Jo's Cafe

This its not some weird new game put out by Playfirst, but the title of two new television shows for this season. 

Kings on NBC and Castle on ABC.

Watching Castle was a no brainer for me.  Besides the previews looking funny, Nathan Fillion in the lead role grabbed me right away.  I learned to enjoy Fillion’s acting when he was in Firefly. 

If you haven’t seen Castle yet, here is the short of the show from the ABC website.

Wildly famous mystery novelist Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) is bored with his own success. Then he learns that a real-world copycat killer has started staging murder scenes depicted in his novels. Castle is questioned by NYPD Detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic), a bright and aggressive detective who keeps her investigations under tight rein. Though they instantly clash, sparks of another sort also begin to fly, leading both to danger and a hint of romance as Castle steps in to help find the killer. And once that case is solved, he and Beckett build on their new relationship as they look to solve more strange homicides in New York – as much fun as one can have with death and murder.

There is a ton of humor in this crime show, and the under currents of sexual tension are there. The acting is fantastic in my opinion.  I thoroughly enjoyed both episodes so far and will go back for more.  Richard Castle has killed off his book-series star and has hit the writers block from hell.  A series of murders are patterned after scenes from his books, so the NYPD stop by his book launch party to talk to him.  Sticking himself into the investigation, his eyes as a writer give the lead detective, Kate Beckett, a different way of viewing a murder scene.  Helps that she’s also a Richard Castle fan.  Castle’s mother lives with him and his so-much-older than she is daughter and they mesh well as a family.  I hope the series sticks around a good long time.   I’m always up for a good crime “who-done-it”, as evidenced by the DVR set to record all three CSIs, Criminal Minds, and of course 24.  I didn’t recognize Stana Katic at first, but once I looked up her acting credits, her face came into focus. She’s was in Day 3 of 24 and an episode of The Unit. Only two shows have aired so far, but I would suggest watching online, like I do.

Kings preview didn’t reach out and grab me like Castle’s did – but there was enough there to make me want to at least look. To pin-point what grabbed me I can’t put my finger on, but figured hey why not.

From the NBC website:

From executive producer From executive producer Michael Green ( NBC’s “Heroes” ) comes a riveting new drama about a modern day monarchy. “Kings” is a contemporary re-telling of the timeless tale of David and Goliath. This series is an epic story of greed and power, war and romance, forbidden loves and secret alliances — and a young hero who rises to power in a modern-day kingdom.

King Silas Benjamin (Ian McShane) is the well-entrenched king of Gilboa, whose flag bears a divine butterfly symbol. Gilboa has its capital in Shiloh, a clean new city that is unspoiled by time or litter. Silas must deal with the tensions rising between Gilboa and neighboring nation Gath. When several prisoners of war are taken, a young soldier, David Shepherd (Chris Egan), defies orders and crosses enemy lines to save them. Unknown to David, the soldier he saves is Jack Benjamin (Sebastian Stan), the son of the king. From that day forth, David’s life will never be the same.

I’ve only ever watched one hour of Heroes and that sent me into dream land.  (Guess I really didn’t watch a whole hour then uh?) As with Castle, I watched online at the NBC site.  The first hour was a snooze fest.  I had to push to keep watching, but I can’t say there was even enough there in hour two to have me going back for the next episode.  Fictional country with a King.  Yawn.  Total control. Yawn.  I mean .. whoopie do.  A war. Snore.   The good guy, Shepherd (from the farm, all around baby-faced kid from a small town) saves the King’s son after he was captured during a combat operation. (An operation you later learn is set up to do just that by his father).  The King brings Shepherd to the “kingdom” and lavishes him with a huge party where he’s totally out of place.  Of course the King’s son is jealous and we find out later is gay, and the King’s wife is a flake and the daughter falls for Shepherd. 

When the two hours were up I just thought “hrumpf”.  Don’t think I’m going to be watching anymore of this show, online or off. 

Thumbs up to Castle.  Thumb half way down for Kings. 

Your thoughts if you’ve seen either?

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