Observations while rewatching The Mistress Always Spanks Twice

This one is an entertaining, light-hearted episode where the case sets up a lot of teasing between our team members. Not a lot of character development, but it is a fun episode to watch.

The song that was playing to the jogger in the park was a good setup for revealing the VotW.

Alexis trying out for cheerleading? “Who are you, and what have you done with my daughter?” was the right question for Rick to ask. Then Rick tells Martha that it was she that told him to not reserve a seat on the Space Shuttle. Ironic that this week is the last Space Shuttle flight – there will be no more seats to be reserved.

Rick still has an active imagination, especially when he is visualizing sexual fetishes. It is first visible as Lanie is saying that she’d “do the chocolate, even the whipped cream bikini”. I’d be picking my jaw up off the grass. Then there’s Kate’s smirk when Rick asks her how she can tell the bondage cuffs were custom made. Then she says there are only a handful of bondage shops that do custom work. He is again shocked that she would know this. She’s playing his imagination like a pro.

The scene where Espo is looking over Ryan’s shoulder, and Ryan says “it’s a little creepy doing this with you breathing down my neck.” Ryan’s statement about IA checking browser history… He would know from experience.

The banter about Ryan’s “imaginary girlfriend” is in full swing. We have had a smattering of mentions before, but now they don’t seem to be able to pass up a snarky comment. Ryan takes them in stride, but we will see why, at the end.

Kate has a boyfriend? Rick, you didn’t get the memo. (P.S. She’s baiting you.)

Then there’s Ryan’s “Look at him, following her. Who’s whipped, me or him?” At least Ryan acknowledges that he is in a relationship. And, in a backhanded way that Rick is, too. Only Rick wouldn’t admit it.

Kate seems to have had a somewhat kinky past. She knows so much about that world and how to play on it to advantage with Rick. And it looks like she is really enjoying making him squirm. And squirm even more.

Most of the suspects were, for me, so-so. Except for Lady Irena and the married consultant guy, the others were relatively colorless.

Kate tweaking Rick with their “Who drives” – this must be part of an ongoing power trip for her. Always has to remain in control. Rick is somewhat irritated, but not unpleasantly so. We won’t see him in the driver’s seat, literally or figuratively for another 18 months.

She is in even more control when she sets up a couple’s appointment at Lady Irena’s. Rick looks really flustered as how he is supposed to deal with this. Then she continues her domination of him at the reception desk.

When Lady Irena appears, Rick is visibly captivated by her. And does he look uncomfortable there. Neither Kate nor Irena are intimidated by the other, but Rick acts like a whipped puppy before both of them. When they leave, he even apologizes to Kate, as she acknowledges Irena’s power over him.

Right after typing this, I saw Mistress Sapphire again – on SyFy’s Alphas. I’m gald there’s another Castle alum who is working as a regular on another show.

Rick is so deep into his ‘research’ that Alexis can sneak up behind him, except she’s not trying to. I just ‘got’ the parallel between Alexis’ trial identity with Jessica’s trial as a dominatrix. I’m glad Alexis’ version is a lot safer, even though Rick is still uncomfortable with her experiment.

“Sam I am. In a box, with a fox” Dr. Seuss anyone? We know Rick is smitten with Kate, but from time to time we see that Esposito also enjoys watching her. And not just watching her work. We will hear him say (to Lanie) “You know I only have eyes for you.” But he is a red-blooded male… We’re gonna need some popcorn, too.

Espo seems to be enjoying his next assignment just a bit too much… And Mistress Sapphire does too. I’m not used to seeing him so flustered. Ryan is able to maintain a professional attitude – I think he is so secure with his “imaginary” Jenny that he can maintain his composure when surrounded by such alluring women. It gives him an opportunity to act a little superior when they get back to the station.

When they bring Irena back in for questioning, Rick is still almost hypnotized by her. Was it her bearing, her looks, or what? But she sure does know how to play it. Even without the leather, makeup and Mistress Red she is still working him. Kate notices that he is struggling with his composure. That little wave as he is leaving the room, making him miss the doorknob… Hilarious.

Martha seems to be easily fooled by Rick & Martha. She doesn’t pick up on Rick’s non-verbal clues to Alexis, or on her verbal fumbling with finding an excuse for not eating dinner at home.

Several have written how unrealistic it is that Rick’s home life events so often give him the clues to solve the case of the week. It may be a favorite tool of the writers, but I like it. They find so many intriguing ways to weave these clues in, that I find myself watching and waiting to see how they are going to do it this time.

Hey! Jenny’s not imaginary! She’s not the super glamorous model type, but a normal, reasonably attractive, genuine, woman. We can see the admiration on Rick & Esposito’s faces. Kate has seen how our boys can act around glamorous women.

Rick seems convinced that Kate may have a boyfriend, and she encourages the illusion. But he seems to be confident that he can compete for her attention – especially when he says “You get to punish me all day”. But we will find out how insecure he can get when she actually does have a boyfriend.