SPN 3x09 "Malleus Malleficarum"
Since it's hella long, I just copied/pasted my post from another forum , so if there are certain things in here that seem uninitiated (like the first sentence!), that's why. Feel free to check out the forum; it's absolutely fantastic. Not very big, but we have great discussions, and we're fairly sane. :) No character/actor bashing. Always a plus.
I'm with you, SIG. I think this episode was a very, very solid episode. I love the fact that it came with the intro-scarer that we've come to expect and the hunt that is so essential to the SPN formula--but, like FPB, all of the necessary things were added upon with little nuances that, seriously, I find so refreshing. We got a little lore, but delivered in a non-expositional way, which is awesome . Moreover, we got some classic rock and some references to classic rock (although, and I have
linniemac to blame for this, I'm finding that it's not the same if Dean isn't listening to it, in the Impala, on the road.
linniemac, I'm totally subscribing to your theory about the lack of music.)
Little set/prop notes:
-New zippo, that Sam actually uses, not Dean. Weird!
-New cell for Dean (had to replace after Fresh Blood)
-
kandkl believes that Janet's house is the same house used in TKAAR, and that the motel is the same motel used in Faith. We haven't double-checked that yet, but she has an eye for that kind of stuff. And I'm pretty sure she's right.
-The blood looked great this time around. Hats off. The only thing I wasn't a huge fan of was the black water stuff that Ruby manhandled Dean into ingesting. I just think it looked boring, like water with food coloring; but it was the right way to go, since it was technically witchcraft and not anything strictly demonic. If it had been demonic, I would have opted for something more viscous. But good call, Kripke.
*
kandkl was mad because Sam never took off his jacket, and he was wearing her favorite shirt. :P But that goes back to whenever it was when the discussion about clothes was going on; here's an instance of a repeat.
Cinematography notes:
-Loved the shot of the front interior of the Impala, as well as watching from the backseat instead of the hood of the car.
-The conversation in the hotel room had a lot of nice shots, I thought. I noticed a lot of cool ones when we were looking at Sam, in particular, such as through the fence thing in the room. (I think the half fences are requisite now, a hidden humor or something. :P)
-The f/x seemed pretty good this time around; the flies and maggots looked real, and I think that the cuts in Amanda's forearms were done well.
-Remember in Sin City, when Sam and the Father are in the car, and something like red brake lights light up the back of the car for a few seconds? I believe it's right before the whole "brother's keeper" comment. We see the same happen when Sam and Dean are in the car, right before the car stalls and Ruby shows up. WELL DONE KRIPKE. This kind of stuff makes me so happy! Love subtle continuities between episodes.
Music notes:
We hear:
-"Every Rose Has Its Thorns" by Poison (good call, KandKL!)
-...some other song that I can't place! Gah! But it was used beautifully . Holy crap was the execution gorgeous.
-OMG, did anyone else think of James Bond when the music played when Sam was driving?
We hear references to:
-BTO, when Sam introduces himself and Dean as "Bachman" and "Turner". Guess Impala is "Overdrive".
-Right after that, Dean says "black sabbath" when he's describing Amanda's satanic tendencies, and, given that it's Dean, I'm counting it as a classic rock reference. :D
There were a LOT of cultural/slang references in this episode. Here are the ones that I caught:
Slang:
-"...that's a curveball." (Dean)
-"Why are witches gankin' each other?" (Dean)
-"Amanda's clearly gone off the reservation." (Sam)
-Repeated uses of "come on", "man", and one "seriously" from Dean, but that's not all that new.
-"That was ass. Tasted like ass." (Dean)
-"It's witchcraft, short bus" (Ruby) <--LAUGHED SO HARD
-"Nice dick work" (Tammy)
-Not so much slang, but Dean uses the saying "devil may care".
Cultural references:
-Dean says "Burn witch burn", which is the title of a movie from 1962. Again with the movies.
-Tammy calls the Winchesters "Abbot and Costello", a two-man comedy act from the forties and fifties.
-Tammy calls Sam "Magnum", as in "Magnum, P.I.". (I know. I'm being thorough, hang in there.)
-Ruby and Dean have a very short compare/contrast session between hell and Hellraiser.
It's always struck me as interesting how demons are SO up to date and so culturally attuned. This episode especially highlighted that, particularly references to movies and comedy in general.
Now for the meat. Which now I can't say seriously because of Tammy. Thanks a lot, lady.
I don't think we learned a whole lot of new stuff about Sam this time around, but a lot of little things that we've been noticing all season were reinforced. Although, did anyone notice Sam's face when he and Dean were questioning the coven? At the end, he was VERY season-two Sam. It was great! Aside from that, though, we are reminded again that Sam is moving on; if his saying that wasn't enough, Ruby and Dean reitterating the point should have been enough to hit it home. Sam has quit trying to believe that there is a way out for Dean and is preparing himself for the worst, and it hurts to watch. At the same time, though, the older sibling in me just wants to pat him on the back and be proud.
Dean...Dean is more "come to terms" with the deal than we've seen him so far. I didn't notice as much forced bravado as I did in Sin City, despite Ruby commenting on it. I think that at this point, it's more of a survival thing and less of a denial thing. I also believe more than ever that Dean will do what he has to to prepare Sam for life without him, and I think he will (secretly) work with Ruby to achieve that end. More on that later.
Ruby answered so many questions! THANK GOD WE KNOW WHERE DEMONS COME FROM. Or at least, where they come from as far as the show is concerned. Can someone clear something up for me? Dean says something along the lines of "were all of the demons humans once" and Ruby says "every demon I've met". Does this mean that every demon started out as a human, or that as far as Ruby knows every demon started out as a human? I take issue with both: 1) The show has stayed fairly true to biblical theology, and for it to deviate so obviously now seems strange. According to the Bible, the first demons were angels that mutinied. 2) Even if what Ruby says is true, that she doesn't know any demons that weren't first humans, I would think that she would know of the first demons, the ones that are super powerful now that were once angels. Again, it seems strange to me that the show would suddenly branch off into its own ideas on this stuff. Thoughts?
I really enjoyed Katie Cassidy in this episode. I think she did a really great job. My biggest question now is what she will gain with the defeat of her kind? I think the important thing to remember is that her answer to Dean that she remembers what it's like to be human, and thus the insinuation that she cares about mankind, is basically a contradiction of her earlier assertion that hell strips a person of his/her humanity, something I'm a little more inclined to believe. While I think that she acted very convincingly, and I want very much to believe her, I think there is still something going on that Ruby isn't letting on about. (Tails, this goes back to our discussion of repentence and what it would take for a demon to technically reform.)
kandkl's points follow along this line of thought; do we think Ruby truly is in it for humanity's sake, whether it be for Sam or for the world in general?
We learned some other little things about demons from Tammy and Ruby's exchange. Tammy makes a surprised comment that Ruby made it out of hell when the gates opened and that it was a hell of a fight, implying that generally only strong demons made it out and that Ruby is not considered to be a strong demon. Clearly this is the case, since we see the obvious difference between Ruby's and Tammy's abilities. Speaking of, how the HELL is Sam supposed to beat these guys?! Because Tammy was not the top of the chain. Not close, even, since she's willing to kill Sam as a favor to the new leader-in-training. Makes me nervous. We also learn that demons have their own version of exorcisms (cool!) and that demons can recognize each other with just words. Not voices, or appearances...just words. I'd like to know more about that.
'Night, guys. Brain is melting.
~mirandler
I'm with you, SIG. I think this episode was a very, very solid episode. I love the fact that it came with the intro-scarer that we've come to expect and the hunt that is so essential to the SPN formula--but, like FPB, all of the necessary things were added upon with little nuances that, seriously, I find so refreshing. We got a little lore, but delivered in a non-expositional way, which is awesome . Moreover, we got some classic rock and some references to classic rock (although, and I have
linniemac to blame for this, I'm finding that it's not the same if Dean isn't listening to it, in the Impala, on the road.
linniemac, I'm totally subscribing to your theory about the lack of music.)
Little set/prop notes:
-New zippo, that Sam actually uses, not Dean. Weird!
-New cell for Dean (had to replace after Fresh Blood)
-
kandkl believes that Janet's house is the same house used in TKAAR, and that the motel is the same motel used in Faith. We haven't double-checked that yet, but she has an eye for that kind of stuff. And I'm pretty sure she's right.
-The blood looked great this time around. Hats off. The only thing I wasn't a huge fan of was the black water stuff that Ruby manhandled Dean into ingesting. I just think it looked boring, like water with food coloring; but it was the right way to go, since it was technically witchcraft and not anything strictly demonic. If it had been demonic, I would have opted for something more viscous. But good call, Kripke.
*
kandkl was mad because Sam never took off his jacket, and he was wearing her favorite shirt. :P But that goes back to whenever it was when the discussion about clothes was going on; here's an instance of a repeat.
Cinematography notes:
-Loved the shot of the front interior of the Impala, as well as watching from the backseat instead of the hood of the car.
-The conversation in the hotel room had a lot of nice shots, I thought. I noticed a lot of cool ones when we were looking at Sam, in particular, such as through the fence thing in the room. (I think the half fences are requisite now, a hidden humor or something. :P)
-The f/x seemed pretty good this time around; the flies and maggots looked real, and I think that the cuts in Amanda's forearms were done well.
-Remember in Sin City, when Sam and the Father are in the car, and something like red brake lights light up the back of the car for a few seconds? I believe it's right before the whole "brother's keeper" comment. We see the same happen when Sam and Dean are in the car, right before the car stalls and Ruby shows up. WELL DONE KRIPKE. This kind of stuff makes me so happy! Love subtle continuities between episodes.
Music notes:
We hear:
-"Every Rose Has Its Thorns" by Poison (good call, KandKL!)
-...some other song that I can't place! Gah! But it was used beautifully . Holy crap was the execution gorgeous.
-OMG, did anyone else think of James Bond when the music played when Sam was driving?
We hear references to:
-BTO, when Sam introduces himself and Dean as "Bachman" and "Turner". Guess Impala is "Overdrive".
-Right after that, Dean says "black sabbath" when he's describing Amanda's satanic tendencies, and, given that it's Dean, I'm counting it as a classic rock reference. :D
There were a LOT of cultural/slang references in this episode. Here are the ones that I caught:
Slang:
-"...that's a curveball." (Dean)
-"Why are witches gankin' each other?" (Dean)
-"Amanda's clearly gone off the reservation." (Sam)
-Repeated uses of "come on", "man", and one "seriously" from Dean, but that's not all that new.
-"That was ass. Tasted like ass." (Dean)
-"It's witchcraft, short bus" (Ruby) <--LAUGHED SO HARD
-"Nice dick work" (Tammy)
-Not so much slang, but Dean uses the saying "devil may care".
Cultural references:
-Dean says "Burn witch burn", which is the title of a movie from 1962. Again with the movies.
-Tammy calls the Winchesters "Abbot and Costello", a two-man comedy act from the forties and fifties.
-Tammy calls Sam "Magnum", as in "Magnum, P.I.". (I know. I'm being thorough, hang in there.)
-Ruby and Dean have a very short compare/contrast session between hell and Hellraiser.
It's always struck me as interesting how demons are SO up to date and so culturally attuned. This episode especially highlighted that, particularly references to movies and comedy in general.
Now for the meat. Which now I can't say seriously because of Tammy. Thanks a lot, lady.
I don't think we learned a whole lot of new stuff about Sam this time around, but a lot of little things that we've been noticing all season were reinforced. Although, did anyone notice Sam's face when he and Dean were questioning the coven? At the end, he was VERY season-two Sam. It was great! Aside from that, though, we are reminded again that Sam is moving on; if his saying that wasn't enough, Ruby and Dean reitterating the point should have been enough to hit it home. Sam has quit trying to believe that there is a way out for Dean and is preparing himself for the worst, and it hurts to watch. At the same time, though, the older sibling in me just wants to pat him on the back and be proud.
Dean...Dean is more "come to terms" with the deal than we've seen him so far. I didn't notice as much forced bravado as I did in Sin City, despite Ruby commenting on it. I think that at this point, it's more of a survival thing and less of a denial thing. I also believe more than ever that Dean will do what he has to to prepare Sam for life without him, and I think he will (secretly) work with Ruby to achieve that end. More on that later.
Ruby answered so many questions! THANK GOD WE KNOW WHERE DEMONS COME FROM. Or at least, where they come from as far as the show is concerned. Can someone clear something up for me? Dean says something along the lines of "were all of the demons humans once" and Ruby says "every demon I've met". Does this mean that every demon started out as a human, or that as far as Ruby knows every demon started out as a human? I take issue with both: 1) The show has stayed fairly true to biblical theology, and for it to deviate so obviously now seems strange. According to the Bible, the first demons were angels that mutinied. 2) Even if what Ruby says is true, that she doesn't know any demons that weren't first humans, I would think that she would know of the first demons, the ones that are super powerful now that were once angels. Again, it seems strange to me that the show would suddenly branch off into its own ideas on this stuff. Thoughts?
I really enjoyed Katie Cassidy in this episode. I think she did a really great job. My biggest question now is what she will gain with the defeat of her kind? I think the important thing to remember is that her answer to Dean that she remembers what it's like to be human, and thus the insinuation that she cares about mankind, is basically a contradiction of her earlier assertion that hell strips a person of his/her humanity, something I'm a little more inclined to believe. While I think that she acted very convincingly, and I want very much to believe her, I think there is still something going on that Ruby isn't letting on about. (Tails, this goes back to our discussion of repentence and what it would take for a demon to technically reform.)
kandkl's points follow along this line of thought; do we think Ruby truly is in it for humanity's sake, whether it be for Sam or for the world in general?
We learned some other little things about demons from Tammy and Ruby's exchange. Tammy makes a surprised comment that Ruby made it out of hell when the gates opened and that it was a hell of a fight, implying that generally only strong demons made it out and that Ruby is not considered to be a strong demon. Clearly this is the case, since we see the obvious difference between Ruby's and Tammy's abilities. Speaking of, how the HELL is Sam supposed to beat these guys?! Because Tammy was not the top of the chain. Not close, even, since she's willing to kill Sam as a favor to the new leader-in-training. Makes me nervous. We also learn that demons have their own version of exorcisms (cool!) and that demons can recognize each other with just words. Not voices, or appearances...just words. I'd like to know more about that.
'Night, guys. Brain is melting.
~mirandler