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I may like
a lot of TV shows (as the landscape has
been getting better), but there are a handful
that I love. “Castle” is amongst
my favorites of late, and it should be yours,
too. I was quickly enticed when it originally
aired by the simple fact that it starred
Nathan Fillion. As one of the better, yet
originally less known actors of our time…
I’d watch him doing a commercial.
Fillion stars as Rick Castle, multi-millionaire
novelist who decided to finally kill off
his money-making character and create a
new series of crime novels. Much to the
dismay of his manager and publisher, he
moves forward with this plan. After being
called in by the NYPD to aid in the solving
of a murder, he decides that the best way
to create a new character is to continue
to work closely with them.
Thanks to his influential friends, he is
‘partnered’ with Detective Kate
Beckett (Stana Katic), and right from the
start, their relationship is rocky at best.
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I hate comparing it to “Moonlighting”,
because everyone has, but it is a good comparison.
The love/hate relationship carries through the
series, and it is pulled off by the lead actors
better than I have ever seen it done.
I’m glad to finally see Fillion in a series
that lasted more than one season… heck…
even lasted a full season. He has been though
the soap opera gig, made a couple of movies and
even ended up as a ‘big bad’ in a
season of “Buffy, the Vampire Slayer.”
But his big shot into fandom came when Joss Whedon
cast him as Malcolm Reynolds in the ill-fated
“Firefly” (still the BEST TV series
ever…period). Lasting only 14 episodes,
but spawning a big screen film (“Serenity”),
Fillion moved on to “Drive” which
lasted 6 episodes. But with “Castle”,
Fillion has hit his stride and finally caught
the attention of the masses outside of “Firefly”
fans.
Stan Katic I knew less about, but she plays her
role as Detective Beckett to perfection. Paired
up with Fillion, they make the perfect imperfect
couple. When she finds out his new character,
Nikki Heat, was going to based on her… she
nearly hit the roof.
We also get to see a bit of Castle’s home
life, with Molly Quinn as his daughter Alexis,
and the great Susan Sullivan as his mom. The relationship
between this trio is every bit as entertaining
as that of Castle and Beckett. There are moments
where Fillion plays the father that are subtly
powerful and poignant, while other times downright
hysterical.
“Castle”, even in its second season
is a very light and somewhat breezy comedy-mystery-drama,
but no less entertaining than just about anything
else out on TV right now. I’m thankful that
it has begun a third season and I hope there are
more to come.
The DVD for the 2nd season delivers a nice transfer
as well as a host of extra features. There are
two ‘on the set’ featurettes, one
with Fillion and the other with Seamus Dever (Det.
Ryan) and Jon Huertas (Det. Esposito). Both are
short, but very funny. There is also another short
feature that focuses on some of the murders and
how they are staged. Add to this some deleted
scenes and a blooper reel, and you’ve got
several days worth of entertainment value.
“Castle” is a fun show, one that
deserves a long run. And I should mention that
for “Firefly” fans, there are little
bits that show up in the series just for you.
The one for the Halloween Episode is obvious (and
hysterical), the others offer a little bit more
of a challenge to find, but they are there. Happy
Hunting!!
Episodes:
Deep in Death
The Double Down
Inventing the Girl
Fool Me Once…
When the Bough Breaks
Vampire Weekend
Famous Last Words
Kill the Messenger
Love Me Dead
One Man’s Treasure
The Fifth Bullet
A Rose for Everafter
Sucker Punch
The Third Man
The Suicide Squeeze
The Mistress Always Spanks Twice
Tick, Tick, Tick…
Boom!
Wrapped Up in Death
The Late Shaft
Den of Thieves
Food to Die For
Overkill
A Deadly Game
Starring: Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic
Extras: On Set with Seamus and Jon; On Location
with Nathan; Manhattan’s Most Unusual Murders;
Deleted Scenes; Bloopers & Outtakes
Specification: Widescreen (1.78:1); Dolby Surround
5.1
Studio: ABC Studios
Release Date: 9/21/2010
MPAA Rating: NR
http://www.castleondvd.com
We'll give Castle: Season 2 an A.
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