Swamp of Boredom

Castle (9 pm, central; ABC)
It really is interesting how networks develop a personality over time. CBS is known for it's crime procedurals and for skewing to an older demographic. Fox is known for American Idol, sporadic scheduling and an occasional drama hit (Bones, House, 24). NBC is known these days for it's ineptitude and Ben Silvermen's apparent determination to destroy a once proud, strong network. ABC is all about quirky (Ugly Betty) and soapy drama (Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives).

Castle is ABC's attempt to put its quirky spin on the crime procedural. Nathan Fillion plays Richard Castle, a poplar novelist who's just killed off his long running protagonist and is looking for a new muse. He finds one in Detective Kate Beckett, a tall, beautiful (of course) and brilliant NYPD detective. Sparks fly and playful banter is exchanged. Oh, and murders are solved. You know the drill.

This show, as rote as it is, works because of Nathan Fillion's charm. He may be one of those actors you see and think, "Where have I seen that guy before?" The series that he's led have all been quickly canceled (Firefly, Drive) and he's done secondary roles on relatively popular but easily forgotten series (Two Guys, A Girl and a Pizza Place). He had a great turn as an OB in the indie movie Waitress with Keri Russell and is probably best known these days for spending a season on Desperate Housewives. As Richard Castle, Fillion balances just the right amount of arrogance with good natured charm. Women want to have sex with date him; men want to have a beer with him. Personally, I want to do all three both.

A show like this relies on the chemistry between the two leads and Fillion and Stana Kanic deliver. Kanic's character has, naturally, softened over the 10 episodes that ABC has aired. Castle's charm could melt the Arctic ice cap. But, Beckett's appreciation of Castle is earned; it turns out the guy has great intuition when it comes to solving crime. Bonus: he's not just a pretty face.

The shows chances for renewal are getting better. After the ending of the "Season One" finale, it better get renewed. It wasn't your typical cliffhanger. It was a cliffhanger of information about the murder of Beckett's mother 10 years earlier (you knew she had to have a motivating past, didn't you?). I guess I have to give the show runner credit for not ending it with one of the main characters in a hospital bed but to leave everyone hanging on the line, "It's about your mother" was as frustrating as it was lame.

My disappointment doesn't change the fact that I really, really want this show to be renewed. This is the type of show that, if given time, will flourish into a respectable hit. There are plenty of TV viewers out there that don't want to be steeped in a mythological show but would rather have a fun, diverting whodunit they can watch and enjoy for an hour a week. In that, Castle and it's cast deliver in spades.

ABC has reached an agreement to put their shows on Hulu. Hopefully, that will happen soon. Hulu is easy to use, unlike some sites. Until then, here's Castle's show page on the ABC website.