I couldn't agree with you more. The first half of the season felt like the heart of the show was missing. Even in S4, when Sam and Dean were at each other's throats, I felt more love between them than in most of the first 10 episodes of S8, and I find that unsettling. I am fine with conflict, but I always need the feeling that no matter what, Sam and Dean love each other, even if they don't understand one another.
The lack of emotional continuity is particularly grating. I still don't understand how the writers got from the ending of S7 to the versions of the characters we saw in 8x01-8x10. The writers made no efforts whatsoever to paint a compelling emotional journey that lead the characters from point A to point B. The show used to excel in consistent, emotional contiuity for Sam and Dean; it's the one thing we could always count on. I would really like to know what the writers were thinking when they outlined the first half of the season.
But ultimately this is the story of Sam and Dean’s Epic Love. And it should remain as such.
AMEN! At least it seems the season has finally turned a corner. This week's episode has been amazing! It's been a long time since I last felt such a genuine sense of hope in one of Supernatural's storylines. ♥
The first half of the season felt like the heart of the show was missing.
Ha, I think there used to be a line in this meta that said exactly that (but I deleted it), so I agree obviously. :)
Sam and Dean love each other, even if they don't understand one another
Yes, this is the best sort of conflict because their feelings for each other provide a needed counterpoint to the problematic issues, it's the "pull" part of the "push-pull" that conflict needs. If the characters have no reason why they keep hanging around to just fight, the conflict seem contrived and unbelievable, so it's necessary even though it seems counter to what would make for good tension/fighting. I feel like the writers somehow forgot this and just wanted to manufacture Big Conflict as if that alone would make for good drama. It's almost like they didn't know what else to do after 7 seasons of previous brother conflict so their default was to just make everything BIGGER. :(
I would really like to know what the writers were thinking when they outlined the first half of the season.
Even though I don't think it had to spin out like it did, I feel like it was spent cleaning up where S7 left off, a really long transition from Gamble's story to Carver's story. Like Carver felt obligated to play out the repercussions of Dean in Purgatory and Sam alone in order to position the characters for where he wanted them to be for his story (8x11 and beyond), only he really didn't want to deal with it thoughtfully. So instead of picking story lines that spun from Sam and Dean as characters (I'd like to have seen Sam get Dean out of Purgatory and have the boys be agencies of their own lives instead of pawns of the supernatural again), he just picked some story lines that hadn't happened yet (Sam in a long-term relationship, not hunting and Dean being best buddies with a monster) and shoved Sam and Dean into those roles.
At least it seems the season has finally turned a corner.
And just in time! Even my patience was beginning to wane.
The lack of emotional continuity is particularly grating. I still don't understand how the writers got from the ending of S7 to the versions of the characters we saw in 8x01-8x10. The writers made no efforts whatsoever to paint a compelling emotional journey that lead the characters from point A to point B. The show used to excel in consistent, emotional contiuity for Sam and Dean; it's the one thing we could always count on. I would really like to know what the writers were thinking when they outlined the first half of the season.
But ultimately this is the story of Sam and Dean’s Epic Love. And it should remain as such.
AMEN! At least it seems the season has finally turned a corner. This week's episode has been amazing! It's been a long time since I last felt such a genuine sense of hope in one of Supernatural's storylines. ♥
Reply
Ha, I think there used to be a line in this meta that said exactly that (but I deleted it), so I agree obviously. :)
Sam and Dean love each other, even if they don't understand one another
Yes, this is the best sort of conflict because their feelings for each other provide a needed counterpoint to the problematic issues, it's the "pull" part of the "push-pull" that conflict needs. If the characters have no reason why they keep hanging around to just fight, the conflict seem contrived and unbelievable, so it's necessary even though it seems counter to what would make for good tension/fighting. I feel like the writers somehow forgot this and just wanted to manufacture Big Conflict as if that alone would make for good drama. It's almost like they didn't know what else to do after 7 seasons of previous brother conflict so their default was to just make everything BIGGER. :(
I would really like to know what the writers were thinking when they outlined the first half of the season.
Even though I don't think it had to spin out like it did, I feel like it was spent cleaning up where S7 left off, a really long transition from Gamble's story to Carver's story. Like Carver felt obligated to play out the repercussions of Dean in Purgatory and Sam alone in order to position the characters for where he wanted them to be for his story (8x11 and beyond), only he really didn't want to deal with it thoughtfully. So instead of picking story lines that spun from Sam and Dean as characters (I'd like to have seen Sam get Dean out of Purgatory and have the boys be agencies of their own lives instead of pawns of the supernatural again), he just picked some story lines that hadn't happened yet (Sam in a long-term relationship, not hunting and Dean being best buddies with a monster) and shoved Sam and Dean into those roles.
At least it seems the season has finally turned a corner.
And just in time! Even my patience was beginning to wane.
Reply
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