That's right, give yourselves a round of applause.
It's been over two weeks since Castle was renewed for Season 3, but I'm still on cloud nine. It's not often that truly great shows get to live beyond one or two seasons, and Nathan Fillion didn't have the best luck before Castle; he was anchored to a show that was too much for the masses—and so it was lights out for Firefly. But Castle is flourishing marvelously—and it's turning into the best cop show on television.
The last four episodes of Castle have been fantastic. The show nailed both the first and second installments of its two-part event in March, and then followed up with back-to-back creative-as-hell cases. Last week's "Wrapped Up in Death" paid both dramatic and comedic homage to the Indiana Jones movies while making awesome use of its three awesome guest stars: Navi Rawat, fresh off her 5-year Numb3rs stint; Currie Graham, who you've seen in everything; and Erick Avari, that other guy that you've seen in everything. For a night, the trio of big-ish names became big authorities on mummification at the New York History Museum—and suspects in Castle and Beckett's investigation. It was plenty of fun to watch the suspicion jump from guest-star to guest-star, but it was even better to watch this already-silly cast play with a mummy-based plot. Beckett (Stana Katic), Esposito (Jon Huertas), and Ryan (Seamus Dever) tricked Castle into thinking he was cursed with the help of a few carefully planned gags, and the entire team also quoted Scooby Doo throughout the episode (my favorite was Beckett's "Ruh roh!"). And let's not forget the show's running joke: After almost two years, Castle still has his bulletproof "WRITER" vest ready at a moment's notice.
The show also deserves major credit for not moving backward in the URST department. The "Tick, Tick, Tick..." and "Boom!" episodes were pivotal for the Castle-Beckett relationship; for the first time, Beckett trusted Castle's intuition (and instincts with a gun). In "Wrapped Up in Death," Castle asked Beckett to take care of Alexis in the event that something should happen to him. This is major, real progressprogress that a show like Bones has taken five long years to really get going on (though Castle is a faster-paced show, so it makes sense). While Beckett is still quick to question Castle's judgment, she no longer dismisses it.
Which brings me to this week's episode, "The Late Shaft," which also made fantastic use of its guest stars and wove an extremely detailed case out of two recently-ripped-from-the-headlines tales. Tom Bergeron played Bobby Mann, a late-night host who's one part affair-having Letterman and one part ever-irrelevant Leno. Mann's sidekick was played by none other than the great Fred Willard, who I can only hope we'll be seeing more of (Phil Dunphy's dad, yo!). How great was it that he ended up being the killer?
Bergeron and Willard weren't the only famous cameos. French Stewart popped up as suspect Zach Robinson, and Kelly Carlson played starlet Ellie Monroe, whose chemistry with Fillion was much more palpable than Alyssa Milano's earlier this season.
On the joke front, Castle quipped about Twitter, explained the meaning of "FTW," tried to coin a catchphrase, and decided that, as a writer, he should brood more. As usual Fillion delivered every one of his lines with his trademark eyebrow-raising blend of sincerity and silliness. Seriously, where's his "Best Actor in a Comedy" Emmy nomination? Oh, right. Castle is a cop show.
Follow TV.com writer Stefanie Lee on Twitter: @StefAtTVDotCom
Just hope quality keeps up, up with the quantity into the future please.
aside from Bones, all cop shows, unless you count Fringe which I don't, (and medical shows for that matter) are crap. it's nice to see Nathan Fillion associated with something that's actually got some sort of studio backing behind it.
Yeah, Castle is THE best show around these days. And yes, Nathan Fillion deserves an Emmy nomination..
the guest stars are always 9/10 the killers so i just lose the fantasy alttle there
Definitely a big fan of both Bones and Castle (largely because of Joss Whedon alums Boreanaz and Fillion), and both have managed to carve their own very interesting niches into otherwise fairly bland genres. Glad to see Castle (and Fillion) getting their dues.
The show's coming to India soon! Thanks to STAR WORLD... I look forward to watching it... But it'll be a while before I get to watch Dana Delany (Katherine Mayfair, Desperate Housewives) on it, cause I believe she's come on board only in Season 3.
I only thought the culprit was obvious because of the actor. I really don't like celebrity guest stars a lot of the time.. It's like there are three suspects and one of them is a celeb.. you know who it is without any evidence.. It happens way to much on many shows.
I love both Castle and Bones. They are totally different shows, and it is fantastic that they are both successes.
They just stole ideas from Bones and other cop shows and put them together in a very cheap way. Bones for the win!:)
meant its not the best
its not the bet but its certainly up there with its character interaction and lots of hidden references and stuff. i'm really hoping they make the book or movie they continually discuss a reality since it sounds interesting. though most likely they'll just pull a bones/ncis and just constantly mention it but never do anything with it besides a plot line for an episode
I actually didn't like last night's episode, mainly because I thought the killer was incredibly obvious, but otherwise, I completely agree. The show's been great, the characters have great chemistry, and you'd have to be made of stone not to be head over heels in love with Nathan Fillion. The serial killer 2-parter was especially excellent.
It's one of the best cast shows on TV right now, but I was not pleased with the last episode nor any episode that goes bargain hunting for writing in the news headlines.
what a great show!
This show is so damn cool! Others should take a note!
Awesome show!!! Enough said!
Castle is a good show but mainly because of the cast/characters and the witty writing. It is a stretch to call it anywhere near "the best cop show" on TV because by definition, I think that belongs in the realm of true drama. Dunno...just MHO. It is a gem though, and there is no getting away from that...
I totally agree with the article above... I love this show. Nathan Fillion as Castle is really great and Jon Huertas - Esposito and Seamus Dever - Ryan as partners are hilarious. This trio is soo funny when they try to create some theories it makes me laugh. I don't think ths show is cliche because other tv-shows are rather more or less but deadly serious about cases, morders, victims and all things connected with investigations. I cannot imagine any of the CSI cops with this eyebrow-rising look or saying "X, take the picture".
Surely TV fans by now know Nathan Fillion and know his acting is something we can't resist and his shows ruled the TV but did not have any luck. Firefly, Drive... these all are great shows. Who's to blame? This show, Castle, is perfect in every way a TV viewer would like. I mean, It is funny, interesting and even the chemistry between the actors is something you can sense from the first episode.
Well, I am happy for Nathan Fillion who really is a great actor. But calling this show the best cop show on television is going too far, especially since there are just too many cliches used all the time and the chemistry between the two lead characters is rather flat, all things considered. Still, the show is enjoyable and the supporting cast is very good and funny, so I'll continue to tune in every week.
I completely agree. Castle is no less than the funniest procedural cop show currently on TV.
interesting.
Another great episode. I like the pace the Castle/Beckett relationship is taking. I think she was impressed with his use of Twitter to advance the investigation. I didn't particularly like seeing Castle with another girl, but at least it didn't last.
Bones is still number 1 for me and probably always will be but I do really enjoy Castle along with my other crime dramas.
I am, first of all, a Bones fan, Have been ever since it started. I also enjoy CSI ( the Las Vegas one ). But I have to say, Castle is like a breath of fresh air to me. I started watching it just for Fillion, cause I liked him on Firefly ( a show which I loved ) and because it was a show during which I could just sit back and relax. But as the first season ended I just found myself waiting anxiously for the second to start. And I agree with you Stefanie Lee, the last episodes have been just great. I only hope the writes of the show keep up the good work.
I love Nathan Fillion, but I don't think it's better than Bones cause Bones is slightly more than a cop show.
Castle is the best, ten more season are i order.
Castle has its share of flaws. But anyone who doesn't hate the idea of one mystery per episode that is pretty much guaranteed to be solved you will enjoy it, i know i do.
Fantastic!! Probably too complicated for some people, unfortunately. But it is extremely clever and well-written. And it doesn't drag on forever like those *other* cop romance shows. It is intense, hilarious, exciting action!!!
Lol. Yeah, I kept thinking, wow, Coco got off lightly!
I haven't seen this show yet, but now I might just start watching it.
The related show bar to castle lists some great shows, and makes me understand why I love this show. Better off Ted( R.I.P =(), Arrested Development. Castle is slowly becoming onr of the best shows out there. no.2 for me. Behind Community.
The show is great and the over the top cases mixed with some heavier drama ridden cases keeps the the show engaging. The progression of Castle and Beckett's relationship is a lot more fun to watch than Booth and Brennan, which has become boring and tedious. Hopefully the show doesn't run the issue of waiting too long to get them together, because the more they hype it, the more they have to live up to.
Nathan Fillion is fantastic!!! Castle is really one of the BEST series out there!
It's a good show but far from perfect. I wouldn't call it overrated simply because it did struggle to find an audience at one point. It's not overly hyped but word of mouth has gotten it steamrolling and I noticed there has been more advertising now.
This show is a little overrated
The should create a "Best Actor in a Copmedy" Emmy, just for him :p
i started watching this show because i saw nathan fillion was in it - and i do love him as castle. also the cases and the overall storyline is great, but the one thing that bugs me a little is the whole thing between castle and beckett - it\'s just so boring and cliche. especially when you compare it to other great URST-couples like bones and booth or something. that\'s the only thing i\'d critisize about this show though.
Yeah its a really good show, but people who just started watching it now get really confused with Castle's antics...
I can't understand how people like this show. It may be good, but I just can't stand Nathan Fillion. Again, I dont understand how people find it the best cop show on television, since I think there are way better cop shows, with on number 1 : Bones. And also Criminal Minds and Medium are way better than this one.
I totally agree with this100 %!!! This thread says everything I was thinking!