Point form pondering: Supernatural
I never got around to posting about the latest three Supernatural episodes, because I'm still not able to discuss them very coherently. But after pondering things for most of the afternoon, this is what I've come up with. Along with Smallville's "Noir" episode, which I'll do first.
Supposedly this episode was the lowest rated one in some time, but I don't know why. I don't even really watch Smallville and I loved it. It was awesome! The cinematography was gorgeous, and everything was so wonderfully detailed-the gangster cars, the costumes, the dialogue... Lana made a great femme fatale, she kind of has that look (plus, she got killed, which was was cool). Jimmy quoting Bogart? Hot. Also hot? Clark's biceps. Damn. Then there was Lex's mentioning of "Gardenia", which I guess was supposed to be an allusion to "Rosebud" from Citizen Kane. It was just really fun to watch. If you haven't seen bellanut's pretty picspam, you should check it out.
What Is and What Should Never Be
Laugh. Cry. Laugh. This episode was an emotional see-saw. But that's probably the best kind.
- Mmmm, shirtless Dean. But, oh, why did he have to put clothes on to get up? Seriously, who bothers doing that in the middle of the night in your own house? No one's going to see you.
- "Dean, you're drunk. You're drunk-dialing me." I don't know why that's funny. I just like the way Sam says it.
- Dean's girlfriend is Carmen Porter? Hey, that's my last name. And I've always liked the name Carmen, so in a way...it's kind of like I'm her. (Shut up. It is.)
- I don't have a problem with Mary not aging, because it makes perfect sense to me that Dean is remembering her as he last saw her. So to him, she wouldn't have changed.
- I like that they used actual pictures of the guys for the living room photos. Nice attention to detail there.
- The way Dean is looking around at everything all doe-eyed like he's seeing his life for the first time, he should be called Bambi.
- I love that Dean is enjoying that sandwich so much (it does look delicious) just because his mom made it for him. Awww.
- It's so funny how he's so happy to do something as mundane as mowing the lawn, because he never has before. And he can't really manage the lawn mower which just makes it more adorable. And look, a garden gnome!
- Dean not calling Sam 'Sammy' is kind of sad. Look at him trying desperately to cling to the one thing they have in common, which it turns out that they don't after all because Sam's never so much as held a gun in his life. There's just that moment there where Dean's face falls and then he quickly recovers that is just so well done.
- It's interesting that Dean is visiting his father's grave, when he couldn't bear to even look at his mom's grave earlier this season.
- The whole scene that mirrors the pilot was really cool.
- You know, as much as this show is about family, I think it's also about sacrifice. Once Dean knew all those people had died because he wasn't there to help, he couldn't bear that. Even if it meant he never got that perfect family life he always wanted. But in this dream, it was never real anyway, and far from perfect. So in his real life (shitty as it might be), saving people was the tangible alternative. But I can't believe he slit his own throat to get there. Eww.
Best exchange:
DEAN: Bitch.
SAM: What are you calling me a bitch for?
DEAN: You're supposed to say 'jerk'.
SAM: What?
DEAN: Nevermind.
All Hell Breaks Loose, parts one and two
The first half an hour was kind of slow, but it got a lot better. I mean, Sam died! That's about as dramatic as it gets. And watching Dean desperately bargaining his soul away to bring him back (and talking to Sam's dead body) was just so sad. He has so little faith in his own self-worth. Mostly, I just have a lot of questions:
- How does Mary know the demon? Was she a special child as well? I mean, if there are previous generations, then it stands to reason that she could be part of one.
- Maybe it's just me, but I just don't think the Yellow Eyed Demon is very scary. I'm not really clear on what his aim is, either. Why does he give the kids abilities if he just plans on killing most of them? For some of them, like Max, it just drove them crazy, so he must have had a purpose beyond toying with their sanity. And why did he choose those particular people? It seems like he doesn't really have a plan, so this is the one aspect of the show that I'm frustrated with. It seems a little underdeveloped.
- So if Andy can give Dean premonitions, then Sam should be able to do the same thing, right? That is, if he focused his power to do so, which shouldn't be hard. It would just be kind of cool to see them communicating telepathically like that. Not that they'd really need to, but in case one of them gets separated again or something.
- Did the demon trap Ava there for so long because he thought she was stronger and more able to pick off other kids? But why leave her there that long? Why have this showdown now?
- When Ash was telling them to come to the Roadhouse, was it really him? Maybe he was posessed and trying to lead them on a wild goose chase or something, so that by the time they found out Sam was close by, it would be too late. I hope Ash isn't really ash.
- If the head demon is killed, does that negate the deals made by other demons?
Other thoughts:
- Reusing "Carry on Wayward Son" was great to see. If the show had a theme song, this would be it.
- I liked the idea of Sam facing off with a soldier of another type. But his Achilles heel is his humanity. Up until now, he could never finish the job. I'm not sure what this means. The demon was probably just messing with them when he said he wasn't 100% Sam, but having the guts to kill people may require him to go some place darker inside himself and rob him of his innocence. And if it means more Evil!Sam, then bring it.
- Well, we got to see the boys hug when Sam was resurrected - for real this time. It doesn't count when one of them is unconscious.
- "Then let it end!" Wow, great acting from Jensen there. You can really feel his rage. Actually, his acting in the whole episode was amazing. I heard this is the episode he submitted for Emmy consideration, and I think if there's any justice, he should get one.
- Somehow this episode reminds me of Charmed, or should I say that watching Charmed prepared me for what was going to happen. First the title, which was also the name of the episode in which Prue dies (although here it's used in a more literal sense). Then the points on the map, which I knew would form the shape of a pentagram since Charmed did the same thing, and the whole "Pandora's Box" idea of opening a gateway to hell. It's not an entirely welcome association, especially if they ever start killing Sam and Dean over and over. Once is enough.
- I wonder, out of all the things that were let out, how many the boys torched have come back, and if we'll ever see any of those things again. It could be a convienient excuse down the road. "Oh, the evil clown? Nope, still alive!"
Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go rewatch and see if there's anything else I missed...
Supposedly this episode was the lowest rated one in some time, but I don't know why. I don't even really watch Smallville and I loved it. It was awesome! The cinematography was gorgeous, and everything was so wonderfully detailed-the gangster cars, the costumes, the dialogue... Lana made a great femme fatale, she kind of has that look (plus, she got killed, which was was cool). Jimmy quoting Bogart? Hot. Also hot? Clark's biceps. Damn. Then there was Lex's mentioning of "Gardenia", which I guess was supposed to be an allusion to "Rosebud" from Citizen Kane. It was just really fun to watch. If you haven't seen bellanut's pretty picspam, you should check it out.
What Is and What Should Never Be
Laugh. Cry. Laugh. This episode was an emotional see-saw. But that's probably the best kind.
- Mmmm, shirtless Dean. But, oh, why did he have to put clothes on to get up? Seriously, who bothers doing that in the middle of the night in your own house? No one's going to see you.
- "Dean, you're drunk. You're drunk-dialing me." I don't know why that's funny. I just like the way Sam says it.
- Dean's girlfriend is Carmen Porter? Hey, that's my last name. And I've always liked the name Carmen, so in a way...it's kind of like I'm her. (Shut up. It is.)
- I don't have a problem with Mary not aging, because it makes perfect sense to me that Dean is remembering her as he last saw her. So to him, she wouldn't have changed.
- I like that they used actual pictures of the guys for the living room photos. Nice attention to detail there.
- The way Dean is looking around at everything all doe-eyed like he's seeing his life for the first time, he should be called Bambi.
- I love that Dean is enjoying that sandwich so much (it does look delicious) just because his mom made it for him. Awww.
- It's so funny how he's so happy to do something as mundane as mowing the lawn, because he never has before. And he can't really manage the lawn mower which just makes it more adorable. And look, a garden gnome!
- Dean not calling Sam 'Sammy' is kind of sad. Look at him trying desperately to cling to the one thing they have in common, which it turns out that they don't after all because Sam's never so much as held a gun in his life. There's just that moment there where Dean's face falls and then he quickly recovers that is just so well done.
- It's interesting that Dean is visiting his father's grave, when he couldn't bear to even look at his mom's grave earlier this season.
- The whole scene that mirrors the pilot was really cool.
- You know, as much as this show is about family, I think it's also about sacrifice. Once Dean knew all those people had died because he wasn't there to help, he couldn't bear that. Even if it meant he never got that perfect family life he always wanted. But in this dream, it was never real anyway, and far from perfect. So in his real life (shitty as it might be), saving people was the tangible alternative. But I can't believe he slit his own throat to get there. Eww.
Best exchange:
DEAN: Bitch.
SAM: What are you calling me a bitch for?
DEAN: You're supposed to say 'jerk'.
SAM: What?
DEAN: Nevermind.
All Hell Breaks Loose, parts one and two
The first half an hour was kind of slow, but it got a lot better. I mean, Sam died! That's about as dramatic as it gets. And watching Dean desperately bargaining his soul away to bring him back (and talking to Sam's dead body) was just so sad. He has so little faith in his own self-worth. Mostly, I just have a lot of questions:
- How does Mary know the demon? Was she a special child as well? I mean, if there are previous generations, then it stands to reason that she could be part of one.
- Maybe it's just me, but I just don't think the Yellow Eyed Demon is very scary. I'm not really clear on what his aim is, either. Why does he give the kids abilities if he just plans on killing most of them? For some of them, like Max, it just drove them crazy, so he must have had a purpose beyond toying with their sanity. And why did he choose those particular people? It seems like he doesn't really have a plan, so this is the one aspect of the show that I'm frustrated with. It seems a little underdeveloped.
- So if Andy can give Dean premonitions, then Sam should be able to do the same thing, right? That is, if he focused his power to do so, which shouldn't be hard. It would just be kind of cool to see them communicating telepathically like that. Not that they'd really need to, but in case one of them gets separated again or something.
- Did the demon trap Ava there for so long because he thought she was stronger and more able to pick off other kids? But why leave her there that long? Why have this showdown now?
- When Ash was telling them to come to the Roadhouse, was it really him? Maybe he was posessed and trying to lead them on a wild goose chase or something, so that by the time they found out Sam was close by, it would be too late. I hope Ash isn't really ash.
- If the head demon is killed, does that negate the deals made by other demons?
Other thoughts:
- Reusing "Carry on Wayward Son" was great to see. If the show had a theme song, this would be it.
- I liked the idea of Sam facing off with a soldier of another type. But his Achilles heel is his humanity. Up until now, he could never finish the job. I'm not sure what this means. The demon was probably just messing with them when he said he wasn't 100% Sam, but having the guts to kill people may require him to go some place darker inside himself and rob him of his innocence. And if it means more Evil!Sam, then bring it.
- Well, we got to see the boys hug when Sam was resurrected - for real this time. It doesn't count when one of them is unconscious.
- "Then let it end!" Wow, great acting from Jensen there. You can really feel his rage. Actually, his acting in the whole episode was amazing. I heard this is the episode he submitted for Emmy consideration, and I think if there's any justice, he should get one.
- Somehow this episode reminds me of Charmed, or should I say that watching Charmed prepared me for what was going to happen. First the title, which was also the name of the episode in which Prue dies (although here it's used in a more literal sense). Then the points on the map, which I knew would form the shape of a pentagram since Charmed did the same thing, and the whole "Pandora's Box" idea of opening a gateway to hell. It's not an entirely welcome association, especially if they ever start killing Sam and Dean over and over. Once is enough.
- I wonder, out of all the things that were let out, how many the boys torched have come back, and if we'll ever see any of those things again. It could be a convienient excuse down the road. "Oh, the evil clown? Nope, still alive!"
Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go rewatch and see if there's anything else I missed...