S2: the balance of manlove (1st quarter)

[sargraf]

Let me start this out by saying something. It's possible to enjoy an hour of television for what it was and for what it achieved, and still be powerfully dissatisfied by what it failed to do. I've re-watched No Exit five times now (and watched the preview for next week's episode roughly 15 times more than that, and you can stop laughing 'cause you

Comments

[nasus221]

I totally agree with what you're saying, manlove is like crack to us, and you can't just have five episodes chock full of it and then take it away! However, I would be completely fine with this episode as long as it doesn't happen again. It's sort of interesting pull away Dean do the deep mytharc stuff with someone else (his conversations with Jo) just to contrast it with how it usually goes. It kind of gives you a breather; but still, that's not what we signed up for. It's SamandDean forever and ever, and I'll never get tired of it.

Yeah, LJ is being evil. I'm getting very spotty comment notification emails and lots of errors when I try to comment.

[sargraf]

It's sort of interesting pull away Dean do the deep mytharc stuff with someone else (his conversations with Jo) just to contrast it with how it usually goes.

That's a good way to look at it. I'd love to see a mirror scene for Sam. (What do we know of Sam's memories of John, outside of the negative ones he mentioned in the pilot? I'd love to hear more from Sam.)

LJ is still being evil! To me, anyway. *pulls hair*

[sargraf]

I think they're slipping back into their old habits of comforting each other

Definitely. At least as of Simon Said. I'm interested to see how this week's episode will go. Back to the old, or on with something new? Hmm.

it's possible that he was using that shift and the pastede on ending of No Exit as a precursor to the boys getting on their own two feet and doing things for themselves again.

That's a terrific point! I hope (and expect) you're right.

[astri13]

This is an interesting comparism and as someone who was miffed last year on occasion with the "wow, Dean is so totally gonna get shafted in the overreaching arc" I find myself feeling deep sympathy for poor Sam right now whom the writers just won`t let DO anything. Just wait for the next (human) bad guy to slip on a banana peel right when Sam is about to take a shot

[sargraf]

I find myself feeling deep sympathy for poor Sam right now whom the writers just won`t let DO anything.

What is it about that, yeah? The writers can't seem to balance the two characters at the same time. It's always some sort of retroactive effect, like S2 Dean is having on S1 Dean. It makes us more patient as viewers, but it also makes for some pretty shaky characterization at times. I think they're good enough now as a show and certainly as a writing team that they can be more consistent about that. :/

I truly enjoyed the protective role he stepped in in ImtoD and ELAC

Oh, WORD. That was lovely. Although I think it was pretty mutual in ELaC. I loved Sam to pieces in CSPWDT. It's the same sort of protective (in the less than usual action-hero way) that Dean was in Bloody Mary last year. I adore that dynamic the most, I think. Protectiveness in ways that aren't just physical.

Dean was like a powerhouse charging through this ep for good or for worse and Sam was desperately playing catch up.Exactly. And I love that episode for Dean'

[andromakhe001]

LOL So much for Season 2 being Dean-centric to even out the Sam-centricity of Season 1

[sargraf]

So much for Season 2 being Dean-centric to even out the Sam-centricity of Season 1. :)

Hee. Um. Yeah, I realize this is all a little ironic coming from me. :O) But I'm absolutely as in love with Sam as I am with Dean in S2. They're on even ground with me as individual characters (although I'm still not sexually attracted to JP as I am to JA). So I'm feeling all bent out of shape for him.

See I don't think the manlove was balanced in Season 1.Well… I do agree that the script directed the flow a certain way for the most part, but my personal impression after doing that catalogue is that the manlove turned out to be far more balanced in the acting nuances and such than the script necessarily allowed for. And I really cherished that a lot about S1. I mean, Faith wasn't an aberration, and neither was Devil's Trap or Something Wicked. As a script, perhaps, but (maybe it's just from my fanwanking :O)) I thought the manlove itself was alive and well on both sides from the get-go. It found a more overt current in Dean, but that doesn't mean

[andromakhe001]

p.s. I was so sure you'd never talk to me again once I revealed that I liked No Exit. :O) *offers olive branch*

What? It would take a heck of alot more than a difference of opinion over an episode to get rid of me even one that includes HER. :D

I do agree they haven't done Sam any favors but I think the next part of the season will show the balance people are mentioning. I was even looking forward to Simon Said as a Sam episode, not because I was tired of Dean but just because hey I do like Sam, I want him to get good stories too and it was disappointing that they copped out again.

From what I can tell, going by the extended TV Guide clip, I think there may be some meat in the next episode. Sam's not happy about them trying to turn him against his brother.

[sargraf]

What? It would take a heck of alot more than a difference of opinion over an episode to get rid of me even one that includes HER. :D

I'm such a worrywart! And you're much more reasonable than I am! :O) Just ignore me, please. *bear hugs*

Sam's not happy about them trying to turn him against his brother.

That was great to see, wasn't it? I'm so excited about this episode!! *bounces*