Crime Fiction’s Ten Greatest Bromances

As a genre, mystery is famous for its loners, guys like Jack Reacher, Monk and Lucas Davenport. But mysteries are also rife with bromances, all you have to do is look. What exactly is a bromance? The term is used to describe a non-sexual relationship between two men that are unusually close. In mystery, this can take the form of a traditional sidekick, a work colleague, or even a dog.

Here is my take on the top ten ten mystery bromances, in reverse order:

Number 10: Hercule Poirot and James Japp in the PBS Mystery! Series Poirot

Technically Poirot spends more time with Captain Hastings, but it is the unlikely evolution of his relationship with Scotland Yard’s Inspector Japp that is most impressive. The Brit and the Belgian are as different as two men can be, yet they develop a mutual respect and fondness for one another. Poirot invites Japp to stay at his house, and when Japp gives lectures about his career, he gives all the credit to Poirot. It’s a friendship of international detection perfection.

Man’s best friend bromance.

Number 9: Shaggy and Scooby in the Classic Cartoon: Scooby Doo, Where Are You!

This duo cannot be separated and although one is technically a dog and both are two dimensional. Shaggy and Scooby share interests, such as their intense love of food and running away from just about anything. Shaggy even eats dog treats (the so-called “Scooby snacks”) to be close to his friend, although some attribute this to other things.

Number 8: Shawn and Gus from the USA Network series, Psych

Best friends since childhood, Shawn and Gus have now teamed up to run a psychic detective agency where fun is often prioritized over the psychic crime solving. Although they are polar opposites, their mutual passion for anything from the 80s to quatros quesos dos fritos make them fabulous to watch.

Bromance under the sun

Number 7: Magnum and Higgins (and TC and Rick) from Magnum P.I.

Thomas Magnum and Jonathan Quail Higgins are yet another unlikely pair. One refined and formal focused on garden shows and club dinners, and the other into drinking beer with his buddies. (A bit like The Odd Couple, in fact!) But as many times as they argue, and as many times as Magnum gets on Higgins’ last nerve, their deep sense of right and wrong  binds this friendship together.

Number 6: Detectives Ryan and Esposito from ABC’s Castle

The romantic tension between Beckett and Castle might be the star of the show, but Kevin Ryan and Javier Esposito super sidekick bromance often steals it. This bromance even has its own fan fiction website. The friendship between this comedic duo will be seriously tested this season.

Baseball and bromance.

Number 5: Detectives Flynn and Provenza from The Closer

Flynn and Provenza were already late for the Dodger game when an unexpected dead body showed up in Provenza’s garage. The two decided to head to Dodger Stadium, and call in the murder after the game. Why waste skybox seats when the poor slob was already dead? This episode alone would land them in the top ten, but there’s so much more.

Number 4: Starsky and Hutch from the 70s TV series.

Kenneth “Hutch” Hutchenson, the well-read, deep thinker, and David Michael Starsky, the brash former Brooklynite, are tough guy opposites, but through car chases and crime fighting, they weren’t afraid to show their affection for one another. And then there was Huggy Bear.

Literary tough guy bromance.

Number 3: Elvis Cole and Joe Pike from the books by Robert Crais

Elvis Cole has Disney figurines on his desk and wears Hawaiian shirts, while Joe wears his sunglasses—all the time.  If you haven’t read this series, you’d be well-advised to start at the beginning with The Monkey’s Raincoat. Elvis is the protagonist in most of these books, but, trust me, if you ever get in trouble you want Joe Pike to back you up. The next book in this series is due out in January 2012 and Joe will get his second run as the star of the show when Elvis gets Taken.

Number 2: Spenser and Hawk from the TV show Spenser for Hire and the books by Robert B. Parker

Both the books by Robert B. Parker, and the old TV series Spenser for Hirestarring Robert Urich and Avery Brooks feature Spenser and Hawk as good friends who often draw the line between good and evil in different places. It’s a complicated friendship that often makes the thoughtful Spenser question his own behavior.

Number 1: Sherlock and Watson

 Sherlock and Watson portrayal is different, but this relationship is always a bromance, otherwise why would Watson spend so much chronicling their adventures and why would Sherlock allow him to tag along? They live, fight and detect together. Occasionally, they even allow their affection for one another to show through. It’s the fact that this bromance can last through so many different imaginings—the books, multiple TV series and multiple movies—that make it number one.

So there you have it, my take on the top ten mystery bromances of all time. Who did I miss? What’s your favorite mystery bromance?

This post original appeared on Criminal Element. 

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The First Monday Without Castle

Today is the first Monday in the post-Castle cancellation world. 

Yes, the announcement about Stania Katic and Tamala Jones being cut out of future seasons was messy. 

The season finale wasn't satisfying. It came too fast for us and for the show producers and writers - the last few minutes of the season finale were obviously hastily cobbled together making the case for long- term shows to decide when to conclude so that they can end a story properly. We had no chance to see Alexis' life. Or Ryan's Or Espo's.  And last season wasn't it's finest. But that's been all over the Internet.

Today, I want to talk about the good times. The end came too quickly for the usual celebrations - the farewell tour of a great series. So shut the front door because here are the top ten things I loved about Castle, in reverse order...

10) Richard Castle is ruggedly handsome.

9) The Writer Vest. 

8) The Safe Room in the PI office. Everyone needs a safe room. The gun that comes flying out the desk is pretty fun too. 

7) Castle's super spy Dad. Missed most of Richard's life, but came back in great times of need. 


                                        

6) Martha Rodgers.

5) The relationship between Castle and Alexis.

4) The Ryan & Espo Bromance. 

3) The Captain Roy Montgomery plot twist. 

"This is my spot, Kate, this is where I stand."

—Captain Montgomery in Knockout

2) Always.

1) Castle was fun! Not just the character of Richard Castle but the plots that took us to scifi conventions, soap opera sets and back in time. The writing - inside jokes, practical jokes and lightheartedness in a world that seems to get crazier every day. Even in the darkest episodes, there was a special light of friendship, love and not taking themselves too seriously. 

Thanks guys for a great show. We'll see you in re-runs. Always... 

#Castle Season Four Finale: “Always”

I'm still feeling a little nostalgic for Castle, so here's the recap I wrote for the episode where Castle and Beckett got together. The episode was called, "Always," and it was the finale to Castle season four. This recap first appeared on Criminal Element. I stayed up until three in the morning the night it aired to get the recap up the next day. 

If you haven’t watched all of this season of Castle yet, stop reading and go catch up. This episode is worth it.

Who Killed Beckett’s Mother?

We start out with a recap from seasons past to remind us how we got here. Flashes of Beckett’s dead mother fill the screen. Captain Montgomery reminds Kate that these guys, “. . . are coming to kill you and I’m not going to let them . . .” Then we see Roy Montgomery fulfilling this promise with his own death.

The terrible three.

We move forward to Beckett, Castle, Ryan and Esposito sitting together, “No one outside of this immediate family ever needs to know about this,” says Beckett. Then we see Beckett get shot in the cemetery at Montgomery’s funeral. They don’t show Castle telling Kate that he loves her. The writers know we remember that part.

Roy Montgomery’s friend calls Castle. We don’t know his name and neither does Castle. Get Beckett to stop the investigation and she will be safe, he says. All Castle has to do is convince her.

The screen goes black.

The Other Shoe

Beckett hangs from the side of a building. Her feet dangling, she calls for Castle as her perfectly manicured fingers start to slip from the concrete edge . . .

. . . cut to three days earlier as Alexis stresses out about writing her valedictorian graduation speech. Her dad’s big advice? 

“The most worthwhile things in life are often the most difficult.”

Castle goes off to case-chase with Beckett and invites her to watch a double feature at his house on Alexis’s graduation party night. We can tell by his face he doesn’t think she will say yes, but she does and it’s a date.

This is a detective show, so we have a murder to solve. This week’s victim was shot and he has burglary tools on him. It turns out he had spent the previous night breaking into the Montgomery house—stealing Roy’s files and his laptop. It can’t be a coincidence Beckett decides. And now the thief is dead.

Kate tells Castle that she has been thinking about the shooting and Roy sacrificing his life for hers, but she doesn’t know how or why she is still alive. She’s feels like they are still out to get her and she is just waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Beckett Won’t Stop

The following morning, Castle brings Kate coffee and tells her she’s not in this alone. They briefly hold hands until Espo and Ryan show up. They interview a suspect but his DNA does not match the DNA found underneath the victim’s fingernails so he can’t be the killer. The DNA does match the DNA found on a gun used in another shooting—the one that put a bullet in Beckett’s heart.

Beckett doesn’t want to tell Captain Gates. Castle wants her to give up the case. Kate refuses. Ryan wants to tell Gates. Ryan and Espo argue.

Montgomery’s “friend” calls Castle and reminds him that if Beckett doesn’t stop investigating her mother’s murder, the bad guys will retaliate.

We find out the murder victim knew his killer from the military and our heroes discover a video. Now we know what he looks like and it’s Tahmoh Penikett (Helo from Battlestar Galactica.)

You Woke the Dragon

Ryan still wants to tell Gates what’s going on. Beckett says no. She reviews the evidence in her mother’s case, while Castle worries about her. Castle can’t stand it anymore. He tells Kate she needs to stop the investigation. He tells her about the deal—as long as she backs off the investigation, she is safe. She’s furious and asks him how he could do this to her.

That’s not his I love you face.

“Because I love you,” he says, “But you already knew that.” He begs her to stop the case, “If you care about me at all, just don’t do this.”

But it’s not good enough for Beckett because it’s her life and she’s not scared.

“Let them come.”

“You’re right Kate. It’s your life, but I am not going to stick around and watch you throw it away. So this is over. I’m done.”

Moving On

Castle and Alexis talk about her graduation and the speech. She’s scared about, “moving on.”

“You’re right about that,” Castle tells her echoing the change in his relationship with Beckett.

Back at the station, Beckett tells Ryan and Espo that Castle is “off the team.” We find out the bad guy’s name is Cole Maddox. Espo and Beckett are determined to go after him. Ryan doesn’t want them to go without backup.  Beckett says no because the backup team or Gates could be compromised. Espo sides with Beckett.

Castle goes to Alexis’s graduation. Espo and Beckett go into Maddox’s hotel room and they find the Montgomery’s wedding album. The guy protecting Beckett is pictured in the album. This is really bad news for Montgomery’s friend.

Maddox shows up and a chase to the roof we saw at the beginning of the episode ensues. We know Kate is going over the side of that building. Cole Maddox leaves Beckett literally hanging which is interesting considering she left Castle metaphorically hanging all season.

Kate starts calling for Castle. We hear a male voice say, “Beckett hang on,” just as her fingers slip. He catches her. Beckett is pulled to safety. But it’s Ryan, not Castle. And he’s got Captain Gates with him and she is ticked off.

Chief Gates puts Beckett and Esposito on administrative leave and asks for their badges.

Beckett resigns.

Everything Eventually Ends

Proud papa Castle attends Alexis’s graduation and as she delivers her speech about endings we see Kate packing up her desk. Ryan tries to explain himself to Esposito who isn’t listening.  We now have a serious loyalty rift in one of the best bromances in detective history.

“Today we say goodbye to everything that is familiar. Everything that is comfortable,” Alexis continues as we see Beckett walking outside in the rain and then on a swing set alone. “But there are some people, who are so much a part of us that they will be with us no matter what.  They are our solid ground, our north star and the small, clear voices that will be in our hearts . . . Always.”

Castle is back at home—ready to watch the movies he was supposed to see with Beckett on their date—alone. She calls but he chooses not to answer.

There’s a knock at the door.

What do you think she wants?

Kate’s there.

“Beckett, what do you want?” he says annoyed.

“You.”

Then she kisses him.

Apparently, all Kate could think about while she was on the side of that building was Castle. They kiss again, hold hands and walk toward the bedroom.

But we are not done with season four yet, because Cole Maddox still has work to do. He’s waiting for Roy Montgomery’s friend whom Cole calls, “Mr. Smith.” Kate’s protector reminds him that they had a deal. But as any fourth-grader who watches TV can tell you, bad guys don’t keep deals.

Maddox wants the information that Mr. Smith has been using to protect Beckett. And once he gets it, Cole Maddox intends to kill Beckett. He sounds like he means it.

So, what did you think of the finale? Do you think the show has room to run now that Castle and Beckett are together? What do you think of Cole Maddox and his merry band of well-connected assassins? Will Ryan and Espo ever trust each other again? Was Kate’s resignation final?

Can Castle Exist Without Beckett

Last week ABC announced that the TV show, Castle, starring Nathan Fillion and Stania Katic (or so we thought), will lose both Katic who plays Kate Beckett and Tamala Jones who plays Lanie. The next season will be it's ninth, and for shows to last this long they need to change. And this show has. 

We've lost captains, first when we found out that Captain Roy Mongomery (played by Ruben Santiago) was a dirty cop and sacrificed himself to save Beckett and this season we lost Captain Victoria Gates (Penny Johnson Jerald) when Beckett became captain. 

We've seen other changes as Rick opened up his detective office and even got a partner. He and Beckett got married, separated (secretly and not so secretly). Beckett went to the FBI for awhile. Bad people tried to get them and they were saved by Rick's super-spy father and step-mom. 

There was a moment, right after Castle and Beckett got engaged when I thought the show was going in the direction of Hart to Hart (Stephanie Powers and Robert Wagner). That lovey-dovey couple used to travel the world living a glamorous life, solving mysteries and saving each other from harm every single week. It might have worked for Castle and Beckett who fans of the couple call Caskett, which might turn out to be prophetic if they really kill the Kate Beckett character. 

These latest cast changes are gutsy, and Castle fans are in an uproar. 

I can see Lanie leaving. As much as I love her character, when she and Esposito broke up, it limited her story potential because there isn't that much time in a one-hour show. 

But if Beckett dies and Castle, Ryan, and Esposito go after her killer, this becomes a very different show. It would open up the potential stories, but it would also lose its light-heartedness and joy. It becomes dark, and full of regret. Which isn't why I watch Castle. 

I love Nathan Fillion's character, and Nathan Fillion for that matter, so matter what the writers do, I will watch it anyway. But how do they keep the spirit of the show by ripping its heart in half?

What do you think about Stania Katic leaving Castle? 

Set Those DVRs

Wondering when you favorite mystery show will return this fall? Here is the list to help you manage that DVR:

- Gotham, Fox, 9/21, 8pm,7c
- NCIS: Los Angeles, CBS, 9/21, 10pm,9c
- Castle, ABC - 9/21, 10pm,9c 

- NCIS, CBS, 9/22, 8pm,7c
- NCIS: New Orleans, CBS, 9/22, 9pm,8c
- Mysteries of Laura, NBC, 9/23, 8pm,7c
- Law & Order: SVU, NBC, 9/23, 9pm,8c
- Scandal, ABC, 9/24, 9pm,8c
- The Blacklist, NBC, 9/24, 9pm,8c
- Blue Bloods, CBS, 9/25, 10pm,9c
- Hawaii 5-0, CBS, 9/25, 9pm,8c
- Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Fox, 9/27, 8:30pm, 7:30c
- How to Get Away with Murder, ABC, 7/24, 10pm,9c
- Criminal Minds, CBS, 9/30, 9pm,8c
- Chicago PD, NBC, 9/30, 10pm,9c
- Bones, Fox, 10/1, 
- American Horror Story, FX, 10/7

- Fargo, FX, 10/12, 10pm,9c
- Major Crimes, TNT, 11/2, 9pm,8c
- X-Files, Fox, 1/24


If I missed one of your favorite shows, put it in the comments and we'll add it in...

Favorite Fall TV Shows Return

Fall TV Shows are back, and it's time to set those DVRs, so you don't miss a thing.  Here's a run down of when some favorites return:

The Blacklist, Monday September 22nd (Tonight!)
The second season of The Blacklist, starring James Spader, starts tonight. If you missed the first season, you might want to head over to NBC.com and watch that first. You can go here for a video recap if you want to start with tonight's episode. 

Bones, Thursday, September 25th
As season nine ended, Booth and Bones, are married and dealing with a conspiracy inside the FBI. And according to the promo ads, Agent Booth is in jail, for season ten and things are going to get nasty.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Sunday, September 28th
I love this comedy returning for its second year. Brooklyn Nine Nine is just thirty minutes of happiness. When we left the intrepid Detective Jake Peralta, he was about to go on a six-month undercover assignment, and he decides to tell fellow Detective Amy Santiago that he has feelings for her. And we don't know what's going on with Gina and Boyle. Or Boyle and Rosa. 

CSI, Sunday, September 28th
It's a new night for CSI as the show returns for its 15th season. Captain Brass exited the show in last season's finale. In the first show of the news season Finlay's life is in danger and Russell gets a phone call from someone claiming to be the Gig Harbor killer.

Castle - Monday, September 29th
When last we saw our favorite crime-solving duo, their wedding was not happening as planned. Rick was run off the road and Kate went out to the scene of the accident in her wedding dress. The promo tagline for the new season is an ominous, 'Till Death Do Us Part. Here's a video preview:

What old shows are you looking forward to returning? 

Halloween Crime Cocktails - Part One: TV Shows

Recipe for a vampish weekend.

Halloween is almost here. Some friends and I decided we needed to create, borrow, and adapt beverages for our favorite Halloween crime classics. We got together to mix and test the drinks below. So grab a cocktail shaker and your favorite Halloween crime fiction novel or DVD and let’s get started.

PART ONE - TV EPISODES

HALLOWEEN TV EPISODES

• Castle: “Vampire Weekend”

The Episode: Beckett and Castle find themselves trying to solve the murder of a man killed with a wooden stake who hung out in the “vampire underworld” while trying to decide what to wear to a Halloween party.

The Drink: “The Castletini” – Three parts champagne, one part cranberry juice, and a splash of blood orange liqueur. This drink is really well suited for any episode of Castle. You can also have a glass of Vampire merlot (available from World Market).

• NCIS: “Chimera”

The Episode: In Greek mythology a Chimera (pronounced Ki-mera) is a monster with the head of a goat, the body of a lion, and a dragon’s tail. When Gibbs and the team head for a ship, called Chimera, they find that the crew has disappeared, except for the dead body of one crewman.

The Drink: “The Chimera” – Two parts whiskey; one part blood orange juice, a tablespoon of sugar (a Halloween version of the whiskey sour). True Gibbs fans may want to have a steaming mug of black coffee instead.

• Bones: “Mummy in the Maze”

The Episode: Temperance Brennan and Seely Booth investigate the discovery of two dead women found disguised as mummies, one in a Halloween maze, the other in a haunted fun house. Dressed as Wonder Woman and a nerdy scientist they have to work quickly to prevent the death of a third woman.

The Drink: “I Want My Mummy” – Three parts ginger ale, one part cranberry juice and a splash of pomegranate liqueur for just a little kick.

Fangtastic!

• Any Episode of True Blood

The Episodes: The show follows the adventures of telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse as she fights vampires and werewolves. It is based on the Southern Vampire Mysteries series by Charlaine Harris.

The Drink: “The Blood Shot” – Two ounces vodka, one ounce cassis liqueur, and one ounce cold water. Wax fangs optional.

Come back tomorrow for Halloween books and matching cocktails. 

The Crime Fighter Fashion Awards

Crime fighters range from the absolutely well-dressed to those who can’t even manage to get the crumbs off their shirts. can you imagine Magnum without his hawaiian shirts or Columbo without his trench coat? Clothes make the detective, or help turn an ordinary character into an icon.  Below you’ll find the crime fighter fashion awards, the good, the bad, and the super sloppy.

Don’t Mess with Me Award

Winner: Joe Pike from the books of Robert Crais.

Honorable Mention: Ranger from the Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich.

Joe Pike always wears his sunglasses— always—so you can never see his eyes, but the real fashion choice that delineates his character is the famous red arrow tattoos on his arms. His natural scowl and man-of-few-words-style doesn’t hurt either.

Ranger might have made it to number one, but since we always see him through Stephanie’s eyes, his description is always a bit biased. According to Stephanie, “Ranger only wears black, smells warm and sexy and is one hundred percent pure perfectly toned muscle. He gets his dark complexion and liquid brown eyes from Cuban ancestors.”

Most Feminine Wardrobe

Winner: Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, The Closer.

Instead of hiding her femininity to succeed in the male dominated world of law enforcement, southern belle Brenda Leigh Johnson wields it like a weapon. Pastel colors, flouncy flowery skirts, and twin sets make for a wardrobe that helps her lull suspects into a false sense of security while she wrings confessions out of them. And of course there is the fabulous big black bag that she carries everywhere fit to hold Twinkies and hand guns alike.

Honorable Mention: Nancy Drew from the books by Carolyn Keene.

Nancy Drew always looks great in her carefully selected smart skirts and neatly pressed shirts, as she zips about River Heights in her blue convertible. From parties to kidnappings, her outfit is always appropriate for the occasion.

Most Popular Fashion Victim

Winner: Barbara Havers from the Inspector Lynley novels by Elizabeth George.

After showing up to work in an outfit consisting of red high-top trainers with purple socks peeking out, olive corduroy trousers, and a lint-covered brown pullover, Havers’s new boss gave her a clear directive to buy new things and clean up her look. In This Body of Death, it led Barbara to turn to her little nine year-old neighbor, Hadiyyah, for fashion and shopping advice.  Barbara’s fashion choices are even more marked when compared to the easy elegance of her partner for most of the series, Inspector Lynley, the 8^th Earl of Asherton. This award only applies to the print version of Barbara. Her TV version isn’t quite as sloppy or poorly dressed.

Best Designer Wardrobe

Winner: Dr. Maura Isles, Rizzoli and Isles, based upon the novels by Tess Gerritsen.

Despite being known as “Queen of the Dead” around the force, Dr. Maura Isles always looks like she is headed for a photo shoot instead of a crime scene. She often wears designers like Balenciaga, while her partner Jane Rizzoli wears the same suit for days in a row, and Maura’s doctor handbag is absolutely fabulous.

Best Dressed Police Department

Winner: Major Crimes Unit, LAPD, The Closer.

There aren’t any real slobs in this department, and Gabriel, Flynn, and Provenza spend more time talking about their wardrobe than most women I know. Where do they get the money for all of these suits? Is there a special budget line item for clothing for LAPD?

Best Hat

Winner: Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock.

Yes, the deerstalker is iconic, but I never thought they would trot it out in the series set in the current day. Surprisingly, Benedict Cumberbatch doesn’t look silly in this deerstalker as he dons it to hide from the press. It just looks like it belongs right there on top of his head.

 The High-Heel Detective Club

There is a large contingent of female crime fighters who love their high heels. We know they can’t possibly run in them, but somehow they do. It must be part of the magic of TV. I couldn’t think of one book in which a female detective wears heels to work.

Here are the Top Five:

Detective Kate Beckett, Castle

Deputy Chief, Brenda Leigh Johnson, The Closer

Dr. Maura Isles, Rizzoli and Isles

Captain Sharon Raydor, Major Crimes

Dr. Megan Hunt, Body of Proof

This article originally appeared on Criminal Element. 

TV Show Interiors: Castle, True Blood, Mad Men

The blog Interior Holic has some great posts highlighting fabulous rooms from some of TV show favorites. The room above is from ABC's Castle and it's Kate Beckett's kitchen. 

You can see the rest of the Castle set photos here, including how the very cool book case walls open up between Castle's office and his bedroom.

 True Blood fans will find a treasure trove of set photos here. 

Here's the link to the Mad Men set photos. 

And if you want to know what it was really like for Madison Avenue ad execs during the 60s and 70s, check out PBS' excellent documentary on the era. "The Real Mad Men and Mad Women of Madison Avenue".

Nathan Fillion in Monsters University

Castle and Serenity fans will recognize the voice of one of characters in Disney's Monsters University as belonging to Nathan Fillion.  Fillian plays big man on campus, the "handsome" monster Johnny (well handsome by monster standards.) 


Here's the trailer for Monsters University...

Seriously Sloppy Sleuths: The Best and Worst of TV Detectives

They’re even better when they’re bad.

We can’t all be perfect all of the time, and let’s face it, flawed characters are eminently more interesting, but there is a difference between a character who is deeply flawed and a character who makes mistakes to move the story along.

Let’s examine a few cases in-depth:

Flynn & Provenza, The Closer & Major Crimes

Quite a partnership, these two can be quite good at their jobs, but when they blow it, they really blow it. Like the time where they were arguing about where Provenza kept his gun in front of a suspect who then grabbed the gun.  Or when they lost all the evidence in a case because they wanted breakfast. Or my personal favorite: when they found a dead body in Provenza’s garage and left it there because they were already late for skybox seats at the Dodger game.

Verdict: Flynn & Provenza mistakes are always a joy to watch.

Sheriff Emma Swan, Once Upon A Time

There are many people in Storybrooke, Maine who are not qualified for their jobs (Jiminy Cricket as a psychiatrist for one) but Emma Swan sure got that sheriff job fast and has managed to keep it. Still, one would hope that she would apply reasonable amounts of rigor to a murder investigation, but time and time again she makes mistakes I don’t see a real sheriff making, like when she accepted the phone records of a murder suspect from a former newspaper reporter rather than calling the phone company directly. Or when she sent a new employee, with no police experience, to look for a potential dead body by herself in the woods.

Verdict: While I love watching this show, I am not impressed with Emma’s detective skills.

Kate, you should know bringing Castle as back up is like bringing a knife to a gun fight.

Detective Kate Beckett, Castle

This one I will admit is a little unfair. We wouldn’t have a show if the fictional Mayor of New York hadn’t blessed best-selling mystery writer Richard Castle’s shadowing of Kate. And I love this show. Love the characters. Love the premise. Love it when Castle figures out who the bad guy is. But sometimes I just have to wonder why:

• Beckett never even tries to call for backup
• It doesn’t faze her to walk into serious crime scenes with Castle unarmed and untrained
• She allowed Castle to carry her away from Captain Roy Montgomery like a sack of potatoes right before the Captain sacrificed himself. Seeing her flail about in his arms just didn’t ring true to me.

Verdict: I still love this show.

Have you seen any sloppy TV detective work lately?

This story originally appeared at Criminal Element.