Why do I have to be some kind of hero?*
So after just over a month, I've now watched Supernatural Season 1 and 2. I'm not watching Season 3 right now because my grabby hands are still empty. But oh, my dears! when we gets our handses on the precious...
So yeah, I like Supernatural, what of it? And it's weird that I feel like I need to defend the liking, because I've seen a lot of hate on fandomsecrets which, ok, not the holiest of grails for learning about fandom, but it's a general overview. But I've read a lot of criticism over the acting (Jensen's the 'sauce, and Jared's fine) and the chauvanism (ok, there's lots of female-baddies but also lots of spunky kick-ass chicks, and do not give me shit over Dean being a flirt machine and into casual sex - it takes two).
The stories are interesting and balanced between character-driven episodes, where you benefit if you're a long-time watcher and story-driven episodes, where you can be a casual watcher.
I've been calling some "Omg shock!" revelations of late, but I guess that's because there's few ways stories like these can go. For example, if you're dealing with a trickster god? He ain't dead. I don't care if there's a corpse, he ain't dead. Anansi faked his death, Loki faked Odin's in American Gods, at least) and I'm willing to bet that Coyote faked his death too.
The editing, especially for the recaps, is fantastic. It doesn't do a full-on summary of everything that's happened in the season, just the relevant bits for the current episode, whether that means doing a montage of all the pranks the boys have pulled on each other or totally skipping over the FBI thing in the previous episode. (ETA: The recap for 2x07 The Usual Suspects, where they show all the aliases and fake badges the boys have used, is hi-larious.) But also in the episodes, like there's this awesome bit where Dean's talking to Ellen on the phone, and all the time where he's listening is cut out, so it's just rapid-fire responses from Dean.
What I like best is that it's funny. Sure, it's occasionally disturbing and startling, and sometimes even heart-wrenching (oh, Dean, you poor sucker), but you can always count on the humour. It's just so enjoyable to watch. For example, 2x20 What Is And What Should Never Be has both fluffy good-times fun in the first half and tear-your-heart-out woe in the second. But the first half has some smattering of woe tied up with the funny, and the woe has some uplifting "You're a fucking rock, Dean" moments.
But when it's serious, it's real serious, and the acting helps loads with that. Season 2 finale, for example. Hoooo boy, is that wrenching.
Also, yes, I am watching the Dean Winchester Show (he's totally my rock and I have all manner of faith in him, but at the same time I am constantly prepared for him to do The Wrong Thing, but he never does. Bless.) but I have a soft spot for Sam, and I adore Bobby. Castiel, of Season 4, isn't doing anything for me. On any plane, really. My hormones are unappreciative, I'm not keen on the Tax-Accountant-Constantine look (even if that's what they meant it to look like), but most importantly, he's a doubting angel. Oh jeez, that's new. But no, honest, I like him fine.
As an aside, Amos Lee is a man?!? Gods, and here I was so thrilled that "Arms of a Woman" was sung by a woman. Argh, yo.
ETA: I meant to say, while I did watch a bit of an episode of SPN a couple years ago with roommate Kira (who asked me which of the Winchesters I found hotter, and my immediate reaction was to say Sam - 'cause he was lean and lanky, just how I like 'em - but them instantly said, "Omg, no, wait, Dean.") I didn't get hooked the first time.
I only finally caved and started watching SPN because I watched some fanvids (for the background music) and, once I started looking at what I was listening, I got curious.
ETA 2: Also, I'm loving how even in Season 1 I can point at details or turns of phrase or whatever and say, "Hey, they deal with that in Season 4! Foreshadow ftw!". Even if it isn't planned foreshadow, I love how internally consistent SPN is.
Links of the Day:
cuttoothorn's Supernatural 2x20 Fanvid
vaeltaa's The Sylar/Peter Files: Deleted Scene 001
Star Trek Trailer
piratehatter's Batman Comics
lyonser's T:SCC Fanvid: Breath (John/Cameron)
ana_jo's T:SCC Icons
Wiki: C.R.Kiernan's Alabaster
Wiki; Albinism in popular culture
Write or Die
News:
Special Comment on Gay Marriage by Keith Olbermann ( transcript
tablesaw's What Marriage Is
Brazil: Land for last survivor of unknown Amazon tribe
* Dean, Supernatural 2x20
So yeah, I like Supernatural, what of it? And it's weird that I feel like I need to defend the liking, because I've seen a lot of hate on fandomsecrets which, ok, not the holiest of grails for learning about fandom, but it's a general overview. But I've read a lot of criticism over the acting (Jensen's the 'sauce, and Jared's fine) and the chauvanism (ok, there's lots of female-baddies but also lots of spunky kick-ass chicks, and do not give me shit over Dean being a flirt machine and into casual sex - it takes two).
The stories are interesting and balanced between character-driven episodes, where you benefit if you're a long-time watcher and story-driven episodes, where you can be a casual watcher.
I've been calling some "Omg shock!" revelations of late, but I guess that's because there's few ways stories like these can go. For example, if you're dealing with a trickster god? He ain't dead. I don't care if there's a corpse, he ain't dead. Anansi faked his death, Loki faked Odin's in American Gods, at least) and I'm willing to bet that Coyote faked his death too.
The editing, especially for the recaps, is fantastic. It doesn't do a full-on summary of everything that's happened in the season, just the relevant bits for the current episode, whether that means doing a montage of all the pranks the boys have pulled on each other or totally skipping over the FBI thing in the previous episode. (ETA: The recap for 2x07 The Usual Suspects, where they show all the aliases and fake badges the boys have used, is hi-larious.) But also in the episodes, like there's this awesome bit where Dean's talking to Ellen on the phone, and all the time where he's listening is cut out, so it's just rapid-fire responses from Dean.
What I like best is that it's funny. Sure, it's occasionally disturbing and startling, and sometimes even heart-wrenching (oh, Dean, you poor sucker), but you can always count on the humour. It's just so enjoyable to watch. For example, 2x20 What Is And What Should Never Be has both fluffy good-times fun in the first half and tear-your-heart-out woe in the second. But the first half has some smattering of woe tied up with the funny, and the woe has some uplifting "You're a fucking rock, Dean" moments.
But when it's serious, it's real serious, and the acting helps loads with that. Season 2 finale, for example. Hoooo boy, is that wrenching.
Also, yes, I am watching the Dean Winchester Show (he's totally my rock and I have all manner of faith in him, but at the same time I am constantly prepared for him to do The Wrong Thing, but he never does. Bless.) but I have a soft spot for Sam, and I adore Bobby. Castiel, of Season 4, isn't doing anything for me. On any plane, really. My hormones are unappreciative, I'm not keen on the Tax-Accountant-Constantine look (even if that's what they meant it to look like), but most importantly, he's a doubting angel. Oh jeez, that's new. But no, honest, I like him fine.
As an aside, Amos Lee is a man?!? Gods, and here I was so thrilled that "Arms of a Woman" was sung by a woman. Argh, yo.
ETA: I meant to say, while I did watch a bit of an episode of SPN a couple years ago with roommate Kira (who asked me which of the Winchesters I found hotter, and my immediate reaction was to say Sam - 'cause he was lean and lanky, just how I like 'em - but them instantly said, "Omg, no, wait, Dean.") I didn't get hooked the first time.
I only finally caved and started watching SPN because I watched some fanvids (for the background music) and, once I started looking at what I was listening, I got curious.
ETA 2: Also, I'm loving how even in Season 1 I can point at details or turns of phrase or whatever and say, "Hey, they deal with that in Season 4! Foreshadow ftw!". Even if it isn't planned foreshadow, I love how internally consistent SPN is.
Links of the Day:
cuttoothorn's Supernatural 2x20 Fanvid
vaeltaa's The Sylar/Peter Files: Deleted Scene 001
Star Trek Trailer
piratehatter's Batman Comics
lyonser's T:SCC Fanvid: Breath (John/Cameron)
ana_jo's T:SCC Icons
Wiki: C.R.Kiernan's Alabaster
Wiki; Albinism in popular culture
Write or Die
News:
Special Comment on Gay Marriage by Keith Olbermann ( transcript
tablesaw's What Marriage Is
Brazil: Land for last survivor of unknown Amazon tribe
* Dean, Supernatural 2x20