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I enjoyed some good, old Saving People and Hunting Things. I liked seeing lath and plaster construction on the way to the attic, always makes me think of Dean’s skeezy “should’ve cleaned the pipes” comment to Jo in No Exit. I was a bit… amused… to hear Sam and Dean use Talking Heads as their fake names. It would be fun to see Dean in a gigantic white suit chanting “stop making sense.” But I digress.
This felt like things were getting back on track. I liked the BM talk back at the bunker (though I second everyone else in wanting the bunker to get salted and burned). I liked S&D coming down into the crypt with flashlights, I liked the attic (and what seemed like some familiar props), I liked the mossy cabin. And I liked an angry Fuck You Dean when dealing with the djinn. Angry Dean makes me happy. He solves problems. He has life. He hides things until they extrude from his skin like stellated polyhedra . That is my best Dean.
I even liked(ish) the Sam/Mary conversation. Except for the pep talk. I got a kick out of Bobby not being open the way John was. Trauma, what a bitch. And I hope that Mary and fAUxBobby start a family and spend all their time raising little meat sacks. Off in Donna’s cabin, like cuddle ninjas. Out of our sight. Silent and irrelevant.
I was also happy to hear Garth’s name. We can only hope.
yeah, the Talking Heads thing …
Listen, I love Talking Heads. But … that’s not really Sam and Dean. I look back longingly at Dean’s Motorhead cassette tape in the pilot and wonder where it all went wrong … Motorhead fans and Bob Seger fans don’t exactly intersect. But never mind.
// Off in Donna’s cabin, like cuddle ninjas. Out of our sight. Silent and irrelevant.
//
hahahaha
Yeah. Good riddance.
Garth is the Last One Standing, in terms of an actual connection with the actual show, not all these AU characters who just are not doing it for me!
I too liked the monster-hunt aspect of this – although not sure about the groundskeeper. That was a dangling participle … a red herring or just …awkward?
In my opinion, the way Jared Padalecki is playing his scenes with Mary is really interesting. Honestly, this may just be Padalecki’s inability to be anything other than totally honest – but he seems to barely tolerate her. He’s always on the verge of being like, “Lady, I don’t know you, you’re not really my mom, I don’t care about you.” That’s what I see on his face.
It gives their scenes a nice edge – which I’m not sure is deliberate!
haha, I didn’t mind the Talking Heads. I figure Dean would buy into the world moving on a woman’s hips. And they’ve gotta be running pretty thin on aliases by now!
he seems to barely tolerate her. He’s always on the verge of being like, “Lady, I don’t know you, you’re not really my mom, I don’t care about you.”
This is the only thing that gets me through her scenes any more! And Dean, too, at the end. He’s so perfunctory. The nothing smile he gives her after she insists he should call if he needs anything. That actually feels right for the story they’ve told, whether or not they intended to tell it…I mean, it’s so bizarre. I know we’ve trodden this ground a hundred times. But it’s like we’re at the end of this huge emotional two-season arc where Mary turned out to be a nobody disappointment to the boys and now she’s like an old but barely tolerable friend. That smile Dean gives her is what I would expect to see at the exhausted end of that arc, and I’m down with that. BUT WE NEVER GOT THE ARC ITSELF! And all that absence…it’s impossible not to see and resent that absence when you watch.
(Dean being curt and tired at the end is obviously also about the whole Michael thing but I choose to celebrate that it expresses itself in the Mary interaction!)
I noticed that perfunctory smile from Dean as well. Mary was being all earnest: “Call me if you need me. I’ll come back,” and he was curt in response. There were so many times in the series where we saw, whether in a hallucination or a dream world, where we saw them imagining a loving, caring interaction with their mother and it just didn’t happen with resurrected Mary. You’re right, though, that we didn’t see that arc happen, but she has to have been a disappointment to them from what they had been longing for their entire lives.
I did think it was interesting that at the beginning of the latest episode, “Optimism,” we learn that Dean is coming back from a visit to Bobby and Mary. I guess that’s the show’s way of telling us that there’s a relationship there, but the best writers don’t tell us. They show us. And they have not showed us a convincing, loving, motherly compassion from Mary toward her sons.
//Honestly, this may just be Padalecki’s inability to be anything other than totally honest – but he seems to barely tolerate her.//
This is such a good observation! I had noticed it as well but hadn’t really been able to articulate what I was seeing. There was a moment in this episode, as Sam and Mary were walking through the woods while Mary was talking to him about Bobby compared to his father — Sam reaches out to pat her back, but then immediately tucks his hands back into his jacket, awkward, uncomfortable. It seemed like an intentional choice by JP, but it wasn’t overplayed. Another one of those moments where his huge size, rather than being an asset, makes him seem a little out of place (I treasure those moments). I’m choosing to read it as his own ambivalence towards Mary as well. May it continue!
well, shit, I can’t say this didn’t attempt a bunch of stuff I’ve been begging for, all stemming from taking Sam and Dean’s emotions in response to a set of circumstances (bunker invaded, Mary alive, Michael shenanigans) seriously. It felt like there was actual stuff going on. Some good conversations, some beautiful closeups. I really enjoyed watching Jensen this episode and I thought it was cool and interesting that we never found out what Dean’s nightmare was.
Solid mystery and the daughter and the djinn characters were nice one-offs. Some pacing/timing weirdness (casual walk in the woods? Sam rescuing Maggie and then disappearing?) and jeez — what was with that Get Out throwback gardener?????
I appreciated the little spark of life and contention Bobby brought to the relationship and was sorry that it all seemed hunky dory at the end. This Bobby and Mary just kind of suck the energy from everything, it’s a shame.
I’m trying to withhold judgement on this whole Chief Sam thing. I definitely need it to stay a problem — Mary saying “this is what you were born for” made me want to chuck, except that Sam seemed to find the thought kind of horrifying too. I’m dreading any more leadership seminars and professional development sessions and “aren’t you boys just the gosh darn best” pep talks. I still can’t deal with these anodyne interchangeable respawning hunters, but I did like that there was always one lurking about in the background of those classic “Sam and Dean look at the computer” shots; it unsettled the screen.
Sam’s new red flannel is Lovely!!!!
And dang, those were a couple of spectacular Impala driving shots.
// It felt like there was actual stuff going on. Some good conversations, some beautiful closeups. I really enjoyed watching Jensen this episode and I thought it was cool and interesting that we never found out what Dean’s nightmare was. //
Yes he was in a really cool spot in this ep, I think – and I like it that the relationship was prioritized. Both of them in different spots. There was that moment in last week’s episode where Dean was like, “Wait … who’s Riley? Who are all these people?” I thought, “Took the words right out of my mouth, pal.” Sam’s investment in this rando crowd is uninteresting to me EXCEPT in how it affects his relationship with Dean.
and “casual walk in the woods” – HA – I know. And when Sam and Dean were lazily strolling through the cemetery, chatting about it being a family plot, etc., and I’m thinking, “Wait … isn’t dummy Maggie in dire straits right now? Wouldn’t you be RUNNING?”
But – to quote French Mistake – “at least they’re talking!”
and agreed, in re: Impala shots!
And when Sam and Dean were lazily strolling through the cemetery, chatting about it being a family plot, etc., and I’m thinking, “Wait … isn’t dummy Maggie in dire straits right now? Wouldn’t you be RUNNING?”
hahaha! This was so silly. Get busted by the gardener in the world’s biggest underground mausoleum and then stroll up to the main house for your preservation society tete-a-tete and all the while Dean’s reassuring Sam: I’m sure she hasn’t been eaten yet. Well get a move on then!!
Sam’s investment in this rando crowd is uninteresting to me EXCEPT in how it affects his relationship with Dean.
Yup. How it affects S&D, personally. Or at least, you know, treat them like case of the week people. People with histories, goals, desires. Why the hell are they choosing to be there, to be hunters? Lord, they’re all so dull. I feel like it has to implode, I can’t wait for it to implode — I hope they all get slaughtered or something.
I thought Mary saying that Sam was doing what he was born to do was an interesting reference to the concept of destiny. In the early years, the Winchesters were always being told that being vessels for Lucifer and Michael was their destiny. They defied that. Now, they have another one? I know Billie has told Dean that he has something important to do.
The throwback gardener was so anachronistic that I’m wondering if he was Michael, though I don’t know why Michael is hiding out in another vessel. Keeping an eye on his trap? But he has dozens. Michael does like hats and has a vintage flair.
Yeah – what was with that gardener?
“This is what you were born to do” is such a betrayal of the history of Mary Winchester, and her raw devastation she felt when she learned her sons ended up being hunters – the way she looked at Dean in the second time travel ep – with such sadness and horror, at what her unborn son had become, the life he had lived. It was everything she had fought AGAINST.
Samantha Smith is not a good actress, so we have that to deal with as well.
It’s a block I can’t get past. The betrayal of Mary and all she represented. The show has really suffered – in terms of its mythology – by betraying everything set up in the pilot.
Surrounding Sam and Dean with familiar faces – yet erasing the backstory and the history – the Bobby thing, the Mary thing – has left a real void. I can’t invest. I don’t care about “this” Bobby. Why the hell should I? Mary showing more investment in Bobby’s pain than her sons … it’s like this huge ELEPHANT in the room and clearly “the show” thinks they dealt with it, with that horrible “I hate you Mom but I love you” scene between Dean and Mary. They think that that was the resolution, the healing, the growing, the catharsis. But the Mary thing hasn’t been handled. Sam looks at her with barely concealed irritation – which I admit I find gratifying.
That being said, there was some good stuff here – and some killer closeups of Jensen late in the game, where his eyes were filled with light – he looked gorgeous, or more gorgeous than usual. I liked the casting of the daughter – and I liked the concept of that character – her hardness, popping pills and drinking – she was a scarred person. Dean recognized her. They’ve both been through some shit. So I liked that. It was a little too TV Movie, having her be “okay” at the end – but it’s forgivable. I liked how prickly she was. It was a good performance.
The bunker filled with people … I don’t care about those people. who on earth thought that Maggie would be ready? Bobby was right to bitch slap Sam about it. This is Kids Stuff, I’m sorry. At least Jo was TOUGH. At least Jo wasn’t like a giddy schoolgirl.
I can’t help but think of Eric Kripke’s comments on the commentary track for one ep where he expressed his disdain for the roadhouse – he hated all of those shots of hunters “oiling their guns” at the bar.
Now we have a lingering shot of hunters “oiling their guns” in the bunker.
God, I hate the bunker.
This new team of writers seems to fear Sam and Dean by themselves.
Is it just my imagination or do they keep splitting up Sam and Dean for the monster hunt/fights? Last week with the collectible kids, walks in the woods with fake Bobby and FMW, Sam goes to the attic alone while Dean doles out well adjusted platitudes that sound like they came from an AA meeting! Dean is mister ‘bury it deep’ not ‘let it go’. Even so, those scenes were lovely of both S & D separately. I wonder if it’s meant to be a manifestation of them growing apart emotionally.
I rewatched the part where the djinn said in surprise “you…you’re…” Then Dean hit him. Later the djinn referred to his family and Dean said, “You don’t know my family.” That exchange felt particularly important to me; like what’s Dean hiding?
Totally rando gardner, unless he’s somehow a callback to Joshua in the garden – maybe keeping an eye on S&D.
Always good to see the djinn again! I also enjoyed some very beautiful shots.
// Dean is mister ‘bury it deep’ not ‘let it go’. //
Good point.
This is more of the hero-worship thing that has crept into the writing, and so we lose the subtlety of characters.
// I rewatched the part where the djinn said in surprise “you…you’re…” Then Dean hit him. Later the djinn referred to his family and Dean said, “You don’t know my family.” That exchange felt particularly important to me; like what’s Dean hiding? //
Hmmm, I need to rewatch. Interesting.
And why does Dean just sit there, unconcerned (and looking very gorgeous) while Sam heads off to face certain danger, needing backup (and also looking gorgeous)?
//Dean is mister ‘bury it deep’ not ‘let it go’.//
I agree, Melanie – it threw me a little to see him in a counseling position. Not that he hasn’t offered hypocritical advice to folks in the past. But it’s hard to remember the last thing Dean “let go.”
“Let it go. I try to. Every single day. …I mean at least for the last week or so, before that I just repressed the hell out of my shit, it seemed to work for me for a while!”
Then again, maybe we’re supposed to recognize the hypocrisy in that, since the eight bullets he shot into that djinn after he was already dead suggests that there is plenty Dean has not let go of.
Bethany,
I think of Sheila’s favorite gif from The Mentalists, “I need a drink.” Dean: ” I second that!”
In this episode Sasha says, “Thank god for benzos!” What an opener for a Dean Winchester zinger.
“Amen, Brother Benz! ”
“Bedtime for Benzo.”
“You took the words right outta my mouth.”
I’m being silly, but you get the idea.
And since you mentioned the emptying of the clip into the djinn…
I don’t like to get too technical, but ya gotta have rules. Since when does bird bookend bashing and bullets = blade dipped in lamb’s blood? I’ll concede on woodchipper beats everything, but even beheading didn’t kill leviathans or ghoulpires. And this djinn was a supercharged djinn at that. I blame Mick’s BMOL cure for Claire’s werewolf bite. I mean what’s next?
//I rewatched the part where the djinn said in surprise “you…you’re…” Then Dean hit him. Later the djinn referred to his family and Dean said, “You don’t know my family.” That exchange felt particularly important to me; like what’s Dean hiding?\\
I still hope that Michael is “dormant inside Dean and just riding his time to re-emerge/ retake control! ( Fingers crossed)
*biding ( sorry, phone typing is hard)
Speculation: Are the writers/producers/show runners trying to set up a true Men of Letters scenario? Remember, when we first heard about the Men of Letters via their grandfather, Henry, who described as “the beholders of all mysterious and supernatural”. [I’m sure that wasn’t the exact wording but I go the gist.] Will Sam be head of a team of analysts and Dean lead the team of “elite hunters”? If so, kill me now. J2 have said so many times at so many interviews that they want to go in a blaze of glory which I don’t think means that they die of old age sitting in room full of leather, old books, a telescope that can’t be used and young minions running around them cleaning guns and bandaging wounds.
I liked most of this episode, but I agree that the “hero-worship thing” has got to go. These are two guys in an Impala doing an important job while saving the world. They are accidental heroes, they are tragic heroes, this is not going to be a happy ending for them. They need to get back to that because that’s why I love this show. I see it as a metaphor for life. That despite all kinds of crap, they get up and keep going and they are such good actors, that they make you believe it also.
Maybe The Powers That Be need to go back and watch every episode of the first five years of SPN and learn what this show is really about.
Carolyn, in last week’s episode when Dean was talking about famous twosomes he ended with “Thelma and Louise, just drive on out of here” (gist, not quote). I’m hoping that’s how they go. Maybe through some portal where Baby and S&D crash onto a room with Rowena and angels and the BMOL inside.
Yes!
I grew up on Buffy The Vampire Slayer, miss the hell out of it. I’ve never really been too interested in Supernatural but I have to say, seeing all the love for the series here makes me really want to give it a shot. Can anyone recommend a good or memorable episode for me to watch? I’m curious! What’s everyone’s favorite episode???
Welcome! There are so many great episodes, but it’s sort of hard to rec a random one because the show is based on the history of a family and so much of the show hangs on backstory and how that started the Winchester brothers on their journey together. However, if you have some knowledge of the series as a whole, that may make it easier to jump into it.
However, I think the pilot is a great one because it plots out who the family is and why they do what they do, and shows how the brothers became a team fighting evil. Honorable mention episode is: A Very Supernatural Xmas – this shows the brothers working together, and we learn more about how they grew up, and that family is everything to them.
oh, good question Hillary! Like Pat said the pilot can be a great place to start — it’s a solid introduction to the key pleasures and relationships of the show. Things aren’t completely nailed down, of course, and it has a few moments of that classic pilot/s1 awkwardness (as a Buffy fan you know what I’m talking about :D) but if it grabs you then I think you’re pretty set.
Still if you want to just jump into an episode and see what the fuss is about, I’d suggest 2.12, Nightshifter. It’s pretty universally loved. Well-made, shows off the strengths of the cast and the relationships and writing and directing but isn’t too reliant on seasonal arcs. It’s a good time with a fair few “oh shit” moments. If you end up giving it a shot we hope you report back!
Thank you Pat & Jessie!!! I will definitely start with the pilot then move to the Xmas and Nightshifter episodes. Very helpful guys, just wanted a handful to start with and three ep’s are perfect! I worry now I’ll get sucked in, but hey – that’s the fun of it! I really appreciate these reccomendations, thanks again guys!!