Upon finishing season 3 I wasn't sure if ABC had it in them to keep a good thing going. Season 4 is every bit as good. The season premiere gets heavy from the get go, but the nice back and forth between the show's charming wit and the ongoing story arc that includes Kate Beckett and Rick Castle makes for a great pace. Even when it seems like episodes exist more as exhibitions instead of story continuations, the writers of Castle find a way to advance some aspect of the show. The relationship between Castle and Beckett continues to be a huge point of interest. By the end of its fourth season, Castle remains the high bar of entertainment that it built over three previous seasons. I know all good things eventually come to an end but, as long as Castle can deliver anything near this kind of consistency season after season, I want this show to persist for as long as it can. Few shows that run 20-something episodes get this kind of longevity, but Castle has all the right parts to stick around so long as the cast and crew are up for it.
After an incredibly shocking end to the triumphant Season 3, Castle returned to our screens as my most anticipated tv show hands down! As a whole the third season of ABC's superb show was just awesome. So how would four fair? Well, to put it plainly, by delivering yet another sensational season of television. Season 4 was the best to date it had all the key ingredients that make Castle, well, Castle! It combined the fun, the emotion, the drama and the will they, won't they elements to perfection. Andrew Marlowe deserves immense credit for this season too. What a genius he is in storytelling and writing wonderful scripts. The acting is also amazing! Stana Katic (seriously, it's illegal how hot this woman is, she just seems to get more beautiful each season!) delivers an award-worthy performance throughout but particuarly in Episode 7; "Kill Shot" it was compelling, intense and a stellar performance from the hottest women on tv. Nathan Fillion is ever dependable but even he ups his game as it reaches make or break for our favourite on screen partnership. Season 4 picks up straight from the shocking events, (SPOILER) after Beckett being shot and rushed to hospital. The season unfolds 3 months down the line and it's clear Beckett isn't yet ready to deal with Castle's near death declaration of his love. However, throughout Season 4 each episode brings them closer together and see's them take strides forward to finally admitting their feelings for each other whilst maintaining all the key components that make Castle dynamite tv. There isn't a bad episode in all honesty and that's testimony to the writers, there are a few exceptional episodes; 'Kill Shot', '47 Seconds', 'Pandora & Linchpin', 'The Blue Butterfly', 'Cops and Robbers' and ofcourse the unforgettable, emotionally charged, defining Caskett moment; the season finale 'Always.' All in all another sublime season from the Castle team, I honestly don't think I can wait until September for Season 5!!
Castle’s fourth season saw the show trying to mix things up a little more with varying degrees of success. It is still very rare that an episode fails to make for an entertaining watch but I personally have two minor grips that arguably make for the shows least consistent season thus far. Firstly the central mysteries themselves aren’t quite as clever as they were previously with revelations/twists seemingly coming from out of the blue on too many occasions.
Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, the chemistry and banter between Beckett and Castle that is so central to the shows appeal is just not as sharp as it was throughout the first three seasons. This is in large part due to the fact that the writers seemed to be struggling to think of believable reasons to keep them apart throughout the twenty-three episodes found in this season, apparently for fear of changing the show’s dynamic to drastically. All shows must evolve if they are to avoid becoming stale however and with a fifth season now confirmed to develop upon the events of this year’s finale I will be tuning in with the hope that Castle can return to top form once again.
Forgettable
That's what you are,
Forgettable
Tho' near or far.
(after nat king cole)
It is hilarious that a show like Castle gathers an eight from the users while the average score from the critics just barely raise it above a five. The gap illustrates the problem with user based reviews: you have a bunch of fanboys that give said show a ten - which is bizarre to say the least - and nobody else gives a hoot. Who is going to comment on a show you do not like, hence do not watch?
Well, I do.
I just saw about twenty minutes of the show by sheer coincidence, and it reminded me of various other moments that I ran into this show. I recall switching channels when the advertisements interrupted and then forgetting all about it.
In this particular episode the killer drugs someone with scopolamine so that person becomes a will less tool that can be used to perpetrate a murder. A murder by proxy, therefore. I wonder why not more murders are committed that way. In fact, we better hush this one up, before you know it, extremists my use this to send us waves of drugged citizens to murder the rest of us.. Why does the Cia not drug the water supplies of the IS and turn them into will less tools?
Perhaps because it is nonsense?
I sat totally baffled at this sheer piece of dribble and waited for the canned laughter to erupt, but none came. In fact, the whole show seems just take this in one serious stride and get on with it. Was it meant to be funny or meant to be serious? It seemed neither: it just came over as nonsense.
The more baffling is that non of the people involved were actually funny. The male lead seems have problems changing his facial expression so it is the same most of the time. Of course he tries to place a funny remark here and there, but it just doesn't feel like it is funny. The female lead is even less convincing: she is there be pretty, flutter her eyes and gape at the smartness of Castle. You see that is why pretty blond women exists in shows. There is little to no chemistry between the two.. if there was meant to be one and thus no engaging dialog.
I watched the show amble along. The main suspect had a watertight alibi and so an trap was planned by Castle(i got a plan, baby. Oh.. Castle you such a smartypants!) The suspect was informed that the guy he had drugged was set free because a rich uncle had put up the bail. This suspect thus feared that the guy he used would come to find him to take revenge.
Oh my god. How can this guy, being smart enough to drug a guy to have him perform a murder, be so stupid as to fall for such an obvious trick?
Again one piece of nonsense was followed by the next and it was somehow meant to be funny.
I get it..
But you know. If something serious is meant to be funny, then it somehow misfires when that serious thing is just sheer nonsense. But if it is sheer nonsense, the cast somehow should act accordingly. Instead nonsense was dealt with a seriousness that belied all funniness.
It is as if the cast wasn't quite aware that is was all baloney.
If that is the case, then that is the biggest joke of all, but I suspect that a more mundane explanation is that this show is hogwash and thus..
Forgettable
In every way,
And forever more
That's how you'll stay