Castle

Season 1 – 90% – The best crime show, the most beautiful investigator, and the biggest surprise in television series. If someone told me that I would fall in love with my least favorite genre, I would have laughed at them. But Castle delivers with incredible cadence, Beckett supports him with a sweet smile, and the chemistry between them shines. The variety in the cases and the intelligence and humor of the investigation guarantee that there will be plenty to draw from in the coming years. An incomparable masterpiece. Season 2 – 100% – When clever cases become brilliant, when an appealing team becomes best friends, and when the beautiful lead couple become the most anticipated pair, the rules of the genre change. We have already had well-crafted buddy cop shows, but with such doses of tension, humor, and emotion, Rick, Kate, and company reach the pinnacle in the second season. Surprising guest appearances (Marc Blucas, Dana Delany, and Michael Trucco truly shine) and subtle teasing of the viewers from "will they/won't they" to "for the love of God, just kiss already" add to the excitement. See you in fall. Season 3 – 90% – It's not easy to deliver unique murder cases every week and fit in a writer, a detective, and an overall mood. Luckily, whether it's pizzerias, beauty pageants, or paranormal phenomena, this team never loses its face and style. The series gains strength through episodes that are directly related to the past or personal lives of the main characters. For example, the traditional two-part episode in the second half of the season is my favorite adventure. It doesn't quite score a 100% rating because in some cases it's not easy to keep up and grasp all the connections in the rapid-fire dialogue exchanges despite maximum concentration. However, I still believe that Castle has no equal in the (no longer so subtle) relationship crime genre. Season 4 – 100% – At the top of the genre. The writing team led by Andrew Marlowe knows that they can dare any deviation from what could be defined as a "traditional case" and presents us with a wealth of new ideas. From Adam Baldwin to a stoned zombie to a tiger, everything is in top gear. Plus, this time the series is as much a romance as it is a crime show. And it ends in an unforgettable way, even in purely dramatic series. Season 5 – 90% – A game changer. The new situation sometimes brings more, sometimes less pleasant challenges, but some things fortunately remain the same. Like the thrilling two-part season finale. Or the episodes that delve into the main characters' past, which are among the absolute best (The Wild Rover with Ryan undercover is the king of the season for me). And the fact that Stana Katic is aging beautifully. Although the complicated murder cases sometimes confuse me, I can't be mad because I practically always have a smile on my face. Season 6 – 80% – It's somewhat disappointing because, despite the high rating, this time it's operating on idle. It remains a question as to whether the creators are really running out of ideas or if the concept of the series has started to become a bit repetitive after more than a hundred episodes. I lean more towards the second option because everything in the plot seems to be the same. There is once again a dramatic two-part episode that is a matter of life and death, once again a paranormal case that seemingly defies logic, and once again there are hidden secrets. It's just without much excitement and the investigations often just glide by and the reputation is saved only by the usual banter of the entire team. Thanks to intense adventures like Under Fire or Veritas, I remembered the times when few could match Castle in terms of tension, emotions, and humor. However, there are some slight concerns about the future quality. There aren't many TV settings that I would wish could catch their second (and ultimately last) breath as much as this NYPD precinct. Season 7 – 70% – It maintains its identity, but it's breathless and somewhat unfortunate, mainly due to the confused handling of the showrunner position. This season is clearly the weakest as it disappointingly loses points in terms of the overarching storylines. Nathan Fillion finally gets a bigger story arc, but both Rick's disappearance and the childhood incident that the new showrunner David Amann sets up at the beginning receive a big blow when they are resolved in just one episode. They feel like dead ends that are blind and foolish. That's why I'm grateful for the successful lighter episodes from school, noir, or alternative reality. The team chemistry is still unprecedented, but the increasingly interchangeable "anonymous" episodes without a clearly visible direction unnecessarily dilute it. Season 8 – 60% – A somewhat sad swan song, as the new duo of showrunners sends it into average waters. Alexi Hawley and Terence Paul Winter had good intentions when they tried to bring back the spark between the central couple, which had somewhat faded in recent years. However, having a breakup storyline pulled out of thin air was a bad idea, and deciding to go back on it under pressure from the audience bordered on embarrassment. Above all, it was confirmed that after solving Johanna Beckett's death, the lack of a long-term storyline was a detriment. The viewer would have enjoyed deciphering clues and uncovering LokSat's identity, but from the beginning to the end, it stumbled. That's why the last few episodes are a surprising rescue. It plays a strong note at the last moment, and stories with an immortal victim or the arrival of Satan hark back to the legendary era, but it only partially saves the rushed impression. Therefore, thanks to all involved for an amazing finale that allows Nathan Fillion to shine, for a few surprising twists, and for an ending that the general public didn't fully accept. Given the hectic circumstances of the end of filming, the bitter impressions of recent years, and the horrific casting changes that would await us in the future, I'll take such an (albeit rushed) epilogue with all ten fingers. (06.07.2009) (weniger) (mehr)