Note: No film review from me this week. Sadly, school has inhibited my Netflixing and I’ve run out of reviews. How sad! (for me, I doubt you care that much) Anywhozel, we’ll talk television instead.
I wouldn’t call myself a mystery fan. Not any kind of active hatred, I just don’t seek them out. Don’t spend my free time reading them. My mother has spent years trying to get me hooked on CSI and those type of shows (Mom loves mysteries), but I just can’t get into it. Old Roommate Bridget used to watch some of those Law and Orders which actively freaked me out (I got her back by watching paranormal shows which evidently freak her out.) (Off topic note: Did you know that Animal Planet has a paranormal show now? It’s basically “people who live in haunted houses and have pets.” Even I have to admit this had gotten out of control.)
Anyway, long and short of it is, if you asked, I’d tell you I don’t watch mysteries on television.
Except I’d be lying.
I’ve just realized that three of the shows I’m currently following most closely are all mystery shows: Castle, Psych, and Bones. Hmm. What’s that all about?
I don’t think I’m a particularly good mystery show viewer. I don’t even try to figure out whodunit. I don’t often care. I just kind of sit there waiting for it to be spoon fed to me. So why am I watching these shows?
Well, the first one’s easy. I watch Castle for Nathan Fillion. I have loved Nathan Fillion since his days on One Life to Live (best Joey Buchanan ever!) and a big part of my geek cred is tied up in the fact that I watched Firefly from the first episode. There are other aspects of the show I enjoy (the familial relation between Castle, his mother and daughter is delightful), but it’s really all about Nathan Fillion.
As for Psych, it brings the funny. In spades. It’s got a great ensemble cast. And I’m a sucker for an ensemble cast. Also, the only theme music I can never make myself fast forward through. It’s too much fun to bop along to.
I’m almost contractually obligated to watch Bones on account of it’s one of few television shows featuring anthropologists; as a folklorist I must support my cousin discipline. Also, the whole ensemble thing again. Also, Hodgins. Who sometimes takes off his shirt . And makes orgasmic grilled cheeses. Mmmm. Grilled cheese!
So I guess the outcome to this mystery (which I’m guessing all of you figured out by the second paragraph, because I don’t write good mysteries either) is: my ability to enjoy these mystery based shows without liking mysteries is that I just don’t care that much about plot. I’m all about character. And these shows do character well. I assume they have plots, but clearly I haven’t been paying attention to them.
