Castle Review

Castle is one of the latest crime scene dramas that has landed a spot on the ABC network.  There's a twist with this show as the producers have added a good bit of humor and a hint of romance in the one-hour show.

Nathan Fillion plays Richard Castle a well-known mystery novelist.  The first episode of Castle aired about five weeks ago and was titled The Copycat Killer.  The show opens with a lady found dead and covered with roses and sunflowers.  NYPD Detective Kate Beckett played by Stana Katic is called in to investigate.   While she is investigating a crime scene Castle is across town promoting his new book.  Unbeknownst to him, Beckett loves his book and soon realizes that the crime she is investigating is following one of Castle's books to a tee.  So, they question him.  Could he be a suspect?  Could he have the know how to carry out a successful murder without ever being caught?

Castle gets on the defense and realizes that he may be considered a suspect so he feels as if he must clear himself.  He begins analyzing the characters in his book and how one might carry out the plans in a novel in the here and now.  Castle has more of a comedic approach and Beckett is a hard nosed investigator so needless to say their personalities are going to clash, there are going to be some major power struggles and the further the storyline goes the more convinced the viewer is that romance is in the air.  We are just wondering when it is going to happen.

Castle helps solve the crime and along the way a few funny antics take place.  Beckett and Castle have some intense confrontations and you believe both will go back to their profession.  But NYPD Captain Roy Montgomery (Ruben Santiago-Hudson) has another plan.  He believes that Castle's writing skills allows him to get into the mind of a killer, a bank robber, arsonist, and etc. so he pairs Castle and Beckett up for further crime scene investigations.  Tamala Jones plays Lanie Parish the Medical Examiner and two other NYPD Detectives that are regulars on the show are Jon Huertas as Javier Esposito and Seamus Dever as Kevin Ryan.

Castle is a single father to a very grounded yet witty teenage daughter.  Molly Quinn plays Alexis.  She adores her father and reads all his books so when he begins helping to solve murder mysteries she is able to pick up on a lot of the commonalities from the cast of characters in the book to the people that are being investigated.  Another important character in the Castle household is Martha Rodgers played by Susan Sullivan.  Martha is basically a washed-up Broadway starlet.  She lives with Castle to help care for his daughter.  Martha is always waiting for her next moment of stardom but Castle believes she's a has been with a drinking problem.  You will have to watch Castle to know what I mean.

Kate Beckett also has another storyline going.  She often has flashbacks of her parents.  I believe an episode dealt with the death of one or both of her parents.  Her past always seems to haunt her and in time you see her beginning to open up with Castle about the little things.  I believe these little confidential chats are what will lead up to a more intimate moment between writer and detective.  Castle is having this very private, assertive and aggressive lady open up and unleash some of the hidden anger, pain, and hurts from her past.  However, Castle has begun writing a new book and he is using Beckett as the leading lady and there are always arguments about what should and should not be included in the novel.

Many are watching Castle because they love the many twists and turns that the show can take.  When you have a writer and a detective investigating the same crime scene it gives ways to many opportunities and outcomes.  But each time you see Castle and Beckett get a better understanding or appreciation of each other you just know something is in the air and you are hoping it is love.  I haven't missed an episode yet.  I have been watching it because I like the added touch of humor and I am waiting and anticipating that first kiss between Castle and Beckett.

Castle is currently being aired on ABC on Monday nights at 10 pm EST.   It's in the Dancing With the Stars and Surviving Suburbia lineup.  Castle is a one hour show and worth every minute.  It's one of the must see shows in my weekly agenda and I would be very disappointed if it ended up on the cutting room floor.  I think I have fallen for Nathan Fillion!  Okay, I don't like him as much as James Denton (Custody) but he is a hottie!