‘Castle’ Season 5 Beams Down ‘Star Trek’ Star for ‘Firefly’-Tinged Comic-Con Episode

'Castle' season 5 certainly started with a bang (or depending on your point of view, started after the bang), but things are just getting started for the fifth season of ABC's hit literary procedural.  For weeks now we've been hearing about what could be 'Castle's most meta episode to date, where Castle and Beckett investigate a murder at a Comic-Con-like convention, involving a 'Firefly' analogue series.  There's more sci-fi fun to be had however, as one (nigh unrecognizable) 'Star Trek' star has joined the mix!

Castle and Becket had better have deep pockets if they hope to get anything out of upcoming "The Final Frontier" guest star Armin Shimerman.  As TVGuide reports, the former 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' and 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine' Quark will make an appearance in the sci-fi themed episode, guesting as Benjamin Donnely, a techie who manufactures authentic costume props for convention cosplayers.

'Castle' isn't the only thing Shimerman and series star Nathan Fillion have in common however, as both previously guested on Joss Whedon's 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer,' playing Principal Snyder, and the villainous Caleb, respectively.

As directed by 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' star Jonathon Frakes, the episode will see Beckett and Castle investigating a death at a comic convention, which also puts them in the path of washed-up actor Gabriel Winters (Eureka's Ed Quinn), better known for playing Captain Max Richards of the cancelled cult sci-fi series "Nebula 9" (sound familiar, 'Firefly' fans?).  Joining Quinn in the fun is one-time 'That '70s' Show' star Chrstina Moore, playing actress Sarah Stern, whose fortunes have been far more successful than Winters since her time playing "Lt. Chloe" of the cancelled series.

What say you, 'Castle' fans?  Are you excited to see the series go meta sci-fi once more?  What did you think of the premiere?  Give us your take in the comments below!