Senator Beckett? (or, The Politics of Castle)
May 14, 2015 13:11:08 GMT -5
ProudTVJunkie, fantasynovelreader, and 1 more like this
Post by angie1379 on May 14, 2015 13:11:08 GMT -5
So, will Kate become a state senator?
Based on six years of watching this show and analyzing this character, I can't help but feel this will not be the right career choice for Kate Beckett. Yes, there are some potential indicators that Kate could do a lot of good as a senator. As we all know, she is incorruptible, tenacious, brilliant, educated, impassioned, and committed to helping people. She can read people's motives and actions, and she brings a wealth of experience engaging with people from all walks of life.
However, as we saw when she was in DC, many of those qualities are also potential landmines that would make it almost impossible for her to engage in the kinds of negotiations and compromise that defines politics. Could she vote against a bill she supports in order to assure a fellow senator's vote on her pet bill? Could she turn down PAC money from a powerful lobby who wants her to vote a certain way -- and still expect to get re-elected? This isn't "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," and while it's a nice thought that someone like Kate could bring honesty and integrity to the New York statehouse, the reality of politics is much closer to what we saw when she was in Washington. Her incorruptible morals are exactly what will work against her. Either that, or she will be miserable when she can't get the outcomes she wants because other people's definitions of what is "right" or what is "important" are very different from hers.
Secondly, Kate is pretty well established as a private person. She didn't even want to announce her engagement to Castle in the paper because of the potential press. She's never been the one to grant interviews to reporters or give a news conference, and her mistrust of the internet was quite evident in "Meme is Murder." I don't think she's anything akin to a Luddite, but she's cautious of technology and wary of publicity. I just don't see her opening up her life (and her family's) to public scrutiny to the degree required of a senator. I think she would decide there are other ways to make a difference that don't require sacrificing one's total right to privacy.
Finally, Castle is not an actively political show. If Shonda Rhimes were the showrunner, then yes, I could see this happening. However, in seven seasons, we have never once heard a political party directly referenced in an episode, and most fans appreciate the lack of political statements. Sure, there are subtle hints and allusions to political issues from time to time, but an actively political character on the show has never been associated with a particular party (Senator Bracken, the fictional VP who visited NY in "After the Storm," or even NYC Mayor Weldon, etc.). They were all very generic politicians with very generic platforms, which was fine for secondary character. However, it will be the height of manufactured story-telling to try to position a lead character in the middle of a campaign and never reveal her platform or what party she is running for, and I neither A.) want to see generic story-telling, nor B.) want to see Castle alienate fans by becoming too political.
I am a very political person, so of course I have drawn certain conclusions about the politics of the show and its characters. I "read" the show a certain way because of who I am as a person -- which is probably true for all of us. But I am very skeptical of Kate trying to negotiate a political career in a show that is known for its careful avoidance of overt politics.
Anyone else have thoughts on this?
Based on six years of watching this show and analyzing this character, I can't help but feel this will not be the right career choice for Kate Beckett. Yes, there are some potential indicators that Kate could do a lot of good as a senator. As we all know, she is incorruptible, tenacious, brilliant, educated, impassioned, and committed to helping people. She can read people's motives and actions, and she brings a wealth of experience engaging with people from all walks of life.
However, as we saw when she was in DC, many of those qualities are also potential landmines that would make it almost impossible for her to engage in the kinds of negotiations and compromise that defines politics. Could she vote against a bill she supports in order to assure a fellow senator's vote on her pet bill? Could she turn down PAC money from a powerful lobby who wants her to vote a certain way -- and still expect to get re-elected? This isn't "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," and while it's a nice thought that someone like Kate could bring honesty and integrity to the New York statehouse, the reality of politics is much closer to what we saw when she was in Washington. Her incorruptible morals are exactly what will work against her. Either that, or she will be miserable when she can't get the outcomes she wants because other people's definitions of what is "right" or what is "important" are very different from hers.
Secondly, Kate is pretty well established as a private person. She didn't even want to announce her engagement to Castle in the paper because of the potential press. She's never been the one to grant interviews to reporters or give a news conference, and her mistrust of the internet was quite evident in "Meme is Murder." I don't think she's anything akin to a Luddite, but she's cautious of technology and wary of publicity. I just don't see her opening up her life (and her family's) to public scrutiny to the degree required of a senator. I think she would decide there are other ways to make a difference that don't require sacrificing one's total right to privacy.
Finally, Castle is not an actively political show. If Shonda Rhimes were the showrunner, then yes, I could see this happening. However, in seven seasons, we have never once heard a political party directly referenced in an episode, and most fans appreciate the lack of political statements. Sure, there are subtle hints and allusions to political issues from time to time, but an actively political character on the show has never been associated with a particular party (Senator Bracken, the fictional VP who visited NY in "After the Storm," or even NYC Mayor Weldon, etc.). They were all very generic politicians with very generic platforms, which was fine for secondary character. However, it will be the height of manufactured story-telling to try to position a lead character in the middle of a campaign and never reveal her platform or what party she is running for, and I neither A.) want to see generic story-telling, nor B.) want to see Castle alienate fans by becoming too political.
I am a very political person, so of course I have drawn certain conclusions about the politics of the show and its characters. I "read" the show a certain way because of who I am as a person -- which is probably true for all of us. But I am very skeptical of Kate trying to negotiate a political career in a show that is known for its careful avoidance of overt politics.
Anyone else have thoughts on this?
