A Month of TV Commentary: A meme in 30 parts, Day 2

[autographedcat]

From aiela, via madlori, the 30-Day TV Meme.

Day 02 - A show that you wish more people were watching

Castle

Most of the TV shows I watch these days are reasonably popular, and most are well into or past their third or fourth season, and not showing any immediate signs of going off the air. Castle has, in fact, been picked up for a third season, which is delightful news. But I'm picking it anyway, for a variety of reasons.

1. It stars Nathan Fillion. As I mentioned yesterday, I was a big fan of Firefly, and I'm always pleased to see those actors get really good roles. (I'm not consistant about actually watching them, mind you. I never watched The Sarah Conners Chronicles despite Summer Glau's participation, and I can't quite seem to muster up any interest in V either, even with Morena Baccarin.)
   
2. Stana Katic, the actress who plays Castle's partner Kate Beckett, is delightful. She manages to find the perfect blend of qualities that make her an engaging and real character.
   
3. It's a good old-fashioned buddy-cop show. Now, I love me a good procedural, and CSI:NY is still on my weekly must-watch list, but sometimes I like my crime show a bit less technical. (And to be fair, the CSI shows have gotten slightly less technical as time has gone on.)
   
4. It has, hands down, one of the best father-daughter relationships I've seen on television. I think my favourite scenes in the show have involved the wonderful interactions between Rick Castle and his daughter Alexis (Molly Quinn). These subplot scenes add a great deal to the depth of the character; they show us that Castle does, in fact, have a serious side, and this helps to keep him from become a caricature.
   
5. On a personal note, a very dear friend of mine is the show creator/head writer's sister, so I've been pulling for it just because I know his success makes her happy.
   

I was delighted to get the news that Castle would be returning for a third season, and if you haven't given the show a try, I highly, highly recommend it.




Day 01 - A show that should have never been cancelled

Day 03 - Your favorite new show (aired this t.v season)
Day 04 - Your favorite show ever
Day 05 - A show you hate
Day 06 - Favorite episode of your favorite t.v show
Day 07 - Least favorite episode of your favorite t.v show
Day 08 - A show everyone should watch
Day 09 - Best scene ever
Day 10 - A show you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
Day 11 - A show that disappointed you
Day 12 - An episode you’ve watched more than 5 times
Day 13 - Favorite childhood show
Day 14 - Favorite male character
Day 15 - Favorite female character
Day 16 - Your guilty pleasure show
Day 17 - Favorite mini series
Day 18 - Favorite title sequence
Day 19 - Best t.v show cast
Day 20 - Favorite kiss
Day 21 - Favorite ship
Day 22 - Favorite series finale
Day 23 - Most annoying character
Day 24 - Best quote
Day 25 - A show you plan on watching (old or new)
Day 26 - OMG WTF? Season finale
Day 27 - Best pilot episode
Day 28 - First t.v show obsession
Day 29 - Current t.v show obsession
Day 30 - Saddest character death

Comments

[markbernstein.livejournal.com]

I'll certainly endorse the recommendation of Castle, and add that it has some of the sharpest dialog on TV.

My choice won't surprise you - it's So You Think You Can Dance. SYTYCD is, by far, the best reality show on TV. It gives us tremendously talented dancers, working with great, professional choreographers, along with judges who obviously know and love dance, and a host, Cat Deeley, who makes it fun for everyone. And in a wonderful bit of timing, the new season starts next Thursday. :)

[autographedcat.livejournal.com]

Absolutely. I had a bullet point in mind noting the dialogue that got lost somewhere during the composition of the essay. :) It's sharp *and* natural. The lines don't sound odd in the characters mouths. It has a tremendous "sense of self" that I think separates the good shows from the bad ones.

Your choice doesn't surprise me, and I'm glad you won me over to try that. We're very much looking forward to the new season starting! (I'll have more to say about SYTYCD in a few days)

[netpositive.livejournal.com]

Ok, I will give this another shot since DwtS has jumped the shark for me but I haven't stopped loving watching dancing. :)

[heathrow.livejournal.com]

I really enjoy "Castle" as well. The writing is very witty, and the chemistry is pleasant.

[snippy]

I enjoy Castle very much, it's usually smart and funny. I like the entire family relationship-Castle, his mother, his daughter. The writers repeatedly surprise me with original outcomes to tired family issues.

[autographedcat.livejournal.com]

Indeed. I was extraordinarily pleased with the episode where Alexis and her friend go to a party, and the friend ends up over-consuming alcohol. (Both are, of course, underage). Alexis brings the girl back home, where Rick and his mother help her over to the couch:

Castle, holding out his hand: "Do you have her parents number on your phone?"
Alexis: "Yes, but....do we HAVE to call them?"
Castle, firmly: "Yes, we do."

There wasn't any recrimination, he didn't yell, or freak out, but he was firm, decisive, and *responsible*. And I think it's important that we see that side of him, because it's so at odds with his "public image".

[netpositive.livejournal.com]

We've taken to calling the show "Beckett" because Stana's been walking away with so many scenes this season. The pilot actually scared me because Castle smirked so darn much. Thankfully they ended the catering to Fillion fans quickly and moved into a bunch of supertwisty murder mysteries while peeling back the layers of Kate and Rick. And dialogue. Not just lines, but dialogue.

Even better, the background characters have grown so much over time as well. Not just Castle's family, but how about the depth slowly being revealed in Beckett's work "family". The wisecracking Ryan has a soft heart. The dry intensity of Esposito hypnotizes me. World's coolest Captain. World's hippest Medical Examiner.

Special kudos, as you note, to the father-daughter relationship of Rick and Alexis. Every moment reminds me so much of my relationship with my own dad - not perfect, but just about perfect.

[billroper]

I wish more people had watched the current -- now last -- season of Heroes. This was really the first good season since the first season, in my opinion, but it had already lost so many viewers that it was DOA.

[phillip2637.livejournal.com]

I've watched Castle all along and still enjoy it. Just sometimes I get the uneasy feeling that they're a bit too camp, that they're winking at the audience with a "Yes, yes, we all know it's pretend" attitude. I get it from all the characters sometimes, but Ryan and Esposito most.

[erinwrites.livejournal.com]

I am embarrassed to say that I have not yet watched Castle, as the friend you mention in #5 is a friend we share. It's on my list...just haven't gotten to it yet!

[gingicat]

There are LOTS of people watching Castle.

I aggressively copy-edited this Yuletide story, and I now "ship" Kate and Lanie. :)
http://archiveofourown.org/works/36913

[fmullen7.livejournal.com]

You know you can watch episodes of Castle on the internet, just go to the network site...