#5-6. Castle (S2-3)
And here's another post, this time two seasons together. I watched the first season of Castle when it came out and I was really in love with it. I promised myself to watch the other seasons too, but I left them behind because I was already watching too many shows. So this seemed like the best chance to catch up with it. And needless to say, I'm still in love with it. Maybe even more. It must be the smart writing, the fact that even in the darkest moments they always manage to put a laugh in it. It's the show you wanna watch when you come home in the evening after a long day. And the cast is simply amazing. There's not one character I don't like. All of them are great in their own way and even more in the way they interact each other. So, let's start from the relationships.
Castle/Beckett: What's not to love about them? They're simply amazing. Watching them is like watching an old screwball comedy updated to the XXI century. Of course, as in a true screwball, they'll end up together, but the fun part is watching them getting there, denying their true feelings because they're so stubborn and scared of so many "what ifs", dancing in circles around each other. In these two seasons, they've grown closer together and it's good to see Beckett open up to him little by little, starting to really trust him, so much that he's the only one who really seems to know everything about her mother's homicide. But then, she falls into the old path and she shuts him out again. On the other hand, Castle seems to have grown more into an adult thanks to her. He's ready to take responsibilities, to act more seriously (as serious as Castle can be), but mostly he's ready to protect her and save her from her demons. Still, the best part of their relationship stays the teasing and the sparring matches. They're still as true as in the beginning, but on a whole new level with each passing season.
Castle/Alexis/Martha: Simply the family you wish you had. Granted, it's a very crazy family, but still a bit of a dream in which the daughter plays the parent and vice versa. Even though things have been changing there too. Specially with the appearence of Alexis's boyfriend. Castle really started to be the usual overly worried father while not ceasing to be a confidante. And that's the good part of this family: they all can count on each other when they need it. And even better, they all have their share of quirkiness. Specially Martha. I also like the way the writers use these family moments as some sort of safe zone from the ugliness outside, lighter scenes, that still resonate with the case.
Ryan/Esposito: Best Bromance ever. They're just fantastic. The way they complete each other sentences, the way they always look like school boys caught doing something wrong by Beckett, still being able to be very professional when duty calls. And somehow, they're the spectators' eyes in the precinct. They're a bit like us, observing Castle and Beckett's relationship in the making, trying to guess what will happen, taking bets and sometimes giving them that piece of advice we wished we could give them, but we can't. I also liked the fact they've explored their past and personal lives more. Ryan is simply the sweetest guy ever with his soon bride-to-be and he usually is the one more in contact with the women too (admitting he knew the Shopaholic series? Just amazing!). On the other hand, I really loved knowing more about Esposito's past, his ex-partner and I really adored his relationship with Lanie. They're really funny, specially when they try to hide the obvious.
Lanie/Beckett: There isn't a lot to say since they haven't given us big moments yet, but it's good to know Beckett has a friend she can count on, someone she can talk about her heartaches, someone who can talk some sense into her when it comes to Castle. They should really give us more girl talks, specially after the finale. Lanie's face when they shot Kate was simply...worried to no end. Yes, it wouldn't be bad if they dealt with the aftermath with some more Lanie/Beckett too.
All the rest: As in the guest stars like Michael Trucco, Nathan Petrelli Adrian Pasdar, Dana Delany, Diana Maria Riva, the real writers at the poker table. As in inanimate objects like the ever present and always broken coffee machine. As in the cultural references and the very meta moments. As in Captain Montgomery that we'll surely miss. As in the amazing Arye Gross, whose ME lunches on the tables where he performs autopsies. As in the amazing faces of Nathan Fillion. As in Beckett's wardrobe. As in Beckett's moments with her Dad (who totally rocked my world in the finale).
Highlights (in chronological order because it'd be too difficult to choose):
- Vampire Weekend (2x06): The Firefly costume, the Halloween theme and the pumpkin carved with Nosferatu's profile and the creepiness of the characters.
- The Fifth Bullet (2x11): The guy from Buffy playing an amnesiac men, Cutthroath Bitch from House playing his ex. A terribly romantic ending. Dog included.
- A Rose for Everafter (2x12): Alyssa Milano playing Castle's first true love? Just gripping!
- Sucker Punch (2x13) So close to discover who was her mother's assassin...Loved the power struggle with Dick Coonan.
- Suicide Squeeze (2x15): Castle deals with his Daddy issues and Espo speaks Spanish.
- Tick, Tick, Tick and Boom (2x17/18): Someone's after Nikki Heat, Beckett's house blows up, the super technological FBI intervenes, Dana Delany kicks some asses with Nathan Fillion again.
- Punked (3x04): Esposito being run over by the entire NYC population and Kate and Rick believing he really ended up a wheelchair.
- 3XK (3x06): The killer isn't who you thought it was...
- Close Encounters of the Murderous Kind (3x09): The episode which made me create a Castle/Fringe crossover.
- Last Call (3x10): What can I say? I really love that old pub!
- Nikki Heat (3x11): Probably the most hilarious episode ever with Natalie Rhodes shadowing Kate.
- Knockdown (3x13): Another step closer to Kate's mom's assassin.
- Setup and Countdown (3x16/17): My beloved Nathan Petrelli back on TV, the 24-style action with Inception music, Castle and Beckett nearly freezing to death.
- Knockout (3x24): Simply the most amazing finale ever. Full of action, dilemmas for everybody, the Johanna Beckett's mystery get more and more complicated, and the tears during the funeral.