Castle Preview: 6 Things You Need to Know About “Secret Santa” 

Ho, Ho, Ho, it’s a Castle Christmas tonight on ABC. It’s Beckett and Castle’s first as a couple. If you think all things are going to go smoothly, think again.

A “Secret Santa” synopsis: When a bearded, rotund man in a red Santa suit with an ID reading Kris Kringle falls from the sky in Central Park, Castle and Beckett are on the hunt to find the person who killed Santa. But everything isn’t holiday cheer, as they discover St. Nick may have been more naughty than nice. Meanwhile, Castle and Beckett prepare for their first Christmas together.

6 Things You Need to Know About the Episode

1. Beckett is seemingly bah humbug over the holiday. We won’t tell you why but we love the detective’s explanation.

2. There’s an interesting scene between Lanie and Espo. We don’t want to give anything away, so we’ll leave it at that.

3. Kevin has his own issues with the holiday. Let’s just say he has a big decision to make.

4. The case is pretty cool. Get ready for something called Santa School.

5. Castle is, of course, all about Christmas. But can he stop his holidays from going off the rails?

6. We hear a tiny bit more about Gates’ life. We like how the show is finally starting to incorporate her more and more into the precinct scenes.

Another Castle episode, another slew of guest stars. The Guest Star Goodness on the slate for “Secret Santa”:

Leslie Hope (she plays Gwenn Harwin): At first she seemed familiar to me but I couldn’t quite place her. She looks a little different in this Castle episode than she did on 24 as Jack Bauer’s wife, Teri, who was shockingly killed off in the first season. More recently, Hope was in the short-lived supernatural thriller The River.

Steven Eckholdt (Michael Case): It was great to see TV vet Eckholdt make an appearance. He’s arguably best known for his stint as Rachel’s Bloomingdale’s coworker on Friends (the two even went on a date after Rachel and Ross broke up); he’s starred in the short-lived series Grapevine and It’s Like, You Know; and he’s also been on everything from 21 Jump Street, Melrose Place and L.A. Law all the way up to Bunheads and Warehouse 13. But, I think I will always remember him most for his one episode appearance on NCIS. In an episode called SWAK — the one where Very Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo contracted the plague — he played a physician with a famous name. He was Navy Cmdr. Dr. Brad Pitt. Yes, he’s the guy responsible for killing DiNozzo’s football career.

Tembi Locke (Beth Cabot): Locke plays a neighbor of the victim in tonight’s Castle. She’s best known (at least to me) for playing Grace Monroe on Syfy’s Eureka. Unfortunately, the show aired its series finale earlier this year (boo). Over the years, she’s appeared on Beverly Hills 90210, Sliders, Raising Dad and House of Payne. Love her.

Dakin Matthews (Dave Dunne): This veteran character actor has been a familiar face on so many television shows. He’s done multiple episode stints on General Hospital, Gilmore Girls, NYPD Blue, The Practice and My Two Dads. And he’s guest starred in a million TV shows — too many to name. When he’s a part of the action, it’s always a good thing.

Castle “A Secret Santa” airs tonight at 10/9c on ABC.

Clip from tonight’s Castle