Castle – The Complete First Season (2009/ABC DVD)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: B-     Extras: C     Episodes: C

 

 

Nathan Fillion is a star in search of the next big hit film or TV series and with Lone Ranger rumors swirling and diehard fans of Firefly and Serenity still standing by the man, ABC decided to try him out in a comic police drama called Castle.  He plays the title character, a writer of detective and murder fiction who finds out in the first episode that someone is copycatting murders from his books.

 

He is somewhat happy about this (?) and becomes entangled with the investigating detective (Stana Katic) when it turns out she reads his books.  It is the clichéd “couple who don’t get along yet” storyline with him acting goofy throughout.  Chemistry is limited, but some of the problem may simply be the goofy writing that insists on being so smug and self-impressed.  This is never witty or mature (think The Avengers, Hart To Hart or even Moonlighting) and though I can see the makers trying to go for Fillion’s comic talents, it becomes much more childish than anything else and is a big disappointment.

 

Oddly, the show has continued into a second season, but barely so.  We get 10 hour-long shows over 3 DVDs (it was what we used to call a mid-season replacement, which explains the renewal) and Susan Sullivan is the most noteworthy supporting cast member.  Maybe if this were done with a more adult audience in mind, it would work, but it does not and is for diehard Fillion fans only.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is soft throughout with detail issues and an inconsistent look, which Blu-ray may only resolve so well if such a set is ever issued.  The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is better with good soundfield and good dialogue recording we are not getting on ABC’s biggest TV hits on DVD.  Extras include audio commentaries, bloopers & outtakes and three making of featurettes.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo