Love your reviews and observations. Thank you for taking the time to share them.
Side note on the hotel room geekiness: I am in love with the light fixture in the 2nd photo. I've watched this ep twice now (once alone and then with hubby) and each time that light fixture appears, I kinda want it. I'm in a bit of a mid-century mood these days.
As I mentioned above, I've watched this with my husband - he lol'd for real at some of the Cas third-wheel moments. He also commented that he thought the MOTW concept was a bit ... ridiculous ... at first. But later he thought it was interesting.
I'm middle of the road on this ep. Certainly did not hate it and was not bored nor frustrated. I basically enjoyed it, but did not squee over it - although one small squee moment was Sam & Dean shouting "No" in sync when Cas asked to sit in the front. I smiled.
I had not caught the sam-hand-rubbing moment myself but did quickly hear/see it online. Very nice subtle acting/directing/whatever choice. I also don't think the Sam & Amelia bits are truly a dream (I think Carver and/or others have actually said that at some point in interviews?) But they are meant to be shown as being dreamlike in the sense of being in a fog after extreme tragedy as well as in an environment so vastly different from what he's known most of his life.
I have found myself wondering at the fact that all the (somewhat anvil-like) parallels show is making about Amelia losing Don and Sam losing Dean are being somewhat ignored by fandom. So much of fandom is so centered on Sam not looking for Dean, Sam being OOO, no brother moments, Cas vs Sam, etc.; that it seems like the fact that the show is trying to compare the extreme tragedy and loss of Amelia's *HUSBAND* (her significant other) to Sam's *BROTHER* (and *his* significant other), is not satisfying to brother fans.
It's weird that this comparison is somehow both anvil-like as well as ... subtle ? Not sure that's the right word or not. Perhaps we are all too used to seeing Sam or Dean fall completely apart on screen when they lose each other. This non-visibly portrayed "falling apart" throws us? I think Carver/others may have even commented about this in interviews.
Very rambly comment response. Stream of consciousness - which is why I like your reviews - they start me thinking.
:)
Edit - I should add that I had the same thoughts/reactions as you regarding Mike Farrell. Loved BJ/Mike in MASH. And yes, seeing him so old made me realize how long ago that show had been on. And made me go, wow, I'm old. lol.
And more: Yes! I also remembered thinking that Sam seemed very LARGE in those early flashbacks. I had never considered that it was a purposeful choice the show may have been making. Very interesting thought.
I totally love that light fixture! It's a new one too - never used before. I adore stuff like that.
And I'm with you on the reaction. It was a little too all over the place for me to really love it. Some bits were great though - especially some of the one liners and the flashbacks.
And yeah - I don't see the flashbacks as an actual dream, but rather the notion of a "dream world". The fact that it was actually said confirmed that I think. Also I loved the reference to stuff being in Sam's head.
I have found myself wondering at the fact that all the (somewhat anvil-like) parallels show is making about Amelia losing Don and Sam losing Dean are being somewhat ignored by fandom.
I think this is a really good point and why, ultimately, fans are going to be disappointed. They (including me to some extent) want Sam not looking to be so much more than him just having a melt down and escaping into his dreamworld. But I absolutely don't think the (romantic) parallels should be ignored. It's pretty huge that Sam equates his loss to Amelia's loss. The more I see the more I'm liking what they are doing. Admittedly I'd love to see more of "imploded" Sam. I'd really like to see what that looked like - but I think we have to take it from what he ended up doing. That will satisfy me more when the boys actually talk about it. I'm assuming Sam has learned from past experiences. And then there's the running away - again. I think is going to play a big part in Sam's character development in future episodes (well, I hope so).
Glad the review got you thinking! I love chatting about it so thanks for sharing your thoughts with me. <33
Side note on the hotel room geekiness: I am in love with the light fixture in the 2nd photo. I've watched this ep twice now (once alone and then with hubby) and each time that light fixture appears, I kinda want it. I'm in a bit of a mid-century mood these days.
As I mentioned above, I've watched this with my husband - he lol'd for real at some of the Cas third-wheel moments. He also commented that he thought the MOTW concept was a bit ... ridiculous ... at first. But later he thought it was interesting.
I'm middle of the road on this ep. Certainly did not hate it and was not bored nor frustrated. I basically enjoyed it, but did not squee over it - although one small squee moment was Sam & Dean shouting "No" in sync when Cas asked to sit in the front. I smiled.
I had not caught the sam-hand-rubbing moment myself but did quickly hear/see it online. Very nice subtle acting/directing/whatever choice. I also don't think the Sam & Amelia bits are truly a dream (I think Carver and/or others have actually said that at some point in interviews?) But they are meant to be shown as being dreamlike in the sense of being in a fog after extreme tragedy as well as in an environment so vastly different from what he's known most of his life.
I have found myself wondering at the fact that all the (somewhat anvil-like) parallels show is making about Amelia losing Don and Sam losing Dean are being somewhat ignored by fandom. So much of fandom is so centered on Sam not looking for Dean, Sam being OOO, no brother moments, Cas vs Sam, etc.; that it seems like the fact that the show is trying to compare the extreme tragedy and loss of Amelia's *HUSBAND* (her significant other) to Sam's *BROTHER* (and *his* significant other), is not satisfying to brother fans.
It's weird that this comparison is somehow both anvil-like as well as ... subtle ? Not sure that's the right word or not. Perhaps we are all too used to seeing Sam or Dean fall completely apart on screen when they lose each other. This non-visibly portrayed "falling apart" throws us? I think Carver/others may have even commented about this in interviews.
Very rambly comment response. Stream of consciousness - which is why I like your reviews - they start me thinking.
:)
Edit - I should add that I had the same thoughts/reactions as you regarding Mike Farrell. Loved BJ/Mike in MASH. And yes, seeing him so old made me realize how long ago that show had been on. And made me go, wow, I'm old. lol.
And more: Yes! I also remembered thinking that Sam seemed very LARGE in those early flashbacks. I had never considered that it was a purposeful choice the show may have been making. Very interesting thought.
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I totally love that light fixture! It's a new one too - never used before. I adore stuff like that.
And I'm with you on the reaction. It was a little too all over the place for me to really love it. Some bits were great though - especially some of the one liners and the flashbacks.
And yeah - I don't see the flashbacks as an actual dream, but rather the notion of a "dream world". The fact that it was actually said confirmed that I think. Also I loved the reference to stuff being in Sam's head.
I have found myself wondering at the fact that all the (somewhat anvil-like) parallels show is making about Amelia losing Don and Sam losing Dean are being somewhat ignored by fandom.
I think this is a really good point and why, ultimately, fans are going to be disappointed. They (including me to some extent) want Sam not looking to be so much more than him just having a melt down and escaping into his dreamworld. But I absolutely don't think the (romantic) parallels should be ignored. It's pretty huge that Sam equates his loss to Amelia's loss. The more I see the more I'm liking what they are doing. Admittedly I'd love to see more of "imploded" Sam. I'd really like to see what that looked like - but I think we have to take it from what he ended up doing. That will satisfy me more when the boys actually talk about it. I'm assuming Sam has learned from past experiences. And then there's the running away - again. I think is going to play a big part in Sam's character development in future episodes (well, I hope so).
Glad the review got you thinking! I love chatting about it so thanks for sharing your thoughts with me. <33
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