“Featuring well-written storylines, enjoyable characters and an intriguing concept, the first season of “CASTLE” is highly entertaining, suspenseful and definitely fun! ‘CASTLE – The Complete First Season’ is definitely worth checking out!”
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DVD TITLE: CASTLE – The Complete First Season
DURATION: 10 episodes (430 minutes)
DVD INFORMATION: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, French and Spanish Subtitles, Widescreen (1:78:1) – Enhanced for 16×9 Televisions
COMPANY: abc studios
RATED: TV PG
RELEASE DATE:Â September 22, 2009
Created by Andrew J. Marlowe
Directed by Rob Bowman, Bryan Spicer, John Terlesky
Written by Andrew J. Marlow, David Grae, Moira Kirland, Barry Schindel
Executive Producer: Rob Bowman, Andrew W. Marlowe, Laurie Zaks, Armyan Bernstein, Rene Echevarria
Co-Executive Producer: Gabrielle G. Stanton, Harry Werksman
Producer: D. Howard Grigsby, David Grae
Co-Producer: Mark A. Altman, Steven Kriozere
Associate Producer: Suzanne Lauer
Supervising Producer: Charles Murray
Music by Robert Duncan, Mark Kilian
Cinematography by Bill Roe
Edited by Warren Bowman, Mark S. Manos, Marta Evry
Casting by Kendra Castleberry, Donna Rosenstein
Production Design by Alfred Sole
Art Direction by Jim Wallis, Gershon Ginsburg
Set Decoration by Christopher Marsteller
Costume Design by Salvador Perez Jr.
Starring:
Nathan Fillion as Richard Castle
Stana Katic as Detective Kate Beckett
Susan Sullivan as Martha rodgers
Ruben Santiago-Hudson as Captain Roy Montgomery
Molly C. Quinn as Alexis Castle
John Huertas as Detective Javier Esposito
Seamus Dever as Detective Kevin Ryan
Tamala Jones as Dr. Lanie Parish
Bailey Chase as WIll Sorenson
Dan Castellaneta as Judge Markway
Joseph C. Phillips as Mayor
A bestselling novelist (Nathan Fillion) and a New York City detective (Stana Katic) delve into real world crime, starting with a copycat killer who recreates the murder scenes depicted in his novels. Finding true life mysteries more stimulating than fiction, writer Richard Castle continues to offer his professional insights to Detective Kate Beckett— whether she wants them or not. Sparks fly and a hint of romance hangs in the air as these two strong personalities investigate some of the most puzzling crimes on the NYPD’s docket.
Witty, suspenseful and fresh! The first season of “CASTLE” is the modern “Moonlighting” featuring a cool cast and each episode with an entertaining storyline.
“CASTLE” debuted on ABC as a mid-season replacement and began airing on March 2009. Created by Andrew M. Marlowe (“Air Force One”, “End of Days” and “Hollyw Man”) and executive produced by Rob Bowman (“The A-Team”, “The X-Files”, “Day Break”) comes a new drama series on crime solving.
The first season which featured 10 episodes stars actor Nathan Fillion (“Firefly”, “Drive” and “Desperate Housewives”) as Richard Castle. The famous mystery novelist who is adored by many but behind-the-scenes, he is a playboy who has an on-and-off fling with his ex-wife (who is an actress), another ex-wife who is his publisher and lives with his bright teenage daughter Alexis (Molly Quinn, “My One and Only”) and his meddlesome mother and former Broadway actress, Martha Rodgers (Susan Sullivan, “The Nine”, “Dharma & Greg”).
There is a lot of pressure on Nathan to create another book and with him stuck, his luck starts to change when he meets by-the-book Detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic, “Heroes”, “The Spirit”, “Quantum of Solace”) who is investigating several murders which have taken place and the way that they were done were like the murders featured in several of his novels.  Because of his knowledge of how things end up with his books, he gets the opportunity to assist the detectives in their case.
Eventually, Richard Castle discovers that he can do several things in his life. Write his new book based on Detective Beckett, see if he can woo Detective Beckett and most of all to investigate other murders which he can incorporate ideas for his new book. At first, it seems implausible but with Castle being so well-known and friends with the mayor, Captain Montgomery (Ruben Santiago-Huds0n) will do what he can to make the mayor and his boss happy, so he allows Richard to tag along with Detective Beckett.
Needless to say, she’s not happy about it but with his skills of mystery writing and her skills as a detective, the two find out that together, they can be an effective duo in crime solving. Also, joining Beckett are Detective Javier Esposito (Jon Huertas), Detective Kevin Ryan (Seamus Dever) and forensics doctor Dr. Lanie Parish (Tamala Jones).
“CASTLE – The Complete First Season” features 10 episodes on three discs. Included are (spoiler-less summaries):
DISC: 1
- EPISODE 1 – Flowers For Your Graves – A copycat killer is on the loose and they are using Rick Castle’s novels as a source of ideas. With the NYPD Detectives having a tough time with the case, Castle offers to assist the investigators.
- EPISODE 2 – Nanny McDead – A nanny is found dead inside a laundry machine and Investigator Beckett must find out who the killer is. Meanwhile, Rick Castle pulls strings with the Mayor and Captain in using Beckett as a source of ideas for his upcoming book, thus allowing him to tag around Detective Beckett on cases.
- EPISODE 3 – Hell Hath no Fury – A body is found wrapped in a rug and Castle and Beckett and it appears to be a politician. Who killed him?
- EPISODE 4 – Hedge Fund Homeboys – A man who once was from a wealthy family is found dead and while Beckett and Castle try to investigate, his friends try to do their best in stopping them.
DISC 2:
- EPISODE 5 – A Chill Goes Through Her Veins – A woman is found frozen, her husband is found dead. Beckett and Castle investigate.
- EPISODE 6 – Always Buy Retail – Why are women who have been buying fake Gucci bags being targeted for death?
- EPISODE 7 – Home is Where the Heart Stops – Someone is murdering the rich and famous and robbing them of their jewelry. Can Beckett and Castle stop the person before they commit another murder?
- EPISODE 8 – Ghosts – A woman is found dead in a bathtub filled with motor oil. And the woman who last spoke to her happens to be a mystery ghost writer. Will Beckett and Castle find out who the true killer is?
DISC 3:
- EPISODE 9 – Little Girl Lost – A little girl has gone missing and for Detective Beckett, she is reunited with her former flame from the FBI.
- EPISODE 10 – A Death in the Family – Detective Beckett warned Rick Castle not to look into the death of her mother but wanting to help her, he does. Meanwhile, the two investigate the death of a plastic surgeon.
VIDEO & AUDIO:
“CASTLE – The Complete First Season” is presented in Widescreen (1:78:1) and is enhanced for 16×9 televisions. The drama series is quite slick as it gives you the feel of New York and like many abc studios related DVD releases, Disney has always done a good job with their TV show transfers. A show that balances outdoor and indoor shots with good lighting, the picture quality for “CASTLE” is pretty solid. I didn’t see any major artifacting issues or low level noise that was distracting.
As for the audio, the series is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. The series is front and center channel driven with a few episodes (that involve gun fights) utilizing the surround channels. The series does utilize quite a bit of music and for the most, the series is understandable and clear.
Subtitles are in English SDH, French and Spanish.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
“CASTLE – The Complete First Season” includes the following special features:
DISC 1:
- Audio Commentary for “Flowers For Your Grave” with Executive Producer Andrew Marlow, Executive Producer Rob Bowman, Actors Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic and Jon Huertas
DISC 2:
- Audio Commentary for “A Chill Goes Through Her Veins” with Executive Producer Andrew Marlow, Executive Producer Rob Bowman, Actors Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic, Jon Huertas and Molly Quinn
DISC 3:
- Audio Commentary for “A Death in the Family” with Executive Producer Andrew Marlow, Executive Producer Rob Bowman, Actors Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic, Jon Huertas and Molly Quinn
- Audio Commentary for “A Death in the Family” with Seamus Dever and Jon Huertas
- Whodunit: The Genesis of Castle -(6:15) Andrew Marlowe talks about how he came up with the idea of “Castle”. Interviews with crew and cast and behind-the-scenes of making the series.
- Castle’s Godfather – (7:16) Andrew Marlowe and Rob Bowman talk about how they got to work with Stephen J. Cannell (creator of “A-Team” and “Rockford Files”).
- Write-Along with Nathan Fillion – (9:07) A hilarious featurette featuring Nathan Fillion wanting to learn from Stephen J. Cannell.
- Misdemeanors: Bloopers & Outtakes – (2:37) First season bloopers.
“CASTLE” was definitely a surprise. I can remember seeing the commercials during “LOST” but and for the most part, it kind of reminded me of the old “Moonlighting” years of crime investigation. But after watching the first episode, I was instantly hooked.
Both Rick Castle and Detective Kate Beckett are just polar opposites but you know that there is this sexual attraction there that makes their chemistry work onscreen. In a way, both are like Bruce Wayne (Batman) in the way they are keen in investigating things. Castle, as a mystery writer and having done a lot of research, puts himself in the shoes of the criminal and thinks of the many possibilities that can exist between the characters. Detective Beckett, almost having a similar tragic Bruce Wayne story is a by-the-book detective and for the most part, have their unique way of feeding off each other in terms of handling a case. But Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic do a great job and have good chemistry onscreen.
So, far every episode has been intriguing, suspenseful and entertaining. If there was one thing that tends to creep in my head that is more on the negative side, is just the serious aspects of a popular writer getting the opportunity to tag along a detective on her various cases. I just have a hard time seeing the NYPD allowing such a thing and allowing a writer to get that close to the detectives.
Granted, this may seem a bit farfetched but overall, the writers make it work. Each of the characters are actually quite enjoyable to watch, especially Castle’s meddling mother Martha and logical and intelligent daughter Alexis, it’s good to see Castle pulled out of his element once in awhile. Beckett’s partners Detective Esposito and Ryan lend that serious but also comedic moment for the series.
The first season of “CASTLE” has been quite enjoyable thus far. I’m glad to hear that the series has been green lighted for a second season because “CASTLE” has been nothing but entertaining, fun and a suspenseful drama series thus far.
“CASTLE – The Complete First Season” is definitely worth checking out!