The Rookie Casts Nathan Fillion’s Love Interest With Dark Matter Star (2024)

February 8, 2018 12:58 pm

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1. Canadians? Really?

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   • And? Nathan is Canadian. But playing American, just as he has done countless times before. It’s likely this actress is doing the same. What’s the problem?

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   • Nathan became an American citizen many years ago.

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   • Sorry we’re not sorry to have Canadian actors take potential roles from Americans, especially considering the tax breaks afforded to American productions that film in Canada and bring American actors north to headline them. Maybe you should get your troll president on it; he can waste time tweeting about it for the next twelve months straight.

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   • A large number of TV series are filmed in Canada. There are many famous Canadian actors. To name a few – William Shatner, Lorne Greene, David James Elliot, Sarah Chalke, Dan Akroyd, John Candy, Jim Carrey, Kim Katrall, Michael J. Fox, Brendan Fraser, Ryan Gosling, Phil Hartman, Glenn Ford, Mike Myers, Leslie Nielsen, Anna Paquin, Jason Priestley, Keanu Reeves, Ryan Reynolds, Seth Rogen, Martin Short, ………………….

     I really loved Melissa O’Neil in “Dark Matter”. This was a great casting choice. I assume that this series is being filmed in Canada.

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     • Anna Paquin is actually a New Zealander.

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       • Paquin was born in Canada, raised in New Zealand. She still has Canadian citizenship, and in interviews she tends to identify as both.

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     • Keanu’s father is American.

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   • Would you have preferred yet ANOTHER British actor using an American accent? At least they’re both from North America.

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2. well now i have to watch it. so happy melissa got this part, i’m so excited to see her in other roles, since syfy was stupid enough to cancel dark matter and let them all go.

   can’t wait!

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3. The age between the characters is so freaking weird

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   • So you don’t know any 30 something with a 40 something in real life? You must have a small social circle.

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     • 👏👏👏

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     • The average age difference between heterosexual couples in the USA is 2.3 years (source: CPS, 2014…don’t think that it grew to 17 years since).
       Thanks for playing.

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       • *in a heterosexual couple.

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       • So you only want to be average? OK then. God forbid anyone ever be unconventional or outside the norm. Love is love and I prefer to celebrate it wherever it is, whatever age difference, race difference etc. Do you only watch shows with heterosexual couples with your specified age difference where they have 2.5 kids? Sad! This sad obsession over this non issue of age difference is reminding me of people who got worked up over interracial romances on TV back in the day.

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         • I don’t need to stick to average. I can go for percentages. Less than 2% of couples in the US have a 15-19 age difference (same source).
           You were the one who pretended that people who didn’t know couples with such an age difference must have a small social circle. It isn’t a question of social circle but a question of rarity, which was the point of my answer. 17 years is a huge gap, and not at all common unlike what you implied.
           There’s one place where it’s common, though, it’s on TV shows and movies. This big age difference isn’t unconventional or outside the norm there. The gap between Hollywood representation and reality is one the most glaring examples of sexism (as well as ageism directed against women) and it’s a huge issue. It’s also the polar opposite of interracial couples on TV, which went against prejudices instead of supporting them.
           What’s sad is how your obsession for an actor leads you to endorse and justify sexist clichés.
           I had a good laugh, though, at the idea that I of all people could get worked up over interracial romances. Thanks, I guess?

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         • Been going on a long time. When watching Turner Classic Movies, you would have anecdotes about actors having reservations working with younger actresses – Fred Astaire, in particular. It was usually Audrey Hepburn. Although a good movie in its way, Sabrina with Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart is hard for me to believe watching it.

           I can see a 10 year maximum difference, but beyond that could be problematic for some without suspending disbelief.

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         • Trump’s second wife was already 17 years younger (b. 46 vs 63). He was 47, he was 30, almost exactly what we’re talking about here. Melania is a whooping 24 years younger. Granted, the rich play by different rules, but still.

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     • It’s a 29 year old and a 46 year old. On top of that the 29 year old’s playing a police rookie; implying she’s even playing younger then her natural 29. If it was ‘yucky’ in Modern Family, when Nathan was dating Sarah, it’s ‘yucky’ here.

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       • You do know that one of the main couples in Modern Family, Jay and Gloria, have a bigger age difference than that, and they are portrayed as a happily married couple, right? Don’t see anyone up in arms about that on that show. The whole idea of Modern Family is to embrace that love and family comes in all shapes and forms, and ages. Maybe you need to watch more of that show to leave your prejudice behind. Also ‘Nathan’ was not dating ‘Sarah’. Those are real people. They are actors portraying fictional characters where the age difference was mined as a source of comedy on that show with Hayley’s Dad. Also, you have no idea whether or not Lucy will be younger than the actor’s real age because there is no info about the character’s backstory. Another case of jumping to conclusions because of a negative agenda at work. Sad!

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         • Many people were up in arms about it the issue with Jay and Gloria. Plus the show addressed it several times the first season; including an episode where Gloria’s referred to as a ‘gold digger.’
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           It would be great if television stopped the old man/young woman fantasy that the executives get-off on. It would be awesome to see Nathan do a show with age-appropriate women more often.

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         • You’d be surprised that in real life men of Nathan’s age and with his looks often date and marry women in their 20’s and 30’s. And those marriages are often quite successful.

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         • Derek, not sure where you’re getting that false data but a 5-year age gap means an 18% greater chance of divorce above the national average. A 10-year gap rises to a 39% greater chance of divorce above the average. A 20-year age gap increases the likelihood of divorce to 95%. On top of that someone in a second marriage has a 70% chance of divorce rather then the 50% average.

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         • Great MSan, My wife is 10 years older than me and divorced 25 years ago. I guess we’re doomed.

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         • I’m not sure where you’re getting all these data that the men in these studies have looks and standing comparable to Nathan Fillion or the character he plays. And perhaps you live in a very peculiar place, but most people know couples who are ten years or more apart. My own uncle is married to a woman 24 years his junior and they have been quite happy for 12 years. Less than 2% of the US population are lesbian women. Do you think is that rare to see a lesbian woman in real life? So, while 2% might *feel* super rare, it kind of isn’t.

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   • Age is a state of mind. I married a great woman 40 years ago this July and she’s 10 years older than I. No biggie.

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   • THIS – It’s gross = he’s forty-six, she’s twenty-nine. For the love of god, casting agents – age appropriate!!!

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     • When Nathan played Dana Delany’s love interest in Desperate Housewives and Pasadena, and romanced someone who was his mother character’s age on One Life to Live, I wonder if people were up in arms about that not being “age appropriate”. Somehow I doubt not. People enjoyed those storylines. As long as a story is well written, age is but a number if you keep an open mind in life and as a TV watcher.

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       • Can you name another example of a younger man/older woman pairing on TV (other than on a soap opera)? Because I would name two dozen pairings where the guy is older, sometimes a lot older, than the woman. And I’m so friggin’ tired of it.
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         I presume she’s a rookie in his class and that’s how they get together. I’d find it much more interesting if the character got together with a mature woman who had already risen in the ranks and there was the added challenge of her having a senior position to his.

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   • Weird is being a woman turning 30, with youth left behind (been there, done that). Younger guys are weirder (having married a younger guy, I know…haha), and all that is left are older guys.

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   • I don’t really have a problem with the age difference but I’d like to see more shows out there flip it and have it be an older woman with a younger man. Hey, it happens people!

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4. Based on this article and previous ones on the show, they should really rethink that character’s name and background. I immensely enjoyed O’Neil’s work in Black Matter, but having her play a Latina rookie is not a good idea.

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   • I dropped “Latina” because I didn’t want to make assumptions now that the role has been cast. And I have since confirmed that the character’s last name is to be determined, she’s just “Lucy” for the time being.

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     • Thank you for the follow up on that. I just realized that I combined Black Mirror and Dark Matter to create Black Matter, a show that doesn’t exist… yet

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       • Hey, I knew exactly what you meant…the dark matter was black on the show, and if you hadn’t brought it to my attention I wouldn’t have noticed…haha.

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5. Isn’t she Eurasian tho??.. I think like Irish and chinese.. I like the actress but why keep her latina.. You coulda just had her come from a bunch of Chinese Crooks… They’re out there. Not gonna stop me from checking it out.. Just a lil odd.. And I hope we get a few dudes of color.. Or this show will just be a bunch if white guys lusting after a few ladies of color.. And those optics can get tricky

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   • FYI, that’s kind of insulting to the Chinese.

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6. Well, he is only 20 years older than her

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   • Who taught you how to do math ?

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7. Yeah, so when he was graduating high school she was graduating her mother’s uterus. Not weird at all…

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8. The solid casting so far is upping my interest level in the show. A diverse and good looking cast! So since this actress is turning 30 this year and Fillion’s character is supposed to be around 40, all that hand wringing and drama over the potential love interest being too young for him was unnecessary and misguided. Judging from photos alone, I think there’s good potential for chemistry. I wish casting notices/character descriptions wouldn’t telegraph who’s the potential love interest though, when nothing’s even been filmed. Things can change. I want to discover the character dynamics when I watch the actual show.

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   • Agree. I really like the casting so far and the age difference is nothing.

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     • The age difference is only something to A) people who don’t live in the real world, which is full of such relationships, and B) haters with an agenda who only want to find a reason to hate. Sad!

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       • +1

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       • 29ish to 40-42 can make sense, with just enough of difference to mine the humor. But 40ish and 22ish is too glaring. This is much more age appropriate.

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       • 👍

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       • Why is a difference of opinion always equated with “hating” on the Internet? One can disagree with someone, or see an issue from a different angle, without “hating.” Nice defense mechanism though…

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   • Because a 47-year-old man playing a 40-year-old cop dating a 29-year-old female cop makes it less icky than a 47-year-old man playing a 47-year-old cop dating a 29-year-old female cop.

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     • So you rounded his age up, but not hers because 29 sounds worse than 30 in your mind. Sure.

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       • Sorry, because a 47-year-old man playing a 40-year-old cop dating a 30-year-old female cop makes it less icky than a 47-year-old man playing a 47-year-old cop dating a 30-year-old female cop.

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         • He’s 46

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     • Someone was relaying an experience working with Laurence Olivier on a late show, “I saw this old man in the wings, but when he came on stage [to act in the scene with him] he became transformed to a young man. It was amazing.” The bottom line is it’s called acting. This is all getting silly. To quote Chief Gillespie, “This is like landing in the lake of silly. Nobody’s going to get out of here.”

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9. I voted for her on Canadian Idol and loved Dark Matter so I’m really pleased she’s getting some big successes! Still uncomfortable with the age difference though.

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10. HAHAHA in what world would a young woman who looks like a model want to be with a middle aged over weight man ? come on hollywood have u learned nothing this is jut ridiculous lol couldnt have cast an older woman no ????

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11. You know, I’m personally not a fan of relationships with a huge age difference, but I’d like to point out that your president is currently married to a woman who, 24 years his junior, could well be his daughter, so I’m surprised by the amount of judgmental comments.

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    • Most of us hate our president and find everything he does extremely icky. Find another comparison.

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      • Oh, so now you know what “most of us” are thinking? Take a poll or something? No one asked me or anyone I know–I take it, you think your opinion isn’t enough to make a statement? Speak for yourself. As far as the continued battle over this “horrible” (eye roll) age difference–I think the “I Hate Nathan Fillion” club are here with their usual knifes drawn. Funny, on the show 9-1-1, Connie Britton’s character is dating a 25 year old–where are all the usual pearl clutching crowd over there? Oh wait, there aren’t any…..

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    • The best part is it his supporters who h e a problem with it haha

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12. Will be interesting to see if Lucy has a role that is as deep and broad as Beckett. A cop in a large force like LAPD means that she can be transferred, attend additional training, get temporary duty, get injured, lots of other things that could take Lucy out of an episode, the season or the show.

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    • Why can’t some of you move on from Castle? It’s been two years. It’s irrelevant.

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13. It isn’t so much the actual age difference (altho it kinda is) but the fact that the casting specifically looked for a woman in her 20s to be his love interest. It would be one thing if they auditioned an array of actresses and she happened to get it. But they specifically wanted a significantly younger love interest for him, made a point to say they were looking for someone in their 20s. That is what I think it icking me out about it.

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14. The younger cast look really interesting on this show. I really think (even though it’s supposed to be the older Rookie, for laughs and novelty value – yes, I know it’s based on a true story) that a show about a diverse bunch of Rookie cops with maybe Filllion as an older boss might work better.
    Or just a show about the younger cast and let Fillion do something else with a greater step away from Castle. Maybe back into the Sci-fi world?
    As for the casting – the actress is 29 but she could be playing younger, possibly early to mid twenties. And Fillion is in his late 40’s playing a 40 year old. While I might believe Nathan could pass for a lawyer, a doctor, a politician… I really don’t believe he could pass the physical to get into the police force. In short, I think everyone’s talents could be put to better use and I’d hate to see this just played for the dubbed on laugh track or stupid situation of the week. Add into that a relationship that needs writing and acting with some serious consideration… I really think I’ll be sitting this one out. Hope Mr F auditions for something outside the box and more versatile next time.

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    • Thank you! This is exactly how I feel – I’m just not sure about this show. I’ll reserve my judgment until it airs, but I’d love to see Nathan on a show with more of a fresh and new feel

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    • Um, have you seen the police on the streets? I have my doubt as to how they can pass the physical, but they obviously did. The 40 something year old real world guy obviously got in. I think the whole point of the show is that it’s not easy being the oldest rookie. So 46 now gets labeled as late 40s? Then I guess Stana also gets labeled an early 40s year old actress. No idea yet if the actress is playing younger or older, so again more jumping to conclusions to fit the agenda. You’ve basically made your conclusions about the whole show already before it’s even been filmed so feel free to sit this one out and feel free to sit out the comment section too as it’s got the same unversatile comments from people who claim to be disinterested in the show and yet keep reading articles about it. Go figure.

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      • And you’re reaching too pretending that the original casting announcement didn’t exist and that aging people up doesn’t defeat the premise of a 40 year old “old guy” working with 15-20 years his junior. There are plenty of love interest roles they could have written for a woman closer in age to him. Any of these women would have professional reasons to interact with cops regularly, but not be cops themselves. But they won’t. The premise of the show itself is the defense for the perverted practice of casting young women to play opposite old men

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        • One (1) user name per IP address, thank you a bunch! –Mgmt.

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          • Haven’t we been there before? Why do people never learn? It’s just cheating and lying to use more than one user name per IP address, or to try to get away with it by masking your real IP address. It’s poor form and it’s more work for mgmt who should delete all posts from those abusive users who pretend to be multiple people in a comment section. I do appreciate the more stringent moderation, which is sadly necessary even over TV show discussion.

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            • We’ve had to outright shut off Comments on Nathan/Stana-related posts before, people get so inappropriate with the nature of their opinions. Yes, it’s a lot of work.

          • If you ever do a survey of comment sections like you did on TV reboots, you’ll probably find that comment sections are overwhelmingly negative and filled with trolls across the internet. Which just sucks for readers and mods. Being a mod for a politics site would probably drive me crazy, but even TV sites can be bad as you see daily. I feel a lot of people need lessons in what is appropriate internet behavior before they get on the internet. You would think people would know what is inappropriate, but nope, people cross those lines again and again because anonymity and no repercussions. They forget that words matter. Words can have repercussions on real people (that they don’t even know) and it’s incumbent on us all to use them responsibly. Maybe the text in the comment box about talking smart about TV should have an addendum to talk responsibly and respectfully as well, without personal attacks or defamation, and a time out if that is violated. FYI still see some defamatory comments left in the comments off article. I hope that there can be a more respectable tone in the comment section here so that it’s a more pleasant place to visit. Thanks. I like TV Line for the info, but what the comment sections have devolved into can be a real turn off. Sometimes I miss the days when I could enjoy TV in a vacuum, without knowing anything except the characters onscreen.

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        • Wow, you’re really reaching when you keep injecting your fake feminist outrage into everything and see something that isn’t there. If you have a problem with an older person working in a younger person’s environment and forming friendships and relationships there, you better get more out into the real world to get rid of your prejudice while you’re busy crying out fake sexism. And taking cheap unfair pot shots at Hawley just reflects poorly on people making them. The show has a female director, female EP, diverse female costars and likely female writers. Don’t think anyone needs to defend their feminist credentials to you, especially when not a single episode has been seen.

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          • I’ll use this handle going forward.

            I was present for all of Castle. Season 8 was a misogynist abomination, and Hawley was running the show. Then he had the gall to position himself as a feminist in an interview a few months back. You are not the final arbiter of what’s a fair opinion, or dictator of the TV Line comments section. Perhaps before you go morality policing everyone else’s internet etiquette you should reread some of your own posts here, namely the ones where you insult beat cops and all those “sheltered life” people who don’t know couples with 10+ year age gaps.

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      • 46 is late 40’s!! And yes she is 40……I just want to point out of all these comments you were the first to bring up Stana’s name, out of 80+ comments 👏🏼

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15. Wow so many comments on the age difference. I have a bigger issue with this show being Castle 2.0 and Fillion running around even goofier than before in a story that is even lamer than Castle’s( how many police departments allow writers to follow their detectives around) But again it might turn out better than it sounds. But as for the age difference? You might be noticing it now but I bet if the show is successful you will forget it exists

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    • I agree. The premise is so similar to Castle with tweakings. Maybe to make sure that Nathan Fillion’s role stands out. Hope Melissa isn’t too good or there might be deja vu of more than the story line!

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      • What I’m hoping for is there isn’t a deja vu of an irrational, hateful section of the fanbase who can’t let anything go and keep distorting 2 years on. There’s as much similarity between this show and Castle, and Fillion’s ex-costar playing another law enforcement agent on her new show as she did on Castle.

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16. I wish Dark Matter was renewed instead, but I wish her and the show well.

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17. The fantasy is someone his age getting hired for that job as a rookie. They should have made him an intern at a public defender’s office, i.e. Benched. I know of a very successful marriage with about that age difference. She doesn’t look like a model, and she was great on Dark Matter. Melanie Griffith said on a late show, “After 35, it’s hasta la vista, baby!” So, Melissa’s 29 is “older” for camera work. It’s biology meeting camera and broadcasting tech.

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    • If 29 is older for camera work, and past 35 is “hasta la vista” – what does that make actors and actresses in their 40’s?

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      • Masters of the art, walking miracles, and/or ‘a type’. There are, probably, thousands and thousands of excellent actresses [and actors] of each age available, yet we see only a few faces in shows. It does make me ponder.

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18. I’m going to watch it because I am liking who this show has cast.
    Secondly, two names. Amber Tamblyn and David Cross.
    So if the writes portray this couple well, then it shouldn’t be as big of a deal I think.

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19. Tbh tho I enjoyed NF on Castle – imo the 20 yr age dif is gross + off putting + before anyone jumps on me re rl relationships it’s not about that for me – it’s about Hollywood’s pattern of grossness re older guys + WAY younger women + no, being able to site the VERY rare occasions the big age dif was the opposite way around doesn’t change that or make me feel better. So – I won’t be watching. Jmo!!!

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20. Yes! It seems like we will never ever get Nathan playing The Wonder man character.

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21. I’m happy to see Melissa getting such high profile work; I’m a big fan of hers going back to the Canadian Idol days. The age difference is a bit disconcerting. Still, the whole show appears to be revolving around an older man in a young person’s milieu, so perhaps the age difference makes sense.

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22. He’s only 17 years older than her

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23. I was already iffy about this show because Alexi Hawley was one of the show runners that tanked Castle and because I’m tired of Nathan Fillion’s schtick. He’s too old to be playing a frat boy.
    But casting someone so age-inappropriate to be the love interest — really? I’m past tired of seeing men with women who are young enough to be their daughters. It’s not attractive at all.

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April 17, 2024