Here are the latest TV series to land on DVD, led by my favorite new crime show.

"Castle: The Complete First Season" (ABC, 2009, three discs, $39.99)

Nathan Fillion stars as the title character, wealthy crime novelist Richard Castle, who acts as a consultant to the New York Police Department, helping detective Kate Becket (Stana Katic) solve murders while driving her to distraction. He also seems to know everyone in Manhattan and often pulls strings to cut through red tape.

You may know Fillion from "Firefly" or that Internet sensation "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog," in which he played Captain Hammer. He's a deceptive leading man because he has such a goofy sense of humor, and "Castle" is loaded with quips, one-liners and very funny sight gags.

The supporting cast is also excellent, especially Susan Sullivan as his mother and Molly C. Quinn as the straight-arrow daughter who tries to keep dad in line. Season 2 just started, and this set is just the thing to get you caught up.

Extras: widescreen, 10 episodes, audio commentaries, featurettes, bloopers, trailers.

"Shelley Duvall's Tall Tales & Legends: The Complete Series" (E1, 1985-87, three discs, $24.98)

This Showtime cable series for children was Duvall's follow-up to her "Faerie Tale Theatre" show. Such stars as Danny Glover, Jamie Lee Curtis, Brian Dennehy, Rebecca De Mornay, Megan Mullally and many others star in comic adaptations of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," "Casey at the Bat," and stories of Davy Crockett and Annie Oakley, among others.

Extras: full frame, nine episodes, trailers.

"The Mentalist: The Complete First Season" (Warner, 2008-09, six discs, $59.98)

This crime series is a more serious variation on "Psych," as a show-biz psychic admits his act is fake and begins using his observational abilities to solve crimes. Simon Baker and Robin Tunney star.

Extras: widescreen, deleted scenes, featurettes, bloopers, trailers.

"Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles: The Complete Second Season" (Warner/Blu-ray, 2009, five discs, $79.98)

Despite its becoming a bit brooding in this second and final season, this show is actually a very good continuation of the "Terminator" saga, focusing on John Connor (Thomas Dekker) as a teen, on the run from killer androids with his over-protective mother (Lena Headey) and a robot programmed to help them (Summer Glau).

Extras: widescreen, 22 episodes, deleted scenes, audio commentaries, featurettes, bloopers, trailers (also on DVD, $59.98)

"Ugly Betty: The Complete Third Season" (ABC, 2008-09, six discs, $59.99)

America Ferrera leads the ensemble cast in this comedy soap opera's third season, which sees some character changes and sets up what could be a surprising fourth season. Guests here include Christine Baranski, Bernadette Peters, Ralph Macchio, Rachel Maddow, Joy Behar, Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Billy Jean King, among others.

Extras: widescreen, 24 episodes, deleted scenes, pop-up video commentary, featurettes, bloopers, trailers.

e-mail: hicks@desnews.com