Things I Love About SPN Season 1: Bugs (Part 2 of 2)

[fanspired]

Continued from Part 1

Comments

[amberdreams]

I agree with your overall assessment - I actually like Bugs in parts, and don't think it's the worst episode SPN have done by a long stretch. Heroes Journey, I'm looking at you. It did have some really naff bits (mainly as you pointed out the plastic spiders and the illogical bees in the attic scene) but there was enough brother interaction to keep me happy.

[fanspired]

Yes, it's strength was definitely in its development of the boys' back story. (Whereas Heroes Journey's weakness was most specifically in its glib dismissal of the boys' back story!)

Thanks so much for reading and commenting. I really appreciate your support.

[borgmama1of5]

Perhaps Sam’s speech to Matt about how great it would be to go to college and get away from his dad was a similar defense mechanism because, “truth is”, Sam would rather pretend he doesn’t need his father than honestly confront his fear that his father doesn’t need him.

Cool observation!

I fell in love with Supernatural because the characters instinctively made psychological sense to me, but I've never analyzed why that is, just went with it, so when other fans point out why it works I am fascinated.

I've always thought there was a lot of dumb script decisions and less-than-believable visual effects in this episode, but I find the Sam and Dean talks revealing enough to make up for the lameness.

[fanspired]

Yes, the creative team put a lot of work into the psychology of that first season. You can see them drawing on pack dynamics as well as the sociological modelling of elder child/younger child that was popular at the time. There was nothing accidental about any of it. The series only lasted as long as it did because it was built on rock solid foundations.

The strength of this episode is definitely in the development of the boys' backstory. It's really the first big insight we get into their relationship with John. I'm prepared to hand wave the rest, but it's a pity all the same. We didn't have to do a lot of hand waving in the early seasons but, alas, Bugs needed quite a bit of it.

Thanks so much for reading and commenting :)

[masja_17]

As I started viewing in February 2011 I was already aware of the 'this is the worst ever episode". And I don't think so. (Bloodlines anyone? The Boys weren't even in it!) Like you said, the boys interaction is good.
And according to fangasm there were a lot of actual spiders! And bees!

Thanks for doing this!
💗

[fanspired]

LOL. Post 2011 there were many, many episodes that were worse than Bugs and, as you say, Bloodlines was definitely one of them! :D

Many thanks for reading and commenting :)))

[galatera_grass]

Somebody should have told the props department that real spiders curl up their legs when they die.

I know absolutely nothing about the life of spiders))) But there it is so clearly visible that they are plastic, that in this moment it might really be worth using real spiders))

SAM Kollege. You'll be able to get out of that house and away from your dad.
DEAN What kind of advice is that? Kid should stick with his family.

This dialogue is very strange for me. Isn't it customary in America to go to college? Starting your own life? What is Dean hinting at? That a guy should sit next to his father?

DEAN He was afraid of what could've happened to you if he wasn't around. But even when you two weren't talkin'... he used to swing by Stanford whenever he could. (SAM'S smirk fades.) Keep an eye on you. Make sure you were safe.This is the best dialogue Sam and Dean have about their father. Better than him only in season 15, when Dean said that he waited several hours under Sam's windows because he was afraid to enter. This shows how much

[fanspired]

> Isn't it customary in America to go to college?

I think there's a contrast being made between white and blue collar families. The latter can rarely afford for the children to go to college. It helps if the kid can get a scholarship, like Sam did, but the expectation is that sons (elder sons particularly) will start earning a wage as soon as possible to help put food on the family table. Typically they'll be expected to follow the father's trade or help out in the family business. I think the Winchester family situation is partially a metaphor for all this, but Dean's attitude is a special case because family is all he has. He doesn't know anything else, so Sam going to college was a particular loss for him.

I think the way this episode develops the boys' back story is the best part of it. We get some real insight into their background in these conversations.

Thanks so much for reading and commenting. I really appreciate it :)))

Edition 4,929

[livejournal]

User candygramme referenced to your post from Edition 4,929 saying: [...] on Mixtape Book Club Podcast Meta Things I Love About SPN Season 1: Bugs (Part 2 of 2) [...]

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[fanspired]

Thanks for the reccy!