SPN 5x17 '99 Problems' Reaction Post!
Ohhhh my gosh. I mean, there wasn't anything really EARTH SHATTERING HOMG in this episode, but there were moments and I adore moments. Also! Michael Shanks!!! I really enjoyed this episode, holy crap.
Civilians-made-hunters and their gadgets
I love all this new hunterly stuff that's going on. I was saying to aeon_entwined that the boys should pack up their devil's traps on plastic sheets or something so they can just whip them out and put them places in a snap. That truck with the holy water hoses? FUCKING NEAT. Devil's traps at the walk ways? FUCK YES. The priest packing a thigh holster? Shit yeaaaah. Only badasses get thigh holsters.
When Michael Shanks came in with the exorcism over the megaphone it reminded me of two things:
1 - Lol, Daniel is that you? Figures you'd be a hunter. I bet that's why your exorcism is so fucking speedy and amped up.
2 - There was a fic I read once, where there was the final battle and there was this huge thing of demons coming towards the Winchesters, and they had this amplified tape playing of an exorcism, and Castiel was making it rain holy water from the sky. 8D Bad. Ass.
Prophets
I feel that there's a distinct lack of Chuck!love going on here and I don't like it. I mean, yeah, Dean's all over her cause she's this pretty girl and whatnot, and what does Chuck get? Sympathy? Are you okay? No, he gets nothing. I'm extremely disgruntled about this. XD; The next time they see Chuck, if they don't genuinely want to know how he's doing, I'll be flipping some shit. (Okay, okay, I know Chuck's just going to whine and complain, but you know what? Maybe he just needs a goddamn hug, OKAY?)
Note to self: start compiling evidence that hugs will stop the apocalypse.
really bad migraine - flashing lights before visions
I don't know why they chose to separate the flashing lights bits from the really bad migrane part - that's actually one of the visual symptoms of migraines. I don't get eye pain or visual hallucinations, but I get the flashy lights, blurred vision, light sensitivity and the temporary blind spots. Blind spots + flashy lights makes it look like the world is rippling into nothingness.
Cheery, innit?
I love how Castiel was all 'dude, I may be drunker than...well, a bar full of drunken humans, but I still know my shit' about the prophet names....and the whore of Babylon, and..well, everything. I read a picspam recently about how BAMF Castiel was, and how he's totally unapologetic and such, and I think that it really comes out in this episode. Even though he's teeter-tottering on faithlessness, he's still there getting the job done, and being awesome. But without the barrier that keeps him from telling the Winchesters to stop asking stupid questions. XD I like.
Castiel
There was so much...soul bearing (?) for him in this episode, I really loved that. I'm still D: about the drinking the liquor store, and D: about Dean handing him pills (my immediate reaction was exactly this: "DEAN NO PILLS OMFG NO.") because now we're getting down to crunch time, and is what happened in The End going to actually happen? No? D: D:
First, Castiel's voicemail? Awwww. HOW MANY PEOPLE CALLED THAT ONE? XDDD What the fuck is this thing doing now....better press buttons...
"Are you drunk?"
"No...yes. I found a liquor store. And I drank it."
"Leah Gideon-"
"She's not a prophet."
"Where the hell have you been?"
"On a bender."
This forwardness is really quite refreshing. I mean, I like the doom and gloom (she rises when lucifer walks the earth, and she will come, bearing false prophecy) as much as the next person, but it's nice to have some variety.
All these human gestures, like the hand motioning Sam closer to speak in his ear, some of the terminology, the 'no...yes' - it makes me think that maybe Castiel had himself some ~ADVENTURES~ while on his self-proclaimed bender. Or maybe he's tired of being distant and aloof and cut free from heaven, and he's been around long enough to use phrases and gestures that he knows humans will immediately understand. I don't know.
I thought that him drinking cups of water was really cute, too. >_> Especially since he just went over to the sink to do it, not that it was given to him from Sam or Dean, or something. ...him telling the boys what the Enochian meant was super cute too. XD Some sort of in-joke that angels would understand, and 'it's funnier in Enochian' and his short little 'Fake!' I can only imagine what it actually was in Enochian for it to translate to 'you breed with the mouth of a goat' in English. XD ANGEL SWEARS. OHO.
"'The whore can only be killed by a true servant of heaven. Not you, or me. Or sam - he's an abomination...'
Just so matter-of-fact about it, even the part about Dean. Especially the part about Dean. And the surprised little look on Dean's face when Cas said it. Oh boys. But considering that Dean was able to kill the Whore and therefore is clearly a servant of heaven? I'm hoping this will be a kick in the pants for Castiel, who's had such an abrupt drop of faith.
"You're a servant of heaven."
"And you're an angel."
"A poor example of one."
And considering what I saw in the preview for the next episode? Hm. Here's hoping that Sam hung on to the amulet. I know a lot of people are really hoping for it, and I don't think it's out of character for him to do so, so... *crosses fingers* Perhaps we'll have our faith-filled angel back to his former...inspired-but-still-falling glory? I hope so. I don't think I could handle him being all embittered every episode. Future!Cas was amusing, and drunk!Cas was amusing, but they're two very sad, heartbreaking versions of actual Castiel. Sigh.
Dean
At any rate, I totally knew Dean was going to pull out of the whole post-hell emptiness. Buffy had a post-heaven emptiness and she turned out relatively fine. (Yes, that was what I was basing Dean's recovery on. Shutup.) So it's really great to see him going to Lisa, even if it is a sort of last hurrah, it's still showing that he at least knows that this is what he would have wanted, especially after the comments in the Valentine's episode about not caring about having a family. It was something that he'd always had in his character and he never really lost it. He was even so hurt by Sam's memories in heaven, that all Sam's happy moments were away from John and Dean, while all of Dean's where with his mom, or with Sam (oh fuck the fireworks scene fuck fuck fuck), even as twisted as some of the memories were.
In short, while last goodbyes are shitty, at least Dean was making them. I've seen some comments on how it was random that it was Lisa, instead of, say, Cassie. But Cassie had said she didn't think it would work between them, and while I strongly believe that she was likely the love of his life, I'm not sure she's what Dean needs anymore. That whole episode with Ben and Lisa... I know it was before he went to hell, 3x2 actually, but even later on in 3x10, it was clear that she was still his idea of happiness - her and Ben both.
I'm a little glad it's not Jo that he's dwelling on, because that's always seemed random to me, especially the kiss before her death and all that - maybe I missed an episode or something (or missed something in an episode, more likely) but I never really understood the Dean/Jo thing in terms of what's been actually presented in canon. :| Which is unfortunate, because I actually do like Jo a lot. Her and Ellen were kickass.
I'm rambling, holy crap. I think this is why I stopped doing episode reactions. DX; Moving right along!
I really loved that Dean was doing a feelings talk with Castiel. Really, that was awesome. Even if he did start the pill binge. Sigh. But what kills me is that when Sam was all "You can't do this to me I got one thing, one thing keeping me going - I can't count on anyone else, I can't do this alone" Dean turned and walked out on him. Fuck. T_T So I suppose it's time for Sam and Cas to team up and rely on each other? Who knew Team Sassy was going to come out ahead? ...even if Sam is still an abomination...
I get that Dean's solution is to go and say yes to Michael, and man that's been a long time coming. However...stuff happens in the next episode, and uh. Huh. *nods* Hm.
'how do you manage it?' - I SAW SO MANY CODAS AFTER LAST WEEK'S EPISODE USING THIS. PEOPLE. NICELY CALLED.
Lines I really loved:
"Since angels got the only lifeboats on the Titanic."
(Does this mean that 'You gotta let me go, Sammy, just let me go' and 'I'll never let you go, Dean. ...Dean?')
"I'm not a prophet, we're not locals, it's not my call."
"I guess that's what it's like, having back up."
"Must be hard, being the vessel of heaven, and having no hope."
"Never prayed before, not starting now. If I'm going to hell, I'm going honest."
(I really hate that he died. ._.)
"Let me go, or the next sinner I name will be you."
"How can that be okay? She killed him."
(I love honestly good people on this show. I really do. SPN's been good for having honestly good priests.)
Things that cause plot rabbits:
- innocent blood spilled in God's name
- it's funnier in Enochian
- pathetic, self hating, faithless
- it's not of import - we need to talk about what is happening here
Woosh. Now to read everyone else's reactions. XD;
Civilians-made-hunters and their gadgets
I love all this new hunterly stuff that's going on. I was saying to aeon_entwined that the boys should pack up their devil's traps on plastic sheets or something so they can just whip them out and put them places in a snap. That truck with the holy water hoses? FUCKING NEAT. Devil's traps at the walk ways? FUCK YES. The priest packing a thigh holster? Shit yeaaaah. Only badasses get thigh holsters.
When Michael Shanks came in with the exorcism over the megaphone it reminded me of two things:
1 - Lol, Daniel is that you? Figures you'd be a hunter. I bet that's why your exorcism is so fucking speedy and amped up.
2 - There was a fic I read once, where there was the final battle and there was this huge thing of demons coming towards the Winchesters, and they had this amplified tape playing of an exorcism, and Castiel was making it rain holy water from the sky. 8D Bad. Ass.
Prophets
I feel that there's a distinct lack of Chuck!love going on here and I don't like it. I mean, yeah, Dean's all over her cause she's this pretty girl and whatnot, and what does Chuck get? Sympathy? Are you okay? No, he gets nothing. I'm extremely disgruntled about this. XD; The next time they see Chuck, if they don't genuinely want to know how he's doing, I'll be flipping some shit. (Okay, okay, I know Chuck's just going to whine and complain, but you know what? Maybe he just needs a goddamn hug, OKAY?)
Note to self: start compiling evidence that hugs will stop the apocalypse.
really bad migraine - flashing lights before visions
I don't know why they chose to separate the flashing lights bits from the really bad migrane part - that's actually one of the visual symptoms of migraines. I don't get eye pain or visual hallucinations, but I get the flashy lights, blurred vision, light sensitivity and the temporary blind spots. Blind spots + flashy lights makes it look like the world is rippling into nothingness.
Cheery, innit?
I love how Castiel was all 'dude, I may be drunker than...well, a bar full of drunken humans, but I still know my shit' about the prophet names....and the whore of Babylon, and..well, everything. I read a picspam recently about how BAMF Castiel was, and how he's totally unapologetic and such, and I think that it really comes out in this episode. Even though he's teeter-tottering on faithlessness, he's still there getting the job done, and being awesome. But without the barrier that keeps him from telling the Winchesters to stop asking stupid questions. XD I like.
Castiel
There was so much...soul bearing (?) for him in this episode, I really loved that. I'm still D: about the drinking the liquor store, and D: about Dean handing him pills (my immediate reaction was exactly this: "DEAN NO PILLS OMFG NO.") because now we're getting down to crunch time, and is what happened in The End going to actually happen? No? D: D:
First, Castiel's voicemail? Awwww. HOW MANY PEOPLE CALLED THAT ONE? XDDD What the fuck is this thing doing now....better press buttons...
"Are you drunk?"
"No...yes. I found a liquor store. And I drank it."
"Leah Gideon-"
"She's not a prophet."
"Where the hell have you been?"
"On a bender."
This forwardness is really quite refreshing. I mean, I like the doom and gloom (she rises when lucifer walks the earth, and she will come, bearing false prophecy) as much as the next person, but it's nice to have some variety.
All these human gestures, like the hand motioning Sam closer to speak in his ear, some of the terminology, the 'no...yes' - it makes me think that maybe Castiel had himself some ~ADVENTURES~ while on his self-proclaimed bender. Or maybe he's tired of being distant and aloof and cut free from heaven, and he's been around long enough to use phrases and gestures that he knows humans will immediately understand. I don't know.
I thought that him drinking cups of water was really cute, too. >_> Especially since he just went over to the sink to do it, not that it was given to him from Sam or Dean, or something. ...him telling the boys what the Enochian meant was super cute too. XD Some sort of in-joke that angels would understand, and 'it's funnier in Enochian' and his short little 'Fake!' I can only imagine what it actually was in Enochian for it to translate to 'you breed with the mouth of a goat' in English. XD ANGEL SWEARS. OHO.
"'The whore can only be killed by a true servant of heaven. Not you, or me. Or sam - he's an abomination...'
Just so matter-of-fact about it, even the part about Dean. Especially the part about Dean. And the surprised little look on Dean's face when Cas said it. Oh boys. But considering that Dean was able to kill the Whore and therefore is clearly a servant of heaven? I'm hoping this will be a kick in the pants for Castiel, who's had such an abrupt drop of faith.
"You're a servant of heaven."
"And you're an angel."
"A poor example of one."
And considering what I saw in the preview for the next episode? Hm. Here's hoping that Sam hung on to the amulet. I know a lot of people are really hoping for it, and I don't think it's out of character for him to do so, so... *crosses fingers* Perhaps we'll have our faith-filled angel back to his former...inspired-but-still-falling glory? I hope so. I don't think I could handle him being all embittered every episode. Future!Cas was amusing, and drunk!Cas was amusing, but they're two very sad, heartbreaking versions of actual Castiel. Sigh.
Dean
At any rate, I totally knew Dean was going to pull out of the whole post-hell emptiness. Buffy had a post-heaven emptiness and she turned out relatively fine. (Yes, that was what I was basing Dean's recovery on. Shutup.) So it's really great to see him going to Lisa, even if it is a sort of last hurrah, it's still showing that he at least knows that this is what he would have wanted, especially after the comments in the Valentine's episode about not caring about having a family. It was something that he'd always had in his character and he never really lost it. He was even so hurt by Sam's memories in heaven, that all Sam's happy moments were away from John and Dean, while all of Dean's where with his mom, or with Sam (oh fuck the fireworks scene fuck fuck fuck), even as twisted as some of the memories were.
In short, while last goodbyes are shitty, at least Dean was making them. I've seen some comments on how it was random that it was Lisa, instead of, say, Cassie. But Cassie had said she didn't think it would work between them, and while I strongly believe that she was likely the love of his life, I'm not sure she's what Dean needs anymore. That whole episode with Ben and Lisa... I know it was before he went to hell, 3x2 actually, but even later on in 3x10, it was clear that she was still his idea of happiness - her and Ben both.
I'm a little glad it's not Jo that he's dwelling on, because that's always seemed random to me, especially the kiss before her death and all that - maybe I missed an episode or something (or missed something in an episode, more likely) but I never really understood the Dean/Jo thing in terms of what's been actually presented in canon. :| Which is unfortunate, because I actually do like Jo a lot. Her and Ellen were kickass.
I'm rambling, holy crap. I think this is why I stopped doing episode reactions. DX; Moving right along!
I really loved that Dean was doing a feelings talk with Castiel. Really, that was awesome. Even if he did start the pill binge. Sigh. But what kills me is that when Sam was all "You can't do this to me I got one thing, one thing keeping me going - I can't count on anyone else, I can't do this alone" Dean turned and walked out on him. Fuck. T_T So I suppose it's time for Sam and Cas to team up and rely on each other? Who knew Team Sassy was going to come out ahead? ...even if Sam is still an abomination...
I get that Dean's solution is to go and say yes to Michael, and man that's been a long time coming. However...stuff happens in the next episode, and uh. Huh. *nods* Hm.
'how do you manage it?' - I SAW SO MANY CODAS AFTER LAST WEEK'S EPISODE USING THIS. PEOPLE. NICELY CALLED.
Lines I really loved:
"Since angels got the only lifeboats on the Titanic."
(Does this mean that 'You gotta let me go, Sammy, just let me go' and 'I'll never let you go, Dean. ...Dean?')
"I'm not a prophet, we're not locals, it's not my call."
"I guess that's what it's like, having back up."
"Must be hard, being the vessel of heaven, and having no hope."
"Never prayed before, not starting now. If I'm going to hell, I'm going honest."
(I really hate that he died. ._.)
"Let me go, or the next sinner I name will be you."
"How can that be okay? She killed him."
(I love honestly good people on this show. I really do. SPN's been good for having honestly good priests.)
Things that cause plot rabbits:
- innocent blood spilled in God's name
- it's funnier in Enochian
- pathetic, self hating, faithless
- it's not of import - we need to talk about what is happening here
Woosh. Now to read everyone else's reactions. XD;