Common Sense Media Review
Light crime procedural offers less violence than CSI.
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Why Age 13+?
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Castle
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 15 parent reviews
Based on 62 kid reviews
Kids say the show is a fantastic blend of comedy, action, and crime, appealing to a wide range of audiences, though some note the presence of violence and sexual references, which may not be suitable for younger viewers. Overall, it features well-developed characters, especially a strong female lead, and many fans appreciate the humor interwoven with the serious themes of crime and detective work.
- entertaining mix
- character depth
- mild violence
- sexual references
- positive role models
- family-friendly aspects
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Suffering from writer's block, successful crime novelist Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) tags along with an NYPD detective hoping for inspiration. Though his partner, Kate Becket (Stana Katic), repeatedly tells him that he's only there to observe, the irrepressible Castle can't refrain from offering his opinions. Given his lack of police training and his background as a fiction writer, his ideas tend to go against the grain -- but they still display a keen understanding of human nature. These insights often take the pair's investigations in unusual directions and sometimes lead to important breakthroughs.
Is It Any Good?
Fillion is the main reason to watch CASTLE. Charming and witty, his character brings some fun to what's otherwise a fairly standard cop procedural. As a fiction writer, his point of departure when examining a crime is to assume that the most unlikely, impossible-sounding explanation is what happened -- in other words, the exact opposite of his detective counterpart, who starts with the facts and moves on from there. Their interactions, as Becket dismisses Castle's outlandish suggestions and then slowly concedes he might have a point, are the best part of the show.
The weak points are the crimes themselves, which are often so formulaic that any veteran viewer of TV cop shows can immediately tell which suspects are red herrings and which minor characters will be back in the final act. Still, TV police squad rooms tend to be environments filled with stress and uncertainty, as the cops try to fit together meager clues; introducing a writer to mix up this well-known environment is a fun twist that elevates Castle from mediocrity.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether this kind of crime show is more appealing than one like CSI. If so, why? Do crimes like murder seem less upsetting in this context? What's the impact of seeing violence on television?
Do you think Castle's crime theories are believable or crazy? Even if you don't find his ideas plausible, does the show telegraph the fact that his wild hypotheses will likely turn out to be true?
Families can discuss why so many TV shows revolve around "odd couple" pairings. Is it just a way to generate conflict? Do you think odd-couple partnerships are better for drama shows or comedies? Can you think of any real-life odd couples?
TV Details
- Premiere date : March 9, 2009
- Cast : Nathan Fillion , Stana Katic , Susan Sullivan
- Network : ABC
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2022
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