SPN: Sometimes it's Terrible and sometimes it's not.

[true_enough]

I did not like It's a Terrible Life (4x17).  At all.  In fact, I hated it.

Comments

[desertport]

From a meta pov, this episode was kinda whacked. The only way I can make it work is as way to highlight the angels as cold beings lacking any kind of compassion. And they really did a good job showing that.

But my emotional reaction to the ep was just... intense relief. It had Sam and Dean sans animosity, working together, snarking, being funny. No secrets, no memories of hell and death and tragedy ganking things up between them. They were friends. Apparently, I really needed a break from this season's darkness.

But I loved (as always) your picspam analysis. Thanks for drawing attention the way Castiel shook hands with Sam, the line he walks when he's in the same room as Uriel and the brothers. I also hope we get more Sam and Castiel scenes.

This demon looks like the lost Jane Doe that Ruby claimed. It has been a coup for her. I can't imagine Sam drinking from the arm of Ruby from last season with her mean-girl prettiness and snapping attitude.

Aha! That's it. I can totally see S3 Ruby realizing that she's taken the wrong tack with Sam, that being pushy and in your face doesn't work with him. So the abrupt change in her personality between seasons (which I always attributed to writerly backtracking in response to fandom) could actually have been a conscious decision on her part. It also says interesting things about Sam's relationships with women.

It's possible that fanwanking is the only way to survive this show.

[true_enough]

The only way I can make it work is as way to highlight the angels as cold beings lacking any kind of compassion. And they really did a good job showing that.

It seems like the angels have been so far removed from humanity for so long and now that they have to interact with us they either do it from a position of superiority and/or indifference or they're like Castiel who is well and truly in the thick of it with the brothers.

It had Sam and Dean sans animosity ...

Yes! That part was wonderful. The scene at the end of Sex and Violence where they put the onus of what they said on the siren spell without really making amends left me talking to the end credits. "No, go back! You guys have only added to the rift." So yeah, seeing them work together provides more than a little relief. It was sweet. I probably would have been OK with the episode if not for the last 2 minutes of it. ::grrrr ...::

... the way Castiel shook hands with Sam, the line he walks when he's in the same room as Uriel and the brothers.

With Uriel gone and Castiel beginning to question orders from on high I think we'll see less of that which should make for some interesting interaction between the 3 of them. I'm more than a little eager to pair up Dean and Castiel but I'm also very interested in the more cautious and platonic relationship between Sam and Castiel. They've got their eye on each other for many reasons not the least of which is Dean which should keep them in good standing with one another.

It also says interesting things about Sam's relationships with women.

It sure does. Sam sometimes reminds me of someone trying to be the good son to the mother he never knew. And with Ruby he has the added bonus of still identifying himself as a good guy even though he's dabbling in some dark areas. It's like saying that the blood that courses through him doesn't touch his soul because he's believes himself to be innately good. I think he's good, too which makes the fine like he walks even more precarious for him. Oh, Sam ...

It's possible that fanwanking is the only way to survive this show.

::big grin:: Sign me up! It's always so good to hear from you.