I am very happy that you won't shut up about it! I love reading what you write about it -- a SPN marathon session is not complete until I have also read your review/debrief of the episode. Unfortunately, I am not yet up to Season 8 yet, so I haven't actually read your above entry. But I just wanted to let you know that yours is the welcome SPN Spam on my f'list.
That is so kind of you to say! This was a surprisingly draining post to write even though I'd be surprised if it's even half commentary, so it's especially nice to see at the moment.
I'm...sitting on my hands trying not to oversell S8, but I really hope you enjoy it.
I have heard it referred to as Season Gr8 (to be fair, I may have seen you refer to it as Season Gr8) so I'm already getting a little hyped. I found the beginning-to-mid of season 7 to have a little less...omph(?) than previous, so although it is picking up again now, I could do with a little bit of a sell for Season 8.
I'm just trying not to get too excited. I don't think my usual channels for ...acquiring TV episodes are going to provide as they eps screened too long ago. I'm just hoping I don't have to wait til it comes out on DVD, because I might just die from waiting until then.
IMO S7 is a bit like S3, in that it has some amazing episodes and character studies, and it does some very cool things with political metaphor (the leviathan are corporations! OCCUPY PURGATORY! &c), but as a season doesn't quite...gel for me. But I'd say hang in, because there are a few strong episodes concentrated toward the end there. And S8 does all work as a very deliberate whole, so if you like the more serialized seasons better you're in for a treat.
This is good reading. *nods... runs off to bed now*
And it is also true. I hate that they criticize what's been innate to him since infanthood - something that he has no control over whatsoever - and points that out and judge the heck of "it" (re: a trait) instead of looking at what he actually does with the power given to him, "taint" or no. He didn't choose to have a demon kill his mom and feed him demon blood, and gods, why would you punish him for it? Can it be dangerous for his health? Possibly, but only when taken to extremes - and he rarely goes to extremes except to deal with whatever crazy plans they've come up with. (Re: watching him almost vomit when he had to chug down the gallons of demon blood...) I mean, I can almost buy the "drug" parallels that can be somewhat be drawn between the demon blood and him, but again, you body purges yourself of that naturally - even if it takes time and the damage remains..., but this is definitely not that.
word! I really enjoy it in terms of narrative, particularly now that I can be this confident that the show not only knows what the fuck is up with that, but isn't willing to give the audience plausible deniability on it. But when I'm experiencing the show emotionally....IT IS EFFECTIVE.
Like, the "you can BE an X, as long as you never ACT ON your X-ness!" everyone drops on Sam throughout S4 feels flat-out retro at this point. But, b/c I think S5 kind of dropped the ball on the problematization that happened in Levee, I've been even stingier with the benefit of the doubt than I would normally be since then.
Oh, god. It's too late for an in-depth read right now, but I skimmed, at least, and -
From our third-person POV, we know that Cas has also become deeply loyal to and protective of Sam, particularly as seen in his scens with Anna and Lucifer in S5 and the great concern for Sam he shows in his POV episode in late S6, but Sam doesn't have this information.
STABBED IN THE SOUL is roughly my reaction to Sam and Cas as well so LOL I FEEL YOU. I have just, like, paragraphs and paragraphs of thoughts about them that I've never been able to hammer into a coherent post. Maybe once the hiatus makes me antsy enough inspiration will strike.
I'm glad you keep going on about the show and Sam. I've been pretty inundated with people saying "Dean didn't really mean it." or "We all know that Dean loves Sam more than life itself (which in NO WAY means he trusts Sam or lets Sam trust himself) why doesn't Sam see it?" or my big WTF "Sam really has always failed Dean. Why is Dean trying to make Sam feel better. He should let Sam finally admit he is a worthless brother who NEVER does ANYTHING for Dean? AND takes all the good stories while Dean takes care of Sam the worthless and cooks him dinner
( ... )
I STILL HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY THOUGH! I'm glad you commented, feling surrounded by the the "LALALLLA CAN'T HEAR YOU OVER MY FANON" insistence that up is down is...frustrating.
I've been pretty inundated with people saying "Dean didn't really mean it." or "We all know that Dean loves Sam more than life itself (which in NO WAY means he trusts Sam or lets Sam trust himself) why doesn't Sam see it?"
Thanks for posting this. I agree with you about the relationship between the brothers. I have a hard time believing that Dean isn't doing this deliberately. I know you don't think so but I'm not so sure. BTW I also have a hard time with people saying Dean sold his soul for Sam. BS as far as I'm concerned. He sold his soul because he didn't want to be alone. He is one needy guy. A trait that is unattractive to me. Sam has paid many times over for all the things Dean has supposedly done for him and doesn't owe Dean anything. I just wish Sam could see that. However, I know it will never happen and Sam will always be a second-class citizen to the writers and the Dean fans. I LOVE Sammy.
I have a hard time believing that Dean isn't doing this deliberately. I know you don't think so but I'm not so sure.
I actually think that's a fair reading? And closer to my opinion than not. I mean, I don't buy the fandom party line that these are all isolated incidents that he didn't meeeeaaaaaaan. I just think he has a thick layer of cognitive dissonance lying over his resentment of his brother, and ofc it's not like he knows what healthy relationships look like. I think he's consciously convinced himself he's not doing it, and he keeps doubling down in order to convince himself of it. If he were consciously trying to demoralize and manipulate his brother he could hardly do better. I think being a big mean bully is his default setting by now, AND that his self-image as the Good Brother who loves Sam so muh-huch is so central to his identity and his excuses for his meanness to Sam, that I have a hard time seeing him consciously acknowledging what he's doing.
I also have a hard time with people saying Dean sold his soul for Sam. BS
( ... )
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I'm...sitting on my hands trying not to oversell S8, but I really hope you enjoy it.
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I'm just trying not to get too excited. I don't think my usual channels for ...acquiring TV episodes are going to provide as they eps screened too long ago. I'm just hoping I don't have to wait til it comes out on DVD, because I might just die from waiting until then.
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And it is also true. I hate that they criticize what's been innate to him since infanthood - something that he has no control over whatsoever - and points that out and judge the heck of "it" (re: a trait) instead of looking at what he actually does with the power given to him, "taint" or no. He didn't choose to have a demon kill his mom and feed him demon blood, and gods, why would you punish him for it? Can it be dangerous for his health? Possibly, but only when taken to extremes - and he rarely goes to extremes except to deal with whatever crazy plans they've come up with. (Re: watching him almost vomit when he had to chug down the gallons of demon blood...) I mean, I can almost buy the "drug" parallels that can be somewhat be drawn between the demon blood and him, but again, you body purges yourself of that naturally - even if it takes time and the damage remains..., but this is definitely not that.
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Like, the "you can BE an X, as long as you never ACT ON your X-ness!" everyone drops on Sam throughout S4 feels flat-out retro at this point. But, b/c I think S5 kind of dropped the ball on the problematization that happened in Levee, I've been even stingier with the benefit of the doubt than I would normally be since then.
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From our third-person POV, we know that Cas has also become deeply loyal to and protective of Sam, particularly as seen in his scens with Anna and Lucifer in S5 and the great concern for Sam he shows in his POV episode in late S6, but Sam doesn't have this information.
OH. DEAR. GOD.
( ... )
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I've been pretty inundated with people saying "Dean didn't really mean it." or "We all know that Dean loves Sam more than life itself (which in NO WAY means he trusts Sam or lets Sam trust himself) why doesn't Sam see it?"
( ... )
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BTW I also have a hard time with people saying Dean sold his soul for Sam. BS as far as I'm concerned. He sold his soul because he didn't want to be alone. He is one needy guy. A trait that is unattractive to me.
Sam has paid many times over for all the things Dean has supposedly done for him and doesn't owe Dean anything. I just wish Sam could see that. However, I know it will never happen and Sam will always be a second-class citizen to the writers and the Dean fans.
I LOVE Sammy.
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I actually think that's a fair reading? And closer to my opinion than not. I mean, I don't buy the fandom party line that these are all isolated incidents that he didn't meeeeaaaaaaan. I just think he has a thick layer of cognitive dissonance lying over his resentment of his brother, and ofc it's not like he knows what healthy relationships look like. I think he's consciously convinced himself he's not doing it, and he keeps doubling down in order to convince himself of it. If he were consciously trying to demoralize and manipulate his brother he could hardly do better. I think being a big mean bully is his default setting by now, AND that his self-image as the Good Brother who loves Sam so muh-huch is so central to his identity and his excuses for his meanness to Sam, that I have a hard time seeing him consciously acknowledging what he's doing.
I also have a hard time with people saying Dean sold his soul for Sam. BS ( ... )
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