Thoughts on SPN 8.09
Geez, Show. You’re supposed to be a stress-buster, not an additional source of stress.
SPOILERS under the cut. Includes minor discussion of the 8.10 promo.
8.09: Citizen Fang
1. Can I just say I loved the cinematography this episode? IDK, maybe I’m easily impressed, but I really, really enjoyed a lot of the visuals in this episode (a particular favourite is that scene where Benny is washing the blood off his hands). Very nice.
2. A word on Martin. Not particularly fond of the line that Show takes on mental illness, and Show’s choice of recurring characters is a bit frustrating (uuugh Martin Garth whatever. What about Tamara, guys? Or one of the Campbells? Gwen would’ve been perf-OH WAIT. THAT’S RIGHT. YOU KILLED THEM ALL. Will never forgive Show for that.), but Martin was actually rather fascinating. He was a little glimpse into the past, really, before Sam and Dean-and the viewers-became wrapped up in the Apocalypse and huge, world-changing quests. It’s interesting that he kept bringing up John, and how he would’ve been scandalised to see his son(s) supporting a vampire.
2.5. Tell you what, he really reminds me of Travis from Metamorphosis (aaaah s4. *obligatory moment of nostalgia*). I mean, think about it. Pretty much the same thing plays out with Jack Montgomery-Sam’s all for giving Jack a chance because it’s not about who you are, it’s about what you do, but Travis is having none of it. He uses Jack’s wife as bait to lure him out, and when he learns that she’s pregnant, he wants to burn her alive too, because the son will turn out to be a monster in due time. He dies a horrible, gruesome death at the hands (and teeth) of Jack.
So Martin doesn’t go off the rails toward the end. He’s never been off the rails. He was acting like every other Hunter out there. Pure, ruthless logic. Black and white. Do what you gotta do to get the job done.
2.78. All the same, though, Martin dying the way he did seemed like such a horrible, horrible waste to me. WHY SHOW. WHY. Anybody associated in any way with the Winchesters must die especially if they are female. WHAT’S THE POINT OF ANYTHING ANY MORE. I DON’T UNDERSTAND. It’s like-put the Winchesters out of their misery already. AND SAVE EVERYBODY ELSE.
2.789. Dean’s “but he had it coming, Sam,” frightened and disgusted me in ways that I can’t even really express. NO DEAN NO
3. Benny! Conflicted about him-I think I liked him a lot more before we got to know his backstory. I’m not so convinced that he’s the rosy cheeked innocent that Dean makes him out to be, but I’m willing to wait on it. Right now he’s a bit ‘meh’. A wary ‘meh’, to be sure, but yeah.
3.5. A good point was brought up elsewhere-we have only Benny’s word that it was Desmond that killed the two people so that Benny may join his nest. Yet-the choice of victims is telling. The first one was the old guy who wanted to hit on Elizabeth. The second Benny didn’t know, but you know who would’ve been the ideal person to target if Desmond had been really bent on getting Benny to join his nest? Elizabeth. Yet she was left alone until Martin used her as bait at the very end.
3.56. IT’S JUST A THOUGHT. But an interesting one.
4. So Sam went behind Dean’s back and had Martin keep an eye on Benny (let’s ignore the fact that trailing a vampire is hardly a job you give someone who’s trying to ease back into hunting), but as soon as something came up, he came out with the full truth to Dean. He gave Dean a chance to prove Benny’s innocence, and when Dean came back with “Benny’s innocent BECAUSE I SAY SO” (curiously, he didn’t bring up Desmond or anything else that Benny told him) and the body count had risen and evidence was piling up against Benny-that’s when Sam decides to go after him.
4.5. There’s also the prickly history Sam has with trusting Ruby, and then the Amy Pond incident, where Dean DID go behind Sam’s back and kill Amy DESPITE the fact that Sam made a persuasive case for Amy (complete with flashback) AND asked Dean for his trust. Later Dean tells him that he HAD to because MONSTERS ARE MONSTERS OKAY THAT’S JUST HOW IT IS and Sam, after some initial resistance, concedes that he’s right. I can imagine Sam’s feeling just a tad resentful about the hypocrisy right now. Just a tad.
4.8. On the other hand, Dean’s spent a year with this guy fighting in Purgatory. So maybe Benny used him to get out, but as far as Dean knows, Benny’s hitting all the right buttons-he’s abstaining from drinking human blood, he’s using his newfound freedom to trace his past: going back to take revenge on his killers, his once-comrades, the girl he loved; going back to where he lived and kind of watching over his one surviving family member from his pre-vampire days. I mean, it’s just the kind of thing that’d appeal to Dean.
4.9. But see, I’d be a lot more even-keeled about this conflict over Benny if it were not for the fact that Dean keeps saying, “Benny was a better brother than you’ve ever been!” He’s not possessed this time, yo. It’s like-it’s so bloody out there, yeah? It’s such a blatantly dickish, ridiculous thing for Dean to say that I can’t help but feel like Show’s throwing an anvil on my head.
(No, Show, are you telling me that... Dean might be in the wrong? *GASP* Miracle!)
4.95. Bit of a callback to s4. Reminded me of the siren in 4.14 and how he was a “better little brother” than Sam was, too. Sigh.
5. I kind of loved the bit where Dean’s defending Sam’s abilities as a hunter. Don’t underestimate him. Fuck yeah.
6. Sam/Amelia! And the Sambacks! Tell you one more thing: the Sambacks were my favourite parts of the episode. The first time I watched the ep, I watched just the Sambacks and skipped everything else. With every happy little memory that Sam’s desperately clinging to, I can’t help but be more invested in their relationship.
6.45. Ugh, it’s just so typically Sam, isn’t it, to insist that Amelia give Don a chance despite the fact that Amelia clearly wants to choose him-that he used the words “maybe I’ll go to hell for this” when he discussed wanting to stay with her-that he insisted that she saved him-he thinks he doesn’t deserve any of this, but it’s there, and it’s such a beautiful-awkward-beautiful thing he doesn’t want to really let it go. Not yet.
6.5. Did like Don for saying that “Amelia knows what’s best for Amelia”, but he might’ve tipped his hand a bit with the “[Sam]’ll need [the drink]” at the very end.
6.56. Am interested in seeing Amelia and Don interact. Also, am curious about why Don was considered dead all this time. What happened?
7. Am glad to see Amelia coming at the end-am really looking forward to see her outside of the jumble of Sam’s super-saturated, soft-focus memories.
7.25. Not too thrilled with the fact that Sam just left Martin like that as soon as he got the ~*TEXT*~. Loved the exasperated, “Winchesters” from Martin. I FEEL YOU, MARTIN.
7.45. Also: he was flashbacking while driving! CAREFUL SAMMY GOD JUST WATCH THE ROAD PLEASE.
7.5. I was heartbroken when Sam looked in through the window at Amelia and Don canoodling.
8. AHAHAHAHA THE ~*TEXT*~ MESSAGE. “I did it before... just in case.” Just in case. WTF. W T Fucking F. The sheer manipulative dickery displayed by Dean here had me thinking, right off the bat, “That sounds like something Robo!Sam would do.” He’s been pulling Sam around since the beginning of the season, playing on his insecurities, guilt-tripping him. And now this.
Is that another anvil, Show? Because my head hurts.
8.5. It’s interesting that Sam says, “looks like I made the right call” about having Martin tail Benny in the beginning of the episode, and Dean returns the same words to him about the fake ~*TEXT*~. But it’s not the same thing, Dean! It’s scary because it feels like Dean doesn’t even seem to get what a hurtful, manipulative thing he did.
8.9. YES YOU HANG UP ON HIM SAM. HANG THE HELL UP.
9. I love brother angst. I love the conflict and drama-there’s a reason s4 is one of my favourite seasons-and I love the heart-to-hearts and the reunions that come later. So... yeah. This could be either really, really rewarding, or it could be the beginning of yet another vicious circle (especially if they’re thinking of wringing out two more seasons). Either way-looking forward to it.
10. Promo! Something about Naomi and Castiel and Castiel being a relationship counseller to the Winchesters (“stow away your crap!” -uh, no. That’s they’ve been doing that for so many years. BRING YOUR CRAP FRONT AND CENTRE, I SAY. Fight it out. Verbally.) Am glad that Castiel’s back, but not terribly enthused about his storyline. Vaguely interested in Kevin and Crowley and the Word of God and definitely digging Samelia (what I like the drama okay).
SPOILERS under the cut. Includes minor discussion of the 8.10 promo.
8.09: Citizen Fang
1. Can I just say I loved the cinematography this episode? IDK, maybe I’m easily impressed, but I really, really enjoyed a lot of the visuals in this episode (a particular favourite is that scene where Benny is washing the blood off his hands). Very nice.
2. A word on Martin. Not particularly fond of the line that Show takes on mental illness, and Show’s choice of recurring characters is a bit frustrating (uuugh Martin Garth whatever. What about Tamara, guys? Or one of the Campbells? Gwen would’ve been perf-OH WAIT. THAT’S RIGHT. YOU KILLED THEM ALL. Will never forgive Show for that.), but Martin was actually rather fascinating. He was a little glimpse into the past, really, before Sam and Dean-and the viewers-became wrapped up in the Apocalypse and huge, world-changing quests. It’s interesting that he kept bringing up John, and how he would’ve been scandalised to see his son(s) supporting a vampire.
2.5. Tell you what, he really reminds me of Travis from Metamorphosis (aaaah s4. *obligatory moment of nostalgia*). I mean, think about it. Pretty much the same thing plays out with Jack Montgomery-Sam’s all for giving Jack a chance because it’s not about who you are, it’s about what you do, but Travis is having none of it. He uses Jack’s wife as bait to lure him out, and when he learns that she’s pregnant, he wants to burn her alive too, because the son will turn out to be a monster in due time. He dies a horrible, gruesome death at the hands (and teeth) of Jack.
So Martin doesn’t go off the rails toward the end. He’s never been off the rails. He was acting like every other Hunter out there. Pure, ruthless logic. Black and white. Do what you gotta do to get the job done.
2.78. All the same, though, Martin dying the way he did seemed like such a horrible, horrible waste to me. WHY SHOW. WHY. Anybody associated in any way with the Winchesters must die especially if they are female. WHAT’S THE POINT OF ANYTHING ANY MORE. I DON’T UNDERSTAND. It’s like-put the Winchesters out of their misery already. AND SAVE EVERYBODY ELSE.
2.789. Dean’s “but he had it coming, Sam,” frightened and disgusted me in ways that I can’t even really express. NO DEAN NO
3. Benny! Conflicted about him-I think I liked him a lot more before we got to know his backstory. I’m not so convinced that he’s the rosy cheeked innocent that Dean makes him out to be, but I’m willing to wait on it. Right now he’s a bit ‘meh’. A wary ‘meh’, to be sure, but yeah.
3.5. A good point was brought up elsewhere-we have only Benny’s word that it was Desmond that killed the two people so that Benny may join his nest. Yet-the choice of victims is telling. The first one was the old guy who wanted to hit on Elizabeth. The second Benny didn’t know, but you know who would’ve been the ideal person to target if Desmond had been really bent on getting Benny to join his nest? Elizabeth. Yet she was left alone until Martin used her as bait at the very end.
3.56. IT’S JUST A THOUGHT. But an interesting one.
4. So Sam went behind Dean’s back and had Martin keep an eye on Benny (let’s ignore the fact that trailing a vampire is hardly a job you give someone who’s trying to ease back into hunting), but as soon as something came up, he came out with the full truth to Dean. He gave Dean a chance to prove Benny’s innocence, and when Dean came back with “Benny’s innocent BECAUSE I SAY SO” (curiously, he didn’t bring up Desmond or anything else that Benny told him) and the body count had risen and evidence was piling up against Benny-that’s when Sam decides to go after him.
4.5. There’s also the prickly history Sam has with trusting Ruby, and then the Amy Pond incident, where Dean DID go behind Sam’s back and kill Amy DESPITE the fact that Sam made a persuasive case for Amy (complete with flashback) AND asked Dean for his trust. Later Dean tells him that he HAD to because MONSTERS ARE MONSTERS OKAY THAT’S JUST HOW IT IS and Sam, after some initial resistance, concedes that he’s right. I can imagine Sam’s feeling just a tad resentful about the hypocrisy right now. Just a tad.
4.8. On the other hand, Dean’s spent a year with this guy fighting in Purgatory. So maybe Benny used him to get out, but as far as Dean knows, Benny’s hitting all the right buttons-he’s abstaining from drinking human blood, he’s using his newfound freedom to trace his past: going back to take revenge on his killers, his once-comrades, the girl he loved; going back to where he lived and kind of watching over his one surviving family member from his pre-vampire days. I mean, it’s just the kind of thing that’d appeal to Dean.
4.9. But see, I’d be a lot more even-keeled about this conflict over Benny if it were not for the fact that Dean keeps saying, “Benny was a better brother than you’ve ever been!” He’s not possessed this time, yo. It’s like-it’s so bloody out there, yeah? It’s such a blatantly dickish, ridiculous thing for Dean to say that I can’t help but feel like Show’s throwing an anvil on my head.
(No, Show, are you telling me that... Dean might be in the wrong? *GASP* Miracle!)
4.95. Bit of a callback to s4. Reminded me of the siren in 4.14 and how he was a “better little brother” than Sam was, too. Sigh.
5. I kind of loved the bit where Dean’s defending Sam’s abilities as a hunter. Don’t underestimate him. Fuck yeah.
6. Sam/Amelia! And the Sambacks! Tell you one more thing: the Sambacks were my favourite parts of the episode. The first time I watched the ep, I watched just the Sambacks and skipped everything else. With every happy little memory that Sam’s desperately clinging to, I can’t help but be more invested in their relationship.
6.45. Ugh, it’s just so typically Sam, isn’t it, to insist that Amelia give Don a chance despite the fact that Amelia clearly wants to choose him-that he used the words “maybe I’ll go to hell for this” when he discussed wanting to stay with her-that he insisted that she saved him-he thinks he doesn’t deserve any of this, but it’s there, and it’s such a beautiful-awkward-beautiful thing he doesn’t want to really let it go. Not yet.
6.5. Did like Don for saying that “Amelia knows what’s best for Amelia”, but he might’ve tipped his hand a bit with the “[Sam]’ll need [the drink]” at the very end.
6.56. Am interested in seeing Amelia and Don interact. Also, am curious about why Don was considered dead all this time. What happened?
7. Am glad to see Amelia coming at the end-am really looking forward to see her outside of the jumble of Sam’s super-saturated, soft-focus memories.
7.25. Not too thrilled with the fact that Sam just left Martin like that as soon as he got the ~*TEXT*~. Loved the exasperated, “Winchesters” from Martin. I FEEL YOU, MARTIN.
7.45. Also: he was flashbacking while driving! CAREFUL SAMMY GOD JUST WATCH THE ROAD PLEASE.
7.5. I was heartbroken when Sam looked in through the window at Amelia and Don canoodling.
8. AHAHAHAHA THE ~*TEXT*~ MESSAGE. “I did it before... just in case.” Just in case. WTF. W T Fucking F. The sheer manipulative dickery displayed by Dean here had me thinking, right off the bat, “That sounds like something Robo!Sam would do.” He’s been pulling Sam around since the beginning of the season, playing on his insecurities, guilt-tripping him. And now this.
Is that another anvil, Show? Because my head hurts.
8.5. It’s interesting that Sam says, “looks like I made the right call” about having Martin tail Benny in the beginning of the episode, and Dean returns the same words to him about the fake ~*TEXT*~. But it’s not the same thing, Dean! It’s scary because it feels like Dean doesn’t even seem to get what a hurtful, manipulative thing he did.
8.9. YES YOU HANG UP ON HIM SAM. HANG THE HELL UP.
9. I love brother angst. I love the conflict and drama-there’s a reason s4 is one of my favourite seasons-and I love the heart-to-hearts and the reunions that come later. So... yeah. This could be either really, really rewarding, or it could be the beginning of yet another vicious circle (especially if they’re thinking of wringing out two more seasons). Either way-looking forward to it.
10. Promo! Something about Naomi and Castiel and Castiel being a relationship counseller to the Winchesters (“stow away your crap!” -uh, no. That’s they’ve been doing that for so many years. BRING YOUR CRAP FRONT AND CENTRE, I SAY. Fight it out. Verbally.) Am glad that Castiel’s back, but not terribly enthused about his storyline. Vaguely interested in Kevin and Crowley and the Word of God and definitely digging Samelia (what I like the drama okay).