Fic: A tendency toward impulsivity (10.16 episode coda)

[zara_zee]

There were highs and lows in this week's episode.[Spoiler (click to open)]It gets a great big thumbs up for smart!Sam solving the problem with research and knowledge and for that lovely scene with Dean in the confessional. Jensen nailed the delivery--from the slightly comic oversell of Dean's shortcomings for the ghost's benefit, to his more serious revelations about his

Comments

[fanspired]

Love it. Wonder how many of the show's writers these days could assess Dean's psychology so intelligently. A few, perhaps, but not as many as I could wish.

Rowena's character was promising when she was introduced but he storyline has been increasingly disappointing due to poor some poor execution and lack of imagination. I think most of the remaining writers struggle to write convincing female characters.

This episode was a case in point. Would Rowena really have sullied herself with anything as unsubtle and unimaginative as beating up that woman? Who is she? Dean Winchester? And as you demonstrated above, we both remember a time when Dean, too, was more than just a mindless thug.

[zara_zee]

Thank you! I wish the writers would spend a lot more time on the boys. They are truly fascinating characters and deserve for their complexities to be properly dealt with.

I like the way Ruth Connell is playing Rowena, but I do think the material often lets her down. And I agree that the writers struggle to write convincing female characters. I also agree that spending so long beating up Olivette seemed out of character, when Rowena had the powerful magic she was forbidden to use right at her fingertips. I don't feel that enough happened in Rowena and Olivette's interactions to justify the amount of screen time spent on those scenes. :(

[fanspired]

I agree, Ruth Connell is doing her best with material of variable quality as, indeed, are all of the repeating actors.

[emmatheslayer]

This. Was excellent Sam takes care of Dean and that's so great but Dean is reckless he always has been Sam is the thinker it's there thing great job

[zara_zee]

Thank you! I was so pleased to see Sam being smart and competent in this episode! :)

[frozen_delight]

His brother’s gung-ho, take-violent-action-first, ask-intelligent-questions-later attitude is how they got into this whole Mark of Cain mess to begin with.
Truer words have never been spoken!
I love this, such an excellent take on Sam, and how clearly he sees Dean's flaws.

I must say that overall I really enjoyed the episode. Loved the brothers, every about Sam, Dean's confession, and unlike you I also enjoyed Rowena's scenes. The actual case with the nuns and their weird love lives was very badly done and a waste of screen time, though.

[zara_zee]

Thank you! It really is so true. I was so happy to see Sam use his smarts to solve the case.

I was disappointed in Rowena's scenes because I felt they were yet another missed opportunity. The exposition was clumsy, the character development was unconvincing and they spent an awful lot time not getting us very far. Rowena is a fascinating, complex character and with her, the writers have an excellent opportunity to address some of the awful sexist, stereotypical treatment of witches that they're guilty of. The way those scenes played out doesn't give me confidence that they won't stuff it up.

[twnchesterangel]

Wow. Ok, let me preface this by saying that I have really enjoyed this season. That being said, I am placing this episode in the stinker pile. For me, anyway. But you're right, there were a few bright spots. For me, I somewhat like the idea of Rowena, however, she gives off this "Charmed" vibe for me. And while that show wasn't horrible, SPN has always seemed darker and more, for lack of a better word, realistic than Charmed. Not realistic, but, I hope you get what I'm saying. It's more cartoonish than what I view SPN as being. I've been trying, but I'm having a hard time warming up to her. So yeah, this episode didn't help me in the Rowena department. The main nun's acting kept pulling me from the story on that front so I didn't really enjoy that portion either. However, there was some amazing Sam and Dean moments in this episode. And you just got right to the heart of it. For me, Smart Sammy was the bright shining point of this episode. I loved that he used his brain and didn't just fall in line. And thank goodness because he saved

[zara_zee]

Thank you! Smart Sammy using his brain sure was a shiny bright point; there really was some lovely character stuff with the boys. I truly want Sam to do the research and come to understand the magic and reverse it and save the day. I am worried that the writers will somehow get Crowley and Rowena all tangled up in it and that has so much potential to go so wrong

[mdlaw]

You go Sammy! m. :)

[zara_zee]

He did good! :)