Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love (2019; d. Nick Broomfield)
I reviewed this documentary – about the relationship between Marianne Ihlen and Leonard Cohen – for Rogerebert.com.
Leonard Cohen: I’m Your Man (2005; d. Lian Lunson)
I watched this beautiful concert film – directed by Lian Lunson (whom I interviewed about her latest film, Waiting for the Miracle to Come) – the title of which, of course, is taken from a Leonard Cohen song).
Supernatural, Season 5, episode 15 “Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid” (2010; d. John F. Showalter)
Wow, Kim Rhodes has been on the show for 10 years.
Supernatural, Season 5, episode 16 “Dark Side of the Moon” (2010; d. Jeff Woolnough)
You know what pisses ME off? Bringing back these fucking hunters for … what reason? Hunters who killed Sam in front of Dean and then killed Dean. You think Dean would forgive that? Why would you betray THIS MOMENT? These people in charge over there do not fucking get it. You think I’m nostalgic to see familiar faces? Like … two random assholes who killed the leads? Fuck this shit. Sorry. It pisses me off.
Supernatural, Season 5, episode 17 “99 Problems” (2010; d. Charles Beeson)
This one upsets me: it’s extremely accurate on
1. how cults work and
2. how tyranny operates.
If people are panicked and traumatized enough, they will gravitate towards a strong leader. Good luck trying to stop it.
Supernatural, Season 5, episode 18 “Point of No Return” (2010; d. Philip Sgriccia)
This whole season-long arc – with Lucifer/Sam and Michael/Dean and “will they won’t they” and gathering up the rings of the horsemen – and all that – it’s so intricate in a way, but it’s also so simple. It’s a simple binary, which works on its surface level but also works on that deep-down level, the metaphoric level. Both Sam and Dean considering whether or not to let a celestial being penetrate them. For an entire season. The BALLS Supernatural used to have. But the slow burn of it, and also how Dean eventually makes his choice … it’s just so well done. I love this first scene too mainly because of that green wall and how he is filmed.
Supernatural, Season 5, episode 19 “Hammer of the Gods” (2010; d. Rick Bota)
Worth it for this exchange alone.
Supernatural, Season 5, episode 20 “The Devil You Know” (2010; d. Robert Singer)
Jensen unleashed:
Supernatural, Season 5, episode 21 “Two Minutes to Midnight” (2010; d. John F. Showalter)
Thrilling. And Billie’s okay – I guess? – although the actress is pretty one-note. And she is nothing – NOTHING – compared to the character they created here. So yeah, let’s just kill him off and replace him with someone less interesting. Good plan.
Supernatural, Season 5, episode 22 “Swan Song” (2010; d. Steve Boyum)
Heartbreaking. And, of course, ruined by what was later done to Chuck. One of the many many things about later seasons I have to ignore in order to enjoy earlier seasons – which seems to completely defeat the fucking purpose of later seasons. Why do this? Why ruin arcs from the past? You’re not being edgy or innovative. You’re being destructive.
Supernatural, Season 6, episode 1 “Exile on Main St.” (2010; d. Philip Sgriccia)
Love this episode. I was so completely traumatized by it my first time watching it – particularly Sam being back and “different” somehow – plus the awful awful Campbell family – and it’s still upsetting. But it’s very intriguing in re: masculinity, one of my main “ways in” to this series. Ouch. And that opening montage – set to the absolutely perfect song – couldn’t be improved upon.
What Happened Was … (1994; d. Tom Noonan)
Finally – after a couple of false starts over the years – one dating back a decade – I wrote about What Happened Was… for my latest Present Tense column at Film Comment. The film has haunted me ever since I first saw it in 1994 (this year is its 25th anniversary). I was a young woman then, and even though I had a very busy social life then, the film gave me a prophetic chill. It showed me what I feared (and I was right to fear it). When I finally re-watched What Happened Was… – 10 years after first seeing it – it felt even more eerily powerful, especially now that I had miles of road behind me, unlike the first time I saw it. Now here we are in 2019, and this film is still not available to purchase (even though people don’t purchase physical copies of movies anymore, which is very very stupid. You expect corporations to behave honorably and keep things available for streaming? You’re trusting a corporation in terms of your music/movie collection? No thanks.) HOWEVER: What Happened Was… is available now on streaming platforms (I own it on Amazon). The image quality is not good. But it’s good enough.
The Mindy Project, Season 1, episode 5, “Danny Castellano Is My Gynecologist” (2012; d. Peter Lauer)
My sister and I continuing our slow binge-watch, which we can only do when we’re together, which is like twice a month. So much fun, though. Laughing until we WEEP and then texting each other funny lines and moments the following days.
Supernatural, Season 6, episode 2 “Two and a Half Men” (2010; d. John F. Showalter)
Not sure about the choice to switcheroo the baby from white to black – hmmmm – but Dean’s protectiveness towards the child was a wonderful counterpoint to everything else going on, in his life, in his head, etc. His reaction to the Campbells. His sense that somethings’ wrong with Sam. His anxiety about Lisa, his sense of obligation, his sense of being torn, his tendency to lie to her/downplay … All of that working together. There are some fans who don’t like “anything to come between the brothers.” I literally do not know what these people think drama IS.
Supernatural, Season 6, episode 3 “The Third Man” (2010; d. Robert Singer)
There’s a stick. There’s another small black child in peril. I may be reading into it, but I think there’s some carelessness with the images here. Diversity is excellent. But … think a little bit?
Supernatural, Season 6, episode 4 “Weekend at Bobby’s” (2010; d. Jensen Ackles)
Rufus’ role in this whole episode cracks me up.
Supernatural, Season 6, episode 5 “Live Free or Twihard” (2010; d. Rod Hardy)
One of the most fucked-up episodes they ever did. Naturally it’s one of my favorites.
Supernatural, Season 6, episode 6 “You Can’t Handle the Truth” (2010; d. Jan Eliasberg)
I love the Soulless Sam arc and how damn LONG they were willing to drag it out. They explored it from so many angles. Dean’s creepy-crawlies. Dean’s secret conversations with Bobby. Sam being totally weird. And here, Veritas Lady (who does a great job) clocks that Sam is … a total ice-cold sociopath. I just love how innovative they were with this particular arc. It was flexible enough that they could even go humorous/absurd with it and have a damn LEPRECHAUN clock Sam’s soullessness. Love Season 6.
Supernatural, Season 6, episode 7 “Family Matters” (2010; d. Guy Norman Bee)
Check out the introduction of Purgatory … early on … that won’t really pay off until Season 8. This team was so good at that.
Supernatural, Season 6, episode 8 “All Dogs Go to Heaven” (2010; d. Philip Sgriccia)
Creepy shit. Plus this moment …
Supernatural, Season 6, episode 9 “Clap Your Hands If You Believe” (2010; d. John F. Showalter)
Every moment is perfect. “I’ve had time to adjust.” “I feel like I have the crazy ON ME.” “Probing table–” “My GOD don’t say that out loud.” The microwave “ech” “the blech” moment – and Jared Padalecki in general reacting to Ackles’ frenzy. It’s his REACTION that really makes the moments land. “Let’s say … You see it and I don’t …” That’s excellent Straight Man timing.
Supernatural, Season 6, episode 10 “Caged Heat” (2010; d. Robert Singer)
I am truly unsure of what they were going for with Castiel and Meg – and I am not as enamored with “the pizza man” as many of you are – and … I mean, Meg killed Ellen and Jo, you know? I don’t know. I love Rachel Miner, as I’ve written before, and she’s a wonderful and DEEPLY ambiguous “heavy” (ambiguity used to be this show’s stock-in-trade) but I just don’t really buy all the “Clarence” stuff. And it’s not because I think the gender-less Castiel is actually in lust with Dean Winchester. Come on now. It’s just that I don’t see Castiel – or Misha Collins, really – in a sexual way at all. So the Meg thing comes completely out of nowhere for me. This has a real Boys’ Club feeling to it, which is not really Supernatural’s regular vibe. I wouldn’t be watching it if every episode felt like Caged Heat.
Supernatural, Season 6, episode 11 “Appointment in Samarra” (2010; d. Mike Rohl)
Again: Death is so great. And it’s perfect that, yet again, like has happened a couple of times in Season 6, Dean tries to intervene with Children in Peril. He’s over-identifying and he’s also semi-parenting a kid around this age.
Supernatural, Season 6, episode 12 “Like a Virgin” (2011; d. Philip Sgriccia)
Sam’s back! And Dean confronts masculinity – yet again – in one of his ongoing themes in this intriguing season. Get the Impala back out. Impala = Hard Cock. Listen, it may be vulgar but that’s how it’s filmed. Take it up with them. And Jared Padalecki has one of my favorite acting moments in maybe the whole series: the one shot of him after he hears Cas mention casually that “he had no soul.” Watch him again. That’s emotion welling up in him in real time, and THERE – even more than the hug between the brothers – is the pay-off of the entire Soulless Sam arc.
Supernatural, Season 6, episode 13 “Unforgiven” (2011; d. David Barrett)
I know every episode that takes place in my home state. This is one of them.
Supernatural, Season 6, episode 14 “Mannequin 3: The Reckoning” (2011; d. Jeannot Szwarc)
This is also a catharsis – which I didn’t know how much I needed until it happened. Sam sending Dean off to deal with Lisa, saying “No, I got this.” Again, people who resent things “coming between” the brothers … I don’t get it. The more things between them the better. Relationship is revealed through obstacles/objectives. This is Acting 101 and Screenwriting 101. So here, suddenly, we have Sam being a good brother, getting annoyed at Dean’s weirdness, telling him to pick up the phone, sending Dean off … (meanwhile, Sam is so so tough working this case: so tough with that douchebag guy – the cheekbones and jawlines working alone!). I was like “Oh thank GOD, we get to see the brothers in this OTHER way – where one is ‘dating’ someone and the other is cool about it.” FINALLY: The way it’s left “unfinished” with Ben: Ben laying it on Dean, and it’s TRUE what Ben says. This whole arc – and how it ended – frustrated me. It felt like they didn’t know what to do with Lisa, and so they “wiped” her memory but … how will she account for an entire year of her life missing? Won’t her friends remember Dean? Doesn’t it leave her even MORE at risk? Dumb decision.
Supernatural, Season 6, episode 15 “The French Mistake” (2011; d. Charles Beeson)
Absolutely classic. And hilarious every time I watch it. The show doesn’t have a sense of humor anymore, least of all about itself. And honestly, Castiel’s death scene makes me WEEP with laughter, especially his total confusion at the “heavenly” babble coming at him in that alley. He is truly TRYING to understand: “What??” It’s very funny.
Supernatural, Season 6, episode 16 “And Then There Were None” (2011; d. Mike Rohl)
This whole episode is extremely disgusting and extremely upsetting. Just the concept of it. Maybe not AS gross as that freakin’ worm inside whats-his-name that needed a sauna to get it out of him. Still: worms penetrating bodies through various orifices: no thank you.
Supernatural, Season 6, episode 17 “My Heart Will Go On” (2011; d. Philip Sgriccia)
I didn’t care for this one on first viewing. Not sure why. I’ve grown to really like it, as well as appreciate its thoughts on Fate, which is such an important concept in the Supernatural universe. Also we have the glory of “Yeah. I think 6 seconds is too soon”. Unfortunately now, though, we have learned that Sam is a secret Celine Dion fan, which – I’m sorry – is just fucking stupid. And disrespectful. And I know I said this before: but every time Elvis has been mentioned in the entire 14 years of this show – every single time – it’s been Dean saying it. You KNOW I’m on top of this. No way does Sam say Elvis is his favorite, no way is Celine his favorite. Ugh. So stupid. The new team has “the lyrics” (sort of) but not the music. They knew “Celine” was joked about in this episode – this song referenced, etc. – but they didn’t get the deeper resonances, they thought “we” – i.e. the fans – would applaud them making this connection. I just don’t understand what is going on over there. Someone on Twitter said they thought Sam’s favorite band might be Radiohead and I thought that was a pretty brilliant choice.
Supernatural, Season 6, episode 18 “Frontierland” (2011; d. Guy Norman Bee)
“You goin to a hoedown?” “You got a new shirt.” “I look good.” The whole obsession with Dean’s clothes – like constantly – every single person they encounter mentions his clothes – while Sam just blends in – naturally – I can’t take it. It’s so funny to me. Yet another “Dean deals with ideas of masculinity” sub-themes of Season 6.
Supernatural, Season 6, episode 19 “Mommy Dearest” (2011; d. John F. Showalter)
So I’ve gone on and on about how Castiel is actually NOT the “best friend they’ve ever had” but repeatedly the WORST friend they’ve ever had. Listen, you break Sam’s brain on purpose – just to get him out of the way? I would never forgive that. And here his treachery begins. I think Dean’s “you’re dead to me” was long overdue.
Supernatural, Season 6, episode 20 “The Man Who Would Be King” (2011; d. Ben Edlund)
Interesting, I guess? But it speaks volumes that Castiel needs his OWN episodes to show what’s going on with him, because he’s so inexpressive a character, and already he is working against the Winchesters, already he is having his own internal spinoff. This is the most dramatic example. It’s thrilling when Bobby, Sam and Dean trap him and honestly it should have been the end of Castiel. Or breaking Sam’s brain should have been the final straw. You know what would be REALLY interesting? If Castiel was actually the Big Bad all along. Not Chuck. Not anybody else. But Castiel. It’ll never happen (neither will Destiel), but that would actually have huge dramatic potential. Honestly, Castiel IS the Big Bad towards the end of Season 7 and all through Season 8.
Supernatural, Season 6, episode 21 “Let It Bleed” (2011; d. John F. Showalter)
Intriguing, but … chickened out. However: this was a long long arc, the Lisa-Ben arc – started in Season 3, for God’s sake – when they had a showrunner who knew how to develop arcs – so okay, they bungled the ending. Endings are hard to nail.
Supernatural, Season 6, episode 22 “The Man Who Knew Too Much” (2011; d. Robert Singer)
Wonderful episode. Hitchcock would appreciate the levels, including the nod in the title.
Lying & Stealing (2019; d. Matt Aselton)
I reviewed this heist movie for Rogerebert.com.
Chernobyl, episode 1-5 (2019)
So well done. The first scene really shows you the concept of George Orwell’s 2+2=4, not 5. And the pressure to say “5.” Haunting. I lived through this whole thing. It was terrifying.
The Skeleton Twins (2014; d. Craig Johnson)
I so love this film and both of their performances. And Luke Wilson! It’s so difficult to “just” play a “good guy,” a genuinely nice good guy. Watch Wilson. Fantastic film. Darker than it was marketed, really.
Hateship Loveship (2014; d. Liza Johnson)
I feel like not too many people saw this. I reviewed for Rogerebert.com. I re-watched it to look for the “back-ting” moment I knew was there.
Stranger Than Fiction (2006; d. Marc Forster)
God, almighty this film. It’s been a while. It destroyed me. Yet again.
The Letter (1940; d. William Wyler)
One of Bette Davis’ best performances. One of the best performances on film ever.
Welcome to Me (2014; d. Shira Piven)
Wiig gives one of my favorite performances in recent years. She was on a roll around here. This and Hateship Loveship and Skeleton Twins in the same year? With three completely different characters? I love her so much. She doesn’t give a shit about being liked. This puts her in rare company.
Love & Mercy (2014; d. Bill Pohlad)
I don’t know how many times I’ve seen this so far. I love it. It’s become one of those “pop it in if you need to relax” movies. Not that it’s a relaxing movie. It’s not at all. Elizabeth Banks’ performance: hugely un-related mainly because critics don’t know how to assess acting. Critics think “listening” is a given. They don’t know how good she is at it, how what she is doing in this movie is basically helping CREATE John Cusack’s performance. This is the subtlety of collaboration that – forgive me – the majority of critics just don’t know about at all.
Russian Doll, episode 1-8 (2019)
Even better on a binge-watch. Brutal. Propulsive. Thrilling. Smart. And what a thrill to really get a sense of New York City: you can smell it, feel it, the neighborhoods populated with randos, the provincial quality to it (yeah, you heard that right), the tight-knit groups that form. “You fucked the Gingerbread Man?” It’s heartbreaking. I am very glad to hear they will be continuing.
The Mountain (2019; d. Rick Alverson)
A challenging film but worth it! I reviewed for Ebert.
Entertainment (2015; d. Rick Alverson)
Like many of Alverson’s films, Entertainment is designed to try your patience. I like it though.
Dawson’s Creek, Season 6, episode 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19 , 21 (2002-2003)
Okay, okay. I actually had never seen Jensen Ackles’ stint on this show as boyfriend to Michelle Williams, so figured I would check it out. I was never a Dawson’s Creek person, I don’t think I have watched one episode, so I completely had NO IDEA what was going on. I was like, “My GOD these teenagers talk about their feelings a lot!” And James van der Beek’s character was suddenly … an assistant director “in Hollywood” … (Oh, and the “director” was the Irish dude who ran the poker game in Supernatural which took away/gave you years). And suddenly Michelle Williams got involved – sort of? – with a recently sober guy who worked at a hotline, or a student-run help line – and … sorry, he gave MANY mixed signals. “I don’t date.” “Oh sorry but I can’t help but flirt.” And finally they hooked up, at which time she seemed to immediately want to stop having sex with him. Jensen is still learning how to act. He’s not quite IN his eyes yet. But she’s so good, he rises to her occasion. You can see him do it. He’s got moments of humor – in between the lines as I keep observing – and he’s slowly starting to free himself up. It was fun to watch, even though I had no idea what the fuck was going on with all of these people! Don’t they ever go to CLASS?
The Mindy Project, Season 1, episode 8-16 (2012-13)
Shrieking hilarity. The show is so good. The writing so … HER. It’s specific. Everyone is very … obnoxious? But human. I am really liking it.
Transit (2019; d. Christian Petzold)
One of the best films of the year.
Apollo 11 (2019; d. Todd Douglas Miller)
New documentary. So good. Filled with a true sense of import and awe, the music adding to it, much never-before-seen footage, goosebump-inducing, good to spend time with humans who actually want to progress things forward, look forward.
Her Smell (2019; d. Alex Ross Perry)
I really didn’t like this and am baffled by some of the good reviews. To me, it felt very sloppy, and some of the actors weren’t “up to” the task of what they were called upon to create. Moss is clearly “up to” the task, and she was very good, but I couldn’t help but think of a young Gena Rowlands doing this role and … Moss is fine, but there were moments too where I felt her hurrying the dialogue/monologues – skipping over things quickly (it’s extremely over-written) – and not quite entering into it. It didn’t feel like the rantings of a woman on drugs in a psychotic break. It felt like an actress pumping herself up into a state of hysteria. So no. I really did not like this and found it a huge slog.
Bonnie & Clyde (1967; d. Arthur Penn)
So iconic and so imitated it’s hard to see it fresh. This past viewing I was just laid FLAT by Dunaway. Holy mackerel.
Enough Said (2013; d. Nicole Holofcener)
This movie is good on so many levels: it’s very very funny at times, but it’s also deeply sad. And her behavior is so ugly and hurtful, and he’s so damn good … it’s hard to imagine where they might go from there. She is so fantastic. And when he says: “This may sound dramatic but you broke my heart. And I’m too old for that shit.” And you can SEE it happen. You can SEE his heart break.
Megan Leavey (2017; d. Gabriela Cowperthwaite)
I reviewed this for Ebert and had such an intense reaction to it (here’s my revew) I have been hesitant to re-visit it. Happy to report: I was just as much of a wreck this time as I was two years ago. It’s an amazing movie.
Kicking and Screaming (1995; d. Noah Baumbach)
St. Elmo’s Fire for the 90s. Baumbach’s first. The most self-conscious self-aware post-college kids on the planet. Great cast.
Mr. Jealousy (1997; d. Noah Baumbach)
Minor almost-hidden Baumbach. Eric Stoltz, a Baumbach favorite, takes center stage (he doesn’t really work that well as a leading man: he’s excellent in supporting or small roles: think Pulp Fiction but also Kicking and Screaming.) The reason to see this is Annabella Sciorra’s performance. She’s so good. And fuck Harvey Weinstein, fuck what he did to this talented actress.
Highball (1997; d. Noah Baumbach)
Filmed in 6 days. And it shows. Some really bad acting going on (not from Sheedy). People playing (over-playing) “characters.” Hard to watch.
The Squid and the Whale (2005; d. Noah Baumbach)
I mean, you feel like these kids are doomed. Jeff Daniels is great. Haven’t you met a guy like him before? I feel like I AM him sometimes and those are terrible moments. Be self-aware. Don’t be like Jeff Daniels in Squid and the whale!
Margot at the Wedding (2007; d. Noah Baumbach)
Clearly I’m on a Baumbach kick. This one is slightly annoying. But Jack Black is so good. I mean, they’re all good, I just don’t really like this one.
Greenberg (2010; d. Noah Baumbach)
This is my favorite Baumbach, really. It’s extremely unpleasant. Baumbach has a sour personality, over-analytical, dreadful in many ways. Don’t try to cutesy it up and make it lovable. Let it be awful. Greenberg makes me so uncomfortable.
Frances Ha (2012; d. Noah Baumbach)
The real beginning of the Greta Gerwig Era in Baumbach’s life. Think it worked out pretty well for him, huh?
Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood (2019; d. Quentin Tarantino)
It made me very sad. I am haunted by it. I need to see it again.
The Nightingale (2019; d. Jennifer Kent)
Review goes up tomorrow!
Season 6 was SOFA. KING. GOOD. Even during my first watch, before I was part of the fandom I enjoyed it. Cass as the big bad just felt right, and still would if today if I’m being honest. I’m not sold on MC as a good actor, but I have to say, he did well during this season. The reveal in “Mommy Dearest” with “Miracles” playing on the jukebox while Crowley called out Cass on his messes..? It’s still satisfying to watch. I’ve even watched some of the you tubers and Patreon react to that episode, and yep…delicious.
I dig the Megstiel kiss in “Caged Heat”. To those who were seeing it for the first time, it was odd, out of character and a definite sign that something was SERIOUSLY WRONG with Cass. However, Cass passing along a weapon without Crowley seeing it was the legitimate reason, imo. He was acting as a double agent in that moment, and it made sense. I can agree with you about how you see it, though.
Having said that, I like it even better now because of how much *they* hate it.
// I know every episode that takes place in my home state. This is one of them. //
LOVE this. It’s another slice in the SPN investment portfolio pie chart, as far as I’m concerned. I’ve lived in ‘Sconsin for more years than I did in my actual home state, so this resonates. There are 3 episodes in particular that are a direct reference to my area, and they have become some of my favorites – even though I’m not much of a fan of where I currently live. It wasn’t until S11 that I learned Jerry Wanek grew up in the area (via the local paper). I’m still not thrilled, but I am more appreciative of the local flavor than I was.
Last month, I wasn’t able to respond to your question about the Supernatural podcast I’ve been listening to..I apologize for that. It’s Supernatural at the Crossroads. I love it! They do Andrew Dabb in Eric Cartman voice, and it kills me every time.
In response to the “local flavor” stuff, just a fun story.
I had no idea who Jerry Wanek was, and I was still pretty early in my SPN craze, when we took a vacation to the tiny Wisconsin town of Mishicot, a nice place to visit, and we stumbled into a local bar COVERED in signed posters of SPN! You can imagine my surprise. We asked the staff and it turns out the bar (Round ‘Em Up, watch for it on bars in SPN!) is owned by Jerry Wanek’s brothers and sisters. It really pushed my interest into overdrive, but also if you ever find yourself in Mishicot, WI I recommend it! The service was great and they have amazing house made potato chips!
YESSS! Thank you for sharing that, Jenna. I’m in Two Rivers, and have extended family in that area. Oddly enough, one of those episodes I mentioned..? “Everybody Loves A Clown”. The carnival is a yearly event in Michicot and is going on this very minute.
I’m fascinated by someone vacationing in Michicot, though.
Elaine – re: vacationing in Mishicot. Basically, we’ve got a time share, and there is a time share in Mishicot. It was spring break and we needed somewhere to take the kids and we had never been there (we were tired of Wisconsin Dells). So Mishicot it was! It turned out to actually be one of our favorite vacations (I think). We ate at Round ‘Em Up like 3 times because the food was really good. We also all thought it was hysterical that the benches in town actually say “Mishicot: A Nice Place to Visit,” we were like, well at least they know enough not to oversell themselves!
As a Midwesterner, I love all the Midwestern towns they visit! I think Vancouver is a pretty convincing Minnesota/Wisconsin, however I will say that they really need to work on their Kansas. There have been some shots and some mispronounced town names that have left me cringing. And I’m not even from Kansas!
“…A Nice Place To Visit”
JENNA! I laughed so hard I am now wearing my iced tea.
How interesting! Thank you, again, for sharing. I know T’Rivers and Manitowoc (where JW grew up) has a lock on tourism in the area with all the festivals, fishing tournaments and beaches. I didn’t even consider Mishicot being in the game, as well. I do love the Midwest, though. Florida is my home state, but I can’t consider it “home” anymore…especially because my husband is from this area and both my kids were born here. Years before we finally settled, visiting Two Rivers reminded me of Sweethaven from the Popeye movie with Robin Williams from the ’80’s. HA! But I agree completely about how similar Van is to WI/MN. Having Jerry around has probably been a tremendous benefit in helping create the feel in more ways than we realize. But I know he isn’t the only Midwesterner. Speaking of the Midwest – I’m still waiting for a Hodag episode!
It’s a shame they haven’t done better regarding Kansas. Sadly, I can’t be too shocked considering how often they have straight up broken canon throughout the course of the show. Especially lately, but also in ways that defy any explanation or reasoning. I had always thought there were people on set specifically for that purpose, but I’m starting to doubt it…
I love Wisconsin – spent a lot of time there back when I lived in Chicago. I performed at Milwaukee Summer Fest back when I was a truly wild child – one of my favorite experiences ever. We “opened” for Loverboy. I want that on my tombstone.
and yes, agreed in re: their “portrayal” of Kansas, which has been pretty lacking. It’s hard to replicate the flat-ness of Kansas, I suppose.
Oh God Everybody Loves a Clown – absolutely love that ep. I also love the “real life” feel of the location shoot. Out and about in the real world. Great location.
I just watched it again while hubby and the kids went to the carnival on Friday night. It still blows me away from start to finish. Your review is the perfect companion – and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing all the details this time around. Thank you for that gift!
I love the scene where Dean’s burlesque utterly fails him in front of the (not) blind knife thrower and the little person. While he’s flailing, Sam is in the background laughing at the spectacle. It’s so different from our usual Sam that it always stood out to me. The only other time I can remember seeing anything close to that was during “Tombstone” when Darla (“she’s muh best girl!”) was practically manhandling Dean in the bar. The timing in both scenes was so on point that I’ve often wondered if it was Jared, himself reacting. I laugh out loud every time and admit to rewinding those scenes several times whenever I watch them.
wow, this is so cool! I had no idea!
sorry for the weirdness of the threading here – which is very circa-2005 and I can’t seem to get around to updating it. This comment was in response to the Jerry Wanek Wisconsin intel.
Eileen –
// The reveal in “Mommy Dearest” with “Miracles” playing on the jukebox while Crowley called out Cass on his messes..? It’s still satisfying to watch. //
Yes, it’s like the whole bottom drops out. Cas had been weird all along, for some time, and suddenly to get confirmation … you can feel the betrayal.
// However, Cass passing along a weapon without Crowley seeing it was the legitimate reason, imo. He was acting as a double agent in that moment, and it made sense. //
I always forget about that part of it. Lol. You’re right. It’s a much more interesting choice that way!
// I like it even better now because of how much *they* hate it. //
hahaha oh fandom.
which eps are in Wisconsin? Benders? Now I can’t remember.
Thanks for the podcast rec!
Sheila –
//We “opened” for Loverboy. I want that on my tombstone//
HA! I would, too. That’s next level Gen X bragging rights, my friend. WI has always had a great music scene, and it’s been one of the most surprising aspects about living here. My husband was in the punk scene for most of his adolescence and early adult life. His band opened for the Groovie Ghoulies and The Muffs (if memory serves) at a tiny bar in Green Bay. That was the highlight of his music career. Wisconsin is a great place to get lost in when you’re young and wild. Especially when you’ve lived in other parts of the country and can appreciate it’s dairy air.
//which eps are in Wisconsin? Benders? Now I can’t remember//
There are a lot of them, apparently! I did a simple search, but most websites just have episode locations by season or a map with string to show locations. I’m not friendly with the super wiki’s, but a gentle suggestion might not be a bad idea one of these days as a fun project if it hasn’t already been done. I mean, it was a bit of a challenge to look at the string map and try to discern anything, let alone anything in WI! Now I’m curious..
The episodes that have a direct reference to my area (off the top of my head) aren’t even WI based, but are significant in the local sense.
8.21 “The Great Escapist” – The Two Rivers Tribe is named after the town I live in.
It was always a top 10 episode for me for other reasons, too. I can even forgive the Grand Canyon story that broke canon because the good greatly outweighed that throw away line. And Domestic Dean caring for Sammy..? Yes, please! The hotel had The Shining vibes – and ALL THE BOOKS! Metatron’s walls were seemingly built with stacks of books. Curtis Armstrong was in one of the first movies I knew line for line as a youth (Better Off Dead) and it was exciting to see him in my favorite show. The hallway scene with Sam’s confessions to Dean about how he felt as a child was just heartbreaking. And Dean’s face..? My GOD. The finale would not have had the impact it did without this episode.
It’s also one of Jared Padalecki’s favorites, too.
The other one..? 11.14 “The Vessel” – This is the one where I learned JW was from the area because of the newspaper article.
https://www.htrnews.com/story/news/local/2016/02/16/supernatural-airs-cobia-inspired-episode/80462820/
// That’s next level Gen X bragging rights, my friend. //
hahaha right? I love to bust that one out.
I was performing with Pat McCurdy – who’s from Wisconsin – and is kind of a legend in the area. Have you heard of him?
// His band opened for the Groovie Ghoulies and The Muffs (if memory serves) at a tiny bar in Green Bay. That was the highlight of his music career. //
That is fantastic!
I loved the time I spent in Milwaukee. and loved the people I met.
// I can even forgive the Grand Canyon story that broke canon because the good greatly outweighed that throw away line. And Domestic Dean caring for Sammy..? Yes, please! //
I agree with this. It’s beautiful. and despite my feelings about Metatron outlasting his usefulness (he’s part of a large club there) – the introduction of his character was totally thrilling and brought this whole new aspect to the story. It was Meta without calling out its Meta-ness.
wow – The Vessel! I had no idea. One of my favorites in Season 11 – it was a mini-movie. and very very moving: “I was a witness …” the gravitas with which he said that line.
So looking forward to your review of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. I want to hear your thoughts on this one. I know you have a rate appreciation of that time and place in our history and will give it its due.
It’s so good. I’m seeing it again this week. Much to think about. I can see why Debra Tate gave it her stamp of approval – which speaks volumes. It’s an incredibly humanizing film, esp. in re Sharon. Heartbreaking. I’ll be writing more about it.
Hi, Sheila – Finally de-lurking here as a long-time reader for no other reason than it’s my day off and I was thrilled to have something new of yours to read. I am so thankful to have you and this group’s intelligent discourse on Supernatural. I have so many conflicted feelings about the end of the show and am not a fan of the fighting faction Sam vs. Dean stuff that’s out there. Sam/Jared is my favorite, but I love it all, and like many, get increasingly frustrated with the direction and decisions of some of the showrunning. I just want it to go out on a high and to keep enjoying the brilliance of the original seasons without them being marred by the off-the-rails directions in later ones. Not that it is one of my must-see episodes, but I enjoyed Soulless Sam and I SO appreciate that Sam scene in “Like a Virgin” for the reason you articulate – the first time I watched I saw that realization hit his face and was just amazed at what he is able to convey.
Anyway, as with most of your readers, I got into Supernatural and your blog at a pivotal point in my life and was hooked on your insightful and freakin’ hilarious recaps, and your readers reactions; it’s so comforting really to come back and catch up with you. Even though you have so much going on, you always spare some time for the show, and coincidentally kinda interesting how my rewatch pattern seems to be tracking yours. Thanks so much for your writing and giving us a rewarding outlet for all the angst, and for sticking with the show to the end.
Shea – thank you so much for de-lurking with such a nice comment. I am so glad that all kinds of fans feel welcome here – I’m proud of it.
// I SO appreciate that Sam scene in “Like a Virgin” for the reason you articulate – the first time I watched I saw that realization hit his face and was just amazed at what he is able to convey. //
Right? He’s a wonderful actor always but this is one of my favorite moments of his in the entire series – it’s real acting. Because you can see it rise up in him in real time – it’s a transformation before our eyes. Stunning work!
Thank you so much for reading and I loved your comment!
Hi, Sheila. Bang on as usual. Would it be fair to say that Season Five is (to paraphrase someone) “The End of the Beginning” and Season 6 as “The Beginning of the End”? Oh, well. Way too pretentious.
Besides being pissed about “Dark Side of the Moon” which I found very sad when Dean realized how Sam really felt about hunting, I was also astonished to see them in the British MOL arc. I would have bet money that Dean killed those mofos years ago. Actually, as soon as he and Sam are brought back. Why are they still alive? Dean is not the forgive and forget type. But I enjoyed a lot of Season 6 once I wrapped my head around it. I found it one of the funniest seasons of the series. “Clap your Hands”, Frontier Land, The French Mistake. My favorite line in The French Mistake is said by Bobby Singer, the director. “Season 6….moving on!” That is so weird on so many levels.
I must admit that your choices in movies doesn’t always interest me, other than the classics like The Letter and Bonny and Clyde. I’m old enough now to not really enjoy movies of people behaving badly consciously or subconsciously. Empathy can only go so far. But I always find your comments interesting because they make sense and if I come across one of them that you have mentioned on cable, I sample them.
Based on you Instagram, it looks like you are having a lovely vacation with your fantastic. I love the little ones, they remind me of the many little munchkins in my family.
One comment though, about the switch of the babies in Two and a Half Man. Being a black woman whose mother marched on Washington, helped voter registration in Mississippi and got arrested so that her children would get a better education, I feel that I may be qualified to speak on the subject. I was bussed to a predominantly white school where I was the black one, Linda Aviles was the Hispanic one and Susan Lee was the Chinese one. Like most of the entertainment world, SPN just doesn’t have a lot of diversity in its universe. Other than Rufus, Missouri, the chief Vampire (who I love), Kevin and his mother, Billy and maybe a few others who I can’t think of right now, SaM, Dean, Billy, Garth, etc., live in a white world. I don’t expect diversity from SPN. I’ve given up that illusion. So the fact that they occasionally acknowledge the fact that there are non white people in their world is interesting but that’s all. I watch SPN to be entertained and to think sometimes about some heavy shit about religion, free will, codependence, love, but I don’t expect them to change the world. The mistake that SPN makes (like most of the entertainment world) is that when they do cast people for these characters, they usually only cast beautiful, slim non white people (Loretta Devine being the exception) for these exceptional roles. We come in all shapes and sizes. But this problem is not going to be fixed here and it’s time for me to get off my soap box.
Carolyn – your soap box is always welcome here! I always love to hear your take on things. Thanks for weighing in. I agree with you that I don’t look to SPN for diversity – although it is nice to feel some awareness of it as a concept. I guess it was back to back episodes with small black children in peril that I took issue with – but I hear what you are saying and appreciate the input .
// The mistake that SPN makes (like most of the entertainment world) is that when they do cast people for these characters, they usually only cast beautiful, slim non white people (Loretta Devine being the exception) for these exceptional roles. //
This is so true. SPN started out as a show of eccentrics – the two leads were gorgeous – but everyone else felt like character actors, even smaller roles. Not cookie cutters. America as land of eccentric individuals. You have made the observation before that the CW “aesthetic” (or lack thereof) – of pretty makeup-laden teenagers – has infiltrated SPN and I couldn’t agree with you more.
// I would have bet money that Dean killed those mofos years ago. //
right?? He’d have gone all vigilante on them – mafia-style – and they would never have seen it coming. TERRIBLE choice – “hey walt, what’s up, thanks for helping out” says Sam or Dean. WHAT? Just terrible. Makes no sense.
// The French Mistake is said by Bobby Singer, the director. “Season 6….moving on!” That is so weird on so many levels. //
hahahaha Watching that ep it’s amazing they even dared to do it. Having Jared live in that house?? and having Genevieve be such a … silly human? so hilarious.
// Based on you Instagram, it looks like you are having a lovely vacation with your fantastic. I love the little ones, they remind me of the many little munchkins in my family. //
It was a wonderful week! Heading out to the beach with my sisters and their kids this next weekend. Family time is always good.
I hope you are enjoying your summer and staying cool!
and it was so much fun digging into The Letter. Bette Davis at her very best.
I don’t make a top ten/best of list every year, but I did in 2014 and Luke Wilson got my best supporting actor for that year. Hader and Wiig fully deserved the heaps of praise they received, but his performance is the one that lingers in my mind the most. The fact that he’s both a good, decent guy and incredibly oblivious to so much of what’s right in front of his face, the wrong choices could have turned that character into a one note joke. He brought so many layers to it, made it incredibly endearing.
I finished Her Smell this morning. Still processing, but I have some major issues with it too. I love Elisabeth Moss, but I didn’t feel like I was watching the same character transition from a manic self-destructive user to a sober depressive agoraphobe before anxiously attempting a public comeback. And all the other characters kept talking about what an amazing, groundbreaking artist Becky Something is, but did we get any performance footage that warranted that kind of lip service and all the enabling? And the daughter’s dialogue felt so dumbed-down, it made me wonder when was the last time Alex Ross Perry had been around an actual child in that age range. None of my issues are with the cast, I think it all comes back to the writing and directing.
Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood made me nostalgic for a time and place I never experienced firsthand. I need to see it again too.
Jim – wow, I love to hear your thoughts on Luke Wilson in that movie. I couldn’t agree with you more. It’s the kind of performance that never gets any chatter – but it’s surprisingly difficult I imagine to just play a nice good guy. He does it so beautifully you just ache for him – you know that her behavior is going to break his heart and he will not bounce back from it. Ugh. He’s so good.
// the wrong choices could have turned that character into a one note joke. He brought so many layers to it, made it incredibly endearing. //
yes! It could have been a joke. Instead, he’s real, and – even though you have sympathy for the twins – you have sympathy for him too – which seems essential to the movie working.
A re-watch would be in order for me to elaborate in a way that truly does that performance justice. I do remember initially fearing he’d be written and played as a small town simpleton and was shocked by the depth of feeling I ended up having for him.
// fearing he’d be written and played as a small town simpleton //
Yes, that is definitely the danger. and it didn’t happen.
and I just think he’s special because … it’s hard to just play a “nice good guy” believe it or not. It’s hard to let go of your desire to be twisted-up or haunted or angry – this is the stuff actors love doing. But here, Luke is just nice, good, friendly – there are guys like that, and we rarely see them onscreen.
In re: Her Smell:
Glad to hear your thoughts on it. Normally I don’t balk at people’s opinions who disagree with me – there are so many things I love that others don’t and vice versa – but in this one I just honestly do not see what the reviewers raving about it see.
// And all the other characters kept talking about what an amazing, groundbreaking artist Becky Something is, but did we get any performance footage that warranted that kind of lip service and all the enabling? //
This was absolutely key for me. Never felt the riot grrrl intensity, never got the sense that she was some bad-ass legend who would inspire fans for years, even as she derailed into insanity. It just didn’t work. You can’t just tell me she is great – I have to see it on some level. and Elizabeth Moss seemed lost in that particular regard. People like Courtney Love and the L7 and Bikini Kill girls would have eaten her alive. I know my riot grrrls and Moss wasn’t it.
// it made me wonder when was the last time Alex Ross Perry had been around an actual child in that age range. //
Ha. Good point.
One moment I did like was when she sang “Heaven” to her daughter. We may all wish we could give off a cool aura, be known for our sophisticated taste, but at the end of the day, we all have certain “cheesy” pop songs that can just break us. Her choosing that song, even though the public Becky Something would probably never cop to liking Bryan Adams, made her feel vulnerable and human to me in a way that many of the “big” scenes didn’t.
Yes, I agree with this.
// made me nostalgic for a time and place I never experienced firsthand. //
Me too. People seem to feel nostalgia is a bad thing – and of course some of it is very toxic. MAGA, etc. But this felt like an affectionate look at a lost world – right on the cusp of it being lost – and it’s QT’s era – not personally, he was a child in the 60s – but it’s the era of films, that and the 70s – that he loves and knows best. so he mourns the swing of the industry away from that, the midnight movies and drive-ins and Roger Corman and all the rest.
His nostalgia comes from a very sincere place.
It’s such a tender movie, and I can’t even believe I’m saying that.
I’m seeing it again on Thursday.
I’ve been chewing over (remembering and getting vaguely mad) your review of Marianne and Leonard all month! I didn’t love I’m Your Man completely either, in particular the concert scenes unfortunately — i remember being very irritated by the camera — but I loved those scenes in his home.
Two weeks until OTATIH comes out over here…..so long :-(
Gosh, isn’t that s6 montage wonderful? Relevant to recent criticisms we might make, I’m always laid flat by how plainly and brutally it says, all these spheres of an ordinary life, all these activities and relationships — used to be fulfilled by one brother-wife, haha. And Two and a Half Men has one of my favourite Jensen reaction shots ever, in the supermarket, when the baby rolls its head to look at him and he nearly leaps out of his skin, he’s so deep in the moment. I nearly died first time I saw it. He’s so good, and the baby so precious!
Oh my God, Jessie, that moment in the supermarket – I am laughing so hard right now.
have you seen Marianne and Leonard? It was a strange movie, but lots of fun footage. I was mostly interested in the counter-culture commentary and basically all the kids growing up in that free-love environment on the island – so many came to bad ends. There was really something there, some deeper commentary I found intriguing.
Have you heard Michael Buble’s “I’m Your Man”? It’s so ridiculous but also entertaining.
Famous Blue Raincoat was on constant rotation for us in college.
Here’s Buble in his big-band version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yv_PY5LDWkg
I own “Welcome To Me” AND “Stranger Than Fiction,” and both of them kill me. In a good-but-hurty way.
What you said about Supernatural’s “My Heart Will Go On” and the recent revelation that Sam lies and says Elvis is his favorite singer, but it’s really Celine Dion is perfect, and YES, and Bob Singer must be too old to remember, or worse, care. Dabb clearly can’t think beyond how to rope in the teenage girls. God, hearing that line was so infuriating.
I laughed at your plunge into Dawson’s Creek—I did it, too! And I couldn’t pay attention to the silliness of the relationships at all, because all I really cared about was watching Ackles and marveling over the fact that in just a couple of years, he’d find his character. You should really give Dark Angel a try—it’s James Cameron, and a real mess, but he’s great in it. He’s in one episode of season 1 and was so good, they made a twin of his character (whom they killed off) specifically to bring Jensen back to the show as a regular. You can see a nascent Dean Winchester in the formation of Alec McDowell, model X5-494. Totally worth the watch for young Jensen.
Sam would totally love Radiohead!
Sarah –
// both of them kill me. In a good-but-hurty way. //
Yes! I love the first time they kiss in Stranger Than Fiction – it starts tentative for like 1 second and then all hell breaks loose and it’s so joyful I think my heart will explode.
// Dabb clearly can’t think beyond how to rope in the teenage girls. God, hearing that line was so infuriating. //
I remember thinking: WHAT? Because you know I am on top of all the Elvis references. Dean gave one alias as Mr. Presley. Eats the Elvis sandwich. References Graceland. I mean, the list goes on. (I have always wished they would do an episode with a ghost of Elvis, or “Elvis sightings at gas station in Florida” or whatever.) So to suddenly make Sam be this vocal Elvis fan was dumb, first of all. Second of all: CELINE?
Nothing against Celine, but they spent an entire episode making fun of that song, and now they make Sam love it and it just feels disrespectful and cheap as hell. Cheap shot.
// because all I really cared about was watching Ackles and marveling over the fact that in just a couple of years, he’d find his character.//
I felt the same way. I wish we had Jensen’s original audition tape – either for Sam or Dean I don’t care – AND the “chemistry read” they did together at the beginning – you know it’s out there. We’ve seen Jared’s wonderful audition where you’re basically like “Oh. There’s Sam Winchester.” The character was already there.
anyway, yes, it’s amazing to see the transformation. You could feel Jensen loosening up as the episodes went on … he was very stiff originally – and there’s this thing with his eyes – he can’t quite manage to be in them yet. which is fascinating. But by the time you get to the episode with Dr. Drew (oh my God what) … and they do the Before Sunrise-inspired fake phone call outside – he’s in the zone. He’s a leading man. Kind of interersting.
I have seen Dark Angel and he’s fascinating and fluid and in some other zone – a super sexy zone, but it’s his version of sexy – which is different, I don’t know, it’s all the stuff I talk about here – his fluid sense of masculinity, his awareness of his beauty and how to use it … he’s very unselfconscious (which is why his self-consciousness in Dawson’s Creek was so interesting – maybe because he was just playing a regular – albeit sober – guy?) . I should watch Dark Angel again!
That kiss in “Stranger Than Fiction” was made ten times more impactful and joyful by the sudden burst of the chorus of Wreckless Eric’s “Whole Wide World,” and I know this because I had to own this piece of music, too, after that scene!
Yes! and the way he sings it at first? he’s so interior, shy, he can’t even look at her – but the way she looks at him – you SEE her fall in love with him. So good!
I ADORE Stranger Than Fiction. It is one of my all time favorite movies. It’s so absurd and touching. I love Will Ferrell in anything, but Harold is by far my favorite of his characters. And Emma Thompson and Queen Latifah need to work together again.
The way Emma Thompson reacts to Queen Latifah’s writing process suggestions! Oh my God, the contempt. But in reality – she does need her, the woman’s presence does help her get her shit together. I love the look on Queen latifah’s face when she answers the door to let Harold in.
You know a moment I love? The ending scene when he’s in traction. Maggie comes to visit him. He murmurs, “I’m okay” and she almost starts laughing, while she’s crying, and she says, “Harold, you are NOT okay. You are SEVERELY injured.”
When he brings her “the flours”? I just can’t. It’s so touching.
You so rarely feel like two people NEED to be together, in the movies – but here you do. and you WATCH her fall in love with hm. It’s unbelievable.
40 responses! I’m pretty tired, so I’ll just throw a few things in. The Mindy Project, I absolutely love! The wit, the pathos-so enjoyable. One of my favorite things is Mindy sees her own worth-she knows how attractive she is to men. I LOVE when she compliments her body, it makes me want to cheer.
The Letter-one of my absolute favorite Bette Davis movies. I love movies where you have to watch every single minute, or you will miss something. Every gesture, every glance-it is part of the story.
Maureen –
// I LOVE when she compliments her body, it makes me want to cheer. //
Yes! But she counter-acts it with this wistfulness about why she doesn’t have a boyfriend – it’s the only thing she wants! I love that mix in her – it’s so honest! and yes, so funny.
// Every gesture, every glance-it is part of the story. //
So true – and you’re right: a movie like The Letter requires total concentration. The work everyone is doing is so deep and intricate you will miss most of it if you don’t really tune into it. It’s so good!
Sheila,
I have to admit, I’m a little bit thrilled that you finally watched Jensen’s episodes of Dawson’s Creek. It is a completely absurd show…but I have a weird affection for it because it was my introduction to Jensen Ackles. It was the summer after my first year of college, I was home with nothing to do but watch midmorning TV, and Dawson’s Creek was airing reruns. I had never watched a single episode, but I happened to watch the Halloween party episode, and even though Jensen’s character says that he doesn’t date, or Michelle Williams is “not his type,” or whatever, the way he looked at her at the end of the episode intrigued me enough to watch again the next day. Three weeks and half a season later, I’m thinking: I’m going to have to cut myself off from this show, I don’t even recognize myself, I am religiously tuning in to watch reruns every weekday and actively ignoring 85% of the major plots just to follow this one subplot, which is becoming absolutely bonkers with the nonsense of “I don’t date, just kidding I slept with your friend, also I punched your other friend at a No Doubt concert, hey maybe we should really give this a shot?” (And quickly flipping channels whenever my mom walked in, because I didn’t want to explain to her that I was devotedly watching a teen soap opera, good God.) It boggles the mind, and you’re probably completely right about Jensen still learning to act at that point – but I remember being drawn in by him in spite of myself, and thinking, “These plots are so stupid and the writing isn’t great, so what is it about this guy?” Cut to about six years later, when my best friend tells me, “I’m watching this show…I can’t decide if you would like it or not. Don’t be put off by the Netflix cover art, one guy has a snake crawling up his arm and they both look like underwear models, but I swear it’s deeper than that. It’s a show about brothers.” She showed me Mystery Spot, and thought she was really going to have to sell me on the whole thing – “It’s a story about family! There’s a cool car!” – but she didn’t realize that as soon as I saw Jensen Ackles and recognized him from that summer of surreptitiously watching Dawson’s Creek, I knew I was going to watch every single episode.
One of the con videos that I’ve always liked has JA talking about how Michelle Williams was always a little on the “outside” of that Dawson’s Creek cast, how she was careful about her friendships and hesitant to let him in, but once she decided that he was “okay” they seemed to develop a great rapport. He talks about her with great fondness and respect.
Bethany – your description of getting sucked into Dawson’s Creek – via Jensen – made me laugh!! Ha!
// “I don’t date, just kidding I slept with your friend, also I punched your other friend at a No Doubt concert, hey maybe we should really give this a shot?” //
Right?? They added so much onto his character – clearly they just needed to give him some complexity so it could be a proper character arc. But, like, he’s interested in her only because she seems like she would be a good person for the helpline? It’s like he’s a cult recruiter.
// I am religiously tuning in to watch reruns every weekday and actively ignoring 85% of the major plots just to follow this one subplot, which is becoming absolutely bonkers //
lol
I’ve been there.
I love everyone’s different “gateway drugs” … you were already a fan from Dawson’s Creek. That’s so fantastic!
// but once she decided that he was “okay” they seemed to develop a great rapport. He talks about her with great fondness and respect. //
That’s so beautiful.