DVD/TV Series Review: Castle Seasons One and Two

 

Castle is a twist on the cop-buddy show in which one is a womanizing mystery writer named Richard Castle (played by Nathan Fillion) and the other is a homicide detective, Kate Beckett (played by Stana Katic) on whom Castle bases a new series of novels after he experiences writer's block and kills off his current main character. He is interviewed by police due to a copycat murder that matches a killing in one of his novels, and because of his fame and wealth, Castle is able to worm his way into what amounts to an extended ride-along with Beckett and her partners Ryan and Esposito (played by Seamus Dever and Jon Huertas), and Tamala Jones, the medical examiner, and help them solve murders. The rest of the cast is rounded out by Susan Sullivan, Castle's mother and aging theater actress whom he basically bankrolls, and Molly Quinn, who plays Castle's teenage daughter Alexis.

The first season is a short one (just ten episodes) and really is focused on character development and establishing the "will they, won't they" get together storyline for Castle and Beckett. It is mostly a crime-of-the-week procedural show but does have larger story arcs that play out throughout the season, the biggest one being the mystery around the death of Beckett's mother. Season two continues those themes and, of course, throws the usual roadblocks in the main character's relationship. It ends on somewhat of a cliffhanger with the partnership at a crossroads. In the second season, the show started getting more established guest stars including Alyssa Milano, and Dana Delaney.

For those who get the DVD sets, in both seasons, the extras include a gag reel, behind-the-scenes features, and deleted scenes. In the season one set, there are commentary tracks on selected episodes, and a feature with the producer Stephen J. Cannell, who was the creator of many 1980s TV series. So, a good amount for people who like watching the bonus content.

Overall, the show is very good. It is well written and acted, and even though it can be a bit predictable at times, and does have some of the canned themes that all romantic dramas have, it does not feel cookie cutter. The cast has great chemistry, which is interesting because, as some may know Katic and Fillion reportedly hated each other in real life by the end of the series run. If there was any animosity between them in the first couple of seasons you definitely could not tell. So, if you are looking for a show that has a good blend of drama, comedy, and mystery, this is a good option.