Castle: Looking Good at the Half

Law & Order used to be my go to “cop show” to watch but Castle premiered last year and has quickly taken its place! The writing and acting is superb! Enjoy the quotes I’ve mixed in from the season so far!

Castle: “We make a pretty good team, you know. Like Starsky and Hutch, Turner and Hooch.”

Beckett: “You do remind me a little of Hooch.”

For Castle newbies, here is the basis of the show. Successful mystery novelist Richard Castle was in need of some inspiration after killing off his main character. He is single (two ex-wives), a ladies man, somewhat cocky and sees life as his playground. Castle is called in to help the police, specifically NYPD Detective Kate Beckett, with copycat murders from his books. She is a tough, by the book and attractive individual. Beckett quickly becomes Castle’s model for his protagonist, Nikki Heat, in his new novel and due to his friendship with the NYC Mayor, he is able to continue to work with her. Therefore, their writer/detective partnership is born.

Castle to Beckett: “Oh, see…right there. Disapproving…judgmental. You’re totally my work wife.”

What makes the show enjoyable? The characters! Nathan Fillion is perfect as Castle and it doesn’t hurt that “he really is ruggedly handsome.” Kate Beckett is the yin to Castle’s yang and puts him in his place very quickly. It is also amusing how she secretly is such a huge fan of Castle’s books. Detectives Esposito and Ryan always provide a laugh. Castle’s mother, a diva and actress, Martha, and his wise beyond her years daughter, Alexis, both live with him and add a unique element to the show. The cast has great chemistry and play well off of each other. The dialogue is sharp and witty, and sometimes downright silly.

Castle: “What is it about full moons that bring out all the crazies?”

Beckett: “I don’t know, you tell me.”

ABC’s website describes Beckett as someone who has “gained a reputation as a detective who’s intrigued by the “freaky ones,” the sort of cases that don’t fit neatly into a box.” In the first half of season two, we definitely saw some cases that were “out of the box.” There were a variety of cases involving drug mules, the Russian mafia, con artists, babies switched at birth, vampires, an A.D.A. who was secretly a pimp, and a corporate spy. Also, during season two, Heatwave, Castle’s newest novel, was published. It was dedicated to Beckett and was an instant hit! Castle is signed up for three more Nikki Heat books therefore extending the Beckett/Castle partnership. Yay!

Another interesting development this season is seeing Castle’s softer side. The majority of the time, Castle is a goofball, playing Guitar Hero or flying his remote controlled helicopter around the apartment or as Beckett put it, “he is like a nine-year-old on a sugar rush, totally incapable of taking anything seriously.” Although we know he is a great father, we have seen him truly care about and try to help others; like helping the singer, Sky, sober up and looking out for Rina, a model and Alexis’ old babysitter. Castle’s drama queen mother, Martha, has reconnected with her high school sweetheart through her “My Face” page that Alexis helped her create. Alexis is starting to think about colleges, including Oxford, much to Castle’s dismay and even had a successful internship at the police station.

Castle: “I could get a bloodhound. I could name him Sherlock and then I could bring him to crime scenes.”

Castle fans, if you have a Twitter account, follow WriteRCastle! It is written as Richard Castle and is terrific! Two of my favorite recent tweets are “Happy to be wearing my favorite holiday sweater, even though it requires three batteries and fifteen light bulbs” and “I keep adjusting the heat, but the Precinct is either a sauna or a freezer. Esposito says he’ll cuff me if I change the thermostat again.”

Esposito: “Who would steal a dead body?”

Castle: “Oh plenty of people. Organ harvesters, cadaverless med students, satanists, mad scientists looking to create their own monster.”

Overall, I’ve been thoroughly entertained by the first half of Castle season two but wonder if anything will happen with Beckett’s mother’s case (which was discussed in season 1)? Will Beckett or Castle act on the attraction for each other? This show is lighthearted and the cases aren’t too mindboggling. I look forward to watching each week…the characters keep me coming back for more! I am excited to see upcoming guest stars, Alyssa Milano (Charmed) and Sarah Brown (General Hospital, The Bold and the Beautiful). Castle (according to imdb.com) returns January 4^th!

Mondays at 10/9c on ABC

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Photographs courtesy of ABC, Ron Tom, Adam Larkey, and Karen Neal.