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Meet "Castle's" Nikki Heat, A "Burn Notice" Prequel, and Catching Up on "Fringe"

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under TV Reviews | Comments (19)

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In Spring 2011, Jeffrey Donovan — who plays Michael Weston on “Burn Notice” — will direct a prequel to the series that will revolve around Bruce Campbell’s Sam Axe. Matt Nix (the series creator) will pen the script, which will be set in late 2005, and begins after a faction of Colombian rebels makes trouble for the locally stationed military platoon, with Lieutenant Commander Sam Axe (Campbell) being sent down to advise.

I assume the prequel will better explain why Sam Axe is currently retired. That’s good news, I suppose, for those still watching “Burn Notice.” Frustrated, I quit half-way through last season. As basic cable channels go, I’m an F/X guy now with a side of AMC. The USA Network and TNT fare just doesn’t do it for me anymore. Too insubstantial. (Collider)

Elsewhere, Movieline got the first look at Nikki Heat, or the actress who will be playing the actress in the adaptation of the television show’s fictional series written by the fictional Rick Castle, who is played by the very real, and very dashing, Nathan Fillion. Laura Prepon, better known as Donna on “That 70s’s Show” will be playing Heat. Here’s her before the Nikki Heat transformation:

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And here she is afterwards:

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I like her better as a blonde. I wonder if the actress playing Nikkie Heat will be killed in the television series? That’d make for a fun meta case. And it might even offer them an opportunity to alter their standard six-point opening.

Finally, if you haven’t been paying too much attention to “Fringe” while you’ve been watching it this season (and frankly, some of this season’s episodes have been a little sixth-season of “X-Files,” if you know what I mean), Fox has edited together a movie trailer of sorts for the series, which should bring you up to speed for December’s run of episodes, as well as offer a couple of hints as to where it’s going. And if you think that a real actress playing a fake actress playing a fictional mystery character in “Castle” is confusing on paper, then what’s happening to Olivia Dunham is downright impossible to explain to those not watching the series: There are two dimensions. And two Olivia Dunhams. Both Olivia Dunhams are in the wrong dimensions. And up until recently, only one Olivia Dunham knew she was in the wrong dimension because she thought she was the other Olivia Dunham. Meanwhile, Peter Bishop is also in the wrong dimension, but he knows he’s in the wrong dimension, but he’s sleeping with the Olivia Dunham from his dimension in another dimension, only he doesn’t know he’s sleeping with the wrong Olivia Dunham because that Olivia Dunham is pretending to be the Olivia Dunham from the dimension they are sleeping together in.

Got it?

Watch the trailer:

(Source: Collider)










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Comments

I like her better as a redhead. As any sane person would.

Posted by: Todd at December 1, 2010 11:45 AM

I thought Laura Prepon was a ginger? Anyway, she still looks like she's stuck in the 1970's. It's something about the eyebrows and hair. And she got old looking. Damn, she's 30? I just looked it up. She looks older than that in the photos though.

Posted by: BWeaves at December 1, 2010 11:46 AM

While the bigger picture Burn Notice storyline is beyond convoluted... I would happily watch Michael, Sam and Fiona kick ass until their osteoporosis gets in the way (which may come sooner for Sam).

I'm excited for the prequel.

Posted by: Melissa at December 1, 2010 11:53 AM

all of this sounds fine and dandy, but pictures of Nathan Fillion on this site should include that jaw-dropping butt shot from Firefly. please amend this immediately!

Posted by: S at December 1, 2010 12:12 PM

I think it is a combination of the flowing blond hair and scarf that makes her look like one of the 70's Charlie's Angels.

Posted by: ed newman at December 1, 2010 12:22 PM

S, any picture of Nathan Fillion is jaw-dropping. It's like that old riddle: Can God create a picture of Nathan Fillion that doesn't make Him swoon?

(The answer is No, by the way. Even God isn't immune to Fillion's smirky dashing charm.)

Posted by: esme at December 1, 2010 12:52 PM

FRINGE!!!!

Sorry, very excited for the new episodes. You know you're a hard core sci-fi nerd when all that dimensional stuff doesn't even faze you.

Posted by: DeadBessie at December 1, 2010 12:59 PM

i bow before your wisdom, esme. it is true the smirky, dashing charm entrances us all, but it would entrance more if that photo was there too. in other words, i'm at work and bored and need pretty things to look at. everytime i see that photo, i think his butt would make an exceptional bed pillow...among other things, of course.

Posted by: S at December 1, 2010 1:01 PM

and frankly, some of this season’s episodes have been a little sixth-season of “X-Files,” if you know what I mean

Well, I get the reference but I don't know what you mean; which episodes have underwhelmed you this season? I've really enjoyed how they've handled the episodes alternating between the two dimensions.

Posted by: just me at December 1, 2010 1:03 PM

**vague spoilers for Fringe**

I'm with just me. I've been enjoying Fringe a lot more this season. Anna Torv has really, really improved (some critics have hinted that she needed this kind of a character arc to really show what she could do--after all she was playing an uptight, closed down person, how much emoting could she do?). I'm not minding the twist they've done to your stereotypical OTP relationship...it's reminding me a little of the Farscape scenario, which was just a terrific solution to the problem of getting a couple together on a show. Yeah, the alternate dimension stuff doesn't bug me at all. I wish the show would push the themes of when all-out guerilla warfare becomes necessary in the alternate dimension (a la BSG) and highlight the moral themes...but, you know, it's not a bad little show at all.

**end spoilers**

Sometimes I think the show is broadcast on the wrong night. By Thursday night, my brain is fried from the work week, and the inanities of Shondafest are about all I can handle at that point (when you're seriously McBrainDead, GA and PP start to make sense). But when I get to Fringe on DVR at a future point, I always really enjoy it.

And Pacey Peter Bishop is cute, and Walter is AWESOME. 'Nuff said.

Posted by: Val Vadynia at December 1, 2010 2:07 PM

I really am loving Fringe and also excited for new episodes. I think it kind of gets an underwhelming, lukewarm, "meh" wrap which I don't really understand...especially from my fellow sci-fi nerds.

I realize Pacey can be me a little milquetoast but between the alternate universe and the Walter Bishops (both crazy and megalomaniacal), I am digging it. I suppose it's moving a little slow, but I quote the great--and deranged--Mr. Plinkett: "I like my sci-fi slow and my action fast."

Slow sci-fi=good stuff.

Posted by: Vonnegut Slut at December 1, 2010 2:14 PM

Fringe doesn't strike me as slow at all. Hell, at least we get some answers, unlike Lost which dragged on for years and never amounted to anything. We found out what happened to Peter, why these events are occurring, how they started and who is to blame. And in between the mythology episodes, you've got great stand alone episodes featuring some truly creative ideas.

Plus they blew up a crippled little person's head in a subway tunnel for pretty much no reason except that IT WAS AWESOME. The show has my undying loyalty because of that moment.

Posted by: DeadBessie at December 1, 2010 3:14 PM

I agree with DeadBessie despite the appearance of my earlier comment.

Fringe is hardly "literally" slow, but I have still inexplicably heard that complaint from more than a few of my friends so I was attempting to acknowledge it for them and those of that ilk.

When I said it was slow sci-fi, I just meant that it paces itself and actually takes the time to explain shit and not just blow it up.

Posted by: Vonnegut Slow at December 1, 2010 3:27 PM

All this slow talk made me eff up my freakin' handle. But I suppose it was appropriate for that post.

Posted by: Vonnegut Slut at December 1, 2010 3:28 PM

Because I cannot lay off a Fringe thread, I'll opine that the swapped-Olivia arc hasn't been difficult to follow at all.

The utter genius of the alternate universe plotline is that it's achieved a mini-reboot without the tiresome paradigm shift of, say, time-travel (Heroes, Eureka), the off-putting "same-actor-new-character" trope (Fred on Angel, Birkhoff on La Femme Nikita, or the Ctrl-V cheat of new characters for old (Season 8 X-Files with Robert Patrick and whatsherface, and, I'm sorry to be so old and to type this in public, Bo and Luke Duke's identically-dressed-and-coiffed cousins Blondie and Brownie.

Orci and Kurtzman are being really deft about respecting the relationships of the original characters while launching events in a novel direction, and the actors are KILLING IT.

So, since they're moving it to the Friday night death slot, enjoy Fringe while you can.

Posted by: Salieri2 at December 1, 2010 4:27 PM

I stopped watching at the beginning of the second season (with plans to pick it back up eventually), but I can tell you that Pacey is absolutely not milquetoast. From what I've seen, he and Walter were hands down the best part of the show.

Posted by: Melissa at December 1, 2010 5:27 PM

Oh Melissa, I knew I'd see your name on this post. I keep telling you to catch up and you still haven't!

Basically, everything about Fringe right now is tops. Pacey is somehow turning into Clooney right before my eyes (seriously, check out that downcast twinkle-eyes smile). I always defended Anna Torv, but even I'm surprised at how incredible she has been this season with some pretty tricky material. Walter was always awesome, and having evil Walternate is brilliant because it gives us more John Noble.

The detail of the alternate universe is so fun to watch, and I'm truly excited by the ambition they've displayed this season in trusting the audience to follow both universes. I used to be lukewarm on this show, but halfway through the second season I realized that it's truly excellent sci-fi that no one should apologize for watching.

Posted by: bravesjade at December 2, 2010 12:57 PM

Well said, bravesjade. Vonnegut, I didn't mean to come off as pissy or anything (not that you were implying I was--oh hell, it's so damned hard to convey mood adequately through text sometimes). Anna Torv and the writers have created a kick ass heroine between themselves, and Peter and Walter have a fascinating relationship. When Peter first called him "Dad" I nearly cried, Walter was so happy about it.

Now if they could only find a way to bring Alternate Charlie into our universe, I would be thrilled. I miss that guy.

Posted by: DeadBessie at December 2, 2010 2:40 PM

I'm head nodding over here as I too, am in love with Fringe. It has become one of the best shows on tv right now, definitely the best sci fi show. All the actors are more than competent, and their characters are layered without being showy.

It's the show that made me think "damn, Joshua Jackson is fine AND a good actor? Whatttttt?"

Posted by: ninetwenteetoo at December 2, 2010 5:09 PM