While I agree with EW TV critic Ken Tucker that the premiere episode of Nathan Fillion’s cop-mystery series Castle was "too-playful-by-half," here are the facts: I am this show’s demo. I DVR character-, comedy-, and chemistry-driven procedurals like Bones, Psych, and NCIS. I would probably blush were you to put me in a room with Nathan Fillion. And my schedule is wide open Mondays at 10 p.m. ET. So congratulations, ABC. You got me.
That said, I am hoping that the cutesy quotient was excessively high in the premiere because producers wanted to make sure that we all got that Fillion’s Richard Castle — a famous crime writer who partners with Det. Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) first to solve a series of murders matching those in his books, then because he wants to "research her" for the heroine in his next series of novels — is unpredictable. He’s the kind of man who encourages his 15-year-old daughter to drink champagne so she has stories to tell her children and eats whipped cream from the bottle. He can pick up a dropped handcuff key with his toes, talk himself out of arrests and into search warrants because the mayor and judge are fans, and play poker with (guest stars) James Patterson and Stephen J. Cannell. He enjoys signing women’s chests, yet allows his Broadway diva mother, who probably gets more than he does, live with him. I get it. We can now move past the pilot shorthand and give Castle some time to breathe, to not be "on." Fillion’s a good enough actor to sustain quiet moments. Let him. (Especially if it spares him from trying to sell a stale comeback about his claims being big when asked if he knows a small claims lawyer. No one’s that good.)
The premise of the pilot — Castle aids in the investigation of a copycat killer — was predictable but obviously necessary to bring he and Beckett together. To be honest, I couldn’t tell you if Fillion and Katic (who I’m semi-ashamed to say I recognized more from The Librarian: The Curse of the Judas Chalice than Quantum of Solace) have great chemistry, or if my mind just filled in the blanks. (It wants to go to there.) What I do know is that I like that Beckett’s a fan of his books, yet immune to his charm. I like that he’s hot for her and clearly up for the chase. I like that he’s raised a daughter (Molly Quinn) who’s not going to bring down the show with teen angst. (She turned down the champagne and opted to keep studying at his book release party. She also called him out on where he likes to put his Sharpie). I like that even though Castle can read Beckett (she’s a cop because someone she loved got hurt and the person was never caught — snooze), you know that there’s more to his story than meets the eye. (I’m betting that his divorce from his publisher did a number on him, and he’s all talk when it comes to the ladies now…)
The fact that I’ve gone this long without discussing the case is a sign that this series won’t actually be about that. But it doesn’t mean the unfolding of the mystery wasn’t enjoyable. As a crime novelist, Beckett knows how a story should go, what motives could be in play, and when something is wrapped up too swiftly. He knew that their suspect, an obsessed fan, would’ve matched his murder scenes to the books’ exactly, so the slight differences pointed to a frame-up. Only one of the victims — a social work grad student with a rich, dying father and a jealous, cash-strapped brother — was the target, the other two were killed to make police think they were looking for a Rick Castle fan. My favorite moment of the investigation was when Castle, who refuses to stay in the car (we get it!), broke free from the brother, who’d captured him as a hostage, and said, "You’re gonna put that in your report, right?" That’s a line Fillion can sell.
Your turn. Are you wooed by Castle, playing hard to get (how many more eps will you give him?), or calling it quits? How would your relationship with the character change if it wasn’t Fillion playing him?
I watched it and though I like fillion nd was happy to see him back on the screen, the show kinda annoyed me. I thought it was too obvious, too pushy and it did sound like captain hammer from time to time. I love “Life” and I really prefer Lewis’ character to Fillion’s. Something about Castle is just not refined enough. Maybe it’ll get better. Let’s hope so.
I like the actors and think they have great chemistry. What will turn me off of the show is if they amp up the smug factor on the Fillion character even the tiniest bit– he’s already dangerously close to being slap-worthy smug for me.
I liked it, but I’m a huge Fillion fan. It was cutesy and not too serious, but the actors are all charming, the detective’s hot, and his daughter’s a revelation-a serious, non-angsty kid. I’ll keep watching this show just to give Fillion a hit. He deserves it, after FireFly and Drive. But I suspect I’ll start to like this show the more I watch it. Better than my expectations by far- I thought I’d have to suffer through it, but found myself enjoying it. We’ll see where it goes from here.
It was a bit much for an episode, but I love Fillion and that whole dramedy procedural genre. Especially considering that it was the pilot I was fairly entertained and I’m willing to give it a few more weeks. Besides what else am I going to watch at 10pm on a monday?
If it wasn’t Fillion starring, I’d have never heard of it, never watch it, never care about it, and refuse to discuss it. But that’s the power of him- he’ll draw me into an unusual show in an unusual timeslot to be watching ABC. (I don’t watch any ABC.)
So sad. I missed the first episode and Nathan Fillion can do no wrong. I won’t forget it next week.
I decided the previews were more fun than the actual show. It was REALLY dragging at the halfway mark to the point I had to check my clock to see if it was wrapping up. Unfortunately this one doesn’t make the cut for me.
I’ll definitely watch again! I do hope that they tone it down with Castle’s wackiness and let Kate relax just a bit, though.
I liked the show, but agree that they need to tone down the smug factor slightly. I would like to see this work, being a Nathan Fillion fan from when he was on One Life to Live and Two Guys & a Girl. I just hope this doesn’t become too “Moonlighting” where it becomes about them hooking up. I like that he doesn’t affect her…or if he does, she doesn’t show it. I’m willing to give it a chance. Hopefully ABC will too (like they didn’t with Eli Stone.)
I’ll definitely watch again! I do hope that they tone it down with Castle’s wackiness and let Kate relax just a bit, though.
I’ve loved Nathan since he was Joey on One Life to Live. I watched the show last night, liked it enough to keep watching. It has a Bones vibe to it although I admit it is not near as good as Bones but I’ll give it time.
One correction first: When your wrote, As a crime novelist, Beckett knows how a story should go, what motives could be in play, and when something is wrapped up too swiftly, I think you meant Castle. Beckett’s the detective.
I liked the pilot episode fine, although I have to agree with camicar, Castle was a little bit too smug in some bits of the episode. But if there’s one actor out there who can play with that balance, it’s him. I’m a huge Fillion fan and would watch him watching himself on TV, so I’ll stick around. My only concern is that I did not feel much of a chemistry between Beckett and Castle, not like you felt it with Booth and Brennan or Tony and Ziva. Theirs was evident from their very first scene together.
Love Fillion. I watch everything that he does just to see his sly smile. I hope this series lasts.
I almost didn’t watch after the deluge of ads ABC has been airing for it – I knew all the punchlines by heart already – but I got sucked in and must say I enjoyed it. Entertaining and light.
I liked it and refuse to apologize. Fillion was great, daughter was pretty good, loved the author cameos. Most pilots aren’t as good as the rest of the series. I hated Bones after the pilot but gave it a chance.