9.14, or, Well, that happened
I didn't hate it by any means ... although that may be hard to believe, given the following review:
I'm glad to see Kevin again ... I guess, or I would have been more so if it hadn't been so after-school specialy. "The dead boy begged the brothers to work it out, so they did--oh, wait, this is Supernatural, so they didn't." I'm infinitely tired of the pointless death toll on this show. Is it because they figure they can trot someone back out any old time? Have they not noticed that the fans' reaction is usually fairly lukewarm to this device, even with much-beloved characters? We accept a character's departure and move on, such that when they're conveniently used again (especially so soon after Kevin's agonizing death--now somewhat cheapened), few people seem all that thrilled. I mean, if we could have any expectation that they'd continue to be around for a while, that'd be one thing, but bringing them back for one episode just means we'll have to get used to their absence all over again. I get the sense the producers expect delight, but for a lot of us I think it's more kind of depressing.
Speaking of depressing, what was with that sour note the episode ended on? Glad as I am they didn't hug and make up and pretend everything was swell just because Kevin told them to, it seems like they're deliberately making Sam, whose perspective is already (bafflingly) under siege, even more unsympathetic by making him flounce out without a word and slam his bedroom door (right after explicitly promising Kevin they would try). ("Just leave me ALONE! NOBODY UNDERSTANDS ME!" *hangs KEEP OUT sign* *sings along pointedly to emo that perfectly sums up his feelings*) Not that fandom wars are the writers' problem, and as I've said many times in many places, I truly appreciate the way BOTH brothers feel. Thus, I will be filled with an uncomfortableness if we get to the end of this season and Sam is portrayed as being a big meanie for having the audacity to have real lingering feelings about his brother steamrollering his needs, desires, and sovereignty, down to what is done with his body. I mean, come on.
I guess the biggest problem with it was that it's hard to figure out exactly what they were getting at with this episode, except fan-pandering with Kevin and Linda, ratings-pandering with torture and (mostly) pointless killing, and again making the obligatory acknowledgment that the brothers aren't getting along without, you know, allowing that plotline to move forward at all. (I've noticed Carver seems to like to save every important plot point for the very last episode of the season, if S8 is any indication, when surely it would be a far more satisfying show if they spread out the resolutions--in addition to the introductions of problems--over the course of the season instead of treading SO! MUCH! water.)
But we did get one-layer Sam again! That's a very large, muscular man right there, with such a pretty, pretty head on top of THAT GLORIOUS BODY. So I can without reservation approve of that, and all the pretty pretties. Also, I quite enjoyed Del the hipster Castle Storage clerk, upwardly mobile (and VERY whiny about his working conditions--because it's so much nicer in hell?? What's this kid used to?!?) demon. And YAY, wonderful to see Mrs. Tran back, exercising her acting chops! But other than that ... eh. Wevs. Also, angel wars are boring. I seriously almost started clipping my nails during one of those parts (this is coming from someone who watches every second of every episode with my eyes glued to the screen, sometimes rewinding for when I missed some of the subtlety, or I saw one person's reaction to something and I want to fully appreciate the other's), before I realized it would mean missing Misha's beautiful face. WE CAN'T HAVE THAT!!! Maybe it's those warm cups of mayonnaise he mentioned on Twitter that make his complexion so lovely. [OH DEAR GOD. (Contains a spoiler regarding a future episode.)]OH DEAR GOD, writing this review is making me actually look forward to the Snookie episode! NOOOOOO!!! WHYYYYYY??!?!
I'm glad to see Kevin again ... I guess, or I would have been more so if it hadn't been so after-school specialy. "The dead boy begged the brothers to work it out, so they did--oh, wait, this is Supernatural, so they didn't." I'm infinitely tired of the pointless death toll on this show. Is it because they figure they can trot someone back out any old time? Have they not noticed that the fans' reaction is usually fairly lukewarm to this device, even with much-beloved characters? We accept a character's departure and move on, such that when they're conveniently used again (especially so soon after Kevin's agonizing death--now somewhat cheapened), few people seem all that thrilled. I mean, if we could have any expectation that they'd continue to be around for a while, that'd be one thing, but bringing them back for one episode just means we'll have to get used to their absence all over again. I get the sense the producers expect delight, but for a lot of us I think it's more kind of depressing.
Speaking of depressing, what was with that sour note the episode ended on? Glad as I am they didn't hug and make up and pretend everything was swell just because Kevin told them to, it seems like they're deliberately making Sam, whose perspective is already (bafflingly) under siege, even more unsympathetic by making him flounce out without a word and slam his bedroom door (right after explicitly promising Kevin they would try). ("Just leave me ALONE! NOBODY UNDERSTANDS ME!" *hangs KEEP OUT sign* *sings along pointedly to emo that perfectly sums up his feelings*) Not that fandom wars are the writers' problem, and as I've said many times in many places, I truly appreciate the way BOTH brothers feel. Thus, I will be filled with an uncomfortableness if we get to the end of this season and Sam is portrayed as being a big meanie for having the audacity to have real lingering feelings about his brother steamrollering his needs, desires, and sovereignty, down to what is done with his body. I mean, come on.
I guess the biggest problem with it was that it's hard to figure out exactly what they were getting at with this episode, except fan-pandering with Kevin and Linda, ratings-pandering with torture and (mostly) pointless killing, and again making the obligatory acknowledgment that the brothers aren't getting along without, you know, allowing that plotline to move forward at all. (I've noticed Carver seems to like to save every important plot point for the very last episode of the season, if S8 is any indication, when surely it would be a far more satisfying show if they spread out the resolutions--in addition to the introductions of problems--over the course of the season instead of treading SO! MUCH! water.)
But we did get one-layer Sam again! That's a very large, muscular man right there, with such a pretty, pretty head on top of THAT GLORIOUS BODY. So I can without reservation approve of that, and all the pretty pretties. Also, I quite enjoyed Del the hipster Castle Storage clerk, upwardly mobile (and VERY whiny about his working conditions--because it's so much nicer in hell?? What's this kid used to?!?) demon. And YAY, wonderful to see Mrs. Tran back, exercising her acting chops! But other than that ... eh. Wevs. Also, angel wars are boring. I seriously almost started clipping my nails during one of those parts (this is coming from someone who watches every second of every episode with my eyes glued to the screen, sometimes rewinding for when I missed some of the subtlety, or I saw one person's reaction to something and I want to fully appreciate the other's), before I realized it would mean missing Misha's beautiful face. WE CAN'T HAVE THAT!!! Maybe it's those warm cups of mayonnaise he mentioned on Twitter that make his complexion so lovely. [OH DEAR GOD. (Contains a spoiler regarding a future episode.)]OH DEAR GOD, writing this review is making me actually look forward to the Snookie episode! NOOOOOO!!! WHYYYYYY??!?!