following actors around

[calimac]

Following actors from favorite TV shows around after those shows leave the air can be a hazardous proposition. After Buffy left the air, we watched one episode each of the new shows starring Alyson Hannigan and Nicholas Brendon, which were both so hideous we never saw another.

Eliza Dushku, also from Buffy, is in something called Dollhouse which is said to be made by Joss Whedon, but from the evidence of the three episodes I've seen so far, I really don't think it is. That must be just one of those rumors. There is nothing remotely of the Whedon touch about it, and Dushku is badly miscast, something the Joss I know would never do.

Imagine my surprise, then, to find that the first episode of Castle, starring Nathan Fillion, late of Firefly, was actually pretty good. Needless to say, it's not about a castle any more than Firefly was about a firefly. Fillion plays a mystery writer named Rick Castle who tags along to murder scenes with a woman detective he's got the sweets for. Castle is an egoistic goofball, more like Captain Hammer than Captain Tightpants, but rather amazingly, Fillion does not overplay him, and he's amusing rather than annoying, partly because - despite himself - Castle is also smart.

The plot of the first episode was bog-standard Evil Murderer. The detective has the same corps of interchangeable assistants of most drama shows. (I had to give up on House because I couldn't tell any of the regular characters besides Dr. House apart.) The character of Castle's ex-wife was played by a watered-down Emma Caulfield type, and the real thing would have been better. But the show was pretty enjoyable, pretty well written, pretty well acted, and I'd be willing to see it again. Maybe Joss Whedon had a hand in it.

Comments

[emerdavid.livejournal.com]

I had pretty much the same reaction. Fillion is delightful in this show; the role seems perfect for him. Plot (at least this one episode) is boiler-plate. Two attractive characters who annoy each other but are thrown together by circumstances -- you just know they're going to strike sparks and eventually fall in love. The murder mystery was too easy; I'm not good at figuring out mysteries and I had this one nailed in the first act. But (a) it's only the first episode, and (b) that's not really the point anyway, is it?

I also like that it's about a writer, and touches on the creative process as well as the crime/mystery aspect.

Also a similar reaction to Dollhouse. But I read an interview with Dushku who says that the first several episodes were meddled with by the network, and it's not until ep 6 or 7 that it really becomes Joss's show. So I'm reserving judgement, waiting to see how the second half of the season shapes up.

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

All my judgments of Dollhouse have been interim. But I'm a little skeptical. Whedon ought to be able to work around restrictions. The network made him re-do the entire first episode of Firefly, and the result was delightful. Something better happen soon, or else this'll be like the proverbial fantasy novel whose fans claim it got really good on page N+1, N being the page where you finally gave up.

[nwl.livejournal.com]

So I'm reserving judgment, waiting to see how the second half of the season shapes up.

Assuming there is one. FOX is known for quickly dropping series that are under-performing, which Dollhouse is. I wasn't grabbed by the first episode and haven't seen it since. I find the whole premise kinda icky.

Castle - saw it, not thrilled. I'm not much for cliches, which it is. Fillion popped his eyes out so much, I thought they would come right out of his head at one point. Nope, it's back to CSI:Miami and Medium for me.