Day 20

Shows You Need to Watch: 'Castle'
Third in an occasional series

Every time I think about recommending this show, they air an episode that is not that great. Case in point: This past Monday, it was predictable and lame. However, it was great the week before. So I'm going to go out on a limb here and recommend this show, with the caveat that it is inconsistent so far this season, even more so than 'Glee'. (Which was also not up to last week's standard; seriously, lose the shaky hand-held camera.)

Just when I thought I'd had enough of cop shows, this one came along. While I do enjoy a good 'CSI', I only really like the original one; NY basically hits you over the head with the fact that it's set in NY, and David Caruso drives me freaking crazy. Also, after eight or so years of these shows, they're apparently running out of ideas and getting predictable. Plus, they're on all the damn time.

So I was ready to bid farewell to the cop procedural drama, but I saw previews for this and was intrigued that Nathan Fillion was in it. I've seen him in other things and liked him; he does a good snarky aside as well as any one. Essentially, I started watching this show for that reason, but enjoyed the entire premise. Yes, it's a cop show, but it doesn't take itself too seriously, and it has good dialogue. As you are well aware by now, I enjoy a good banter, and 'Castle' has it. That and some amusing characters, plus a plot that is (usually) interesting and wraps up by the end of the show -- that's some good TV.

To be clear, this is mindless Monday night TV. It's not a show that'll make you ponder the meaning of life or the depth of humanity. But it is entertaining and a fun way to spend an hour. (Also, it's on opposite Leno and 'CSI: Miami', so.)

'Castle' is on Mondays at 9.