Castle: "Murder He Wrote": AKA: Hilarity Ensues

Last Monday was easily my favorite episode in a long time. It was old school bubbly fun Castle. Don't get me wrong, I've always loved and enjoyed the show, but I would be lying if I said that it hasn't evolved more toward the drama side of dramedy in the past few seasons. Not a bad thing by any means, but sometimes, especially since TNT has started airing the earlier seasons, I miss the silly ridiculous banter side to the show. Last night old school Castle was back in full force.

WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD

First of all I died when Castle called the boys about the murder and they made a Murder She Wrote joke. Sure the joke itself was funny, but made even more so by my own experience. Way back in the day, Castle's premier date actually, I still lived at home. My dad had come home that night and asked if I'd watch this new show with him that was starting that night. He told me it was about a writer who teams up with the police to solve crimes. "Basically," he said, "It seems like it's going to be like Murder She Wrote but with a guy." Having had had that conversation before the very first episode, the Murder She Wrote joke was probably way funnier to me than others.

While discussing the show this weekend, yup this is how we do, I mentioned how I really hoped that Ryan would be the first of the crew to uncover the truth about Caskett. Think about it, him knowing and not being able to tell anyone is gonna be hilarious. In my mind it is the equivalent of Joey being the first to know about Monica and Chandler.

The way Ryan found out was perfect too. We rarely get to see Ryan in an interrogation setting, and even when we do, he more often than not is playing "good cop" to Esposito's "bad cop", so it was a real treat to see him go all hard ass on someone. Especially when you see that the transition didn't occur until he started hounding the suspect for info on Castle's "girlfriend". His look of smug satisfaction as he talked to Castle was beyond perfect, like the cat who ate the canary. Though I can't help but worry about how Esposito is gonna take it when he finds out Ryan has been holding out on this info. I hate when the boys fight. Seriously, last year's season finally left me beyond upset that they weren't speaking, and don't even get me started about the two of them beating the crap out of each other at the end of season three.

All and all it was a fantastically fun episode. It's nice to see the Castle PTB bringing the funny back.

Community Benched?: AKA: Why I Have No Reason to watch NBC Now

I'm finally weighing in. This week NBC announced their new mid season line up...and something very important was missing...NBC had decided to "bench" Community. This lead to a rousing chorus of "WTF?" around the fandom.

I feel, Jeffrey Kirkpatrick, of TV Fanatic perhaps put it best when he stated, "Evidently, you are completely unaware of the power of the Communies. They're as crazy as Dan Harmon. They'll cut you." You can read his full article here.

Ok so that may be pretty strong but, still the out pouring of black beards, a reference to the dark timeline in episode, Remedial Chaos Theory, the petitions and just general outcry on the Internet is pretty amazing.

I admit that I got into Community later than most, but I still love this show, in fact with the exception of Grimm, which due to it's awful tome slot of 9pm on Fridays, I record and usually forget to watch for days, Community is the ONLY reason I tune into NBC at all. I remember the days of Must See Tv and making sure that I was home to watch Friends and Will and Grace, but lets face it it's been a LONG time since the glory days of the peacock. Even the Today Show got to annoying for my taste, with the addition of Meredith Vera and I switched over to the Early Show, for my morning needs.

It is a VERY rare occasion these days for any tv in my house to be tuned in to NBC, to be fair I tried returning to the channel this fall but none of their shows excited me all that much. I started off watching Playboy Club, and I, though I think I may be in the minority here, actually liked it. But with that gone, and Grimm stuck on Fridays, and therefore relegated to my DVR, I do have a life folks, Community was the one show NBC had to offer that I couldn't wait to see each week.

The new shows for the mid season unvailings aren't looking so great either. While SMASH sounds like it should be something right up my alley, I'm just not really feeling it, though I had every intention of watching, only because it employs so many people I know and love. However, it is slated for 10pm on Monday nights, which pits it up against CBS's Hawaii 5-0 and ABC's Castle, both well established shows, which, sorry SMASH take my allegiance over you. Also, and I realize that SMASH is NOT Glee, but one would think in order to get ratings up, you might want to at least try to tap into that Glee watching demographic, 10pm is  a little late for that.

I will admit to being IN LOVE with NBC's new series Awake, unfortunately they have stopped production due to some "pressing creative issues". Thus putting them behind and absent for the mid season schedule thus far.

NBC should take the time to realize that although they are not getting the ratings they desire, they are putting out shows that have rabid loyal fan bases, best not to anger the few loyal viewers you have. Until then, if all they have to offer is Whitney  and Are You There, Chelsea?  I think I'll pass.

Castle "Kick the Ballistics": AKA: Yeay for a Detective Ryan Episode!

As an avid Castle fan, I will be one of the first to tell you that although I love Castle and Beckett, I ADORE the often lesser featured Ryan and Esposito. Over the years, we've gotten to see a bit more of the two secondary characters, Ryan's proposal to Jenny O'Mally, Esposito's relationship with Lanie, but more often than not all juiciest scenes have are fave duo on the sidelines.

Last night, we got to really see Ryan in action. Remember way back in season three, almost a year ago actually, when the 3XK killer disarmed Ryan and took his weapon? Well that gun has finally resurfaced, used in a murder that has Chinese Mob connections. Really though, the case isn't why I feel the need to write about this episode, the reason is the the ridiculously amazing performance put out by Seamus Dever.

If you haven't yet seen the episode, you need to go check it out now. It's crazy to think that, his character was a late addition to the show as the original presentation pilot was only 37 minutes long.

He was able to give us a dizzying array of emotions, anger, frustration, compassion and cunning. He and Esposito going "undercover" at the library? Priceless. The lengths that those two will go to for each other and that's what makes them so endearing.

I adore Castle and Beckett, I do, but getting to see more of Ryan, now that is something I welcome whole-heartedly.

Week Four: AKA: Making Decisions

So we're into week four of the fall tv season, and decisions are being made. I've gone through several weeks of new shows and am starting to make my decisions onto which shows I am going to make the commitment to. So far here are my updated verdicts:

Sundays

Homeland (10pm Showtime)
Ok, so I've only gotten my hands on the pilot, but as I've said before I ADORE Mandy Patinkin and as I think the concept an amazing new take on a familiar fear. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing more.

Pan Am (10pm ABC)
I wasn't sure I was going to continue watching this show after the pilot, but three episodes later and I find myself looking forward to each new episode. I adore Captain Dean (AKA: Mike Vogal, who will always be Dean from Grounded For Life to me), and Kate Jennings Grant has a recurring as role as Judith Cameron, Laura and Kate's mother. She just flat out rocks, and she is way prettier then they make her up to be.

Mondays

Terra Nova (8pm Fox)
I am well aware I need to be watching this show, and fully admit to it being my fault that I have yet to catch up. However due to my due to my commute anything airing before 10pm is a gamble on whether or not I make it home to watch.

Hart of Dixie (9pm CW)
It's a cute show, and three weeks in and I am still entertained. Is it a thought provoking master piece? Hardly, but it's sweet and a good way to the hour before Castle.

Playboy Club (10pm NBC)
Well the decision was made FOR me here. It wasn't the best show I had ever seen, but it was interesting enough. I was really looking forward to seeing where the storyline between Sean and Bunny Alice was headed. Homosexuality in the 1960's is not something we, the viewers, have been readily exposed to, I was really interested to see how they handled it. Unfortunately we may never know.

Tuesdays

Ringer (9pm CW)
This is one of the saddest hings I've typed. I was psyched for the premiere and raced home for the second episode, I was beyond excited to have Buffy Summers and Richard Alpert once again gracing my screen. Yet now after three episodes, I've realized I don't really care about the story. It's not a bad show, it just seems to be moving fairly slowly, and I don't really care about the characters themselves.I'm going to stick with it or awhile but sad to say when the mid season replacements start up, I'll probably end up watching something else instead.

Wednesday

Revenge (10pm ABC)
This show was honestly a pleasant surprise. I wasn't sure how they were going to sustain this as a tv show, as opposed to a movie, but, at least for now, it seems to be working quite nicely. More importantly, I actually "care" about the characters. I want to befriend Nolan, console Jack about his father, and while I'm not 100% sure how I feel about Victoria, I know that I want to know more about her.

American Horror Story (10pm FX)
We're only one episode in and honestly I am still in WTF mode. I'm not giving up on it just yet, but honestly the jury is still out on whether or not it's being added to my regular schedule. 

Thursday

Person of Interest (9pm CBS)
I still need to catch up but I'm gonna stick with it, because let's face it Ben Linus always has a plan.

Castle "Heroes and Villians": AKA: Be Still My Lil Geeky Heart!

Before tonight's brand new episode, let's catch up on last week's shenanigans. Be still my little geeky heart, Castle has gone and done a super hero episode! Did I mention I adore this show?

This weeks episode had plenty of twists and turns and I have to admit I didn't immediately guess who the killer was, which is a testament to the great writing. They still found away to mention Kate's mother's case, because we are not about to loose sight of that storyline anytime soon. Though I have to admit they did lay the writer/muse parody on a bit thick.

The idea of there being an actual super hero vigilante roaming around the streets of NYC doesn't really bother me. As long as they stick to the "never kill" code, is it really such a bad thing? I've always had a fascination for super heroes, probably stemming from daily viewings of Batman, The Animated Series as a child. I watched The Superman one as well, but was never as impressed by him, I mean after Superman was an alien, he had super powers, Batman was just a man, an incredibly smart and wealthy man, but a man none the less. I mean in theory, if you had enough money, you could actually be Batman. That's pretty bad ass, I totally get why Castle wants to be Batman.

I find it cute that they revealed that Becket is also a comic book geek, and that she preordered a copy of the Derek Storm graphic novel. Note to self, still need to order that. It's interesting that even after all this time together, and knowing his feelings for her, she won't admit to being a fan of his work.

Gate's was just as bitchy as last week, maybe even more so. At least Ryan didn't seem as petrified, and his "Castle-ing" was classic. It was so great have the four of them back together again, and in good spirits.

Alexis, for once, is acting like a "normal" teenager, meaning there's been way more friction between her and her dad lately. It's interesting to see this other side to her, but I supposed she couldn't stay daddy's agreeable little girl forever.

Castle "Rise": AKA: My Most Anticipated Series Return

So I know this years big thing on Monday nights is supposed to be The Playboy Club, which is happily living on my DVR at the moment waiting for me to take a peek & see what all the fuss is about, and to be giddy over Sean Maher, of course.

Loyalties run deep though and prevented me from watching last night as it was also the season premiere of Castle. I remember watching the series premiere with my father four years ago. He told me I had to stay up and  watch this new series on ABC that was, as he put it, supposed to be "like Murder She Wrote, but with a guy". Of course the min. Nathan Fillion appeared on my screen I squeaked something about Captain Reynolds, and after that first episode, I was hooked. When eventually The Boy and I moved in together I got him hooked as well. Before our lovely DVR, we had a standing Monday night date to, no matter what, at 10pm be snuggled up on the couch watching Castle.

Needless to say, the season finale had us in shock, first with the involvement of the Captain in Kate's mother's murder and then his ultimate sacrifice while trying to protect her. Throw in Kate being shot at his funeral, I mean we all knew she wouldn't die but still it didn't look good for our beloved Kate, and it was a LONG four months.

So with the countdown finally over The Boy and I, armed with drinks & snacks & my laptop where we gathered in an I'm chat with four of my fave ladies, who had also been eagerly awaiting the premiere, to see what this season had is store for us.

They opened, after a quick refresher, where we'd left off, with Kate being rushed to the hospital, Laney frantically trying to keep her alive and getting pushed aside by the hospital staff. I think the most telling scene was in the those first few moments, seeing how everyone reacted to the situation, and how important Beckett was/is to them. Laney, usually so calm and collected was beside herself. Ryan and Esposito began almost immediately to focus on the only thing they knew they could do in the situation, which was to hunt the bastard down. Castle blamed himself, even Martha and Alexis seemed distraught. Then you have Josh, who had to start the procedure on her, which, um awful, who also blamed Castle for what had occurred. Anyone else really wanted Alexis to slug him for that?

After all that, and nice little fake out, a doctor comes out to let them all know, Kate has survived, shocker I know. When she is well enough for visitors, Castle, flowers in hand, rushes to see her. Of course Kate claims to not remember anything, including his declaration of love, which he after seeing her with Josh, doesn't remind her of. She tells him she needs a few days and will call him.

Meanwhile a mysterious man, who's mailbox goes by the name Smith, receives the package went out by Captain Montgomery before his finally stand off. We learn the package consists of information on Kate's mother's murder & the conspiracy behind it, it was the Captain's insurance envelope.

Cut to three months later, Kate's return to the precinct. Ryan and Esposito greet her like two happy puppies. Have I mentioned how much I love those two? I also find it beyond endearing that although she clearly hadn't contacted either of them while she was out, they both assumed she'd be in close contact with Castle, and were genuinely surprised when she said she hadn't spoken to him.

They fill her in about the new Captain, who has Ryan all paranoid, which is somehow beyond adorable. Captain Victoria "Iron" Gates, seems to have been terrorizing the precinct in Kate's absence. Having coming with a background that includes IA, she runs "her precinct" by the book, and demands to be addressed as "Sir" or "Captain". Ok, the whole sir thing, kinda bothers me. It is as if she is saying that a woman can't be strong and authoritative. I wouldn't call myself a feminist, and I understand that it is often hard for a woman in a traditionally male dominated job, but that really irks me, she should be proud to be a powerful female, not attempt to squash it. Plus she kicked Castle out of the precinct, and although from a "cop" point of view it makes sense, don't mess with my Castle lady! You just know when Kate handed her the target to reapply for her gun that the whole time she was shooting she was picturing Gates.

Ryan and Esposito go off on a fresh homicide case, which gives us our second storyline, and we learn Kate hasn't been in contact with Laney either. Ok, so I understand why she'd be afraid to call Castle, but Laney? Come on, Beckett!

Meanwhile, Kate shows up at Castle's book signing, where our usually plucky leading man seems more and more depressed with each signature. Naturally, he's hurt and more than a little  pissed she hasn't called, and she all but flat out tells I'm just not ready to be in a relationship yet, so please wait. I have to say I was impressed that Castle told her off, rather than just pretend the lack of communication was no big deal. Ironically, it was he who was out of contact after the first season, though admittedly circumstances were different then.

Once things are patched up for the time being, Castle much to the annoyance of Gates, gets himself reassigned to the precinct. Not as if there was any doubt, I mean if he didn't there wouldn't really be a show, would there. Mystery man calls up Castle, telling him that for her safety Kate needs to back off of her mother's case, and naturally the crew solve our B-storyline case.


Really this episode wasn't about what was happening, but rather how the characters were handling the situations. It's rare that Kate allows her venerability to show through, but last night we were able to see that the Captain's death, her shooting and even Castle's confession have really thrown her for a loop. She froze a bit when faced with a gun, by the way how cute was Castle's pep-talk to her during the final gun scene?, and she broke down to Castle about her need to see her mother's case through.

Castle also isn't dealing with the whole Kate's-near-death-situation very well either, it was revealed at the end of the show that he has his very own, high-tech, murder board in his home office. I am praying that they don't decide to make him go all obsessive.

Ryan and Esposito both really stepped it up in this week's episode, they were really given the chance to shine in Beckett's absence, stepping up and doing everything possible to find the shooter. Despite the threat of loosing their jobs, they still have been working tirelessly for Beckett. 

Even Alexis was deeply affected, practically begging her father not to go back to the precinct, as he was standing right next to Beckett, it could have been him.

I have to admit I would have liked to have seen Josh have more of an exit than Kate merely telling Castle that they were no longer together, I get that it wasn't really a necessary scene, but after all he did save her life, not once but twice. Remember in "Countdown" when he is responsible for saving both her and Castle from Hypothermia?

I found it really interesting that they didn't wrap everything up this episode, really we are no further along in Beckett's mother's case than we were four months ago, and while that is slightly frustrating, it's what makes the show so good. Wrapping everything that has been building for three years in two episodes would have been hollow, a quick fix. Once again we are left to wonder what exactly is going on, and I, for one, can not wait until next week.