Something Smells Awful
In the above photo the look on the face of Castle guest star Stephnie Weir expresses exactly how I felt watching Castle Season 8 Episode 5, “The Nose.” I want to say from the top that Weir did an excellent job with the character she had and all that was going on. This review is not about bad performances by her or anyone on the show.
That being said this I found that “The Nose” – more than anything we’ve seen thus far – has me more disappointed than ever about Castle. What happened to the smart show with the witty banter and sly innuendo? When did Castle become such a sexist and immature hour of television? There’s certainly been hints of this sort of thing before, but this episode, penned by new Castle writer Nancy Kiu is the worst I’ve seen on the show. (Proof that sexism has nothing to do with what gender you actually are.) What I saw displayed in “The Nose” is exactly the kind of humor and attitude that is being discussed in this Bustle article: “Why Isn’t There More Diversity In Comedy”?
I think a good place to start with this question is discussing the popularity of Daniel Tosh, Dane Cook, Seth McFarlane, and others in that same ilk. Their sophomoric comedy is typically misogynistic, xenophobic, and just plain mean-spirited.
But there are promising signs that this frat boy humor is becoming obsolete. A salient example: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler‘s Golden Globes’ hosting was lauded by critics, but Seth McFarlane’s Oscars duties received criticism across the board.
Jaclyn Perlmutter (New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Peoples Improv Theatre)
Well, clearly it hasn’t gone obsolete enough. Frat-boy humor is not an unpopular genre in American culture. The comedians mentioned in the quote are well-known and very successful. I’m not going to get into whether this type of humor is good or not. My problem is it’s not what Castle has built it’s brand on. Had Castle started out as being a low-brow comedy I would have never gotten into it, and I doubt the ten-plus million viewers that watched live for six seasons would have done so either. Maybe it would have developed a different audience, but the facts are that the audience the show had built up over six seasons has been steadily eroding as this time of humor has increased. One does not try and re-brand a show in its seventh and eighth seasons and that’s what Castle has been attempting to do. As the ratings have shown, it hasn’t been going well.
Bringing Down Beckett
One part of this “rebranding” of Castle has been the systematic attempt to make the character of detective/captain Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) a weaker, dumber, and less important character than writer Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion). The first blatant onslaught of this strategy was in Castle Season 6 Episode 23, “For Better or Worse.” I still remember reading the words of Castle creator (and at the time showrunner) Andrew Marlowe about why he chose to ditch six seasons of story canon and have Beckett suddenly discover that she’d been married before:
A lot of it had to do with resolving some aspects of Beckett, so when Beckett and Castle move on, there can be a little more parity. So with “Veritas,” we very much felt like we needed to close off Beckett’s mother’s murder arc in order to free her up in order to move forward. But she also always occupied the moral high ground with Castle and his previous relationships. And this is a way to humanize her a little bit. To take her down a peg in a way that’s very endearing to Castle (www.givememyremote).
At the time these remarks were infuriating and it was easy to blame Marlowe for the decision. Now seeing how low the show has sunk in its portrayal of Beckett it’s clear Marlowe was following some kind of directive to “take her down a peg” because this season is a thousand times worse and Marlowe isn’t even writing for the show and characters that he created.
What exactly am I talking about? How about this entire Castle Season 8 story arc that has Beckett making decisions that make no sense and make her seem at best illogical and at worse obsessive and narcissistic? In a scene I found highly amusing – although it wasn’t meant to be – Castle opens the door to his loft to be met by a man pointing a gun at him. Why is he doing this? The man knows Castle is married to “Captain” Beckett and he wants to use Castle to get Beckett to give him the stolen painting currently in police possession. So much for the whole, “Beckett needs to leave Castle in order to keep him safe” story! These tweets said it best:
Wait. Beckett left so Castle wouldn’t be in danger for being married to her. And now this guy goes after Castle… for being married to her.
– Stana Katic Brasil (@BRStanaKatic) October 20, 2015
@BRStanaKatic Do they not realize they pointed out the flaw in their own arc?! – Stana Katic Central (@StanaCentral) October 20, 2015
This storyline almost makes me wish Katic wasn’t such a great actress because she completely sells the whole, “I love him, I miss him, and this is breaking my heart” story. There’s no question she nails it in every frame. The scene at the end where she’s buried her face in his jacket and is wrecked is emotionally raw and heartbreaking. The problem is that plot-wise it’s still all a Jedi mind trick – because the story reason still makes no sense. We just saw how ridiculous the idea driving this plot is less than five minutes ago. Soft music and a voice-over of Weir’s character saying, “Now, what you and Beckett have? Now that’s the genuine article” does not fix that this this storyline has been thrown on top of the characters of Castle and Beckett in a vain attempt to reset the series. (I’ll get to the Richard Castle problems in a bit.)
The fact that it’s Mia Laslow (Weir’s character) doing that voice-over is even more annoying because she’s had nothing pleasant to say about Beckett for the entire episode. It makes her sudden burst of unicorns and rainbows seem totally disingenuous.
Speaking about not nice things to say about Beckett, within the first ten minutes this episode managed to make three negative comments that are in turn objectifying, insulting, and sexist. Let’s recap:
2:58 We get a shot of Beckett’s butt as she’s looking inside of a car for evidence – which is cut in with Detective Kevin Ryan (Seamus Dever) quizzically taking in the view.
Beckett: “So, what do you think? Maybe he was corporate security?”
Ryan: “Not with that tiny back seat.”
Just in case the audience missed the “joke” Beckett gets a peeved look on her face and when she turns to look at Ryan he gets uncomfortable and embarrassed while trying to explain what he meant.
Ryan: “I mean, there’s no room for a guy to get in there.”
Now, Castle is no stranger to sexual innuendo, so what makes this different? Agency. It’s one thing for Beckett to own her sexuality and use it, like in one of last season’s better scenes where she goes to Castle’s P.I.’s office as says, “I’m just a girl looking for my own private dick.” It’s innuendo, double-entendre and sexy. For a clearer example, let’s go back to Season 3, where Beckett deliberately makes a spectacular exit from a pool to get a criminal’s attention.
Having Beckett objectify herself to try to get information is a moment of the audience seeing her as being powerful. Making jokes about her “tiny back seat” is a way to take that power from her because she has no say or control in the matter. (For a longer explanation check out this great cartoon/article: Empowered vs Objectified).
6:43 While interviewing Mia, it quickly becomes apparent to Beckett that she’s very sensitive to smell. Mia suggests Beckett should call herself “Captain Obvious” and then tell her to go look up the medical term for the condition, “hyperosmia.” We get it, the character is obnoxious, but it’s also a way to make jokes about Beckett.
Maybe the “Captain Obvious” thing wouldn’t be bad if weren’t sandwiched between the prior car incident and this next bit of commentary.
8:52 Castle and Mia are standing by the 12th Precinct elevator together when she out of nowhere gives him some information.
Mia: “She’s clearly got the hots for you.”
Castle “Who?”
Mia: “Captain Hoochie Momma.”
The term is highly derogatory. Going with the tamest definition source, here’s what Merriam Webster has to say on it:
HOOCHIE
slang
bimbo [slang], chippie (also chippy), doxy (also doxie), fancy woman, floozy [slang], hussy,Jezebel, minx, quean, slut, tramp, trollop, wench, whore
(If you want the full urban definition click here)
Last week we had Beckett in a short dress lying down on the couch in her office with a subordinate in the room giving her a report. This week she had on pants and a jacket. However, at the precinct she takes off the jacket to reveal a black low cut blouse with gauzy sleeves…. Remember back in Season 5 when Beckett didn’t want her outfit looking sexy? Apparently being captain means that she absolutely should. What’s upsetting is that Beckett has always looked good and had great clothes, but now it’s like Beckett’s job is all about her sex appeal. That certainly seems to be the idea coming from this Castle writer’s assistant:
Fun Fact: Captain-Hoochiemama is actually a higher rank in the NYPD #Castle
– Nick Hurwitz (@HickNurwitz) October 20, 2015
From a powerful police detective to “Captain Hoochie Mama”? It may be meant as a joke, but it’s not funny.
Bringing Down Ryan
On a secondary note, Castle Season 8 has a new sexist wrinkle to it. Kevin Ryan has always been the show’s “decent” guy. He’s the one who’s found a nice girl, settled down, got married. More than that, he also is the one who back in Season 4 was cool about the fact that early on in their non-exclusive dating relationship his wife had a one-night stand with a guy that a murder-victim. He did what was right and went to Captain Victoria Gates (Penny Johnson Jerald) about what Beckett and detective Javier Esposito (Jon Huertas) was up to. Esposito was furious, but it saved Beckett’s life. Ryan’s been the character with a strong sense of ethics. Esposito has been the wanna-be ladies-man, the tough guy. They really broke down the characters’ dynamics in Season 5’s “Swan Song.”
Ryan: ” I know how this might look, but we actually make a pretty good team because we each have, uh, different strengths.”
Esposito: “That’s true. For example, I’m former military, which makes me an expert marksman. I’m usually first through the door.”
Ryan: “Well, yeah, but somebody’s gotta know which door to go through. I’m a little bit more, um, circumspect, uh, than my partner here. I’m kinda like the… the nerve center of the team.”
Both of this guys had a way of being both cool and silly in a unique way.
Last week we say Ryan lie to Esposito about the sergeant’s exam, and agree to go against Beckett and give Castle information on Cases for five hundred bucks a month. This week it’s Ryan fails the sergeant’s exam while Esposito passes it, and then Ryan accidently shoots Esposito in the butt. Aside from the annoying teenage boy amusement about being shot in arse, the past two episodes seem hell-bent on taking Ryan down several pegs in favor of the the macho Esposito. Just like what’s been the case with Castle and Beckett lately it’s apparently it not okay for them to have a yin-yang balanced relationship.
Castle Problems
If watching what’s being done to Beckett makes me want to hit something watching Castle maneuver in this strange new version of the show makes me want to scream!
Castle: So, Beckett and I have been married almost a year, and things were going great and then suddenly she says she needs space.
What?! That’s not what happened! Does Castle still have amnesia? Has he forgotten the whole, “wife’s former team was murdered, they tried to kill her, they kidnapped and tortured me to try to get information from me about her” drama that took up two entire episodes? I’m pretty sure I brought this up in last week’s review, but I’ll mention it again. While many people are upset that Castle isn’t showing more anger at Beckett for just “walking out on him,” I’m mad as hell that Castle is being portrayed as being so dumb that he can’t put two and two together. Meanwhile every since it happened Beckett’s said it’s not about him, we’ve got Beckett looking miserable every time she does something that breaks his heart, and people telling Castle she still loves him. Yet all Castle can focus on are goofy ways to try and “win her back.” Ugh!
Where is my smart and curious Castle that loves puzzles and mysteries and knows Beckett better than anyone? If he’s going to mad it should be because he knows she’s doing something dangerous and shutting him out, not because he has no clue. Remember the charming guy who got the case files off of Beckett’s desk in the pilot episode, “Flowers for Your Grave”? Why isn’t Castle doing everything he can to figure out what she’s up too? There could be lots of comedy mined from that. Instead he’s amored with his stupid home security system. ( I ranted about Lucy when it was first introduced so I’m not getting back into it now.)
To try and make up for this cluelessness this episode has a B-storyline of Castle being the one that understands that Mia has been hiding away from life and really wants to get out there and experience things. He makes a real difference for and, thanks to Castle, now she will. So, Castle figures out Mia’s entire psyche in less than a day – but he can’t figure out what’s up with Beckett?!
The Wrap Up
The Castle we have now is overly silly, full of humor about smelly flatulence. getting shot in the butt, and Beckett’s beautiful behind. Once again, the positive highlight of the episode and the only comic moments I really enjoyed was with Castle’s Mom Martha Rogers (Susan Sullivan). I especially loved her scene with Mia. Martha’s always happy to meet a fan – no matter how strange!
This episode also had Castle’s daughter Alexis Castle (Molly Quinn) and whatever for hire Hayley Shipton (Toks Olagundoye). The good news is they weren’t working together. Alexis was a benign presence this week, which was a lovely change. As for Hayley, it still doesn’t make sense that she’s around or that she knows Castle well enough to figure out he knows the people to call if one needs to get rid of very expensive cars. It was strange that Beckett was so willing to let her in on the case so intimately.
Yes, there was a case. Buried under all the slapstick and fratboy humor it may even have been a good one. Who knows? What I do know is this new direction of Castle hasn’t helped the ratings any. It’s practically the anti-Castle. The show will be on a three week hiatus – returning in early November. For the first time ever I can honestly say I won’t miss it. Hopefully something is being done to future episodes to get this show back on track.
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[Photos via ABC]
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Oh my that is a great scathing review of the writers to bad they won’t see it. That is exactly why I am no longer an avid fan ,and do not watch anymore. I do feel sorry for Stana and Nathan for bring put thru this fiasco of a story line. That is why you haven’t seen Stana or Nathan really promoting the show on twitter. I wish they both had an out in their contracts that would be great to get back at the writers for this mess.
(slow clapping which goes to standing ovation)
Thank you that you step over the Caskett-animgif level of the show and cares about not only what happens on screen but whether it has any sense.
I would add another thing to the insanity to the story. Beckett told the guys that Vikram would check the video feeds. The writers told that he is working now at the NYPD as a tech guy. (Replacing Tori.)
Now if Big Bad sniffs something about her investigation it won’t be suspicious at all that suddenly the same guy who was involved in the previous case found a job beside her.
They’re doing a decent job of making me hate Beckett and it’s working, but for reasons outside of the sexism. However, yes, the sexism is definitely alive and well on the show.
The writing for both characters makes me want to smack them both. Then I think back to Hollander’s Woods. It’s not Castle and Beckett’s fault. Can writers be charged with character abuse? Can we call character protective services on them? :D
My second thought is clearly these are not the same characters. Maybe this is a sci-fi sequence. Are they clones? Has this entire season been a dream? I mean supposedly there’s some kind of payoff to this story they’ve concocted. I’m hoping for the Castle wakes up and finds Beckett in the shower payoff. ;)
Joy, The ongoing portrayal of this marriage which the new producers think as clever is really pathetic and an insult to intelligent thinking people. Let us hope the floor ratings number is hit soon and the network will be forced to make changes or just end it.
Hayley felt forced and how everyone was glad she was there
I like her character, but it’s true that she seemed unnecessary.
Joy, dead on again with your review. Thanks
I said in one of the Facebook fan areas that the current showrunners and writers should have several mandatory viewings of The Thin Man followed by a read through and analysis of the script. Maybe they might understand that you can write for a happily married couple and make it good.
And yes, the characters have had a definite drop in IQ that annoys me tremendously.
Marlowe’s excuse for the whole “Beckett was married before” routine just doesn’t cut it. We are expected to believe that none of the background checks she had to undergo to become a cop and especially the one the AG’s office would have run on her didn’t come up with this tidbit??
If Rick does confirm what she’s doing a decent writer would have him be furious at her. Maybe even at least considering seeing a lawyer. Why? Because her promise to him of no more secrets or lies lasted less than a day.
wow some of you so called “fans” are a piece of work! And this review takes the cake! You want a real dramatic episode with real dark drama then you complain it’s too serious, then you want a lighter episode but complain it its too funny or not dramatic enough. If Kate and Rick are not together you want them to be. If they are you complain they are either too serious or not serious enough!
I have watched since episode 1 and truthfully you people are nothing if not annoying! What you really want imo is attention! What a self centered bunch you turn out to be!
I don’t go on sights often but when I do I see the same ten or twenty crybabies mouthing off about the show! Do us a favour and move because even though some of the audience has left millions of us still enjoy watching the tremendous talent of SK, the comedy of NF and the extremly talented cast.
It astounds me when people take valid criticism of a television show so personally. It shows a level of ownership that I don’t understand. Nobody is criticizing you.
And I don’t see anyone bashing the cast, more the direction of the showrunners and network. If they’d used racist, rather than a sexist slurs, the showrunners would be apologizing and possibly fired. But women are the group where this type of behavior is fine. It’s wrong. I hope someday that you’ll align yourself with women over callous TV executives.
Me, I see the same group of people complaining and calling people names because of their …. opinions. Why does someone’s opinion affect your own enjoyment of your show so much that you feel that you need to attack? Plenty of positive reviews are out there. If you don’t see the opinions here as valid, then I think you’ll feel better if you move on and focus on those. This article obviously stressed you. Just relax and find something you enjoy more. It will be better for your long-term health.
Ok quick reply because I personally can’t waste my time on someone who has such an obvious chip on their shoulder! I don’t know if you are a woman you seem to suggest you are, can’t tell by your name. But I am and proud of it! However I admire strong, independent women not the wimps many seem to want their characters to be. And as to defending the show millions watch the series and admire the writing, acting and storyline you obviously don’t too bad! Different strokes for different folks! Anyway now I see you are attacking A. Hawley..apparently one of the writers. You seem to know what he has done previously and are unhappy with what he tweets on his own site, interesting how you seem to “take ownership” as you put it of other peoples personal lives. So I can only guess that your life revolves around tv and fictitious characters. So ..enjoy..oh forgot you don’t seem to enjoy what you watch! BTW if you are such a great writer why not do so or is your forte to criticise others?
More namecalling. More taking this all personally. Standard mode of operation.
Thank you. What has happened to my beloved character Castle?
Now they are working on ruining Ryan.
Kates almost a lost cause.
Alexis…too late.
Please leave Martha alone, shes all Ive got left.
I truly worry what they’ll come up with for Martha….
Fantastic review! Right on the money on every point. Amen. And, to bad it’s so true.
A great article I agree on every level….ever since the non wedding and KB was married before idea it has been spotty writing and I agree dumbing down Beckett.
Lynn everyone is entitled to their opinion,without I would hope snarky remarks,I have read your ideas others have a chance to give theirs,that’s how this goes.
Good review Joy but there is so much wrong with this show now that focusing on frat pranks and some disparaging sexual remarks takes the focus off all that is wrong. Beginning with this new reset and now breaking up our two favorite detectives a long side Caskett. Yes–Beckett now has the title of most hated character and Castle has the title of dumbest. Add that to the long list of what is wrong–The show Castle is no longer Castle imo. It is gone–done–finished. Arrogant show runners and PTB who claim they do not care about the fan fall out now get to eat those words as ratings drop because their arrogance will not pay the bills and keep ad revenue coming in.
Where we disagree is SK ability to act these emotional tortured scenes–I don’t see it anymore than NF acting the clown–neither is convincing to me. What is wrong with writers? Have they never seen the show? Did they not see the fall out of 6-23? What made them think a season of our dynamic duo broken up would be taken lightly? Expect to see ratings in the fractions soon.
Reading Hawley’s Twitter, I think he is generally pretty disrespectful of show fans. On one threadline, he asked for more followers to reach 8000. Once there, he tweeted them what amounted to a pile of trash in “thanks,” a spent mannequin in a shopping cart. Not very classy. Maybe he was expressing some inside joke where it didn’t occur to him that people wouldn’t understand, or maybe that’s just how he thinks of fans? It was puzzling. If that’s how he openly acts, just think how he behaves when fans can’t see him.
Why he has a job after two failed shows, I don’t know. But the man appears to fall UP. And he seems inordinately immature. Marlowe had a lot of room for criticism, but he mostly acted like a grown-up.
IMHO, the frat boy behavior on the show definitely isn’t going away, as long as Hawley is around.
I pray that some of these scenarios could happen,please say there is a character protective services…..I will call them.
In about 10 days will be Cool Boys……no Kate and mostly Rick and Slaughter.Yikes.
In just over 2 weeks will be the The Last Seduction……and their anniversary,with 2 ladies,one of which is Andrea Roth will be featured.I really do not want my imagination to run wild.I am just going to watch it and hope and light candles that someone has written their characters back to what they are supposed to be…..Caskett and everyone else.Not the alternate universe characters I have been seeing.
Writers….do me a favor rewatch all seasons up to now,and figure out a way to get back on track.You can make a married crime fighting couple…..really you can.
And PLEASE stop the runaway train that has become HateKateGate.
I love the show,but I can read the ratings just like everyone else and they have to improve,be honest.The big payoff has to be great and they have to get people back into the fold.