Tue 6 Sep 2011
A Rant by Michael Shonk: WHY I DON’T WATCH TV’S CASTLE.
Posted by Steve under Reviews , TV mysteries[28] Comments
A Rant by Michael Shonk
CASTLE. ABC. Season Premiere: “Rise.” September 19, 2011. Monday at 10e/9c.
I really want to like Castle. Everyone tells me how wonderful it is, the mysteries, the characters, the actors, the romance, but, sorry, I can’t make it through one episode without throwing something in anger at my TV. And I like my TV.
For example, currently available on YouTube is this clip:
CASTLE-4×01 Sneak peek (Episode 1 Comic Con Preview)
Should the link stop working, the following is a detailed description of what happens:
Visually we open with cuts between black screen and gunshot victim series female lead Kate Beckett (Stana Katic). Beckett is unconscious on a moving hospital gurney. Shots start at extreme close up and pull back shot by shot. We hear the sound of the heart monitor beep despite that there is no machine anywhere to be seen. Finally we hear the sound of flat-lining and fade to black.
BANG! Hospital doors fly open. We see two paramedics racing from one hallway into the next section of the long hallway.They are running with the gurney Beckett is on. Also on the gurney is Beckett’s best friend, Dr. Lanie Parish (Tamala Jones) who is maintaining hand pressure on the bloody wound and ordering Beckett not to die.
Cue violins in soundtrack.
Cut to Beckett. Then Castle (Nathan Fillion) running to keep up. Still moving down the long hallway the camera intercutting between Lanie, her bloody hand and Beckett. Shot of hallway wall and help coming. More of the gurney ride. Help arrives and tells Lanie to let him take over.
“She is my friend, you understand that? She’s my friend.”
“Then let us save her life.”
Lanie is standing in the hallway when Castle catches up and they watch the gurney continue its journey down the hallway. Laine and Castle look worried. Go to black.
What the writers hope to accomplish with this scene is to make you feel the emotions of Lanie and Castle over the possible death of Beckett, and to do so in an exciting visual way. So what is wrong with this scene? Why is my TV shaking in fear as I look for something to throw?
First, running is not visually exciting unless there is a threat of danger behind it. Becket is not going to die. The only danger is if Lanie falls off the gurney.
Second, the scene is supposed to emotionally effect us. We should share the feelings of the characters. But everything is too over the top, from the soundtrack of the beeps from nowhere and sad TV music to the incredibly awful dialog such as “Then let us save her life.”
Third, no hospital in any Universe would force an emergency patient to travel down a long hallway to get to the doctors. Beckett is a police officer with a gunshot wound and brought to the hospital by an ambulance. Wouldn’t the ambulance park closer to the Emergency Room? Wouldn’t someone have called ahead so emergency personnel would be waiting for the ambulance when it arrived? When every second could mean life or death, they take the scenic route.
So, how did this melodramatic scene affect me? Well, when I stopped laughing at the Calvary charge down the endless hallway, I became annoyed that the writers held such little respect for the viewers they thought this manipulative scene would be so emotionally moving we would not notice how stupid it is.
Jeopardy is an exciting powerful dramatic device that rarely works on television because TV writers are in denial that everyone knows stars don’t die without media spoilers.
Castle and Beckett are the only two characters on Castle who can’t die or the series is over, This is why jeopardy is usually left to the supporting or guest cast, but who cares about them? Because the nature of the series format, jeopardy can still work but rarely involving death.
While you don’t see it in the clip above, Castle did set up an effective season ending cliffhanger involving jeopardy. The death of supporting character Captain Montgomery left open the possibility new Captain Gates might interfere with Castle tagging along on murder investigations or even worse interfere with his on-again off-again romance with Beckett.
Fans did not worry about Beckett possibly dying, but they did respond to the jeopardy Gates could cause Castle and Beckett’s relationship. Me, the thought of yet another logic defying obstacle to Castle and Beckett having sex is enough to have me whimpering for mercy.
Yes, Castle is only a TV show. You just want to enjoy it, not think. It is just one scene of many. And the series is a comedy mystery where reality is an occasional visitor. But logic is still required. Riding a gurney with a dying woman down an extra long hospital hallway is so stupid it rips me out of the story and rudely reminds me I could be wasting my time more productively with another TV series.
I really want to like Castle I really do, but my brain won’t let me.
September 6th, 2011 at 4:51 pm
I’ve only just finished watching Season One, which I thought was a success. Or in other words, I enjoyed it. The personal relationship between Castle and Beckett has only started to come to a boil, though you could see that it was coming from Day One onward.
The cases they’ve been on have been interesting so far, but personally the focus on gruesome murder scenes is something I could do without. This is also inevitable, I suppose, with every crime show now on the air obliged (by contract?) to outdo the other in terms of blood, brain matter and worse.
None of which responds to your rant, Michael!
September 6th, 2011 at 10:52 pm
Don’t be shy to disagree, my family hasn’t been. But then they are used to me.
September 7th, 2011 at 9:17 am
Michael
Based on both the YouTube clip and your description of it, I don’t disagree with you at all. Your analysis of the scene is right on. On the other hand, I’d have to say that I’m more inclined to accept dramatic license (for lack of a better term) than you. I could watch this, know that I’m being manipulated, and not care, if the preceding shows in the series have been entertaining enough that I’m still watching it. There are points in a series where sharks are jumped and this may be it for this one, but generally speaking, I’d have to say that TV’s are likelier to be safer in my house than yours.
— Steve
September 7th, 2011 at 8:18 am
I have a different reason for not watching CASTLE. It’s on network TV and I can’t stand the shows on CBS, ABC, NBC. The network channels not only have stupid and annoying commercials, but they also cannot really compete with the quality shows on cable TV such as HBO. But even FX and AMC which also have commercials, at least somehow get around the childish rules and regulations that network TV has to put up with.
Network TV has to watch out for language and as a result the characters often don’t speak like real people. If the violence is too extreme, then the ensuing complaints can sink a show. And forget about the sexual behavior of adults on network TV.
Every now and then an exception manages to appear such as HOMICIDE a few years ago but for the most part HBO and some other shows like BREAKING BAD and MAD MEN are the TV series dealing with adult behavior in the use of language, sex, and violence. Such shows as THE SHIELD on FX could never have survived on ABC, NBC, CBS.
September 7th, 2011 at 9:26 am
Walker
We agree on a good many things, which is a good thing, since otherwise how could we still be talking to each other after being friends for almost 40 years?
But in terms of TV shows, I find I have little interest in ones dealing with adult behavior in the use of language, sex, and violence, such as the ones you mention. Rather than realistic, I find them arty and pretentious — the little I’ve seen of them. I turned off THE SOPRANOS after 10 minutes of the first episode, and DEADWOOD was a deadly bore, the five minutes I’ve seen of that one.
But that’s me. The network shows are all I need for TV entertainment, but we do agree that the commercials and other stuff they do on the screen make enjoying the shows “live” next to impossible. If it weren’t for DVDs, I wouldn’t watch anything on TV but Turner Classic Movies and the occasional sports event.
— Steve
September 7th, 2011 at 9:31 am
Walker, I agree. But Fox has pulled the other three slowly toward more openly adult program. FRINGE is an intelligent sf mystery where the two leads slowly developed an relationship and became lovers. Sadly, most of the Big Four still handle sex like it is from a romance novel or the dreams of a 13 year old boy.
Thankfully, there are DVDs and downloading. There are only four current series I never miss. JUSTIFIED (FX), DOCTOR WHO (BBCA), ARCHER (FX), and FRINGE (FOX). I try others, upcoming PERSON OF INTEREST sounds interesting except it is on CBS so I wonder how they will dumb it down for the masses.
September 7th, 2011 at 9:44 am
Steve, I don’t mind an occasional scene such as this clip, but every episode I have tried, and it has been many, there has been a scene or moment when the writers get lazy and toss out something such as this clip.
You are typical TV watcher. I know my family has agreed with you since I became a TV critic in 1976. They refuse to watch TV with me.
But I wonder if we would accept such cheap tricks in a book?
September 7th, 2011 at 10:36 am
At least Castle doesn’t put me to sleep, like the newest episode of Inspector Lewis did!
September 7th, 2011 at 11:13 am
Michael
You ask, “But I wonder if we would accept such cheap tricks in a book?”
That’s a good question. I’m going to have to think about it, but I’m pretty sure the answer is “No”.
But the reason I’m hesitating is that since books are not visual (except for images produced inside your head) book authors don’t have to present the scenes like this one the same way to produce the same effect.
Lazy TV writers must really like to have lazy TV viewers like me, ones who let them control the pace of what you see, don’t they?
September 7th, 2011 at 11:14 am
Stan:
Inspector Lewis is dull? He’s no relation to me!
September 7th, 2011 at 12:28 pm
Concerning Inspector Lewis, it just shows that Inspector Morse was so beloved and missed, that we are willing to put up with his bland sidekick. Lewis was ok as a Sgt but he is no Inspector Morse.
Morse, starring John Thaw, I watched on TV, then on video tape, and finally now I have the dvd box set ready for my final viewing. Inspector Morse and Touch of Frost, both great shows.
September 7th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
Lewis also puts me to sleep. It reminds me of the far inferior episodes of Morse which were based on ideas of Dexter rather than on the actual Dexter novels.
Castle, like The Mentalist, is way too cute for me and too formulaic. Ah yes, now it’s time for mother and daughter scene.
Just don’t get its popularity but I never understood why people liked MURDER SHE WROTE either.
September 7th, 2011 at 12:52 pm
Walker
I have a huge backlog of Morse shows to watch before I start on Lewis (no relation). In fact, I haven’t even begun, nor Frost either.
I wonder what it is that I do with my time.
September 7th, 2011 at 12:54 pm
Patti
What people want is formula and familiarity, and MURDER SHE WROTE goes a long way to prove it. I enjoy the show, mostly to see old familiar faces, but only in small doses.
As for Castle’s mother and daughter, ditto the above. They do make me smile, though.
September 7th, 2011 at 1:31 pm
I have to be honest, I like LEWIS much more than MORSE! Maybe I have a greater tolerance for really sllllllllllloooooooooooooowwwwwwwwww television, but I like the dynamic of plodding senior officer and brilliant Sergeant. Plus, the relationship between the two characters seems genuinely warm.
Like Steve, CASTLE is a show that I really want to like. The basic idea (crime author investigates real cases) goes back at least to PAUL TEMPLE from the 1930s, whilst the whole mismatched male and female protagonists thing is the classic screwball setup. On paper it seems just like the sort of thing that I should love, but in practice there’s just something missing. It’s partly the lazy writing, but some of the blame must also be laid at the door of the stars. They look nice but they’re lacking in any sort of personality spark.
If I might also have a sub-rant: Why is American TV terrified of old and ugly people? One of my favourite British TV shows is NEW TRICKS. The female lead is in her mid 50s, two of the male leads are in their mid 60s and the other is in his mid 70s! The men especially look like people that you might know from real life, and are saggy and balding and greying. I’m probably wrong, but based on the American TV that I watch, such people do seem a little thin on the ground on US TV. I’m not anti-US TV, but it does seem skewed to a rather younger audience.
September 7th, 2011 at 1:48 pm
Patti and Steve
Ah, formula television. It is one of the reasons the family won’t watch TV with me. I can see the formula. I could watch CSI and predict with near perfection what would happen next by looking at the clock.
From what I gather, many people seek television as a place to rest their mind, not challenge it. Those people are called the mass audience.
A major problem for writers today is trying to tell a decent story in under 44 minutes with a mini climax for each of the six commercial breaks. So you get two stories with story A mini climax to commercial, then story B, and back again. The plots and stories suffer but they find something for everyone in the cast to do.
TV is about the characters. The audience likes the characters, the series succeeds no matter how bad the plot and stories are. If I remember correct NCIS was the most watched TV scripted drama. The audience watches because they are interested in the characters, not because of its award winning plots or stories.
September 7th, 2011 at 2:09 pm
I have not watched MORSE yet because British classic style mysteries tend to bore me, but I have seen LEWIS. I was amazed about how weak the mysteries are. This week’s set at the all girls school was boringly predictable. However, the series is not about the mysteries, it is about the characters. There is much detail paid to the two cops background and personal life. Very American TV like.
BRADSTREET, you are not the first to comment about a lack of real people on American TV. This season there was a great deal of discussion over the TV series MOLLY AND MIKE (Wikipedia listing for MOLLY AND MIKE has more about that).
The argument is usually drama is reality heighten. We see normal looking people everyday, we like beautiful people in our entertainment. But a day watching the commercials on American TV and you will understand “all” Americans want to be rich and beautiful and we will be if only we buy the right beer or shoes. Failing that we will live vicariously through our entertainment.
September 8th, 2011 at 9:35 am
All the actors in American TV look alike – there was a comedy starring Amanda Peete some years ago where I could not tell the three male leads apart.
On the other hand, there is apparently only one dentist in all of England . . .
I too am a big fan of New Tricks.
September 8th, 2011 at 1:16 pm
They say that the US and Britain are divided by a common language, but in fact we’re divided by our teeth. Brits think that if their teeth are clean and more or less straight, then that’s okay. Americans seem to want mathematically perfect gnashers so dazzlingly white that they can double as heliographs. Dentists always seem to be financially well off in the UK, but I’ll bet that in the US they’re billionaires,
September 9th, 2011 at 9:43 am
Michael, you need to lighten up or just stop watching. If you don’t like it no one is forcing you to watch. We like it, without ever taking it seriously.
Walker, get a DVR. We never watch any shows (other than news and live sports events) without fast-forwarding the commercials.
September 9th, 2011 at 10:05 am
That’s one way of avoiding the commericals, all right. But there’s still the business of logos, promos and animated plugolas that every channel, network or cable, can come up with to distract the viewer from watching their own product. Makes no sense to me.
September 9th, 2011 at 9:48 am
I find LEWIS snore-inducing. He only worked as a character (for me) when he played off Morse.
Bradstreet, we’ve been saying the same for years re British vs. American actors. Look at the people in “sex symbol” roles in Britain; they’d be lucky to be janitors on American television!
A favorite is Nessa on GAVIN & STACEY. I shudder to think what an American version would look like. You are much, much more likely to see “real” looking people on British television than American, period.
September 9th, 2011 at 10:24 am
Steve, the logos and junk on screen is so you can’t fast forward through them with a DVR or TIVO.
September 9th, 2011 at 9:55 pm
Jeff, re #20. I hope you heard my family’s cheer.
September 9th, 2011 at 10:25 pm
I agree with what you had said about this scene, I thought the same thing while first watching it. The whole concept of her getting shot in the first place was a little cliché to me, and typical for a crime show.
But just one bad scene shouldn’t make you not want to watch the show entirely. I mean, I kept getting emails of people telling me that this show was awesome, and was a must-watch, and I always said I’d watch it, but the videos i saw of Castle on youtube made me not want to want the show. But then I remembered how i was with the show, “Supernatural” and how videos of it usually put me off, but then when I actually began watching it, I fell in love with the show, and couldn’t ever let go of it.
So i decided not to judge the show just because of a few clips, and now, honestly, I am obsessed with this show. The sexual tension is crazy good. The cases are great… well, most of them, anyway. And it’s always nice to have a little laugh here and there, while also enjoying the mystery and romance of it all.
So besides the whole plot line of her getting shot, the show is amazing. I bought all the seasons on itunes, and watched it all in just a week. That’s how much I couldn’t let go of it. I just couldn’t stop watching. Even though there were a few scenes that didn’t really make sense, all in all, it’s still an amazing much-watch TV series.
September 10th, 2011 at 11:42 am
Thanks, Nouf. I enjoyed reading about how you came to enjoy the show.
My complaint was not just about this scene, it was about scenes like this in every episode I have seen. I have read book readers comments about how something can yank them out of the story and make them toss the book against the wall. This is this TV viewer’s version.
I chose a rant rather than a review because I wanted to focus not on CASTLE, but my reaction to the show. I wanted to be unfair to the writers and gently (in the style of this blog) vent.
I know this was not lazy writing, it is writing without enough time to get everything perfect. I hope the writers care but did not have the time to find a better way.
I would have had the scene take place as the ambulance arrived at Emergency. But that means outdoor shooting, finding a location, and renting the ambulance.
I hated the hallway, but they are the usual way to avoid costs of new sets.
I asked earlier in comments, if you would accept this from a book. It was then I understood CASTLE better. It is a romance paperback. A cozy with blood. It is about the characters and romance. From the reaction to last season’s cliffhanger, I think the fans all ready knew that,
September 13th, 2011 at 4:30 pm
Just hiring actors who look like real people would go a long way in making these series more credible. So true about all the actors looking alike. In that comedy show about the Chicago sports columnist, there were four guys who, in three years, we never could tell apart. Why do we hate the old, heavy and plain so much in this country? I am tried of watching older actresses filmed in gauze too.
May 6th, 2013 at 9:42 pm
Your description of what is stupid in Castle falls so short of how stupid it is, it is actually beyond me how it garners an audience. I have concluded that the people who watch this show are America’s stupidest people. They band together on Monday nights to watch it. Castle get something like two million people to watch it every Monday and their collective IQ is approximately 12. I saw an episode and lost five IQ points just by watching it. If you enjoy this show, please do everyone a favor and voluntarily turn in your driver’s license.