SPN 501 Thoughts
I've got soooo many thoughts - but most of them are tied to spoilers. So there's a longer (no really. Longer.) version here WITH SPOILERS.
Basically I liked it and want more. Now.
Songs of the moment: Pink Floyd's On the Turning Away; Billy Joel's We Didn't Start the Fire
THUNDERSTRUCK! - My reaction *everywhere* was EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Also - I swear Show has used this before? Am I wrong?
OPENNER: Lucifer Rising to the Soul Plane
I loved it from the first few seconds when Dean just becomes Big Brother. Take Sam and run outside, Dean. Go! Oh boys. Sam is so convinced that they are going to die and is just so eager to tell Dean he's sorry. He's more horrified that they will die broken than he is that they will die now. oh Sam.
Also? There's simply not enough "Whoops" to adequately express his emotion at the moment.
Sam and Dean try to run away. When they can't, they share a look and turn to face Lucifer - together. And that's when PresumablyGod saves them - FOR FACING LUCIFER TOGETHER. Nothing to add to that but Oh, BOYS!
And then the plane. Oh poor, poor Dean. He's NEVER going to get over flying. But I like the imagery of the boys being lifted UP and saved.
The cartoon - Devil's Feud Cake - In the cartoon, Yosemite "SAM" (geddit?) gets out of hell if he can exchange for Bugs. He tries 3 times and finally:"has it with these backfired attempts and tells the Head Devil to get Bugs himself and announces that he is staying in Hell. Sam then rushes away, puts on a devil's suit, comes back, and starts laughing in a maniacal way". I love the cartoon devil and am tempted to make meta about it. But apparently it was originally supposed to be South Park which - OH MY GOD YES. Ahem.
I think Dean was just terrified frozen. My first thought was that Lucifer was going to mock them with their phobias and that clowns were going to come in next.
TITLE CARD: LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE... GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORE!!!!!
CAR RIDE AND CHUCK'S HOUSE
Swine Flu is Lucifer's fault? Dammit. Do you have ANY idea how much all that emergency gear cost us? I do kinda love that they were listening to news on the rental's Sirius. You just know it's because neither of them knew how to get to the music channels. HEE.
Sam starts his first tenative probe and looks soooooo heartbreakingly hopeful when Dean tells him it's ok. For just a moment - Sam believes in Dean enough to delude himself. But then he realizes it can't be true and his face! oh BOYS!
CHUCK!!!! I am so very very happy our boys have their own prophet. I just. It fills me with glee. I love that they keep their crack on this show. The Hellhounds, The Trickster, and now FANDOM.
This is the clip from Comic Con and it was really nice to see it with decent sound. But ZACH WAS RIGHT BEHIND ME IN THE SURROUND SOUND!!!! EEP! Do not want. Did anyone else watch with the surround sound on? When Zach appears, he's off screen. The line he says came from the rear speakers. *shudders* I also watched and Sam comes into the room ahead of Dean who IS doing something to the door. But it's not enough to do the AngelBGon sigil - but still it's a nice attempt for continuity. *pets show*
But I love that Dean's always been shown as good with patterns. He saw the sigil when Ana did it and then saw how Castiel activated it and now can duplicate it. Some boards are wondering if his being able to USE it is an indication of angelic power. I don't think so. Holy Water and exorcisims don't require faith or power to work. I don't see why the sigil would either. Ana was pure human when she first used it.
I love it when the Bad underestimates Dean. (This is where everyone gets all MEEN TO DEAN - but that the angels call him stupid doesn't mean the writers view him that way.) Zach is actually puzzled that Dean's still arguing about what's already done. He just doesn't get it. He truly believes in what he's doing and doesn't see WHY Dean would argue. Zach is a true fanatic and it's black or white. You are either with Heaven or with Hell. He doesn't even recognize that Earth has a voice. He's clearly thinking that Dean will have run out of options, and be presented as Michael's Vessel being the only way to save Sam. Because this tatic has worked EVERY TIME with Dean in the past.
But our boys? Have character growth. And unlike the XFiles or even Buffy - they have LEARNED what they wouldn't admit in Mystery Spot or All Hell Breaks Loose. They have learned that dying is not the same as leaving or betraying.
BECKY THE SAMGIRL
Between fandom starting a holy war on twitter and then becoming CANON bearers of the word of God? I'm grinning so hard my face will crack. Fandom just became Kripke's Apostles... (and then when we retire we can write the gospels so they'll still talk about us when we've died)
And if the naming IS a shoutout to janglyjewels - YAY. She doesn't write wincest but she SO isn't denying that she'd rub Sam's chest. But either way - we are a PART of this show. Fandom isn't getting a shout-out. It's being used as a part of the plot. That's not mocking to me. Teasing, yes. But it's too loving to be mocking.
Besides, I love that half-abashed, half-resigned but very firm "No." that Becky gives in response to "Can you stop touching me?"
BOBBY AND MEG'S HOTEL ATTACK
GOD DAMN THE ACTRESS PLAYING MEG HAS IT NAILED. I hope she gets the same pass as the Lilith actress and IS Meg.
I was kinda bracing from the promo pics - I figured Bobby had to be possessed to be holding a knife on Dean. But ouch. His words to Sam were still painful to hear and watch. I loved Sam though - he's dying for a fight. ANYTHING to get a reaction. He has fucked up beyond any recovery and he KNOWS it. And it's killing him that there's nothing to fix.
So he'll start a fight to create something to fix. Bobby's pissed and doesn't want to have anything to with him when they're done. It's painful and horrible, but it's something to hold on to. It's something solid that Sam can process and work through. It's more than he's got with Dean.
Until he leaves and it sinks in. And not only does it hit him that he's lost Bobby, he might have lost Dean that way too.
I've seen people not liking the knife continuity. I don't see it. To me, the knife has ALWAYS been just a knife when used on the human host and fatal to the demons. So the knife kills the demon and leavels Bobby with a mortal wound - just as dangerous as any gut wound. In the past, the hosts were dead while possessed. "Rode hard and put up wet"- it's always been canon that hosts don't survive more than a day or two on average. Meg blames the boys for the fall, but she's also shot by Tom.
Bobby breaking the demon hold is much more interesting to me. My thought was that John learned whatever mental trick it was from Bobby. But it might be a Michael Sword side effect - it's Dean about to be killed that's the common demoninator.
I also adore that Sam did NOT immediately think of Ruby but Dean does. Sam has a familiarity with Ruby and knows what she was now. Why WOULD he think of her? Dean only does cause she's the most hated one. I kinda love that Meg didn't make that big an impression. She possessed Sam, but Dean fixed it so he doesn't obsess about where Meg is. Not like Ruby who DID actually damage his family.
I like it when characters have underlying motivation. It makes me happy.
DEAN IS MICHAEL'S ANGEL CONDOM
I had taken it to be the same warehouse as Bad Day at Black Rock. Was it a different one? I notice the dead warehouse demons are on the other side of the devil's trap. Meg also mentions a power boost associated with Lucifer's release. I'm thinking the demons can get past Bobby's bracelet's now. I'm thinking he was just freshly possessed. He wouldn't have been as protected in the Impala as he was on his home turf.
There's an idea floating around TWOP that Michael is refusing to break the rules, which is why Zach is trying to force Dean to play by them. I like the idea of Michael being like Cas and siding with humanity. I just do. I am disappointed though because if Michael is vessel-less, it means no Michael-Lucifer scenes which I would LOVE. But I'm finding juicy stuff with Zach in HOW he describes Dean's role:
He refers to Dean as Michael's sword - which WAS lost to them as Dean was hidden from their view. (He also refers to Dean as chucklehead - which - nice mirror to Meg) Then his speech is (with Dean's quips removed)
Zach: You're just a human, Dean. You're Michael's weapon - or rather, his receptacle. You're THE Vessel. Michael's Vessel. Because you're CHOSEN. It's a great honor, Dean.
[then he starts torturing and ordering Dean to submit. Dean realizes that Michael needs consent.]
Dean: there must be another way
Zach: There is no other way. There MUST be a battle. Michael MUST defeat the serpent. It is written.
Which is true - but the timing was never told. Zac has interfered and sped up the timeline and I think that's where the loopholes about Destiny are going to be. Zach knows that Heaven wins the battle. Lucifer is now free - therefore GAME ON. He doesn't see that there might not be a battle. Dean's just being stupid for not seeing it. Of course he'll consent. It's what's necessary and what Dean's always done. What could be more in line with Heaven's Will than that?
Zach strikes at Bobby - "Say yes and we'll heal him. Say no and he'll never walk again." - but doesn't threaten to kill Bobby. So they are still not taking what they would deem "innocent life". Which may be why the focus of the torture is on Sam. To the angels, he's fallen.
I'm really liking Sam this ep. Especially on the second watch. He's not unaware of the magnitude of his actions - he's buried under it. Especially in the warehouse scene watching Dean with Zach. Because it's the same choice he made with Ruby. "This is the only way to defeat Lilith" vs "This is the only way to defeat Lucifer". What's Sam going to say? He made the wrong choice and is in no position to tell Dean what to do. He's helpless and it breaks my heart.
But all I know is that Dean FINALLY GETS IT. He doesn't care if Sam is killed or if he's killed. He's beyond it. He knows what's right to do. And that? Is what makes him the perfect vessel and chosen sword. Zach's gone blind. And then?
CASTIEL GOT HIS MOJO BACK (Note: this section was heavily edited for spoilers. Let me know if something is no longer in English because of it.
I was thinking that my mental nickname for this ep was going to be "How Castiel Got His Groove Back" but then DEEEEEEEEEEN and SAAAAAAAAAAM broke my heart. I love this show.
Castiel shows up and starts kicking all kinds of angelic ass. It is awesome. I think he was either brought back by Anna or if he WAS brought back by God, it wasn't a direct face to face interaction.
Upon Cas' return - Zach goes from wrathful to a fearful kid caught having a party and the parents came home early. Cas doesn't win by amped up powers. He's winning by pure surprise. Even once he's seen - the angels are too surprised that he's alive. They begin to doubt. And he slays them for it. I feel Cas is bluffing in the warehouse scene. In Lazarus Rising, he's all direct about God and faith. "Because God commanded it." has become "Who did this? Good question." which plays on Zach's fears but doesn't come out and say anything. He then also doesn't answer Dean's question either, but immediately puts wards on their ribs to shield them from Lucifer and the other angels.
No clue what it all means in the end. But hot damn, I'm enjoying the ride.
AGAINST ALL ODDS Wrap up.
Bobby is a victim of the boy's mistakes. If Sam hadn't done this. If Dean had realized sooner. But he goes out of his way to make sure that Sam understands that he's pissed but Sam is family. And it sparks Sam to try again with Dean. And Dean? This? is why I am and always will be a DeanGirl. Even though he doesn't know it. He's found the path. And Sam's the kind to keep him on it.
Sam. Oh LongBoy, you have your moments and this is one of them. You've got your brains back! Make Dean see the truth in his own lie! Push him! Because to me that's what this scene is about. Not what Dean says, but how Sam reacts. Sam's got hope again. Bobby just gave it to him. He's going from wanting to just do what Dean says and not say anything to trying to provoke Dean. He's in that weird place where he WANTS Dean to just yell and get it out in the open. To give Sam something to react to and deal with. But there's nothing left. He's burned a bridge and he's desperate to find a way to rebuild or find a new way to connect to his brother again. He doesn't get mad. He's not panicking - Sam gets broad as he panics - here he's in control. His brother isn't getting away without a fight. Sam's going to fight for his family and for now, that's all I need to know.
And I think this is why I don't care that he's suddenly cured. I don't want to see him detoxing for an entire season. I want to see him dealing with what he's done and earning redemption. He's pushing and pushing Dean because he just has to know how deep the wound is. Is it as bad as he's spent the last day thinking it was with Bobby? Or is there hope as there is with Bobby now?
Question: Are they following the 12 steps? He's given his addiction over to God (literally) and he's apologizing to everyone he's hurt. (Dean can't get him stop actually.) Aren't those parts of the Program?
TO SUM UP
The boys are back working TOGETHER. Fangirls are apostles. Cas got his groove back. Angel Condoms are now the canon slang for vessels. Bobby continues to be awesome. Meg is back! Lucifer is CLOWNFIRE!!!
* I put together playlists (still working on s4) where I assign one song per episode. I don't use music from the titles or used in the show.
If you have ANY songs that remind you of the show, the boys, the themes, crack, whatever - SHARE THEM WITH ME.
Basically I liked it and want more. Now.
Songs of the moment: Pink Floyd's On the Turning Away; Billy Joel's We Didn't Start the Fire
THUNDERSTRUCK! - My reaction *everywhere* was EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Also - I swear Show has used this before? Am I wrong?
OPENNER: Lucifer Rising to the Soul Plane
I loved it from the first few seconds when Dean just becomes Big Brother. Take Sam and run outside, Dean. Go! Oh boys. Sam is so convinced that they are going to die and is just so eager to tell Dean he's sorry. He's more horrified that they will die broken than he is that they will die now. oh Sam.
Also? There's simply not enough "Whoops" to adequately express his emotion at the moment.
Sam and Dean try to run away. When they can't, they share a look and turn to face Lucifer - together. And that's when PresumablyGod saves them - FOR FACING LUCIFER TOGETHER. Nothing to add to that but Oh, BOYS!
And then the plane. Oh poor, poor Dean. He's NEVER going to get over flying. But I like the imagery of the boys being lifted UP and saved.
The cartoon - Devil's Feud Cake - In the cartoon, Yosemite "SAM" (geddit?) gets out of hell if he can exchange for Bugs. He tries 3 times and finally:"has it with these backfired attempts and tells the Head Devil to get Bugs himself and announces that he is staying in Hell. Sam then rushes away, puts on a devil's suit, comes back, and starts laughing in a maniacal way". I love the cartoon devil and am tempted to make meta about it. But apparently it was originally supposed to be South Park which - OH MY GOD YES. Ahem.
I think Dean was just terrified frozen. My first thought was that Lucifer was going to mock them with their phobias and that clowns were going to come in next.
TITLE CARD: LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE... GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORE!!!!!
CAR RIDE AND CHUCK'S HOUSE
Swine Flu is Lucifer's fault? Dammit. Do you have ANY idea how much all that emergency gear cost us? I do kinda love that they were listening to news on the rental's Sirius. You just know it's because neither of them knew how to get to the music channels. HEE.
Sam starts his first tenative probe and looks soooooo heartbreakingly hopeful when Dean tells him it's ok. For just a moment - Sam believes in Dean enough to delude himself. But then he realizes it can't be true and his face! oh BOYS!
CHUCK!!!! I am so very very happy our boys have their own prophet. I just. It fills me with glee. I love that they keep their crack on this show. The Hellhounds, The Trickster, and now FANDOM.
This is the clip from Comic Con and it was really nice to see it with decent sound. But ZACH WAS RIGHT BEHIND ME IN THE SURROUND SOUND!!!! EEP! Do not want. Did anyone else watch with the surround sound on? When Zach appears, he's off screen. The line he says came from the rear speakers. *shudders* I also watched and Sam comes into the room ahead of Dean who IS doing something to the door. But it's not enough to do the AngelBGon sigil - but still it's a nice attempt for continuity. *pets show*
But I love that Dean's always been shown as good with patterns. He saw the sigil when Ana did it and then saw how Castiel activated it and now can duplicate it. Some boards are wondering if his being able to USE it is an indication of angelic power. I don't think so. Holy Water and exorcisims don't require faith or power to work. I don't see why the sigil would either. Ana was pure human when she first used it.
I love it when the Bad underestimates Dean. (This is where everyone gets all MEEN TO DEAN - but that the angels call him stupid doesn't mean the writers view him that way.) Zach is actually puzzled that Dean's still arguing about what's already done. He just doesn't get it. He truly believes in what he's doing and doesn't see WHY Dean would argue. Zach is a true fanatic and it's black or white. You are either with Heaven or with Hell. He doesn't even recognize that Earth has a voice. He's clearly thinking that Dean will have run out of options, and be presented as Michael's Vessel being the only way to save Sam. Because this tatic has worked EVERY TIME with Dean in the past.
But our boys? Have character growth. And unlike the XFiles or even Buffy - they have LEARNED what they wouldn't admit in Mystery Spot or All Hell Breaks Loose. They have learned that dying is not the same as leaving or betraying.
BECKY THE SAMGIRL
Between fandom starting a holy war on twitter and then becoming CANON bearers of the word of God? I'm grinning so hard my face will crack. Fandom just became Kripke's Apostles... (and then when we retire we can write the gospels so they'll still talk about us when we've died)
And if the naming IS a shoutout to janglyjewels - YAY. She doesn't write wincest but she SO isn't denying that she'd rub Sam's chest. But either way - we are a PART of this show. Fandom isn't getting a shout-out. It's being used as a part of the plot. That's not mocking to me. Teasing, yes. But it's too loving to be mocking.
Besides, I love that half-abashed, half-resigned but very firm "No." that Becky gives in response to "Can you stop touching me?"
BOBBY AND MEG'S HOTEL ATTACK
GOD DAMN THE ACTRESS PLAYING MEG HAS IT NAILED. I hope she gets the same pass as the Lilith actress and IS Meg.
I was kinda bracing from the promo pics - I figured Bobby had to be possessed to be holding a knife on Dean. But ouch. His words to Sam were still painful to hear and watch. I loved Sam though - he's dying for a fight. ANYTHING to get a reaction. He has fucked up beyond any recovery and he KNOWS it. And it's killing him that there's nothing to fix.
So he'll start a fight to create something to fix. Bobby's pissed and doesn't want to have anything to with him when they're done. It's painful and horrible, but it's something to hold on to. It's something solid that Sam can process and work through. It's more than he's got with Dean.
Until he leaves and it sinks in. And not only does it hit him that he's lost Bobby, he might have lost Dean that way too.
I've seen people not liking the knife continuity. I don't see it. To me, the knife has ALWAYS been just a knife when used on the human host and fatal to the demons. So the knife kills the demon and leavels Bobby with a mortal wound - just as dangerous as any gut wound. In the past, the hosts were dead while possessed. "Rode hard and put up wet"- it's always been canon that hosts don't survive more than a day or two on average. Meg blames the boys for the fall, but she's also shot by Tom.
Bobby breaking the demon hold is much more interesting to me. My thought was that John learned whatever mental trick it was from Bobby. But it might be a Michael Sword side effect - it's Dean about to be killed that's the common demoninator.
I also adore that Sam did NOT immediately think of Ruby but Dean does. Sam has a familiarity with Ruby and knows what she was now. Why WOULD he think of her? Dean only does cause she's the most hated one. I kinda love that Meg didn't make that big an impression. She possessed Sam, but Dean fixed it so he doesn't obsess about where Meg is. Not like Ruby who DID actually damage his family.
I like it when characters have underlying motivation. It makes me happy.
DEAN IS MICHAEL'S ANGEL CONDOM
I had taken it to be the same warehouse as Bad Day at Black Rock. Was it a different one? I notice the dead warehouse demons are on the other side of the devil's trap. Meg also mentions a power boost associated with Lucifer's release. I'm thinking the demons can get past Bobby's bracelet's now. I'm thinking he was just freshly possessed. He wouldn't have been as protected in the Impala as he was on his home turf.
There's an idea floating around TWOP that Michael is refusing to break the rules, which is why Zach is trying to force Dean to play by them. I like the idea of Michael being like Cas and siding with humanity. I just do. I am disappointed though because if Michael is vessel-less, it means no Michael-Lucifer scenes which I would LOVE. But I'm finding juicy stuff with Zach in HOW he describes Dean's role:
He refers to Dean as Michael's sword - which WAS lost to them as Dean was hidden from their view. (He also refers to Dean as chucklehead - which - nice mirror to Meg) Then his speech is (with Dean's quips removed)
Zach: You're just a human, Dean. You're Michael's weapon - or rather, his receptacle. You're THE Vessel. Michael's Vessel. Because you're CHOSEN. It's a great honor, Dean.
[then he starts torturing and ordering Dean to submit. Dean realizes that Michael needs consent.]
Dean: there must be another way
Zach: There is no other way. There MUST be a battle. Michael MUST defeat the serpent. It is written.
Which is true - but the timing was never told. Zac has interfered and sped up the timeline and I think that's where the loopholes about Destiny are going to be. Zach knows that Heaven wins the battle. Lucifer is now free - therefore GAME ON. He doesn't see that there might not be a battle. Dean's just being stupid for not seeing it. Of course he'll consent. It's what's necessary and what Dean's always done. What could be more in line with Heaven's Will than that?
Zach strikes at Bobby - "Say yes and we'll heal him. Say no and he'll never walk again." - but doesn't threaten to kill Bobby. So they are still not taking what they would deem "innocent life". Which may be why the focus of the torture is on Sam. To the angels, he's fallen.
I'm really liking Sam this ep. Especially on the second watch. He's not unaware of the magnitude of his actions - he's buried under it. Especially in the warehouse scene watching Dean with Zach. Because it's the same choice he made with Ruby. "This is the only way to defeat Lilith" vs "This is the only way to defeat Lucifer". What's Sam going to say? He made the wrong choice and is in no position to tell Dean what to do. He's helpless and it breaks my heart.
But all I know is that Dean FINALLY GETS IT. He doesn't care if Sam is killed or if he's killed. He's beyond it. He knows what's right to do. And that? Is what makes him the perfect vessel and chosen sword. Zach's gone blind. And then?
CASTIEL GOT HIS MOJO BACK (Note: this section was heavily edited for spoilers. Let me know if something is no longer in English because of it.
I was thinking that my mental nickname for this ep was going to be "How Castiel Got His Groove Back" but then DEEEEEEEEEEN and SAAAAAAAAAAM broke my heart. I love this show.
Castiel shows up and starts kicking all kinds of angelic ass. It is awesome. I think he was either brought back by Anna or if he WAS brought back by God, it wasn't a direct face to face interaction.
Upon Cas' return - Zach goes from wrathful to a fearful kid caught having a party and the parents came home early. Cas doesn't win by amped up powers. He's winning by pure surprise. Even once he's seen - the angels are too surprised that he's alive. They begin to doubt. And he slays them for it. I feel Cas is bluffing in the warehouse scene. In Lazarus Rising, he's all direct about God and faith. "Because God commanded it." has become "Who did this? Good question." which plays on Zach's fears but doesn't come out and say anything. He then also doesn't answer Dean's question either, but immediately puts wards on their ribs to shield them from Lucifer and the other angels.
No clue what it all means in the end. But hot damn, I'm enjoying the ride.
AGAINST ALL ODDS Wrap up.
Bobby is a victim of the boy's mistakes. If Sam hadn't done this. If Dean had realized sooner. But he goes out of his way to make sure that Sam understands that he's pissed but Sam is family. And it sparks Sam to try again with Dean. And Dean? This? is why I am and always will be a DeanGirl. Even though he doesn't know it. He's found the path. And Sam's the kind to keep him on it.
Sam. Oh LongBoy, you have your moments and this is one of them. You've got your brains back! Make Dean see the truth in his own lie! Push him! Because to me that's what this scene is about. Not what Dean says, but how Sam reacts. Sam's got hope again. Bobby just gave it to him. He's going from wanting to just do what Dean says and not say anything to trying to provoke Dean. He's in that weird place where he WANTS Dean to just yell and get it out in the open. To give Sam something to react to and deal with. But there's nothing left. He's burned a bridge and he's desperate to find a way to rebuild or find a new way to connect to his brother again. He doesn't get mad. He's not panicking - Sam gets broad as he panics - here he's in control. His brother isn't getting away without a fight. Sam's going to fight for his family and for now, that's all I need to know.
And I think this is why I don't care that he's suddenly cured. I don't want to see him detoxing for an entire season. I want to see him dealing with what he's done and earning redemption. He's pushing and pushing Dean because he just has to know how deep the wound is. Is it as bad as he's spent the last day thinking it was with Bobby? Or is there hope as there is with Bobby now?
Question: Are they following the 12 steps? He's given his addiction over to God (literally) and he's apologizing to everyone he's hurt. (Dean can't get him stop actually.) Aren't those parts of the Program?
TO SUM UP
The boys are back working TOGETHER. Fangirls are apostles. Cas got his groove back. Angel Condoms are now the canon slang for vessels. Bobby continues to be awesome. Meg is back! Lucifer is CLOWNFIRE!!!
* I put together playlists (still working on s4) where I assign one song per episode. I don't use music from the titles or used in the show.
If you have ANY songs that remind you of the show, the boys, the themes, crack, whatever - SHARE THEM WITH ME.