Review: Castle: A Deadly Affair

First thing's first: Castle is already in Season 3?! Holy wow. I've been watching this show since it started and it does not feel like two season have passed. Still, time flies when you're having fun and it would be hard to say Castle isn't a lot of fun.

I'll admit that when I first started tuning into Castle it was chiefly to check out Nathan Fillion's newest attempt at a TV series. It never sat quite right with me what happened to Firefly; Fillion's sci-fi western show imagined by Joss Whedon. Castle of course wasn't his first try at a new TV series, but FOX's Drive looked bad right out of the gate. Castle coasted on the affable charm of it's lead actor for a little while after it debuted, but the great boon for the show came as the secondary characters slowly became more and more realized. Every successful show sinks or swims on the talent of the ensemble cast. If a show weighs everything on one element, the show never really achieves any traction.

So season 3 debuted on Monday night, and I completely missed it. As luck would have it, the trusty DVR picked it up and in a lazy haze I stumbled across it tonight. The show opens with a fantastic flash forward. This is secretly one of my favorite plot devices of all time, so when Rick Castle comes face to face with Kate Beckett and they angrily draw guns on each other...? Pure elation. From here it's a wonderful display of a TV show hitting it's stride. Sure, all the classic elements of a Castle episode are present and accounted for, but they're working in a way that doesn't feel tired. There are the misdirects, the witty banter between the detectives, the serious moments, the whiteboard with all the pictures. It's all been done before and even though it's a little played, the characters and their interplay have become substantial enough that the core mystery of each episode is no longer as crucial to making a good episode.

There's not much else to say about this premiere other than it's well worth your time. In the downtime between seasons a few things have become clear. The writers have given more prominent and strong characterizations to Ryan and Esposito. The jokes and delivery thereof have become much more amusing. Somehow Stana Katic got more attractive -- which, on that point, huge props to the wardrobe department for dressing her in more appealing attire. I think we all get the fact she's a tough, no-nonsense bruiser who doesn't have time for fashion over function, but it seemed to me that this season she was much more pleasing to my eyes. Nathan Fillion continues to turn in a wonderful performance that is at once baffoonery, charm, and stark seriousness in measured and appropriate doses. Lastly, the chemistry between Castle and Beckett is still as palpable as ever. Even though it is slightly frustrating the levels with which the writers are flaunting it, it is still cute enough that I don't mind that there hasn't been a clear resolution as of yet. That being said and referring back to my 'hanging the show on one element' comment: Castle would do well not to drag the will-they-won't-they thing out any more than is necessary (even though it's more of a 'when-will-they' at this point). I myself draw blanks when I think what would happen were they to resolve this soon, but I know it would have to be better than two more seasons of it.

Either way, it's great to have new shows back on TV. Speaking of which, Glee returned and it seems that it may be hitting a good stride between melodramatic and hilarious. Also, is it just me or is Sue Sylvester ten times funnier this season. Overall it seems to be a much better written season so far. I also checked out How I Met Your Mother. It was more of the same, but it worked pretty well. Let's see if they can take any steps forward in the narrative this season.

Books to Read at the End of Your Rope.

The following books are real. You can buy them from Amazon.com. I'm including links to the pages for purchase (click the title of each book). In some cases some of these books are funny, but the customer reviews are what make me really laugh. Without further adieu...

Do-It-Yourself Coffins: For Pets and People


There are almost no words to properly discuss this madness. I guess from one point of view, why not build your own coffin? On the other, if you're this jazzed to build your own death-box you may have some serious issues beyond if you prefer oak to pine wood.

Awesome Customer Review:

I have built one of the coffins following the directions in the book. Some measurements are missing, and some are not correct. This cost me in materials and time. Beware!

~ Eric Garwood, future and prospective corpse.

Anybody Can Be Cool -- But Awesome Takes Practice


Finally, a manual for all of us who have been on that social fringe for years and years! If you've been struggling to break into the upper crust of society but just couldn't muster the appropriate levels of awesome; this is the book for you. Finally!

Awesome Customer Review:

For years I knew I was cool, but suspected that I could be potentially awesome. Then a friend told me about this book and needless to say it's a page turner. Through these pages I learned how to harness my cool and turn it into actual awesomeness. I'm proud to say that today I am awesome. Not only that, but I've also retained my cool. Definately recommend this book to anyone looking to raise their awesomeness to new heights of radness.

~ R. Martindale, success story.

Fancy Coffins to Make Yourself


No question Dale Power would follow up his monumental Do-It-Yourself Coffins with the fantastic Fancy Coffins to Make Yourself. Apparently if you died and didn't like your plain-Jane regular coffin, now's your chance to try again and upgrade... to a FANCY coffin! Why not, right?

Awesome Customer Review

This book should be entitled, "Build a coffin at Summer Camp". The quality of the coffin depicted in the illustrations would lead me to believe that the author is not a woodworker and that he is not qualified to write on the subject. The workmanship depicted looks as though a group of school kids put it together. There is nothing in this book that a little imagination and general woodworking knowledge couldn't improve on.

~ A Customer, too ashamed to admit he bought this book.

Knitting with Dog Hair: Better A Sweater From A Dog You Know and Love Than A Sheep You'll Never Meet


This is the book for the person who's given up on everything else. Sure, it's a crafty exercise but I think that once you start fleecing your dog and wearing shirts made from his coat you've jumped the sanity shark well and good.

Awesome Customer Review

I felt bad at first shaving my dog completely bald, but after I got the sweater made using this book, he now looks stylish in his own fur!

~ Tracy, has completely perverted nature.

Ok, so that's my gift to you, dear readers. I feel stupider and I hope you do too. Below I am embedding a clip from Late Night with Jimmy Fallon that inspired my weird journey into the Amazon book section. It's a funny segment. I suggest you watch.