Castle: "A Deadly Game" 5/17/10 - Grading & Discussion
- Thread starter Aragorn
- Start date
Honestly, I'd say the ending was contrived, except I've seen it happen in real life.
ETA: In happier news, one of the things I really like about Castle is when they'll do some ridiculous, hackneyed, cliché-filled plot that leads you to think the writers are just crime-TV pulp-peddlers who don't do any research beyond what's already been on TV, and then they'll show there was actually a perfectly reasonable explanation why everything seemed so shoddy and fake. Case in point, when it was playing like the guy was a real spy. I mean, an exploding pen? Come on.
No, actually that's worth a whole paragraph break, and an italic.
Come on.
But then it turns out that it's supposed to be crazy and implausible fun because he's a play-spy, and all is forgiven.
Also, it was really weird seeing Mitch Pileggi blubbering like that.
ETA: In happier news, one of the things I really like about Castle is when they'll do some ridiculous, hackneyed, cliché-filled plot that leads you to think the writers are just crime-TV pulp-peddlers who don't do any research beyond what's already been on TV, and then they'll show there was actually a perfectly reasonable explanation why everything seemed so shoddy and fake. Case in point, when it was playing like the guy was a real spy. I mean, an exploding pen? Come on.
No, actually that's worth a whole paragraph break, and an italic.
Come on.
But then it turns out that it's supposed to be crazy and implausible fun because he's a play-spy, and all is forgiven.
Also, it was really weird seeing Mitch Pileggi blubbering like that.
You know, there's no courtesy anymore. In the old days, your spy agency would warn you before the message self-destructed. 
Though it was pretty easy to guess that the whole spy thing was an ARG of some sort; it was just too cliched. Funny to see Mitch Pileggi playing to type as the "spy" and then completely against type when he broke character and got all wimpy.
This is the first time we've seen Monet Mazur as Castle's first ex and publisher since the pilot. Quite a long stretch. Nice to see that the character hasn't been completely forgotten, but she did kind of come a little out of the blue, a bit tacked on.
The mystery was a nice change from the usual formula, without the usual "find a suspect, question them, clear them instantly and get pointed to another suspect, repeat" cycle (although there was some of that toward the end). Half the story was just figuring out who the victim really was and what was really going on.
I don't care for shows that pretend to be in "real time" and contrive to have the characters away for the summer in-story to synch up with the real broadcast schedule. It's so self-conscious, and often rather contrived.
On the other hand, if Castle missed his deadline, then he really does need to buckle down and get some work done.
I noted that the man and woman in charge of the "spycation" agency bore sort of a resemblance to the leads of J. J. Abrams' upcoming Undercovers spy show. Coincidence or in-joke?
Though it was pretty easy to guess that the whole spy thing was an ARG of some sort; it was just too cliched. Funny to see Mitch Pileggi playing to type as the "spy" and then completely against type when he broke character and got all wimpy.
This is the first time we've seen Monet Mazur as Castle's first ex and publisher since the pilot. Quite a long stretch. Nice to see that the character hasn't been completely forgotten, but she did kind of come a little out of the blue, a bit tacked on.
The mystery was a nice change from the usual formula, without the usual "find a suspect, question them, clear them instantly and get pointed to another suspect, repeat" cycle (although there was some of that toward the end). Half the story was just figuring out who the victim really was and what was really going on.
I don't care for shows that pretend to be in "real time" and contrive to have the characters away for the summer in-story to synch up with the real broadcast schedule. It's so self-conscious, and often rather contrived.
On the other hand, if Castle missed his deadline, then he really does need to buckle down and get some work done.
I noted that the man and woman in charge of the "spycation" agency bore sort of a resemblance to the leads of J. J. Abrams' upcoming Undercovers spy show. Coincidence or in-joke?
What I liked about the episode, while the opening credits were still flashing and they were looking at the body in the park, I turned to my daughter and said it was a LARP gone wrong.
Then when they they questioning the pen-contact guy, they snookered me and I was sure I was wrong. Then it turned out I was right. Then I gave up and enjoyed the episode.
Then when they they questioning the pen-contact guy, they snookered me and I was sure I was wrong. Then it turned out I was right. Then I gave up and enjoyed the episode.
It was a good episode and I liked it, despite the case, which was kinda underwhelming.
And although the final scene was a cop out with Gina's appearance, I liked the last shot of Stana and her facial expression.
And Mitch Pileggi seeing as a wimp in the jail cell was funny, albeit I don't know him that much, as I haven't followed The X-Files for its entire run.
I hope the writers don't take the whole third season to resolve the love issue between Kate and Richard, but it is certainly a given that they do, if one takes all the other shows as a hint. It took Lisa and Gregory six years to get their warm holding hands scene on House M.D. .
And although the final scene was a cop out with Gina's appearance, I liked the last shot of Stana and her facial expression.
And Mitch Pileggi seeing as a wimp in the jail cell was funny, albeit I don't know him that much, as I haven't followed The X-Files for its entire run.
I hope the writers don't take the whole third season to resolve the love issue between Kate and Richard, but it is certainly a given that they do, if one takes all the other shows as a hint. It took Lisa and Gregory six years to get their warm holding hands scene on House M.D. .
Last time I saw this kind of adolescent angst crap was with Trip and T'Pol.
God I hope not. I'd hate to have to stop watching.spinnerlys said:
I can't watch the show the same way since seeing your comments. I was thinking last night, "Hey, Christopher probably is enjoying the change of pace."
The ending was not a surprise twist, but it does set up some fun questions for next season. I expect their relationship will be one of those back-burner things, just popping up in "major" episodes, but it'll be great to find out.
^Speaking of back-burner things, I'm surprised we didn't get a revisit to the murder of Beckett's mother. We know who the "doer" was, to use Beckett's terminology (whatever happened to "perp"?), but we don't know who hired him, so the mystery's still open. But it hasn't been touched on since the hitman was exposed.
I'm wondering if that might be the season premiere. Maybe a new development in the case could be the factor that brings Castle and Beckett back together as a crimesolving team.
I'm wondering if that might be the season premiere. Maybe a new development in the case could be the factor that brings Castle and Beckett back together as a crimesolving team.
That'd be a great way to get him back into the precinct. They've definitely got to get back to that pretty soon.
You sure he wasn't saying "Sleestak?"
I'm pretty sure he did. It was during the first season when they were throwing more sf/f genre references into the dialog.
Well, that ending was
!!!
Yes. Yes it was.
My wife said she heard something about a "summer season" of Castle? Did she hallucinate this?
I'm too busy sputtering in frustration over the ending to say much. I liked the crime this week, because it wasn't obvious who was responsible until later in the game.
Once, JUST ONCE, I'd like to see a leading couple get together and make it work. JUST ONCE could the writers find a way to bring a couple together romantically AND make them a stronger team because of their relationship?!?! Honestly, we spent this year with Castle pining for Beckett, and I can almost guarantee we'll spend the next watching Beckett pine for Castle. Grrrr...
Once, JUST ONCE, I'd like to see a leading couple get together and make it work. JUST ONCE could the writers find a way to bring a couple together romantically AND make them a stronger team because of their relationship?!?! Honestly, we spent this year with Castle pining for Beckett, and I can almost guarantee we'll spend the next watching Beckett pine for Castle. Grrrr...
I sent a "feedback" to ABC and urged TPTB to tell the writers that "adolescent angst is not sexual tension" -- which I think is what they are shooting for (and totally missing the target).
As I said above, didn't work for Trip and T'Pol, and I don't think it's working in "Castle."
As I said above, didn't work for Trip and T'Pol, and I don't think it's working in "Castle."
They did, but I expect that's their way of packaging reruns. Castletv.net doesn't show an episode scheduled until June 5, a repeat of "Wrapped Up In Death".
