Day Two, Operation Better Homes & Deadlines

[lagilman]

So. Herewith, the electrician, messing about in mysterious and noisy ways.
Herewith, the copyedit of Flesh & Fire on my desk.

Herewith, me instead on-line, talking about last night's "Castle," which has won my heart forevermore by having both cop and shadowing writer don protective smock and goggles when going in to meet with the ME -- who is NOT cutting open the body without a care or precaution.

In fact, the only thing that annoyed me about last night's episode was that they're letting Castle be quicker on the uptake than the cops on a regular basis. Occasionally, yeah -- he's got a different way of looking at things, and sometimes that will help. But not all the time, damn it. They're the professionals, he's the talented amateur. And nevermind he's the star, I want an ensemble cast on this one, damn it.

But oh wow, they're making everyone on this show into actual.... people. Even the other cops. Even his alky mother, who veered away from parody into three-dimensions last night, thank you for that.

(y'know, it's hard to type with 20 pounds of scardeycat cuddling in your lap.)


Mind you, the plots are still on the skimpy side, but expecting something New! and Different! out of a cop show is... probably expecting too much. The revelations about Castle's family, however, are are nice counterpoint (did anyone else get from the "why didn't I have a nanny" conversation that a) ex-wife shown was not Daughter's Mother, and b) Castle's own father was never in the picture?)

And now I suppose I should actually get to work...

Comments

[ruford42.livejournal.com]

Hurray for the book :) Didn't watch that much of Castle, gave it a brief shot as the fiancee was raving about it though... Mmm curious if this is just me, but does Detective Beckett looked like a dumbed-down or at least more naive version of Law & Order: SVU's Detective Bensen? Maybe it's just the hair cut and clothing I saw her in for a few seens but seemed eerily familiar...

I came in on the ME scene, and just found the way he was quipping into her without her seeming so quick on the uptake unamusing so flipped over to catch 'The last frakkin special ever' on SciFi instead...

[lagilman]

"quipping into her?" -- you mean Beckett (the cop)? trust me, she not only holds her own, she gives it back just as fierce, and so far they're about 50/50 on honors.

[wedschilde.livejournal.com]

ooooooo... so ex-wife is a dot in the show? excellent!

[djonn]

Indeed, it sounds as if Castle's daughter was via his first wife, with Ms. Annoying Ex being #2. Also, I have the vague but distinct impression that however he parted from his daughter's mom, it wasn't by his choice; she may have died or disappeared, I'm thinking. And on Beckett's side, it's very strongly implied -- though she's stubbornly silent on the point -- that she's had at least one intense relationship go south very, very badly.

I think it's early yet to assume that Castle's going to out-deduce the cops every week; he was definitely ahead this time, but remember in the opener that he totally fell for the son's alibi sales pitch before Beckett pointed it out. Even if this isn't a true ensemble (yet, anyway), the premise strongly suggests that Beckett and Castle strike sparks precisely because both of them are much smarter than those around them, and very much inclined to one-up each other wherever possible.

A nice point of contrast between the first two episodes: in the opener, Castle is the active player in the showdown with the killer ("the safety was on all the time!"); this week, Beckett drove that scene, with Castle keeping very, very still and for once doing (almost) exactly what she wanted.

Promising stuff indeed.

[lagilman]

yeah -- and he (Castle) was so proud of himself for actually staying still. Beckett seems to have an entire range of "exasperated with castle" expressions, but that one -- "do you know how lucky you are not to be dead?" seems to get the ost workout.

it wasn't by his choice; she may have died or disappeared, I'm thinking

*nod* Normally I'd say death, but it's the kind of thing tv writers like to hold in reserve for sweeps week.

[burger-eater.livejournal.com]

CASTLE has been showing signs of being fun and engaging. Too bad it's on so late.

This episode did have one instance where the cop knows more than the writer--the bit where she explains why Husband #1 was her main suspect but she didn't want to question him too closely right away. If they keep throwing in something like that every episode (for as long as it holds up), I'll be happy.

But the real reason I keep tuning in is Castle's mayor-on-speed-dial-filthy-rich-bestseller lifestyle. It's like porn for writers.

[lagilman]

yeah, it's odd that it's on at 10, considering it's really rather tame, all things considered, and surprisingly family-friendly (the crime scene violence balanced by he very real affection and domestic patter between dad and daughter). I'd think it a natural for the 9pom slot. Then again, I was raised with "family viewing" hours being an actual construct.

[martianmooncrab.livejournal.com]

I am recording the show for a friend, I kinda missed that part where the ex isnt his kids mom. I was reading during the show.

Give the kitty a cuddle..

[lagilman]

Kitty is still refusing to come out of his hideyhole (despite the election having been gone for over an hour) but he will get many scritches tonight.

The bit about ExWife not being MoC wasn't stated outright, just a passing reference to "your mother" and the fact that he's been married twice, plus the fact that ExWife isn't connected to them at all save via his career...

[martianmooncrab.livejournal.com]

I will look for that, I have to make a disc for my friend so I will actually watch the shows again when I do that.

I do believe by the end of the remodel, the kitty will have worked out a way to make you pay for a very long time.

[badgermirlacca.livejournal.com]

I liked this ep a lot better. I particularly liked the scene with the cop talking the girl into dropping the knife, and Castle keeping his damn mouth shut.

One of the things that annoys me about many scenes in this is the memory of a handful of writers (well, at the time writer wannabes) attending a NM OME Medicolegal Investigation of Death Conference which was intended as a required biannual refresher for death investigators. A couple of the writer wannabes just had to jump in and show off everything they thought they knew in every session. Someone finally took them to one side and pointed out that they were guests and that the conference was not all about them. Castle reminds me of those wannabes.