Some shows start out with an excellent debut episode, than lose steam. This is not one of those shows. When I watched the first, I was just about the polar opposite of impressed. The problem was, it worked too hard to introduce it's characters. The serious branch of the operation, Detective Beckett (Stana Katic,) is somewhat likable, if only because she takes her work seriously and and doesn't consider herself likable.
Unfortunately, Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) is one of those self-satisfied characters who is mildly grating at best, unbearable at worst. He considers the murders they investigate a personal gain (he's a writer,) and is clearly in love with himself and his 'masterpieces.' Why, why, must there be the inevitable romantic tension between he and Kate? Why does Richard think police procedures are an excuse to shoot snippy remarks and quips? What is funny about murders, anyway?
Richard Castle is a writer of pulp murder mysteries, and is quite popular with the masses for some time. He ignores scathing critics bashing his latest money-making operation (one newspaper reviewer says a book made them want 'to go screaming out into the snow,') and prospers until he suffers mass writer's block. So, why not start tracking a no-nonsense (and of course pretty) female detective, using other people's tragedies as a basis for his next scrap of anti-literature?
Kate Beckett is a hard-working woman with heavy emotional baggage, which Richard immediately attempts to divulge. Of course she has no desire to work with him, but he always shows up, there to save the day. The first episode was rather awful, as it did little but elaborate on Castle's obnoxious personality, padding it with a paper-thin mystery plot point. I became so intensely bored with his antics that I tuned out and contemplated a possible idea for fortune "If I got a buck every time Nathan Fillion smirked, I would be a very rich woman."
Ah, but it gets better! The directors catch on by episode number two that the full Castle personality (stingy on plot) is only acceptable in small doses. He can be sufferable and even almost pleasant when given something to do, so when the mysteries started, I quickly became more involved.
I enjoyed visits with the side characters, namely Castle's perfectionist teenage daughter Alexis (Molly C. Quinn) and his mother. Alcoholic grandmas are hardly a new topic (demonstrated in "Spanglish" and the upcoming "The Lovely Bones,) but Susan Sullivan solidly provides comic relief.
Some shows were better than others- dialogue ran the gamut from hilariously offbeat to annoyingly corny, and the mysteries were, as all things, a mixed bag. Another perk of having Molly C. Quinn on screen was that, working as a protective and affectionate dad, Castle revealed his most human side, and his shrillness decreased. As it went on, I found myself entertained by a enjoyable (if guiltily) show. As a plus the victims and suspects usually provided solid performances. After a dreadful first show and a handful of good ones, I will be awarding three stars, which is fair since I'm willing to try the second season.
I hope that Fillion's Castle grows on me, and it spends more time catching the killers and less time developing dull tension with the relatively thin leads. Though Richard has become bearable of late- maybe he could suffer a semi-serious injury, still able to write his tragedy-exploitation pulp and look after his daughter, but incapable of trailing Beckett? Castle Beckett- Season 2? I look forward to it. (Rated TV PG.)
Unfortunately, Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) is one of those self-satisfied characters who is mildly grating at best, unbearable at worst. He considers the murders they investigate a personal gain (he's a writer,) and is clearly in love with himself and his 'masterpieces.' Why, why, must there be the inevitable romantic tension between he and Kate? Why does Richard think police procedures are an excuse to shoot snippy remarks and quips? What is funny about murders, anyway?
Richard Castle is a writer of pulp murder mysteries, and is quite popular with the masses for some time. He ignores scathing critics bashing his latest money-making operation (one newspaper reviewer says a book made them want 'to go screaming out into the snow,') and prospers until he suffers mass writer's block. So, why not start tracking a no-nonsense (and of course pretty) female detective, using other people's tragedies as a basis for his next scrap of anti-literature?
Kate Beckett is a hard-working woman with heavy emotional baggage, which Richard immediately attempts to divulge. Of course she has no desire to work with him, but he always shows up, there to save the day. The first episode was rather awful, as it did little but elaborate on Castle's obnoxious personality, padding it with a paper-thin mystery plot point. I became so intensely bored with his antics that I tuned out and contemplated a possible idea for fortune "If I got a buck every time Nathan Fillion smirked, I would be a very rich woman."
Ah, but it gets better! The directors catch on by episode number two that the full Castle personality (stingy on plot) is only acceptable in small doses. He can be sufferable and even almost pleasant when given something to do, so when the mysteries started, I quickly became more involved.
I enjoyed visits with the side characters, namely Castle's perfectionist teenage daughter Alexis (Molly C. Quinn) and his mother. Alcoholic grandmas are hardly a new topic (demonstrated in "Spanglish" and the upcoming "The Lovely Bones,) but Susan Sullivan solidly provides comic relief.
Some shows were better than others- dialogue ran the gamut from hilariously offbeat to annoyingly corny, and the mysteries were, as all things, a mixed bag. Another perk of having Molly C. Quinn on screen was that, working as a protective and affectionate dad, Castle revealed his most human side, and his shrillness decreased. As it went on, I found myself entertained by a enjoyable (if guiltily) show. As a plus the victims and suspects usually provided solid performances. After a dreadful first show and a handful of good ones, I will be awarding three stars, which is fair since I'm willing to try the second season.
I hope that Fillion's Castle grows on me, and it spends more time catching the killers and less time developing dull tension with the relatively thin leads. Though Richard has become bearable of late- maybe he could suffer a semi-serious injury, still able to write his tragedy-exploitation pulp and look after his daughter, but incapable of trailing Beckett? Castle Beckett- Season 2? I look forward to it. (Rated TV PG.)
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