ash48 | 7.22 Review (with some pics)

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s7 episode reaction

7.22 Review (with some pics)

That was satisfying. I felt like I had eaten well.

We're not in the emotionally fraught place we usually are by the penultimate episode, but I'm actually ok with that. I enjoyed the details, the pacing, the dialogue, the OCs and seeing a lot more of the boys. It followed on nicely from last week (though I wonder were Cas went - visiting his "wife" maybe?) and has obviously set things in place for next week. \o/

Counting the ways:

1. I like the way Dick makes my skin crawl. It will be nice to see him get his comeuppance. (Seriously! You cannot say that name without innuendo! As Show knows...)

2. How FABULOUS to see the Alpha!Vamp back. Rick Worthy has a commanding presence and I enjoyed every moment he was on the screen. I even loved seeing Crowley again. \o/

3. BOYS! Hello!!. Ok, so there weren't any major bro moments (well, maybe Dean calling out "Sam" when he got attacked and Sam getting all urgent and serious after Dean was attacked <33) but they just clicked so well in this episode, it was delightful to watch. Dean telling jokes to make Sam either smile or wince will never get old. I love it when he does that. They're working as a complete unit - listening to each to each other, back in sync. *happy sigh*

4. Kevin. Um... I think I might be developing a small crush. *blush* He was very brave to stand up to smarmy Dick. I really do hope they let his mom go. And I hope we get to see more of him in the future.

5. Yay! - the little twist with the food source being poisonous to other monsters. The Leviathans have really thought this through. A neat idea and a very handy weapon. I wonder if the boys will stock up on contaminated human blood. They could knock out a few bads with that.

6. Some great one liners. Hee! "See you next season". Talk about smashing the 4th wall. Very cool though - he could have been referring to the next "hunting" season of course - so it works either way. I love that we will be seeing the Alpha!Vamp again next season. :)

7. We knew Emily was up to no good yeah? *nods* I enjoyed the way she was played. (see below)

8. I'm really glad the boys were concerned about the young boy who was with the Alpha. I'm glad they got to rescue him. There was a discussion in my last review post about how we are seeing less of the boys being concerned about victims - particularly possessed humans. They showed real concern when he appeared. And they didn't want to leave the Alpha!Vamp alive so it was great to see that consistency with wanting to see all monsters dead. AND they got to do some rescuing.

9. Bobby! I have to say I am really liking the potential of dangerous spirit!Bobby. Dean looked genuinely scared for a moment. Not so much scared for himself, but scared seeing what Bobby was becoming. I know it would be awful, but to see Bobby turn on them would be interesting. I'm hoping it will be a dilemma they carry over for next season. They have a lot to do in the next episode so I hope they don't try to cram that in there also. Besides, I wouldn't mind some more ghost!Bobby.

10. Dean's still drinking I notice. I rather like that this hasn't gone away completely. I'm not sure if they plan to do anything with it, but I like that it's still there and becoming a consistent part of his character.

11. "I'm a warrior!" Ha!! I did rather adore Dean in this one. It's obvious that he's still carrying a lot of emotional baggage but he's getting on with it. He has to, so he does. I think Jensen's doing a great job of playing quietly troubled. I'm not sure where Sam is at at the moment. I read a fic recently exploring Sam's lack of needing anything at the moment. He's always been so driven - finding dad, finding Jessica's killer, getting Dean out of the deal, revenge for Dean's death, finding redemption, making amends for his mistakes etc. But what now? He seems to be "content" with just going along with it all. Hunting because it's there. I know they are both driven to get Bobby's killer and save the world, it just doesn't seem as urgent as it has done in he past. I'm not complaining about that. Surely they are burnt out by it all, but for them to not have an angsty agenda feels rather weird. I'll be curious to see what they have the boys emotionally deal with next season.

Ok. PICS! Because \o/

Motel room!! I love this room. The bedspreads and matching curtains are to die for. And I think there's something we MIGHT be able to read into this room. Seeing the bison, or buffalo, picture on the wall reminded me of the film Bless the Beasts and the Children. It's interesting to me that this episode dealt with the father of fallen "beasts". Might be tenuous but I'm sure thought has been put into that room design. Buffalo are said to symbolise struggles so maybe there was symbolism there. (anyone catch the name of the motel?? I have been told SE Hinton tweeted that it was called "The Buffalo Hump Motel". HA!!)

The awesome

galwithglasses has been making fabulous observations about flowers in the show. It's amazing how many times flowers are used - they are scattered everywhere throughout the episodes and the seasons. They often signal danger and if you noticed Emily's dress we were given a mighty big clue that she wasn't all she seemed. I'm sure pink is equally untrustworthy.

Aside from every scene with Alpha!Vamp and Dick in it, this was one of my favourites. The look on the guy's face as he tried to follow their conversation. He was the centre of attention and we got a lovely outside POV of the boys. Yep they are damn hot and yep they are nuts! :DD

Hee. Dean has a new jacket. Similar to John's but not quite the same. (I'm sure meta could be dug up on that somehow...). He looked pretty damn special in it I have to say. GQ anyone?

ETA: JUST FOUND THIS... so AWESOME! This is most definitely a reference to the the Twilight Zone Episode To Serve Man. Aliens land and the scientists think the book is about how to serve (as in obey) man, instead it was a cookbook To Serve Man -as a food! OH SO COOL SHOW!!! (Brilliant TW episode btw). And look! A book called "Eric"! \o/

Overall, a rather tasty morsel going into the final episode. They just have to find the righteous bone now and kill Dick. Easy!! (Oh man...those two words shouldn't be in the same sentence....).

Enjoy?

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I just happened to notice the Russian Nesting Dolls on the mantel behind Emily. Huge clue there that something was lurking beneath the surface:)

Oohh.. yes yes. Sneaky set dressers....

xx

I love how Jared has to hunch down so low just to fit in the frame with Jensen and the extra in the bench scene. He's just SO HUGE. lol

Yes yes! Oh Jared... <33 (hee... icon..)

It always surprises me how well he can pull of vulnerable when he's so gigantic.

Crazy pink! The hapless hotel maid that tangles with Bobby has pink too. Did you see the guy on the bench is wearing a Plucky Pennywhistle shirt? And that "see you next season" made me laugh out loud. I liked this ep so much better than last week. There's no way we're going to get it all done in the next 42 minutes. Yay for season 8.

I'm loving the pink!! And oooh yes.. the maid also.

Did you see the guy on the bench is wearing a Plucky Pennywhistle shirt?

No... damn it! I missed that. I noticed the bench advertising but not the shirt!.

I just added something else I spotted... (so awesome!)

I felt much better about this episode also. I did read some interesting positive reviews on the ep and I appreciate more that that one was a character ep. But yeah... even in hindsight it didn't work for me.

Yay Season 8!

I knew I was going to have to doublecheck the book title but never in a million years would I have got the Twilight Zone connection. I love this show.

I have to admit I do love it when I do get the references. It's not always - there are so many that Show throw at us that I have no idea about. Thank goodness for the Wiki! :D

xx

I didn't actually read your review....only the first line or two where you reassured me that unlike last week's, this week worked for you. Haven't watched it yet so I'll come back and read once I do, but I just wanted to know that someone (like you) liked it.

So thank you!

Ha! You're like me. I actually spoiled myself slightly for this ep and watched the preview... I was THAT worried!

*hugs* Hope you enjoy it.
xox

Two things off the top of my head.

Yes to the 'To Serve Man'! I noticed that when I saw the episode and had to pause and LOL to my son saying - that's from some sci-fi show. I remembered the storyline from the sci-fi show - but not specifically that it was Twilight Zone. *fistbump*

And second, I think I read somewhere (I just cannot remember where) that Jared said at JIB (perhaps in a M&G?) that asking for the young boy to be released with them was actually Jared & Jensen's idea. It was not in the script. The Js thought it would be OOC for S&D to leave without the boy.

I enjoyed that the boys were not in conflict and working so well together. I loved Alpha Vamp being back (FYI, last night I was contacted by the girl who Rick Worthy kissed on stage during one of the BurCon panels - she was looking for photos of that moment. I'd forgotten about it. Which is weird because it was VERY memorable. And yes, I have photos! Will be posting this weekend hopefully.)

And Dean was GUH in that jacket. And Sam was gorgeous.

I initially thought it was from a sci-fi film. I new it was pretty famous but at first I couldn't remember from where. Such a great, rather hidden, reference. :))

The Js thought it would be OOC for S&D to leave without the boy.

Oh wow - that is so awesome. Rescuing Emily was probably too late (though you could see they really wanted to) so to at least leave with the boy was something. GOOD FOR THEM!

I'll be checking out those photos. Your con pics have been amazing. I suppose Rick appearing at the con would have given away that he was appearing again. I hope he does indeed make an appearance next year.

YES! Both boys were gorgeous! As per usual....<3333

I posted the Rick fan kiss this afternoon here: http://growyourwings.livejournal.com/582046.html

I'm really glad the boys were concerned about the young boy who was with the Alpha.

Jesus, yes. as interesting as I really do find it to see them slip from their morals (because they did damage themselves for us/the world and they deserve our love anyway) it certainly is easier to love them when they're the bleeding-heart good guys we originally met. I especially appreciated Sam's face when he felt like he was pushing his luck but couldn't bear to walk away. I do think a lot of that was tied into needing a consolation prize, of sorts, for having to talk away from the Alpha without a scratch. Also, the fact that they completely gave up on StockholmSyndrome!Emily was a dark little twist which again shows that even if they still want to save people, they're very okay chalking a lot of them up to collateral damage. not that I blame them, she was obviously a lost cause, but the truth remains that she was still a child abducted and forced to enjoy being vamp food. shiver.

on a shallower note... ;) hot damn those boys are hot. on that bench with the OC? all I could think the whole time was how much *bigger* the boys are than him. like, jesus. to the point where I didn't even notice how NOT-STERILE that syringe was! Sam, WTF???

and double thumbs up to the new jacket :) I'm not sure what meta I want to read into it, but it certainly *fits* him better. and he looks smokin' :P I actually spent a good deal of the ep noticing how frumpy Sam looks, but it was probably just in comparison to this new, sleeker Dean.

Not sure if you read

growyourwings's comment above but apparently the guys saving the boy wasn't written into the script but the Js thought it was OOC for them to leave without him so it was changed. I think that is so cool.

Emily's story is creepy. Poor kid. I wonder if she'll appear again. I would think she would if Alpha!Vamp it appearing next season.

The boys were particularly HOT! And Sam taking blood from that guy was just....*yikes*...

The jacket seems like such a statement. A new skin maybe? Still dressing like John but fashioning his own style. I'd love to see it become another object of desire for Dean. Maybe with the loss of the car he needs another attachment. Dean is attached to certain objects - amulet, john's jacket, car, flask, trenchcoat. Moreso than we've ever seen Sam. See?! There's something in there I reckon... ;D Dean connects meanings to objects. Maybe this will be a new connection. (We need fic now of Sam buying it for him - that will enhance the connection even more!) Oooh... I feel some meta bubbling....

xox

I did see that comment about the boy's input! I almost responded too, basically with a 'thank god they're on our side' type comment. Continuity aside, I think sometimes eps are better at giving us a new story than they are at giving us the Sam and Dean we love in that story, so it's heartening to know the boys are looking out for their characters.

I love the idea of the jacket as a new fixation for Dean. You're so right that Dean surrounds himself with symbols of his devotion to various relationships, whereas Sam has none. And that makes perfect sense with their characters, in that Dean is emotionally stunted and can't express himself, but will wear a necklace for 20+ years to prove he loves his brother so that he doesn't have to express it. And Sam, on the other hand, doesn't need objects because he'll just say what he's feeling (or transmit it through the telepathic power of the puppy!eyes.) mmmm, doesn't it just feel good when characters and their underlying psychology make sense :D

and, to support this theory, if you find fic of Sam buying it for him, please link it my way/to the fandom at large?? *g* oh man, is Show finally writing their own version of an amulet fix-it!!??? ::fingers sooo crossed::

oh man, is Show finally writing their own version of an amulet fix-it!!???

Wouldn't that be awesome. :DD

I'd love to know if the jacket appears in the next ep. I don't want to check pics or promo but I'd love to know if it's not just a one off. That way I might be able to write a tiny bit of meta...

xox

(Surely they wouldn't put him in something like that and then never have him wear it again).

So many delicious details - and I adore Rick Worthy's characterization of the Alpha Vamp, the perfect villain for Show really -- so creepy he makes my skin crawl and yet I *love* him and really hope his fourth wall breaking comment will also come true :) And I just read that I missed a Mott the Hoople shout out - shame on me, because a million years ago, I loved that band. I love Show for those kind of juicy tidbits too.

Alpha!Vamp is great for the show. Can't wait to see him again next season.

The Mott the Hoopie shout out flew right over my head. Still does - I've never heard of that band. I better check it out - I assume there's some connection to show, or actors. I love they way they bury little things in the show. That book title cracks me up!

Much happier this week, smart boys, smart-mouthed boys, SMART boys - what's not to like? Well, to be honest I am still a bit pissed that neither of them is currently in mortal danger, but there's still a week to go yes?

Great review - and yes, I did enjoy this one.

1. I like the way Dick makes my skin crawl. It will be nice to see him get his comeuppance. (Seriously! You cannot say that name without innuendo! As Show knows...)

They have SO enjoyed the whole year of Dick jokes, I might even miss him for that very reason if they do kill him. Have you noticed that Dick doesn't blink very often - I'm pretty sure that's a big part of the reason that he makes your skin crawl - kudos to the actor, it's not easy to do!

Yes yes. Much happier. Smart boys always make me happy.

I will be a little pissed if we don't have some mortal danger next week. I think it really ups the tension when there's some real danger for them. I mean, I know they can't die (well...they can, but I don't think we'll see that...) but peril is always exciting.

The Dick jokes have been great fun. Hee... it would be fun to montage them all together in a vid... I wonder if that would be possible. Damn it! I want to try it now! There must be some good "dick" songs out there. :;)

The non blinking is definitely the thing. I adore his smary smile. The evil behind it just oozes out.

xx

We're not in the emotionally fraught place we usually are by the penultimate episode, but I'm actually ok with that. I enjoyed the details, the pacing, the dialogue, the OCs and seeing a lot more of the boys.

This is true, and I think it's a necessary function of the story they're trying to tell. I mean - they've repeatedly come up against the question of whether Sam and Dean are even able to work together, and previous enemies made tearing them apart their primary goal. That ... obviously doesn't work, and it's nice to see the leviathans trying a different tack: treating them as a single unit to be fought against, with Bobby and Castiel alternately falling into the role of the 'other' who loves them but can't be counted on in a crisis. Besides - they're adorable when they work in sync and after all these years they've earned it. :)

How FABULOUS to see the Alpha!Vamp back. Rick Worthy has a commanding presence and I enjoyed every moment he was on the screen.

He is amazing. He really conveys that sense of age and power and distance. And every time I see him, I wonder who he was before Eve got to him - how much of that quiet arrogance is innate and how much he learnt over the millennia. I love it when a character gets a sense of richness, even with minimal screen time.

Yay! - the little twist with the food source being poisonous to other monsters. The Leviathans have really thought this through. A neat idea and a very handy weapon. I wonder if the boys will stock up on contaminated human blood. They could knock out a few bads with that.

Also, I may spend the rest of the week imagining Winchester kitchen mishaps. I know Sam eats salad, but it's salad prepared for him in diners and fast food outlets, mostly - and no doubt drenched in eight kinds of dressing. I doubt either of them has the faintest idea what to do with broccoli and turnips. :)

Bobby! I have to say I am really liking the potential of dangerous spirit!Bobby. Dean looked genuinely scared for a moment. Not so much scared for himself, but scared seeing what Bobby was becoming.

I enjoy the moral and emotional dilemma in this, but I get twitchy when they deliver exposition on it. Never a friendly ghost? Sam, sweetheart, just a few weeks back you had a story that was all about friendly ghosts fighting resisting an evil one. And some of said ghosts had been around for about a century. Not to mention all the other friendly ghosts they've encountered. I'm perfectly okay with it not going that way with Bobby, because there's evidence of that too. But I don't know what this 'lore' nonsense is. :)

I did rather adore Dean in this one. It's obvious that he's still carrying a lot of emotional baggage but he's getting on with it. He has to, so he does. I think Jensen's doing a great job of playing quietly troubled. I'm not sure where Sam is at at the moment. I read a fic recently exploring Sam's lack of needing anything at the moment. He's always been so driven - finding dad, finding Jessica's killer, getting Dean out of the deal, revenge for Dean's death, finding redemption, making amends for his mistakes etc. But what now? He seems to be "content" with just going along with it all.

It's an interesting way of looking at them, I think. The threat this season has been having all their resources taken away. So they're stressed. Dean is more stressed than Sam, because he was a little closer to Bobby and a lot closer to Castiel - so he's more affected by that. But at the same time, they both seem to be in a position where they can quietly soldier on. Previously, the big threat has always been that one will be taken from the other - and that gets them really worked up and desperate. But here, it turns out that when you strip away everything else, you get right down to the core of them: a little sad, a little weary, certainly damaged, but surprisingly functional - because they have the thing that's most important to them.

This is most definitely a reference to the the Twilight Zone Episode To Serve Man. Aliens land and the scientists think the book is about how to serve (as in obey) man, instead it was a cookbook To Serve Man -as a food! OH SO COOL SHOW!!!

And that may be the best thing I've seen all week. :)

Besides - they're adorable when they work in sync and after all these years they've earned it.

Yes. I think that's why I can't begrudge them not being all angsty. I've really wanted them in this place for a long time. I hoping it plays a part as they fight the Big Bad next week. I think the idea that it's either Bobby or Cas playing the "other".

I may spend the rest of the week imagining Winchester kitchen mishaps.

Potential for some great kitchen fic! I loved that big bag of fresh vegies that Sam was holding. I can't help but think Show is making a comment about the world we live in today. They made those vegies look so wonderful. I've loved the Leviathans this season mostly because it's been a great to way to reflect on the reality of modified foods and the power of big corporations. It's something I feel quite passionately about so I've rather loved that focus.

The ghost lore is indeed messy. We have seen a range of different types of ghosts and they have not always been malicious. They often speak of them becoming malicious if they stay around long enough, but it's not always the case. My only thinking is that Bobby hung around in order to get revenge on Dick so he was already set to become a vengeful spirit, whereas other ghosts may be hanging on and not knowing why. Therefore they are more likely to help or be friendly. I think the problem is, is Bobby has changed so quickly. But I suspect that's for the sake of story telling.

The contradiction is that once Dean said "Monsters I get, humans are just crazy". They have always maintained that monsters stick to certain rules. But more and more those rules have changed so "getting" monsters may not be so easy for them (or us!).

a little sad, a little weary, certainly damaged, but surprisingly functional - because they have the thing that's most important to them.

Oh yes. Oh boys! <33

The book title is probably one of my favourite things Show has done. So tiny really, but wow... so perfect.

Thanks for the screencpas, a great way to enjoy the episode for a big longer and pick up some details that I missed firts time around.

I just love the spaced out guy on the bench, adoringly staring at Sam's face while fondeling his knee and being wrapped in Dean's arm. No amount of corn starch is going to stop his brain from thinking about a threesome in that moment! :D

I just LOVE the way the boys sandwich that guy. And HA! my brain did go to him thinking about a threesome... HOW COULD YOU NOT!!!
:D

I enjoyed this one much more than last week's too. I loved the dig at high fructose corn syrup and am going to think of it as the "healthy eating episode"! Rick Worthy has such a great voice I'll be happy to see (and hear) him return.

maenad is right that we've seen plenty of friendly ghosts, though — such as Dexter and Victoria just the other week, the older sister in The Mentalists, and Mary going right back to S1. Surely they wouldn't have forgotten that one!

I thought of you as soon as I saw those bisons!

Edited 2012-05-13 01:32 (UTC)

Yes. I did too. I did read some good, positive responses to last weeks ep, but I still can't help feel that it was disjointed and lacked good pace.

I really wish we had Sam preparing those vegetables for a meal. Oh man... Sam in the kitchen, Dean watching him....(we need fic me thinks!)

The problem with ghosts is, well, a problem. My feeling is that Bobby was pretty bitter before he became a ghost so he's not exactly changing that much. I'm sure he doesn't want to hurt anyone so maybe the crunch will come when he does actuall hurt someone (and why do I hope that it's one of the boys. If he accidentally hurt one of them then I think we'll see some really good angst).

That room was great. And that bed frame has been used in so many eps. ;D

Can't wait for next week!!

why do I hope that it's one of the boys. If he accidentally hurt one of them then I think we'll see some really good angst

Yes please!

This is most definitely a reference to the the Twilight Zone Episode To Serve Man. Aliens land and the scientists think the book is about how to serve (as in obey) man, instead it was a cookbook To Serve Man -as a food!

THAT'S what it was! oh thank you! i got caught up in a Simpson's episode, but it's the Twilight Zone that was in my head. thank you for clearing that up for me.

as always, you're awesome! :)

Oh yes... there was a Simpson's episode that referred to the Twilight Zone episode...! I love the way The Simpson's do that...

And SPN is doubly awesome for using it. :DD

xx

I LOVE reading your ep reactions!

I liked this episode a great deal -- it was almost like a throwback to the days of old. I loved Dean all huffy over the HFCS pie; Sam and his veggies; the boys and Stoned Dude on the bench. And the cop, OMG, the cop! Tapping out "Why Can't We Be Friends" on his patrol car siren? I thought I was gonna DIE.

But I didn't even notice the book. D:

Speaking of interesting things found in this episode . . . that painting of Michael whomping on Lucifer, it does get around, doesn't it? XD

Thank you!

Oh... THAT was the song from the police car. I didn't catch that... how cool.

And yes yes! That painting! I love prop re-use. Not sure if you saw my motel post (http://ash48.livejournal.com/228928.html)? I'm rather a geek about that stuff...:)

I'll be filing that one away for when I (eventually) do season 7!

Thanks hun.
xx

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7.22 Review (with some pics)

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