Review | 8x01 | We Need To Talk About Kevin

[galathea_snb]

I guess it is fair to say that I have been dreading the S8 premiere more than any other Supernatural premiere before. The spoilers I have read over the summer lowered my expectations so drastically that I almost felt like not watching the season at all, and that is saying something. In the end, Jeremy Carver’s We Need To Talk About Kevin is not the

Comments

[ficwriter1966]

That was absolutely BEAUTIFULLY said. I sat here nodding as I read it, because you captured everything I've been thinking about 8.01 (and a number of things that hadn't occurred to me, but which make perfect sense), and I thank you for taking the time to spell it all out. I, too, am terribly disappointed at the writers' willingness to "rinse and repeat" rather than break new ground, particularly when it seems likely that they'll have 3 seasons to develop and wind up their take on the Winchester saga.

I was also taken aback to discover that Bob Singer's wife and her writing partner, the team responsible for the cringeworthy "Route 666," have joined the writing staff.

But Show is Show, for better or worse. It's our boys. And that moment with the burger and fries was beyond awesome. :)

[galathea_snb]

Thank you! :) I am glad you agree with my analysis. Yeah, it's really odd that the writers refuse to try something new. It's not like there would be much risk involved. As if anyone would complain about Sam and Dean not keeping secrets from each other for example!

Danm, Bruckner/Ross-Lemming don't exactly have a great track record with Route 666, Shut-Up, Dr. Phil and The Slice Girls. :( One can only hope they'll improve with a bit more experience on the show.

It's our boys. And that moment with the burger and fries was beyond awesome.
It's our boys, indeed. As long as they writers don't horrifically butcher either Sam or Dean and continue to give us scenes like the ony with the fries and the burger, I will be along for the ride. :)

[llywela13]

Ahh, back on the treadmill - well done for managing to extract so much solid meta and character/potential arc analysis out of an episode that felt so tired and stale. I really struggled to engage with the new season from this episode - it's no secret that my disenchantment with the show started at the point where overt pseudo-religiosity started to come to the forefront with the introduction of angels, so a resurgence of focus on that deeply flawed epic backdrop was never going to be the way to my heart. But I have to keep watching for the brothers, regardless! Let us just hope that the season eventually makes it all worthwhile and manages to find a few fresh angles despite such unpromising beginnings.

[galathea_snb]

Thanks, hon! Treadmill - yeah, that sounds about right. LOL I spent most of the last 4 days on this thing. If there is anything that I hate about Supernatural being back it's a) that review writing is a major time-sucker and b) it messes with my sleep, because my brain just won't shut up!

I have to keep watching for the brothers, regardless!
Yeah, no way around it. Those boys have etched themselves into our hearts.

[maenad]

I agree that it's troubling that the writers don't want to take risks with their formula. It's peculiar, because I don't think that a plot that didn't involve the brothers fighting would be a big risk. That said, given that the storyline is what it is, I thought the premiere was enjoyable, and set up at least some potentially interesting plots.

I admit, I am not particularly thrilled about the fact that the mytharc this season returns to 'epic' storylines about demons, hell, prophets and the word of god. And, by the way, I find the idea that the 'word of god' is a bunch of tablets containing spell recipes pretty ridiculous.I'm a little bit bemused that we're apparently taking Yahweh seriously as a source now. I mean - he was partially responsible for at least one apocalypse, and hasn't been presented as the most reliable character. I'd want there to be a Fact Checker of the Lord in place before I took any of his notes seriously

[galathea_snb]

What's Crowley's endgame? How could he even have one? Eve's gone, Yahweh's buggered off and the angels are too dead to bother him. Hasn't he ... won?
Very true! I guess he will be violently opposed to closing the gates of hell, so there is that. But I am not sure what he hoped to gain from kidnapping Kevin. Since he cannot read the tablet himself, he had no way to check if what Kevin told him was the truth and it backfired spectacularly for him.

That said, my relief that the writers don't really seem to think Sam just wouldn't bother is so profound that I'm pretty forgiving on this point.
I hear you. I was so relieved I could have cried. Now I am not sure if I should be thankful for the fact that I was prepared for this storyline or if I should have left the spoilers alone and enjoyed my summer. LOL

However, I do think that the extent to which he apparently did so undercuts his arguments a bit. Much (although not all) of Dean's ire comes from the fact that they have abandoned not just nebulous others who might need help but actual

[galathea_snb]

Hi! *wave*

Thank you, and thanks for reading. It's always nice to get to know a new reader. :)

I am glad you find my vampire theories interesting. Of course, it's all speculation. Sam does say that he didn't know that Dean was in purgatory, but of course he could be lying. We'll see how it will all play out. :)

[galathea_snb]

Well, welcome in fandom then. :) I admit, I have never entered a fandom before Supernatural either. I've been in it for 7 years now, and fandom can drive you nuts and frustrate you, but it's also a great place to share your passion. And I agree, the creativity and intelligence in the SPN fandom is highly inspiring.

Let's hope for a great S8! *crosses fingers*

[chiiyo86]

I agree with most of what you said, so I don't have much to add. I'm particularly with you on being annoyed with Amelia - she was really bitchy for no reason; also, my dad is a vet and I bet he would roll his eyes hard at the part where she twists Sam's arm so he keeps the dog. I was hoping they could explore one of the brother having a relationship while keeping hunting with his brother (what it looked for a moment that they wanted to do with Dean/Lisa), but I'm not looking forward to seeing her again.

Your two theories about Sam's actions seem sound to me - while the internal explanation would account better for Sam's character development, I think it's more likely that they're going to go with the external one (or some variation of it), if only because there's this mysterious shadow to explain.

[galathea_snb]

Yeah, I am so frustrated about Amelia at the moment. I really wanted to like her. I loved Dean/Lisa and was sad when their relationship ended so bleakly, so I had hopes that maybe Sam would fare better with Amelia. Apparently not. /sigh

I, too, think that the writers will probably go with an external explanation for Sam's actions, although I think I would like an explanation that ties in with Sam's specific history better. It gives his decision more weight I think. But well, in the end I'll take what I can get. So far I am just relieved that my greatest fears about Sam's storyline didn't come true. :)

By the way, I really want to comment on the multi-fandom post you made the other day. I was just a bit busy these last couple of days, but I will get around to it eventually. :)

[chiiyo86]

I was just a bit busy these last couple of days, but I will get around to it eventually. :)

No hurry. :) I can certainly relate to being busy! (but I'm glad it made you want to comment)