Supernatural 2X03
My Review Of "Bloodlust", or, I Heart My Racist Misogynist Show
Okay, so last week we got the badass women... who sit home and cook (or pour beer, same diff). This week we get the badass vampire-killing African-American hunter... who is a sociopath!
Oh, no, we can't have his vampire killing be heroic. Instead, the thundering subtext of the ep is: the Black Man is preying on the pure, saintly White Women. Even though they're vampires, they have no (blood)lust! And the savage, simplistic Black Man, who can't understand moral nuance, tempts the White Lower Class to join him, but the day is saved by College-Educated White Man! In beating down the Black Man, the White Lower Class subdues its own primitive urges and proves its worth. (Although in a move uncharacteristic of its supposed "blue collar" nature, the White Lower Class abases itself before College-Educated White Man and invites oppression: "Go on, hit me!")
(Yes, Gordon does get a sympathetic back story, but (a) it mitigates the subtext not at all, and (b) they stole it from Gunn over on Angel.)
Supernatural, I could not love you more. Your utter cluelessness on these matters charms me, especially in contrast to your brilliance and sensitivity when it comes to characterization and relationship dynamics.
Other notes:
SO MUCH IMPALA LOVE! I need to find an icon with some "Back in Black" lyrics on it -- not the title, that would be too obvious.
SO MUCH AMBER BENSON LOVE!!!!!!!!! I found her gentle charisma convincing, plus I'm just glad to see her again. I really hope she becomes a recurring character.
For the all-important analysis of what's happening with the Winchester boys, I refer you to coffeeandink's review.