So, Season 11 of SPN... (almost certainly spoilers!)

[quickreaver]

Hey, gang! I know I haven't been posting much lately; got a little distracted by modding events, other social platforms (I'm sorry, truly! I can't help it!) and a spot of surgery, but now that LJ has pulled its head out of its ass, I have something to explore

Comments

[dugindeep]

I've felt that it's been way more enjoyable lately, but I had chalked it up to my extremely low expectations after surviving the last few seasons and avoiding conversations about the show on LJ or Twiter so I could just maintain my own feelings on the episode. Whatever it really is, I hope they keep it up!

[quickreaver]

Oh, yeah, I've definitely abridged my expectations too. And I've gotten better at maintaining my own feelings about episodes ... unless maybe it's to skew my opinion upwards. If someone can convince me to like an episode more? I'll let 'em!

[dugindeep]

I read the comment below and the shift, to me, might also be in the boys. I feel like there has been a lot more umph to them lately? Even just lil nuances are fun and enjoyable to me and remain longer than any terrible tines (there are still those lingering around this season). Then again, I enjoyed the first few seasons of last year then felt it tumbled quickly, soooooo lol

[quickreaver]

I kinda loved the first three episodes of S10, my yes. I coulda used a little more demon!Dean in my life, mmmm. And a little more hurt!Sam. *wistful sigh*

[hells_half_acre]

I think this is a question that we should explore further into the season, or maybe not until the season is over.

That being said, if the ONLY change with Singer stepping away is that his wife gets a little less free-reign on her episodes, I'm happy.

And whether it's a difference of Singer stepping away or just Carver learning from his mistakes, I do think that this season (so far) is an improvement over the previous one(s).

[quickreaver]

Yeah, it's a little early to be hoping something has changed--and I may have doomed us to disappointment now--but there's just something happening that feels like a real shift to me. *crosses every crossable appendage!*

[hells_half_acre]

*crosses every crossable appendage too*

Agreed. I definitely think that the first few episodes of this season have been stronger than the first few episodes of the previous seasons. I really hope it's a trend that continues and DOES signify a lasting shift.

I'm so far pleased with the new writing hire too - though I've only got one episode to base that satisfaction on, so I'm crossing my appendages for that too.

[sillie82]

For me, no, because it has always been good. Every season is different, and I enjoy some more then others, but I don't think the later seasons are 'bad' compared to the Kripke years. Just different. Which isn't strange seeing how this show has been running for 10 years. But characterisation has always been good, the stories strong, so yeah. Obviously this is just my opinion, and I feel like I watch show very differently then a lot of other people do.

That being said, am I enjoying the hell out of season 11 and is it awesome? Hell yes.

[quickreaver]

\0/!!

[killabeez]

I enjoyed the first half of S10, too, so I'm reluctant to raise my expectations. But for me, yes, so far S11 has been fairly enjoyable. A sense that I get is that maybe they've stopped pandering to the fans a bit, and found a clear direction? That latter part might also be down to creating an antagonist that's external to the main characters, and powerful enough that both the writers and the characters are sort of rallying together to fight it. These are just vague impressions I have (obviously).

It does seem as though Jared and Jensen are enjoying this season a lot, and that's infectious. And I agree with you that it's been scarier/creepier-that, I have no explanation for.

I do like the new writer, so far.

[quickreaver]

I kinda wonder about the fan pandering. Fandering? ;) I think the "Baby" episode did a fair amount of gratuitous pandering, but I was kinda on-board for that. It was still a really neat episode. I knew what Robbie Thompson was doing and just sorta shrugged off those few instances of fandering and looked more longingly at the fresh glimpses into the guys' characters (and the uber-cool camerawork

[amberdreams]

I think there is a difference to fandering (Hee!) to fans and to writing episodes that are more tributes to fandom. To clarify, fandering to fandom (or the more vocal parts of it) is witnessed in the sometimes pathetic attempts to find plot lines that give a reason for keeping certain characters alive and in the show. Whereas episodes like the 200th last season and Baby are expressions of love.

[septembers_coda]

YES and absolutely yes! (BTW, glad to see you, BB! RL is crazy right now so I don't have time to say much, but wanted to chime in. And surgery?? Will you fill us in? Hope you're good!) <3