Thoughts on SPN 7.21
Hmm. Kinda conflicted on this one? But mostly bored. I mean, you have always had your good and bad days, but when did you become boring, Show?
SPOILERS under the cut. (also includes discussion of the preview for 7.22)
7.21: Reading Is Fundamental
I was wondering why I'm finding the latter half of s7 tepid and uninspiring--I mean, I am among the more enthusiastic defenders of s6, and the general consensus is that this season is much better. I always figured I'm the type to value the idea itself over its execution, and s6 was chock-full of brilliant ideas. Some of the storylines this year however... started off with great potential, but rather than hanging unresolved (which would've been much better, maybe), trundled their way to non-conclusions.
But that's not really it, either. I was rewatching a few s2 episodes earlier this week, and was struck by how Sam and Dean utterly owned every episode they were in. Not that there wasn't an amazing supporting cast, because there was, but we felt emotionally invested in what was going on because SamnDean were invested. I haven't been feeling that for the past several episodes now--both Castiel and Bobby have got a greater emotional stake in defeating the Leviathans than the Winchesters. It hasn't helped that the last three episodes have been very guest-star heavy. Sam and Dean seem disaffected to the point of apathy--and it's beginning to show in my viewing experience. They both seem like tired, worn-out shells of their former selves--well-meaning doppelgangers who have fast-fading memories of what being SamnDean was like. If that's what we're going to see from now on? I don't know if s8 is such a great idea.
Anyway! Coming to the actual episode. Much love for Kevin, and delight that we got an Asian character, even if he is stereotypical. (Although, I gotta say, I really felt bad for him when he missed the test because of the whole Prophet thing. C'mon, guys! You could've maybe waited one more day to break open that rock?) But, Kevin! With the hyperventilating and the "What's happening? WHAT'S HAPPENING?!" but getting with the programme anyway and translating the word of God. Awesome. Also, on a purely material level, two people with beautiful, beautiful hair on-screen, people. All of the jealousy.
Sam didn't know who Metatron is? Really? Seems like Sam's giganto-brain is a slippery little plot device. He stores images and pieces of information in his head such that he can point out the belly-scale of an alligator at a single glance, or recognise a faint smudge on a preserved organ as an Enochian symbol! But other times he is clueless so that a Transformer joke may be uttered. Komedy, y'see. Much has been sacrificed at its altar, particularly in Supernatural.
Yep--that piece of clay contained an instruction manual on how to kill Leviathan. Or, as they call it, an "in case of emergency note". Very convenient. Now--the Keeper of the Word (lookit the important capitalisation!) was awakened as soon as Sam and Dean cracked the rock open. I'm just a little confused as to why this hadn't happened as soon as this tablet was dug up. Dick knew he had to get rid of the only clue to the destruction of his kind--why didn't he just have it blown up at the archaeological site itself? Perhaps he knew it would awaken the Prophet and summon the angels, and just didn't want the extra trouble? Perhaps he wanted to destroy it with ~his own hands~? IDK. But I quote from my previous episode's reaction-post: Collect the ~Ancient Inscriptions of Mystery~ and find out the location of the Ultimate Sword, which will kill the Evil Lord of Darkness!
Pretty much that, yeah. Except with more blood.
Castiel. I was prepared to spend most of this episode extremely angry (yes, I can't seem to let the Hallucifer thing go. It is very troubling and decidedly unhealthy, I know, but still). But, you know what? I like this Cas. Enlightened!Cas, even. I like his random asides and observations (cat penises, though? Really?) and I like his wide-eyed, "isn't that just fucking beautiful" outlook. With the bad poetry and everything. I might actually enjoy watching this version of Castiel (in moderation, though, like all new shiny things). Also, it really, really helped that he and Sam actually sat down and talked about what Castiel did to him. "Lucifer was only an aftertaste," Castiel said, and that whooshing sound that ruffled your curtains? That was my sigh of relief. The Transfer is still couched in very vague terms ("I took on your pain," "I carry your scars"), but I think I'm finally starting to think about it without spontaneously combusting.
But it's such an interesting way to approach Cas-post-Transfer. Sure, he's off-kilter, but he's still aware of who he is and what's around him, and you know what? I'm just really, really glad we've finally got a Castiel who's different.
Also, Sam is magnificent. And he keeps getting more magnificent with every episode. Beholding his magnificence is like staring into the sun. Did I mention he's magnificent?
And good god, I want to see more of enlightened!Cas bonding with Sam. I think they'd have some great conversations.
(Best line?
Dean: "What are you going to do, Cas?"
Castiel: "I don't know." *smile* "Isn't that amazing?")
Hester and Anais were... unremarkable? I think it's interesting that they still cared for Castiel, their old leader, despite him killing off half of Heaven. Hester's outbursts were monotonous, but she did have a point when she said that "[Castiel was] lost the moment [he] touched [Dean] in Hell."
Meg! Meg is awesome. I wouldn't be surprised if Meg outlives the boys (when they finally die for good, that is). Also--hello, Ruby reference! And seriously, screw the angels. Here is the guy who defeated the frickin devil and saved the world, and they're still, "the boy who consorts with demons, pah." Well, fuck you.
Also? We need a Meg-Crowley showdown, stat.
Deeeeeeaaaan. I get that he's still mighty conflicted about Cas? And that a lot of his reactions in this episode were justified, and actually really well-played. It's not pleasant, but it makes sense.
Also, I think Sam and Dean were in the same frame a couple of times. I might need to go back and check. It's easy to miss.
I find it unbelievably cool that Leviathans can kill angels, just like that. It was kind of cathartic, watching that Leviathan rip into those two angels. (... What.) Also: EDGAR! I literally squeal with joy whenever he's on screen. It's become a Thing. I think the same actor has a role in, er, The Shield? My brother was watching an episode of that the other day, and I just happened to walk in. Took one look at the screen and went, "omg yay EDGAR!" And so on and so forth. My poor long-suffering brother.
("Who'd deliberately name themselves Dick?" IKR, Edgar? And it's not like the dick jokes are good, either. Edgar? Hey. Right, Edgar? Edgar Edgar Edgar)
Finally, a note on the, er, "hospital"--Show, you aren't even trying anymore, are you? That is the most piss-poor excuse for a hospital that I've seen, even on TV. I was willing to excuse a lot in 7.17 (also, distracted by Sam's awesomeness there), but now? Nope.
Also a word on the 7.22 promo--Vampire!Alpha YES. \o/ Also, it's interesting--the Alphas and the Leviathans are Purgatory buddies, right? Of course the Vamp!Alpha would betray the Winchesters to them! Also, Edgar and Vampire!Alpha on the same screen. My laptop may explode from the awesomeness.
SPOILERS under the cut. (also includes discussion of the preview for 7.22)
7.21: Reading Is Fundamental
I was wondering why I'm finding the latter half of s7 tepid and uninspiring--I mean, I am among the more enthusiastic defenders of s6, and the general consensus is that this season is much better. I always figured I'm the type to value the idea itself over its execution, and s6 was chock-full of brilliant ideas. Some of the storylines this year however... started off with great potential, but rather than hanging unresolved (which would've been much better, maybe), trundled their way to non-conclusions.
But that's not really it, either. I was rewatching a few s2 episodes earlier this week, and was struck by how Sam and Dean utterly owned every episode they were in. Not that there wasn't an amazing supporting cast, because there was, but we felt emotionally invested in what was going on because SamnDean were invested. I haven't been feeling that for the past several episodes now--both Castiel and Bobby have got a greater emotional stake in defeating the Leviathans than the Winchesters. It hasn't helped that the last three episodes have been very guest-star heavy. Sam and Dean seem disaffected to the point of apathy--and it's beginning to show in my viewing experience. They both seem like tired, worn-out shells of their former selves--well-meaning doppelgangers who have fast-fading memories of what being SamnDean was like. If that's what we're going to see from now on? I don't know if s8 is such a great idea.
Anyway! Coming to the actual episode. Much love for Kevin, and delight that we got an Asian character, even if he is stereotypical. (Although, I gotta say, I really felt bad for him when he missed the test because of the whole Prophet thing. C'mon, guys! You could've maybe waited one more day to break open that rock?) But, Kevin! With the hyperventilating and the "What's happening? WHAT'S HAPPENING?!" but getting with the programme anyway and translating the word of God. Awesome. Also, on a purely material level, two people with beautiful, beautiful hair on-screen, people. All of the jealousy.
Sam didn't know who Metatron is? Really? Seems like Sam's giganto-brain is a slippery little plot device. He stores images and pieces of information in his head such that he can point out the belly-scale of an alligator at a single glance, or recognise a faint smudge on a preserved organ as an Enochian symbol! But other times he is clueless so that a Transformer joke may be uttered. Komedy, y'see. Much has been sacrificed at its altar, particularly in Supernatural.
Yep--that piece of clay contained an instruction manual on how to kill Leviathan. Or, as they call it, an "in case of emergency note". Very convenient. Now--the Keeper of the Word (lookit the important capitalisation!) was awakened as soon as Sam and Dean cracked the rock open. I'm just a little confused as to why this hadn't happened as soon as this tablet was dug up. Dick knew he had to get rid of the only clue to the destruction of his kind--why didn't he just have it blown up at the archaeological site itself? Perhaps he knew it would awaken the Prophet and summon the angels, and just didn't want the extra trouble? Perhaps he wanted to destroy it with ~his own hands~? IDK. But I quote from my previous episode's reaction-post: Collect the ~Ancient Inscriptions of Mystery~ and find out the location of the Ultimate Sword, which will kill the Evil Lord of Darkness!
Pretty much that, yeah. Except with more blood.
Castiel. I was prepared to spend most of this episode extremely angry (yes, I can't seem to let the Hallucifer thing go. It is very troubling and decidedly unhealthy, I know, but still). But, you know what? I like this Cas. Enlightened!Cas, even. I like his random asides and observations (cat penises, though? Really?) and I like his wide-eyed, "isn't that just fucking beautiful" outlook. With the bad poetry and everything. I might actually enjoy watching this version of Castiel (in moderation, though, like all new shiny things). Also, it really, really helped that he and Sam actually sat down and talked about what Castiel did to him. "Lucifer was only an aftertaste," Castiel said, and that whooshing sound that ruffled your curtains? That was my sigh of relief. The Transfer is still couched in very vague terms ("I took on your pain," "I carry your scars"), but I think I'm finally starting to think about it without spontaneously combusting.
But it's such an interesting way to approach Cas-post-Transfer. Sure, he's off-kilter, but he's still aware of who he is and what's around him, and you know what? I'm just really, really glad we've finally got a Castiel who's different.
Also, Sam is magnificent. And he keeps getting more magnificent with every episode. Beholding his magnificence is like staring into the sun. Did I mention he's magnificent?
And good god, I want to see more of enlightened!Cas bonding with Sam. I think they'd have some great conversations.
(Best line?
Dean: "What are you going to do, Cas?"
Castiel: "I don't know." *smile* "Isn't that amazing?")
Hester and Anais were... unremarkable? I think it's interesting that they still cared for Castiel, their old leader, despite him killing off half of Heaven. Hester's outbursts were monotonous, but she did have a point when she said that "[Castiel was] lost the moment [he] touched [Dean] in Hell."
Meg! Meg is awesome. I wouldn't be surprised if Meg outlives the boys (when they finally die for good, that is). Also--hello, Ruby reference! And seriously, screw the angels. Here is the guy who defeated the frickin devil and saved the world, and they're still, "the boy who consorts with demons, pah." Well, fuck you.
Also? We need a Meg-Crowley showdown, stat.
Deeeeeeaaaan. I get that he's still mighty conflicted about Cas? And that a lot of his reactions in this episode were justified, and actually really well-played. It's not pleasant, but it makes sense.
Also, I think Sam and Dean were in the same frame a couple of times. I might need to go back and check. It's easy to miss.
I find it unbelievably cool that Leviathans can kill angels, just like that. It was kind of cathartic, watching that Leviathan rip into those two angels. (... What.) Also: EDGAR! I literally squeal with joy whenever he's on screen. It's become a Thing. I think the same actor has a role in, er, The Shield? My brother was watching an episode of that the other day, and I just happened to walk in. Took one look at the screen and went, "omg yay EDGAR!" And so on and so forth. My poor long-suffering brother.
("Who'd deliberately name themselves Dick?" IKR, Edgar? And it's not like the dick jokes are good, either. Edgar? Hey. Right, Edgar? Edgar Edgar Edgar)
Finally, a note on the, er, "hospital"--Show, you aren't even trying anymore, are you? That is the most piss-poor excuse for a hospital that I've seen, even on TV. I was willing to excuse a lot in 7.17 (also, distracted by Sam's awesomeness there), but now? Nope.
Also a word on the 7.22 promo--Vampire!Alpha YES. \o/ Also, it's interesting--the Alphas and the Leviathans are Purgatory buddies, right? Of course the Vamp!Alpha would betray the Winchesters to them! Also, Edgar and Vampire!Alpha on the same screen. My laptop may explode from the awesomeness.