Looking out of the window

Reserving judgement on Castle paid off.  The second episode was impressive and more than compensated for the average pilot.  In ‘Nanny McDead’, Castle and Beckett investigate the death of a nanny whose body is found tumbling in the basement dryer of an apartment building. What ensues is your regular crime drama route with cheating spouses and obsessed lovers before our duo nail the guilty. It’s entertaining because of Nathna Fillion ’s apt comic timing that cracks you up at the most serious moments in the episode. If he keeps it up and which am hoping it does, Rick Castle may just join the elite and yet endless number of wise cracking and devilishly charming crime solvers that we disapprove of but can’t help liking. Side note on nannies on crime shows? First Psych, now these guys.

Dollhouse continues to simmer with untold mystery as Echo (Eliza Dushku) becomes a blind woman to infiltrate a religious cult, suspected of being a cover for trafficking activities in last week’s episode. Laurence’s ( Reed Diamond) dislike of Echo and his fears that she is following the same path as the elusive Alpha become more evident in this episode, as he attempts to trap her in a fire by knocking her unconscious. 

Another interesting development is the budding relationship between Victor (Enver Gjokaj )  and Sierra (Dichen Lachman)  who are drawn to each other despite having no idea of what attraction is. The show has managed to maintain a steady momentum and according to show creator Joss Whedon, it’s about to get so much better. This week’s coming episode brings our star even if slightly malfunctioning active face to face with Paul ( Tahmoh Penikett) in what should be an interesting setting. Check out more juicy spoilers and news on what’s next on Dollhouse on E Online!

On the subject of new shows, I caught a slew of them over the last few days and some of them I am definitely putting  on my RSS feed while others, not so much.  The Canadian show, The Listener about a telepathic paramedic played by Craig Olejnik, who uses his gift to solve crimes is strictly okay and doesn’t really do much for me. The pace of the episodes is a little too sluggish and it doesn’t have a very definitive hook that could set it apart from the any number of crime series on television. The same can be said about The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency,  a BBC and HBO joint production which has premiered in the UK and is dues to be broadcast in the US. Based on a series of novels that go by the same name by Alexander McCall Smith, the show is about Botswana’s only female detective, Mma Ramotswe played by Jill Castle. The plot is a tad simplistic and reminiscent of crime fiction for children ala Enid Blyton. But some might enjoy it precisely for it’s simplicity, because its a throw back to  a ‘follow the suspect’ sort of investigation instead of the complex procedurals that we get to see most of the time.  In the first episode which is 55 minutes long, Mma Ramotswe solves three parallel cases and jumpstarts her near to bankruptcy  agency.

If you though Fringe was ridiculous you’ll simply love Better off Ted where they freeze employees alive, a new sitcom on ABC about an unscrupulous mega think tank and it’s ethically plagued R & D Chief. Jay Harrington plays Ted, a single father and corporate hot shot who along with a healthy mix of managerial and lab staff makes everything and anything from uncomfortable office chairs to pumpkin bio weapons.  It’s funny and brilliant and absurd and I love it. Portia de Rossi, Malcolm Barrett, Jonathan Slavin, Andrea Anders and Isabella Acres co star.