Supernatural 1x15 - The Benders
So, the unified theory of this one? It was every fanfic come to life. Well, all right, maybe not the gloriously deep ones or the fantastically poetic types, but definitely the warm and fuzzy brotherly sorts.
For more intelligent discussion, particularly on the trust between Sam and Dean and why you should watch this one with alcohol nearby, go see Maygra's latest.
The Good (Or, Where the Random Things Live):
- 'Mrs. McKay'. Uh huh. My fandoms just collided. I am really tempted to pretend her name is Jeannie, and that she's just dying to correct them that it's 'Ms.'. You know Rodney's nephew would like the classic Godzillas, too. There's a certain attraction to stomping on the peons dumb enough to stand around screaming that's probably genetic.
- And yes, these two can make even those uniforms hot. I think I'm developing a fixation on older-looking Sam as well.
- The bar scene was wonderfully low key. In all, I like the way the episode started out relatively relaxed in tone - yes, there was the obligatory monster introduction, but it wasn't anyone you had any investment in; the writers typically do their best to make you sympathetic to the first victim of the week, whether on their own merits or through the boys' reactions to their misfortunes. This one skipped straight to the guys in the middle of the case, no frantic intensity. It feels... settled. Like they have a routine going now. Plus, Sam is responsible, and Dean caves to Sam. I like this.
- Here, kitty kitty. Sam's little self-deprecating grin slew me, both for its adorableness and the foreknowledge that this couldn't end well.
- Dean in that parking lot. The encapsulation of every big brother instinct much adored in fandom. Verbally. We get both the 'Sammy of Mortal Terror' and a whispered, forlorn 'Sam'. There's... really nothing more I can say to that.
- Dean goes to the police. The police. This is a man who's most likely spent his whole life learning how to live outside and around the law, often while wearing its face. How desperate does he have to be to ask for that kind of help? Because he could have just tracked down those tapes and stolen them. That's typical Dean. He doesn't, and he doesn't tip the cops off and run for the hills. He stays, and even takes on a stand-in partner rather than fly solo. All along, he has to know that the background check is inevitable. He won't risk Sam to protect himself, and he's not arrogant enough to trust only his own abilities to find him. That's genuine fear.
- 'Handsome, though.' Indeed.
- Every time Dean talks about Sam. Every time. The pauses mean as much as the words, and the hell or high water mentality is perfect.
- Sam the captive rocks my world. You have to love that kind of proactivity. Particularly when it's in that kind of package.
- 'I'll be damned. They're just people.' He takes that rather well, actually, given that it's a slap in the face of everything he wants desperately to believe. Not that I think he ever really has believed it, but he wants to. (Also, I love the fact that the brothers independently use the exact same phrase upon this realization.)
- Dean being honest slays me every time. Tack on lost and ragged, and I'm very, very done.
- 'Don't. Call me. Sammy.' I'm laughing my rear end off over that one.
- The hunt made me wince, but I wasn't all that fond of Jenkins. I was properly uncomfortable, but not heartbroken at his loss on a personal level. As I would have been, say, if they'd killed off Kathleen. Her, I liked.
- Okay, throughout the episode continuity was a large and breathing thing. When she slapped the cuffs on Dean, I thought they'd fallen down on the job. But, lo, they remembered their character's skill set, and even made verbal reference to it. Joy.
- Missy creeped me out beyond all belief. Seriously. Like no villain since Bloody Mary. She was incredibly Lord of the Flies-y, all childhood wildness turned to malevolence, with a side helping of demon spawn. *shiver*
- Sam doesn't refer to Dean by name for the rest of the episode. No, really, pay attention to that. The reason? There's a cop present, and she tips him off to Dean's scam of choice, and Sam runs with it. a) more continuity, yay, and b) we're back to that comfortable feel. They follow each other so well, and so easily.
- 'Thank God.' It's just a throw-away line, except... it's a nice glimpse into the idea that Sam's been quietly worrying about Dean, too. Because he already knew Dean would be looking for him, so there's no way he was surprised to hear that. The fact that Dean hadn't put in an appearance yet, though, would have set Sam to freaking out a little.
- The reunion. Aw. Very manly, with the long looks and few words. Plus, 'Kiddo'. Hee. I love Kathleen sitting there, watching the way both guys snap to life in each others' presence. She starts with only the broken side, and then the Winchester Traveling Circus is suddenly in her lap. From a lone guy out of his depth to a team with a mission and level of experience all their own in two seconds flat. Again, hee.
- The extended creeping through the house bit was effective. Nice tension build, and very 'Steven King' with the music. On a side note, I need to take fewer anatomy courses. I automatically cataloged the bones in the Mobile from Hell, and then hung my head in shame.
- The fight, even with the typical Dean words, was dark. I liked that. I'm trying to think of any other time that either of the boys has been in a physical fight during the series. Getting tossed about by the weekly ghoulie and shooting things from a short distance do not count. The only ones I could come up with were the two they've had with each other, Sam's with notDean, and Dean's laying of the smack down on the officers in Bloody Mary for expediency's sake. Hmm. I need to think about this a little more.
- Dean tied to that chair. The collective silence you heard after 'You ever killed before?' was the entire fandom holding its breath. That answer was gloriously vague, too. The caged fury and underlying fear Ackles gives off here is amazing. And he doesn't break until Sam is mentioned, despite the fact that he's already seen that brand. The way his breath hitches as it all sinks in is just... yeah.
- Sam, kicking ass and taking names.
- Kathleen being productive and present. Nothing pisses me off quite like an action scene written with the woman as a passive observer, whimpering in the corner. She uses the only weapon she's got, and tries to make herself a distraction for the baddie. Like I said, I like her.
- Dean's reaction to that shot is interesting. It's not just rage, it's denial. That sound should mean that Sam is dead, and Dean's not acknowledging that fact. He's still making threats, like he can change the outcome. That's its own kind of painful.
- Sam, going commando. He goes for the gun, and only abandons it when it's not worth the effort. I think he was fully prepared to use it. Sam's crossing all kinds of lines tonight. On top of that, he sets a trap and plays it cool. He doesn't go out willy-nilly attacking in an unknown situation. Love that boy's brains. I'm not mentioning his arms or chest. Those should be self-evident.
- Sam leaves Kathleen with the father, even knowing about her brother. I'm flashing back to his sympathy for Max's revenge streak. He knew damn well she was going to kill him, and he walked away. See above, re: lines crossed.
- They didn't show the second reunion scene because you know that was too mushy. I badly want to write it, though.
- 'Don't ever do that again.' That whole conversation is 'I love you' in Winchester-speak. As an added bonus, watch them walk. They're in perfect sync the whole time.
The promo:
- Hmm. I have no idea what to do with that. Really.
For more intelligent discussion, particularly on the trust between Sam and Dean and why you should watch this one with alcohol nearby, go see Maygra's latest.
The Good (Or, Where the Random Things Live):
- 'Mrs. McKay'. Uh huh. My fandoms just collided. I am really tempted to pretend her name is Jeannie, and that she's just dying to correct them that it's 'Ms.'. You know Rodney's nephew would like the classic Godzillas, too. There's a certain attraction to stomping on the peons dumb enough to stand around screaming that's probably genetic.
- And yes, these two can make even those uniforms hot. I think I'm developing a fixation on older-looking Sam as well.
- The bar scene was wonderfully low key. In all, I like the way the episode started out relatively relaxed in tone - yes, there was the obligatory monster introduction, but it wasn't anyone you had any investment in; the writers typically do their best to make you sympathetic to the first victim of the week, whether on their own merits or through the boys' reactions to their misfortunes. This one skipped straight to the guys in the middle of the case, no frantic intensity. It feels... settled. Like they have a routine going now. Plus, Sam is responsible, and Dean caves to Sam. I like this.
- Here, kitty kitty. Sam's little self-deprecating grin slew me, both for its adorableness and the foreknowledge that this couldn't end well.
- Dean in that parking lot. The encapsulation of every big brother instinct much adored in fandom. Verbally. We get both the 'Sammy of Mortal Terror' and a whispered, forlorn 'Sam'. There's... really nothing more I can say to that.
- Dean goes to the police. The police. This is a man who's most likely spent his whole life learning how to live outside and around the law, often while wearing its face. How desperate does he have to be to ask for that kind of help? Because he could have just tracked down those tapes and stolen them. That's typical Dean. He doesn't, and he doesn't tip the cops off and run for the hills. He stays, and even takes on a stand-in partner rather than fly solo. All along, he has to know that the background check is inevitable. He won't risk Sam to protect himself, and he's not arrogant enough to trust only his own abilities to find him. That's genuine fear.
- 'Handsome, though.' Indeed.
- Every time Dean talks about Sam. Every time. The pauses mean as much as the words, and the hell or high water mentality is perfect.
- Sam the captive rocks my world. You have to love that kind of proactivity. Particularly when it's in that kind of package.
- 'I'll be damned. They're just people.' He takes that rather well, actually, given that it's a slap in the face of everything he wants desperately to believe. Not that I think he ever really has believed it, but he wants to. (Also, I love the fact that the brothers independently use the exact same phrase upon this realization.)
- Dean being honest slays me every time. Tack on lost and ragged, and I'm very, very done.
- 'Don't. Call me. Sammy.' I'm laughing my rear end off over that one.
- The hunt made me wince, but I wasn't all that fond of Jenkins. I was properly uncomfortable, but not heartbroken at his loss on a personal level. As I would have been, say, if they'd killed off Kathleen. Her, I liked.
- Okay, throughout the episode continuity was a large and breathing thing. When she slapped the cuffs on Dean, I thought they'd fallen down on the job. But, lo, they remembered their character's skill set, and even made verbal reference to it. Joy.
- Missy creeped me out beyond all belief. Seriously. Like no villain since Bloody Mary. She was incredibly Lord of the Flies-y, all childhood wildness turned to malevolence, with a side helping of demon spawn. *shiver*
- Sam doesn't refer to Dean by name for the rest of the episode. No, really, pay attention to that. The reason? There's a cop present, and she tips him off to Dean's scam of choice, and Sam runs with it. a) more continuity, yay, and b) we're back to that comfortable feel. They follow each other so well, and so easily.
- 'Thank God.' It's just a throw-away line, except... it's a nice glimpse into the idea that Sam's been quietly worrying about Dean, too. Because he already knew Dean would be looking for him, so there's no way he was surprised to hear that. The fact that Dean hadn't put in an appearance yet, though, would have set Sam to freaking out a little.
- The reunion. Aw. Very manly, with the long looks and few words. Plus, 'Kiddo'. Hee. I love Kathleen sitting there, watching the way both guys snap to life in each others' presence. She starts with only the broken side, and then the Winchester Traveling Circus is suddenly in her lap. From a lone guy out of his depth to a team with a mission and level of experience all their own in two seconds flat. Again, hee.
- The extended creeping through the house bit was effective. Nice tension build, and very 'Steven King' with the music. On a side note, I need to take fewer anatomy courses. I automatically cataloged the bones in the Mobile from Hell, and then hung my head in shame.
- The fight, even with the typical Dean words, was dark. I liked that. I'm trying to think of any other time that either of the boys has been in a physical fight during the series. Getting tossed about by the weekly ghoulie and shooting things from a short distance do not count. The only ones I could come up with were the two they've had with each other, Sam's with notDean, and Dean's laying of the smack down on the officers in Bloody Mary for expediency's sake. Hmm. I need to think about this a little more.
- Dean tied to that chair. The collective silence you heard after 'You ever killed before?' was the entire fandom holding its breath. That answer was gloriously vague, too. The caged fury and underlying fear Ackles gives off here is amazing. And he doesn't break until Sam is mentioned, despite the fact that he's already seen that brand. The way his breath hitches as it all sinks in is just... yeah.
- Sam, kicking ass and taking names.
- Kathleen being productive and present. Nothing pisses me off quite like an action scene written with the woman as a passive observer, whimpering in the corner. She uses the only weapon she's got, and tries to make herself a distraction for the baddie. Like I said, I like her.
- Dean's reaction to that shot is interesting. It's not just rage, it's denial. That sound should mean that Sam is dead, and Dean's not acknowledging that fact. He's still making threats, like he can change the outcome. That's its own kind of painful.
- Sam, going commando. He goes for the gun, and only abandons it when it's not worth the effort. I think he was fully prepared to use it. Sam's crossing all kinds of lines tonight. On top of that, he sets a trap and plays it cool. He doesn't go out willy-nilly attacking in an unknown situation. Love that boy's brains. I'm not mentioning his arms or chest. Those should be self-evident.
- Sam leaves Kathleen with the father, even knowing about her brother. I'm flashing back to his sympathy for Max's revenge streak. He knew damn well she was going to kill him, and he walked away. See above, re: lines crossed.
- They didn't show the second reunion scene because you know that was too mushy. I badly want to write it, though.
- 'Don't ever do that again.' That whole conversation is 'I love you' in Winchester-speak. As an added bonus, watch them walk. They're in perfect sync the whole time.
The promo:
- Hmm. I have no idea what to do with that. Really.