The pilot manages to introduce several characters and set a background for Fillion's character extremely while keeping along a first murder plot. Both lead roles show extremely good chemistry, Nathan Fillion plays once again a cool character and manages to bring to the table that quirkiness that have made his characters so good in the past. His counterpart is not only pretty to look at but also provides a strong female role and not the standard damsel in distress. The pilot is promising: the writing is good for both plot and dialog, the cast is solid and the mandatory sexual tension flows really well with the witty dialog.
11 Reviews
Great protagonists and performers ; original relationship between writing and investigation ; high-end production
igoatabase11 June 2009
Until a few days ago I never really paid attention to Castle. In fact I decided to watch this episode after reading an article about its second season. I thought if a show was renewed it's because it was a good one. And it seems I was right because I really enjoyed it. First Richard Castle is a character you can easily relate to because becoming a writer is a common fantasy. He's a playboy but has a heart and is really funny. Moreover his mother and daughter really contributed to make him a more believable character. I instantly liked him and Nathan Fillion's performance was just perfect. Second Kate Beckett is definitely not the usual female sidekick. Stana Katic shares the screen with Fillion and doesn't work in his shadow like some female detectives in other shows, Life for example. Of course at first she just looks like an other babe but then you begin to understand that she's very smart, takes her job seriously and has her own story. Some scenes with Nathan really helped these characters to quickly grow on us and revealed how humans they're. You can also feel how great the chemistry is between the performers and that they really enjoy what they're doing. Moreover like if it wasn't enough the story itself is fascinating. It's definitely not just an other police story. The writers managed to brilliantly merge two worlds, fiction and reality. Castle is inspired by Beckett's work and in return she seems quite fascinated by the mind behind the novels. So they really mirror each other and reminded me of cult duos like Mulder and Scully in The X-Files.
So overall it was a really pleasant and unexpected surprise. The direction was also flawless and the ambiance was quite similar to the episode Ummey's Last Case from Nightmares & Dreamscapes, a show adapted from Stephen King's short stories. But the only problem is that once you've watched this episode you'll sure ask for more and as the first season only has ten, waiting September for the second to air seems just too far away.
So overall it was a really pleasant and unexpected surprise. The direction was also flawless and the ambiance was quite similar to the episode Ummey's Last Case from Nightmares & Dreamscapes, a show adapted from Stephen King's short stories. But the only problem is that once you've watched this episode you'll sure ask for more and as the first season only has ten, waiting September for the second to air seems just too far away.
Promising Start
DKosty12326 December 2011
Warning: Spoilers
I just watched this first episode on DVD. I mention this because sometimes the DVD is better than the televised episode was. When I watched it I was quite impressed with Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic. They seem to have a good chemistry.
The plot reminds me more of an old television series years ago on CBS called "Switch". That is because the script kind of winks and smiles at you pulling you into the plot but then suddenly hitting you with changes you don't quite expect.
The writers here are having fun, trying to con us into finding more ways to keep the main characters, Richard and Kate together no matter what happens. In this first show, that mission is accomplished. There is a lot of energy in the first show. When I see more I will weigh in on if it keeps building, but the foundation is solid.
The plot reminds me more of an old television series years ago on CBS called "Switch". That is because the script kind of winks and smiles at you pulling you into the plot but then suddenly hitting you with changes you don't quite expect.
The writers here are having fun, trying to con us into finding more ways to keep the main characters, Richard and Kate together no matter what happens. In this first show, that mission is accomplished. There is a lot of energy in the first show. When I see more I will weigh in on if it keeps building, but the foundation is solid.
This show is a charmer and good for a chuckle!
r-becker13 July 2013
More than a typical cop show! It's leads are perfectly matched, they go together like Hepburn & Tracy or Loy &Powell. The synergy is there..
I originally tried the first episode because I wanted to see Susan Sullivan again. What a pleasant surprise to find a group of actors so finely matched to their roles.. Every one is a great match.
The cases are varied and different. The timing is good. In other words, the writing and direction are a giant step above the average. And as a bonus, there's the delight in a good chuckle or pun or imaginative twist (supplied by Castle) in every episode. And why can't a police drama combine humor, a touch of romance. It can and CASTLE does. Bravo!
I originally tried the first episode because I wanted to see Susan Sullivan again. What a pleasant surprise to find a group of actors so finely matched to their roles.. Every one is a great match.
The cases are varied and different. The timing is good. In other words, the writing and direction are a giant step above the average. And as a bonus, there's the delight in a good chuckle or pun or imaginative twist (supplied by Castle) in every episode. And why can't a police drama combine humor, a touch of romance. It can and CASTLE does. Bravo!
Excellent entertainment...a definitely must watch!
shahmatt4 February 2010
At the end of watching anything I ask myself, was I entertained? And the answer in this case was yes! Absolutely! I loved it!
Castle is the story of Rick Castle and Kate Beckett. Castle is a famous novelist and he's "hired" as a consultant in order to deal with murder cases. This develops into some real comedy and interesting chemistry between the lead characters, not to mention some interesting plot twists in later episodes. There's a hint of unbelievability to the show but not in a bad way. It's like a good mystery novel. In this way, Castle is different from typical crime shows like CSI, Bones etc. But I do think that this is part of the appeal. Perhaps I've got a little tired from all that forensics and science.
I must say that I've been starved of some Nathan Fillon. I thought he was brilliant in Firefly, a show that was also immensely entertaining to the audience, but underrated by the powers that be (Fox, I'm looking at you, shame on you). He is definitely a one-of-a-kind actor and he really carries this show with his wry humor and observations. I was hit by a wave of nostalgia with his familiar style. I want to see more. Much much more.
So far so good! Castle kicks off, not with a bang, but with steady assurance.
To Firefly fans I say watch out! Nathan Fillon is back. Coolness personified!
Castle is the story of Rick Castle and Kate Beckett. Castle is a famous novelist and he's "hired" as a consultant in order to deal with murder cases. This develops into some real comedy and interesting chemistry between the lead characters, not to mention some interesting plot twists in later episodes. There's a hint of unbelievability to the show but not in a bad way. It's like a good mystery novel. In this way, Castle is different from typical crime shows like CSI, Bones etc. But I do think that this is part of the appeal. Perhaps I've got a little tired from all that forensics and science.
I must say that I've been starved of some Nathan Fillon. I thought he was brilliant in Firefly, a show that was also immensely entertaining to the audience, but underrated by the powers that be (Fox, I'm looking at you, shame on you). He is definitely a one-of-a-kind actor and he really carries this show with his wry humor and observations. I was hit by a wave of nostalgia with his familiar style. I want to see more. Much much more.
So far so good! Castle kicks off, not with a bang, but with steady assurance.
To Firefly fans I say watch out! Nathan Fillon is back. Coolness personified!
Promising Beginning
claudio_carvalho8 April 2022
The successful and womanizer writer Richard 'Rick' Castle (Nathan Fillion) is invited by NYPD Detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) to go to the precinct to question him about the lawyer Martin Fisk and the social worker Allison Tisdale. He explains that he does not know them and he learns that they have been killed in the same way described in two of his novels. They believe the killer must be his fan and Castle joins the investigation. After the third murder, they find clues to lead to the suspect, Kyle Cabot (Kurt David Anderson), a man that has PDD. The police close the case, but Castle is convinced the Cabot is innocent and discloses his concerns to Beckett. She reopens the case and with the support of Castle, catch the real killer. Castle has killed his last character in his last novel and is uninspired to write a new novel, so he convinces Captain Roy Montgomery (Ruben Santiago-Hudson) to join Beckett's investigations as an advisor.
"Flowers for Your Grave" is the pilot (or first episode) of "Castle" with a promising beginning. This is one of the best shows of a series and hope that the other episodes are as great as this one. The plot has many twists and logical explanation and shows a great chemistry between Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic. Looking forward to see other episodes. My vote is nine.
Title (Brazil): "Flowers for Your Grave"
"Flowers for Your Grave" is the pilot (or first episode) of "Castle" with a promising beginning. This is one of the best shows of a series and hope that the other episodes are as great as this one. The plot has many twists and logical explanation and shows a great chemistry between Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic. Looking forward to see other episodes. My vote is nine.
Title (Brazil): "Flowers for Your Grave"
Great Writing.. Average Directing.. Bad Casting !
elshikh47 November 2009
By the way, what I mean by "great" in the title is how this show tracks down the classic shows of the 1980s whereas the same formula, sexual tension and fun. Remington Steele, Moonlighting.. we didn't run into things like that since long time, living a hell of autopsied corpses and reality TV! But this time, as much I was happy, as much I wasn't optimistic.
The script, as a pilot and entertaining episode, was superb. Look at the bunch of characters, the swift lines and the thrill it made. The cameo of Stephen J. Cannell apart (The man who created or co-created TV classics like Chase, The Rockford Files, The Greatest American Hero, Stingray, and The A-Team)--just gave me a hint about what Castle wants to be. However, the casting nearly ruined all of that.
Save (Susan Sullivan) as the washed-up singer mom, I didn't see anyone with anything special. The 2 leads didn't leave one atom of affect on me. I mean com'on.. (Nathan Fillion) is the slick womanizer novelist?? The man got no charisma for half of that!! (Maybe with a moustache he can have a slight chance). And (Stana Katic) isn't attractive as a lead or even convincing as tough policewoman.
The directing handled the things as the best of usual. Since The X Flies, I don't remember a show with a glimpse of style. True it was lovely time as a whole, being the breath of fresh air that we've missed so much for 2 decades already. But those leads are excluded from the charm that I've had with this one of Castle. Hard Irony I know. I just leave it to the upcoming days. Maybe the future will prove me wrong!
The script, as a pilot and entertaining episode, was superb. Look at the bunch of characters, the swift lines and the thrill it made. The cameo of Stephen J. Cannell apart (The man who created or co-created TV classics like Chase, The Rockford Files, The Greatest American Hero, Stingray, and The A-Team)--just gave me a hint about what Castle wants to be. However, the casting nearly ruined all of that.
Save (Susan Sullivan) as the washed-up singer mom, I didn't see anyone with anything special. The 2 leads didn't leave one atom of affect on me. I mean com'on.. (Nathan Fillion) is the slick womanizer novelist?? The man got no charisma for half of that!! (Maybe with a moustache he can have a slight chance). And (Stana Katic) isn't attractive as a lead or even convincing as tough policewoman.
The directing handled the things as the best of usual. Since The X Flies, I don't remember a show with a glimpse of style. True it was lovely time as a whole, being the breath of fresh air that we've missed so much for 2 decades already. But those leads are excluded from the charm that I've had with this one of Castle. Hard Irony I know. I just leave it to the upcoming days. Maybe the future will prove me wrong!
You Get Hooked Since the Start!
justserag11 November 2023
- You get hooked since the start!
- Nathan Fillion & Stana Katic are instantly iconic
- Nathan Fillion dynamic portrayal makes a key-ingredient for the show's essential freshness among cop procedural since the very beginning
- The exposition makes the best plausible execution of the show's pitch
- The pilot cases of the week is cleverly layered and written
- The pacing of the show is tight, and the editing is formidable
- The show has ever felt fresh, innovative, unique and light with a humourous twist. I believe that Castle held a territory for its own since its very pilot, and remained in it for years until something like Lucifer came around.
The main character is so unlikeable it killed the show dead for me!
Web_Of_Doom28 October 2021
I usually like the 2 leading actors ( Nathan Fillion of Firefly & Stana Katic of Absentia ) so I though I'd give this show "Dick" "Castle" ( aka Richard Castle as the main character ) a shot but as soon as this "Dick" finds out 2 people have been murdered copy catting 2 of his books instead of being a normal human being this total "Dick Castle author" asks for copies of the photos of 2 dead people from their crime scenes so he can show off to his friends.
Not only would this make this guy a total idiot ( & possible psychopath ) for having no empathy for the victims or their families, it would also lead the police to believe he was a prime suspect taking time away from what as an audience we could only believe must be a different person as the killer.
If I really don't like this "Dick Castle" why would I watch the show as this whole disgusting scene lost me any inclination to want to watch this show.
If they had made the character totally drunk & was seriously told off by the lead detective Kate Beckett who should of been unbelievably horrified at such a request for "bragging rights" to people being murdered in the same way he wrote the books maybe, a then sober "Richard Castle" could have been horrified at himself for allowing himself be such an incredible jerk & sincerely apologise to Kate Beckett & promise to do much better as a human being then we might have been able to see the start of redemption for this seriously flawed character ( then when he met the victims family I would hope he would feel truly terrible & admit he had a serious problem with reality & how he needed to realise real life is not like his books at all.
However this "Dick Castle" was stone cold sober with a stone cold heart.
I don't blame the actors but the script & the director lost me right then!
( we had already seen "Dick Castle" was a Father so why would he be such a jerk at his age & without a good reason to explain it you lose your audience right away that have any feeling for the murder of 2 innocent people ).
Not only would this make this guy a total idiot ( & possible psychopath ) for having no empathy for the victims or their families, it would also lead the police to believe he was a prime suspect taking time away from what as an audience we could only believe must be a different person as the killer.
If I really don't like this "Dick Castle" why would I watch the show as this whole disgusting scene lost me any inclination to want to watch this show.
If they had made the character totally drunk & was seriously told off by the lead detective Kate Beckett who should of been unbelievably horrified at such a request for "bragging rights" to people being murdered in the same way he wrote the books maybe, a then sober "Richard Castle" could have been horrified at himself for allowing himself be such an incredible jerk & sincerely apologise to Kate Beckett & promise to do much better as a human being then we might have been able to see the start of redemption for this seriously flawed character ( then when he met the victims family I would hope he would feel truly terrible & admit he had a serious problem with reality & how he needed to realise real life is not like his books at all.
However this "Dick Castle" was stone cold sober with a stone cold heart.
I don't blame the actors but the script & the director lost me right then!
( we had already seen "Dick Castle" was a Father so why would he be such a jerk at his age & without a good reason to explain it you lose your audience right away that have any feeling for the murder of 2 innocent people ).
Pilot - nothing special, boring
tadeusz-luksusowyjacht14 March 2009
Warning: Spoilers
May be spoilers,so if someone is really interested , beware.
The pilot was reallllly boring.
Famous writer of criminals or something in that sort gets involved in police "investigation" - apparently someone kills people in the way, that he wrote in his books. The rest is actually usual stuff seen about 10 times in many other shows. It is typical - there are murders, but instead of serious investigation - the police detective flirts with Nathan Filion. Everybody wears 500$ shirts. The woman detective is attractive beyond belief. So, if you like Bones, CSI (and all clones of it), Numbers and all others crappy "serious" series - it is for You. But if not - play scrabble, read a book, drink wine - at least you will be helping the economy. Bye.
The pilot was reallllly boring.
Famous writer of criminals or something in that sort gets involved in police "investigation" - apparently someone kills people in the way, that he wrote in his books. The rest is actually usual stuff seen about 10 times in many other shows. It is typical - there are murders, but instead of serious investigation - the police detective flirts with Nathan Filion. Everybody wears 500$ shirts. The woman detective is attractive beyond belief. So, if you like Bones, CSI (and all clones of it), Numbers and all others crappy "serious" series - it is for You. But if not - play scrabble, read a book, drink wine - at least you will be helping the economy. Bye.
Jessica Fletcher is better
pensman14 March 2009
A crime novelist gets involved in a criminal investigation and has some friction with the detective in charge. So Jessica Fletcher is Castle and Kate Beckett is the town sheriff so to speak. Wow this is a novel (no pun intended, well maybe) twist. At least Jessica had some personality which is more than either lead in this series has. First the networks steal the premise of Psych and turn it into the Mentalist and now Murder She Wrote has morphed into Castle. Can a Monk rip off be far behind. Even the card game between Castle, Steven Cannell, and James Patterson was a steal from Two and a Half Men. Remember the Sean Penn episode? What happened to innovation and creativity? I guess it has migrated to USA and TNT. Maybe that's why they have Burn Notice and The Closer and Saving Grace and . . . well I am sure you get where this is going. I am not sure the 10 episodes will make it through the complete season but no doubt ABC will let fan, there must be one, watch the bulk of the shows online.
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