We'll start with the good. First, it's smart. It doesn't pander to its audience, it doesn't over-explain itself. But it doesn't try to be too smart (in the vein of C.S.I.'s omniscient Grissom, that leaves a patina of hyper-nerdiness over its cast blended with a none-too-subtle disdain for nerds); if a character in Castle provides some information that seems outside of their purview, they'll offer a cursory explanation, even if it's something as trivial as "What? I read." Little gestures like this go a long way towards making characters feel real.
Second, Castle plays to its strengths by allowing itself to be more of a character-driven comedy as a mystery-driven police drama. Character is the show's strength. In many ways, Castle is little more than a vehicle for Nathan Fillion to be fun and smarmy, but he's so engaging that this is generally enough to hold our interest. Equally enjoyable is the interplay between Castle and the various females he interacts with. The other men on the show think he's cool. But the women all outwardly despise him while seeming to secretly love him (the exception being his 15-year-old daughter, who is clearly no good at keeping secrets). The witty banter, the clever little endearing character moments--all this converges to make some good television.
Unfortunately the police procedural half of the show is downright insipid.
I understand that there will be some shortcuts. Some liberties. But "exactly" is not a confession. If someone asks for a lawyer, you have to get them a lawyer or nothing they say is admissible! Also, police stations should have more than 4 employees, as a rule. And--and this is a big one--how is it that a novelist is allowed to interrogate witnesses without ever identifying himself as not being a cop?
Also, the wardrobe is a little distracting. These are some very well-dressed policemen and women. One episode might have been subtitled The Scarves of the NYPD. But I digress. At the end of the day (which is when it airs), I like it more than it drives me crazy, so it's just barely on the side that tips the scales towards "watch-it".
If only ABC's media player weren't so damned fritzy.
Seriously. You're going to make me restart the episode after every single commercial break? Why? Okay, I know why, it's so I'll have time to click on advertisers, but that's not a good enough reason. Also, would it kill you to make sure that the audio and video sync up properly when the server is under duress?
Grrrrr...
]{p
BTW - congrats to Bill and Theo for the new employment opportunities in their lives.
Unfortunately the police procedural half of the show is downright insipid.
I understand that there will be some shortcuts. Some liberties. But "exactly" is not a confession. If someone asks for a lawyer, you have to get them a lawyer or nothing they say is admissible! Also, police stations should have more than 4 employees, as a rule. And--and this is a big one--how is it that a novelist is allowed to interrogate witnesses without ever identifying himself as not being a cop?
Also, the wardrobe is a little distracting. These are some very well-dressed policemen and women. One episode might have been subtitled The Scarves of the NYPD. But I digress. At the end of the day (which is when it airs), I like it more than it drives me crazy, so it's just barely on the side that tips the scales towards "watch-it".
If only ABC's media player weren't so damned fritzy.
Seriously. You're going to make me restart the episode after every single commercial break? Why? Okay, I know why, it's so I'll have time to click on advertisers, but that's not a good enough reason. Also, would it kill you to make sure that the audio and video sync up properly when the server is under duress?
Grrrrr...
]{p
BTW - congrats to Bill and Theo for the new employment opportunities in their lives.
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