Nathan Fillion's New Series: Castle

[McLovin]

Hype for Dollhouse, but not for Castle? Shame on all of you!

Nathan Fillion's new series Castle just premiered last night on ABC. For anyone that doesn't know about the show yet, the premise: Fillion stars as Richard Castle, a famous mystery novelist who is called in to help the NYPD solve a copy-cat murder based on his novels.

Because wikipedia has the best series synopses! Did anyone else watch? Personally, I thought it was outstanding--and hilarious. And it's perfect that Fillion's cast alongside a female lead that's just as much of a witty smartass as he is 8D

Here's to Whedon and Fillion overcoming their cancellations!

[Xeio]

I recorded it, haven't yet watched it. More to come later...?

[thatguy]

Ooh! tvrss here I come!

Thoughts will follow, later.

[Sarr]

Holy crap, hadn't even heard about this. TO SURF THE CHANNEL!

[thatguy]

while viewing:
-Mal + wireless = fucking win
-There's a certain lightness to it, ironically on a show about death.
-Also, it looks like James Patterson is on the writing staff and made a cameo (are those other famous authors?). That's cool.
-"What do you take on your hotdog? AH!ApplesApplesApples!"
-The "BOW" sound effect is dumb.
-I like how they switch the soundtrack with the train of thought the characters are on.
-"TELL ME YOU SAW THAT!"
-How are they going to stretch this into a series?

Post viewing:

Spoiler:

Ok, so all in all, I like it. The characters are believable, not stereotypical, and there's a whole bunch of supporting characters introduced in this episode. Castle's celebrity will also draw in new personas and probably RL celebrities as the stories require. There were some genuine laugh-out-loud moments in every act, so it's not going to be a downer. He sets up wireless as the main character in his new books, so not every show will be a murder out of his novels. I was initially confused on this point. I'd say tvrss the other monday nighters you watch and watch this one at broadcast time so it can stick around.

[phlip]

I just had a picture of Nathan Fillion in a remake of The Castle...

[Xeio]

Ok, I have watched it. It is awesome. Also, they love messing with the 4th wall.

[Princess Marzipan]

Izzit shit on Hulu?

[Mother Superior]

The characters are believable, not stereotypical

What, you mean apart from the female police officer who's "broken", the smart, responsible daughter with the "Aww, silly dad"-attitude, the stupid, male co-workers and the captain who's just concerned with pleasing the mayor's office? Yeah, no stereotypes there.
The writer's card game made me laugh, it was pretty much a game of "Let's name as many detective story clichés as we can in under five minutes".
-You need someone who thinks the kid is innocent, who keeps digging!
-My god, I can't believe no-one's ever written anything like that before!
Seriously, the show's not bad, of course it's not- It's got Nathan Fillion, but I'm worried it will wear thin rather quickly.

[Tajfoon]

I agree with Mother Superior, the show was littered with clichés. It was good fun but i hope they flesh out the characters alot more in future episodes, otherwise this show will get really boring really fast. So far the only thing that will keep me watching is Nathan Fillion.

[xdaemanix]

Shiiiiit, I saw something about this... made a mental note.... and then forgot. >.<

Time to play catch up. Ohh Nathan... how I have missed thee.

[Yakk]

My GF calls him "Captain Tightpants".

[Virtual_Aardvark]

I get the feeling that it'll get old pretty fast, but not in such a way to make me stop watching. Just because the plot is already visible doesn't mean I can't enjoy decent acting and writing. Also, murder is my heroin.

[steewi]

I'd not heard of it. It sounds like it's worth investigating, even if only for a couple of episodes.

[ArgonV]

Well, it made me laugh a few times, so I guess I'll keep watching as long as it doesn't bore me. It does kinda remind me of Californication, without the sex, drugs and rock 'n roll of course. Probably meets some other cop-gets-a-partner-she-doesn't-like series that I don't know. Maybe more Californication meets a buddy movie. Anyway, writing and acting is decent enough.

[Moo]

The one clip I've seen looks worth a look; I'll have to see if it gets picked up on UK television. Otherwise resort to less legal means.

[Sorroth]

That was one of the most fun shows I've seen in a while. I'm concerned the dynamic between Castle and Beckett might stale after a while, but they've got plenty of time to beef up the characters. Besides, the writings good and funny enough to keep me watching.

Favourite parts:
"Ah! Apples! Apples! Apples!"
"Ooh, Marklow! Tell him I said hi."

I did find the repeated zoom-in-on-object-or-person-with-annoying-sound-effect motif very irritating. And I'm terrified that "Who are you?" is going to become a running gag.

[Clumpy]

Am I the only one who's surprised that the Firefly spark seems to have followed Fillion rather than Whedon in this case? Dollhouse is fairly boring.

[thatguy]

Am I the only one who's surprised that the Firefly spark seems to have followed Fillion rather than Whedon in this case? Dollhouse is fairly boring.

Dude, check the latest episode of Dollhouse.

But, yeah, that's what I thought at first, too.

[korora]

My biggest gripe so far is that the mom is trying too hard to be Lucille Bluth. Other than that, I enjoyed the first two episodes.

[Sorroth]

Fun episode this week, if not quite as good as the last couple. The quick-fire script was enjoyable as ever, and I liked Castle's "The weak people just don't get it" thing near the end, although I didn't find the final villain's character to be particularly believable. It was fairly obvious that he was lying at the start, and his final confession was so completely idiotic that it basically knocked down much of the earlier character development.

Also, I was wrong, and the Beckett-Castle dynamic has not yet grown stale. He seems to have accepted that he ain't getting anywhere near her pants, and she's accepted that he's good at the murderer-catchin' stuff.

EDIT: I just noticed the colour of coat Fillion's still partial to wearin'.

[thatguy]

Also, I was wrong, and the Beckett-Castle dynamic has not yet grown stale. He seems to have accepted that he ain't getting anywhere near her pants, and she's accepted that he's good at the murderer-catchin' stuff.

Yeah, I still like it. I hope they don't do anything stupid with it later, though. Like, a one-night stand or somesuch.

Generally, overarching plot aren't set up on the first few episodes so I'm not expecting much, but I can't see how they're going to move beyond murder-of-the-week.

[DarkKnightJared]

Saw the first episode--pretty good stuff. Going to watch the rest online now.

[Jack Saladin]

Yeah, I still like it. I hope they don't do anything stupid with it later, though. Like, a one-night stand or somesuch.

Nah, writers have long learnt that snapping the sexual tension of your main couple will always ruin the show and drag your ratings into the ground. I'm pretty sure that literally every time that's happened, the audience has immediately halved and the show has been cancelled.

[DarkKnightJared]

Just watched the last two--yeah, still pretty good; the third episode espicially. I'll have to make sure to watch it next Monday.

[Jack Saladin]

Generally, overarching plot aren't set up on the first few episodes so I'm not expecting much, but I can't see how they're going to move beyond murder-of-the-week.

I don't think they will. It's a one-murder-a-week cop show. We might get a few two or three episode cases every couple of seasons, but I doubt we'll see anything more than that. Some slow moving progression with his family and stuff in the cut-aways, sure, but that's about it.

[MaybeAndroid]

I love this show. It's nothing ground breaking, just another twist of the classic police procedural, but it's a lot of fun to watch.

[ArgonV]

Yeah, so far I like it. And the last episode, Beckett in that dress...

[Jessica]

If castle stared someone else (and everything else was the same), it would be a mediocre show, in the same vein as all the other "cop comedy/drama with a 'special person' solving things in a different way". In fact, I'd probably rate it lower than most (I'd rather watch lie to me, and numb3rs than this, save for fillion). But, well, I like Fillion, and it's not horrible, so I'm still watching.

But, yeah. cliche, murder of the week show. Nothing to write home about.

[Amarantha]

I just had a picture of Nathan Fillion in a remake of The Castle...

"How's the serenity!"

[mosc]

If I didn't already watch the closer religiously I would probably love this show. That said, you guys aught to watch the closer. It's just better.

[jerdak]

If castle stared someone else (and everything else was the same), it would be a mediocre show, in the same vein as all the other "cop comedy/drama with a 'special person' solving things in a different way". In fact, I'd probably rate it lower than most (I'd rather watch lie to me, and numb3rs than this, save for fillion). But, well, I like Fillion, and it's not horrible, so I'm still watching.

But, yeah. cliche, murder of the week show. Nothing to write home about.

Yeah it definitely speaks to Fillion's pull as a sarcastic funny guy. My fiancee was all shocked when I said I'd stick around to watch Desperate Housewives with her until she realized it was only because the "space dude from that dumb show you watch" (her words as I had made her watch Serenty the month before) was on.

[ArgonV]

Looks like we're getting somewhat of an arc now, with

Spoiler:

Castle trying to figure out Beckett's mothers murder

[GhostWolfe]

To bump or not to bump..?

Screw it. bumpify! We only just got this series downunder, but I'm pretty fond of it.

I cannot believe no one's mentioned that this show got picked up for a second season! also: linky

/angell

[Yubtzock]

Just started to watch the series and I'm very optimistic. Seems like this role actually fits Fillion. The plot is double-layered. Books and "real" life. I know that the story is like from a book, not necessarily realistic, but still fun. I'll give it a try.

I like the characters, but hope they won't get monocharacteristic: writer - witty and cheeky, detective - mean and cold, writer's daughter - well-behaved, writer's mother - crazy and horny old lady, and so on.
If each next episode won't get similar to the previous it's going to be great.

[MotorToad]

Why did no one PM me about this?!?!?!? I just stumbled over it on hulu and I'm about 1/3 through the first show of the second season. I didn't see many episodes from the first season but it's not hard to pick up the gist. So far it's promising.

Not quite Captain Hammer... but still promising.

[mosc]

I record this one. It's mostly meh but Fillion's a very good actor. It's refereshing not to be frustraited at the acting on a TV show. I'm looking at you Gina Bellman.

[ArgonV]

Was it just me, or did the coroner get some extra screen time last episode?

[MotorToad]

I record this one. It's mostly meh but Fillion's a very good actor. It's refereshing not to be frustraited at the acting on a TV show. I'm looking at you Gina Bellman.

Heh. I really liked Timothy Hutton in Nero Wolfe (to this day the only DVDs I've ever purchased), so I started DVRing Leverage without even knowing anything about it. Even with a concept I could be drowned into, the show just sucks. She's a large part if it, though not nearly so much as the hair-thin plots.

[Zorlin]

I record this one. It's mostly meh but Fillion's a very good actor. It's refereshing not to be frustraited at the acting on a TV show. I'm looking at you Gina Bellman.

Agreed. Love Fillion in this, the daughter is cute but pretty believable. Season Two premiere was... meh, actually. Hopefully it gets back to the calibre of S1, seeing as I loved pretty much every episode. S2 really hasn't done it for me so far.