becoming close to Castle, after she sees the two embracing in a closing elevator. Fans, as well as Beckett, can't help but wonder if their passionate kiss leads to any further character research by Natalie. Fears are allayed as Natalie seeks out Beckett at her desk the next morning and asks, "Is Castle gay?" She is confused by the fact that he had turned down her advances.

As a side note, Natalie Rhodes character research actually helps Beckett and Castle solve the murder case on which they're working. And, one of the best scenes of the episode is where Natalie uses her lines from "Heat Wave," to prevent a man from committing suicide after he is accused of committing the murder. Castle is forced to admit that maybe "Heat Wave's" screenwriting isn't as bad as he first thought.

Fans got more than they could have asked for with this episode of "Castle" and the emergence of NikKi Heat, and those fans who happen to apply pen to paper, may have been given just a little bit more to think about as they dream about committing their own works to the silver screen.