9.07, or, I love you, SPN
WHAT A GREAT EPISODE!!! I really liked last week's episode, but this is easily my favorite of the season so far. I'm beginning to realize that a HUGE part of what makes or breaks an episode for me is simply the feel of it, and the feel of this one was the richest, warmest, and least caustic yet.
I also just love the character-driven eps, the eps where we learn more about any of the characters, and of course I'm absolutely crazy about teen!chester stories. That young Dean actor may not have looked a thing like him, but I can hardly imagine any actor that young capturing his attitude better. For those of you who don't know, originally in the script he was supposed to be 14, not 16, which made infinitely more sense (and he looked 14 to me), so I thought of him that way.
The Monster of the Week again served as a metaphor for Sam and Dean's relationship (wheee!), which says something very interesting about Dean having to let go of the family member who's most precious to him. But the question remains ... can he take his own advice? Doubtful.
And AUUGHHHH, when was the last time we saw Dean that embarrassed/out of sorts as when he abruptly decided it was time to leave the restaurant when Robin didn't remember him?? Jackles captured that feeling so perfectly and evinced in a couple of seconds about a thousand relatable feelings, and God, how I loved that moment, but I loved a lot of moments: Dean being on the fence about staying until he looked out the window and saw Sam in the car, adult Sam seeing Dean's award for wrestling and the marks on his bed, Sam learning more about Dean in general! And Sam thanking him at the end--someone else said too how great it is to see one of them THANK the other finally!! Dean passes it off in his adorable Dean way, but Sam knows him well enough to know that Dean knew what he was trying to say.
I've seen people complain that they didn't feel like the teen stuff was in character, that John wouldn't have left Dean there, that Dean wouldn't have stayed there/would have immediately escaped, that Dean already loved the life and wouldn't have said he didn't, etc., so I was braced for not liking that stuff. Instead, I found it all spot-on with what we know of these characters at various times in their lives. That thing about Dean not loving the hunter's life yet was kind of a relief to me, because how could someone that headstrong love being forced into that job at that age? He told Gordon he "embraced the life" at 16, and we know that at ~11 when the shtriga came he was pretty damn resentful about the stuff his dad made him do that he didn't want to, and in the episode where he gives him the samulet (love that word), he seems pretty well cognizant of how shitty their lives are as a consequence of their dad's hunting. 14 is exactly when people are making major decisions about their futures and who they're going to be and really grappling with all that stuff, which was an absolute delight to see Dean go through onscreen. Seriously, I would be perfectly happy if this show were half flashback eps.
Beautifully directed, delightfully acted, and AWESOMELY written! You go, Glass!!
I also just love the character-driven eps, the eps where we learn more about any of the characters, and of course I'm absolutely crazy about teen!chester stories. That young Dean actor may not have looked a thing like him, but I can hardly imagine any actor that young capturing his attitude better. For those of you who don't know, originally in the script he was supposed to be 14, not 16, which made infinitely more sense (and he looked 14 to me), so I thought of him that way.
The Monster of the Week again served as a metaphor for Sam and Dean's relationship (wheee!), which says something very interesting about Dean having to let go of the family member who's most precious to him. But the question remains ... can he take his own advice? Doubtful.
And AUUGHHHH, when was the last time we saw Dean that embarrassed/out of sorts as when he abruptly decided it was time to leave the restaurant when Robin didn't remember him?? Jackles captured that feeling so perfectly and evinced in a couple of seconds about a thousand relatable feelings, and God, how I loved that moment, but I loved a lot of moments: Dean being on the fence about staying until he looked out the window and saw Sam in the car, adult Sam seeing Dean's award for wrestling and the marks on his bed, Sam learning more about Dean in general! And Sam thanking him at the end--someone else said too how great it is to see one of them THANK the other finally!! Dean passes it off in his adorable Dean way, but Sam knows him well enough to know that Dean knew what he was trying to say.
I've seen people complain that they didn't feel like the teen stuff was in character, that John wouldn't have left Dean there, that Dean wouldn't have stayed there/would have immediately escaped, that Dean already loved the life and wouldn't have said he didn't, etc., so I was braced for not liking that stuff. Instead, I found it all spot-on with what we know of these characters at various times in their lives. That thing about Dean not loving the hunter's life yet was kind of a relief to me, because how could someone that headstrong love being forced into that job at that age? He told Gordon he "embraced the life" at 16, and we know that at ~11 when the shtriga came he was pretty damn resentful about the stuff his dad made him do that he didn't want to, and in the episode where he gives him the samulet (love that word), he seems pretty well cognizant of how shitty their lives are as a consequence of their dad's hunting. 14 is exactly when people are making major decisions about their futures and who they're going to be and really grappling with all that stuff, which was an absolute delight to see Dean go through onscreen. Seriously, I would be perfectly happy if this show were half flashback eps.
Beautifully directed, delightfully acted, and AWESOMELY written! You go, Glass!!