8.10 review / reaction

[ash48]

The Good

* I think lowering my expectations for this episode actually helped me enjoy this episode much more than I would have done if I'd gone in excited. I knew we were in for more Cas, angels and demons, and Amelia giving Sam an ultimatum - so I was at least prepared.

* I liked that Sam mentioned Jess and how low it was that Dean used that ploy to lure Sam away in the last ep. Not because it was particularly inspired or anything, it was just great to know that the writers had not forgotten that Sam once did have a life with Jess and so many of the women in Sam's life had died and he thinks about that.

* I did like that Sam and Dean actually communicated in the beginning. (And we got an actual scene with the two of them in it so that was nice).

* It feels like we are at the end of the "past year" story arcs which means they can hopefully move on from here.

* There was a feeling of conclusion. I've been needing that. I've needed to know where they've been heading with all this (no where it seems but at least I know that now).

* I didn't actually mind Cas too much. I know...surprising for me, but there were moments I cared more about him then anyone one else on the screen so that's something. There were glimpses of Team Free Will (remember that awesome little idea a few seasons ago?), but then poor Cas was forced to be bad. Again. So...*shrugs* Idk. Also...I really like it when Cas connects with Sam and he did that a little bit - so yay!

* I REALLY liked the camera work when Sam and Dean were moving through the building looking for the sigils.

* Sam and Dean working together (thank you show!)

* Benny. I felt for Benny. (only it's setting him up for turning "bad" and it will be Dean's fault and Dean will have to kill him and then we'll have Dean angst and it will be hollow because we've seen it all before. Except better *sigh*).

* I am glad the boys are back together. As much as the end was obviously going to happen I'm glad it did. It was an incredibly sad ending and I did really feel for my two favourite characters. It was also sad that there was a sense that they are together because there isn't an alternative. They are trapped in these lives. Together.

The Bad (you know...skip all this crankiness. I only rant like this because I love my show so much. Except when I don't :((( )

* When did show become so joyless? I know we've had a lot of angst and it's not a "happy" show but usually there is at least some urgency and then some sort of satisfaction at the end. Even with the brothers coming together at the end there was no sense of celebration or even contentment. It just was. And it made me incredibly sad. Not just for the characters but for my show.

* This is the episode that cemented the fact that the Sam and Amelia story line meant nothing. It served absolutely no purpose other than to add a soap opera style story line. I would even say that soaps do it better because at least we care about the characters and their dilemmas. We knew the moment the season started that Sam leaves Amelia. We knew as soon she gives him that ridiculous ultimatum in that episode that he would go back to Dean. There was absolutely NO sense of urgency or investment.

I could wax lyrical about how sad it is for Sam that he can't have a normal life with a woman he so dearly loves (::koff::) but fuck that. In fact, I'm not even going to start on Sam and Amelia. I am beyond incensed by that empty, pointless story line - expect to say that what a damn SHAME they didn't make that into something amazing. It could have been. There was potential. But poor dialogue, poor character development and yes, poor acting (by both actors!) makes me want to forget that that ever even happened. Sorry what? Sam ignored the fact that his brother was missing, he hit a dog, fell in love with a women who he didn't seem remotely attracted to, professed his undying love for her and then ran away from it all? Um...no. I don't remember that happening. *lalalala*

* Angel torture that went on forever. :((

* Powerless and ineffectual Crowley

* Some Dean one-liners that fell flat. (Your mother is hot? Seriously Dean? And him hiding porn from Cas? what the...)

* Since when are Sam and Dean stronger than demons? I mean, why didn't the demons just wave their hands (like they used to) and pin them against a wall? Maybe even snap their necks? Are Sam and Dean immune to their powers somehow? A demon punch up is just ridiculous. (stop being lazy show!!!)

* That zoom in of Crowley might just be the cheesiest zoom in the history of the show. It was a shocker. Shots like that make the show look as bad as it actually seems to be becoming. :(((

* Now there's an Angel Tablet. OH MY GOD NOOOOOOOOO!!!!! Not an ANGEL TABLET!!! WHAT WILL HAPPEN NOW?!?!?! I wish I cared...

* What's Sam and Dean's investment in all this? Why do they care? I feel like they need to be personally invested in order for me to care about what's happening in the story. They're not, so I struggle to care.

RIGHT! I WILL STOP NOW! It's becoming a moan fest!!! I AM SORRY! That left me feeling sad and flat. I didn't mind watching it. I wasn't as bored as I have been with some eps so THAT'S A PLUS!!! \o/

The not so ugly:

Both boys continue to look amazing. Sam's hair = \o/ Dean's face = \o/ (shallow yes but at this point in the season there has GOT to be something that is keeps me tuning in, because I can tell you the story certainly isn't). Hee...and I would say Sam's gorgeous bod but I was too distracted that whole scene to fully appreciate it. I will later I'm sure.

The GOOD NEWS iS THEY CAN MOVE ON NOW!! We can get some (hopefully!!!) decent MoTW stories now. The boys are back together (not entirely happily but at least they are back) so they can start being a team again. Maybe they can start moving toward actually wanting to be together because they like each other's company and because they enjoying Saving People Hunting Things. Maybe even because they WANT to watch each other's backs. Unfortunately the lack of trust between them still exists so no doubt that will raise its ugly head again sometime in the future. Maybe next time they will actually sort that out.

I am sure I will find more positives with that ep once I've read some reactions and I've sat on it for a while. I still care. I just want the writers and the producers to care as much.

Comments

[redteekal.livejournal.com]

I'm curious about what's going on in heaven, Naomi's agenda and what's happened to Cas....I want to know the answers to these things so I am still invested in this story. Closing the gates to Hell forever still seems like a worthwhile task and it's one that I'm thinking about long term in respect to S9 and S10 and they must be now thinking about all kinds of story arcs that can lead to the final end of the series.

I'm possibly a little over enthusiastic about that final scene of happiness for me. I'm not sure about how this is supposed to be worked in with a more celebratory/happy vibe from the boys reaching this resolution? I loved the way that final conversation was written between the brothers - it was a solid ending of that soapie-like arc and it felt NATURAL. Dean's "huh" when he realises it's not cut and dried for Sam, and Sam's choice to think about it, take a walk, clear his mind. That all felt right. I wouldn't expect there to be any demonstrative, celebratory, overly happy, big hugging it out on this one. There was the quiet confirmation of the solidity of their brotherhood always topping everything in the end. An exchange of looks (those ones that say more than words ever can) a peace offering of beer and dinner, Dean opening his brother's beer for him. It's where they're at and I loved it.

I don't think there's a lack of trust between them. Sam made it clear that it wasn't Dean he didn't trust, it was Benny. That's just a poor communication on Dean's part and also a poor handling of the situation. Sam vouched for Lenore. If he was able to be around Benny and see what Benny is then I have no doubt that situation would be resolved. But it won't happen & I'm okay with that - because I expect that ;) If it does happen colour me delightfully proved wrong!

Poor Cas is being completely messed up and Benny is no doubt doomed but all that, while it elicits all the usual feelings of sympathy and damn you show responses I can't really be that upset because of the way they fixed the boys in this ep. Left me feeling like a satisfied fan for sure (even if I totally concurred with some of your nit picking up there in The Bad section) ;)

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Hey! <3

Before I respond to this I have to generally say that I have been loving the chat that this season has created. Lots of differing opinions but friendly agreeing to disagree (well, what I get here anyway). I can't promise I won't be a bit moany about it all when we catch up on Tues but I am trying to find the positives. ;)

I'm curious about what's going on in heaven

Yeah. Naomi is a curiosity indeed. At the moment I can't speculate because we just don't know enough about heaven. Though that ep revealed that angels are programed so maybe it will end up being about giving angels free will. Sam and Dean will be invested in helping out because I am sure they will want to help Cas (I think! See...that's where I'm conflicted...but I'll take it as read that they will want to be involved in that).

I didn't think about the Gates of Hell being something that would go into S9 and S10. That makes sense - though pulling that mytharc through 3 seasons might just...um...idk - kill me? I suppose if there are new twists and turns it could be interesting.

The final scene - to be honest I'm not sure why I was so down on that scene when I watched it. IT THE PERFECT SCENE FOR ME!! I live for this stuff. It's the reunion after the separation. Maybe I'm confusing my overall sadness for the boys (because that scene wasn't really a happy one) with my sadness with the show.

Everything you said there works for me and I am beyond thrilled that they are at least talking and back together. I think because everything that surrounded them coming to this point felt unnecessary (in that their jealousies were particularly unfounded) it clouded the moment for me. But yeah - I watched the opening scene and the final scene again and it's all about them finding the solid ground to work on again. And it looks like they have for the moment. (only with no real resolution so maybe we have that yet to come).

Sam made it clear that it wasn't Dean he didn't trust, it was Benny.

Yeah - but I read that as Sam not being able to trust Dean's judgement about Benny. I think Sam trusts Dean with his life but doesn't trust his judgement on a vampire he met in Purgatory. I get why that would be - Dean when he came out of Purgatory was a little changed, but I'm surprised Sam didn't at least give Dean the benefit of the doubt when he pleaded his case.

I really hope the trust issue has been solved. It probably was miscommunication - or something. Ack! I'm confused about how I feel about them now (as in where they are at). Maybe I just have to let it be and accept that they are back together and that's great. :)

Cas is messed up for sure (and I did find my self actually caring about that! yay!) and Benny's story can only be a sad one because he's a monster.

For me...if I can just get past being bored (as in uninterested) during an episode I know I will be back to being squeeful again. I'm sick of eyerolling and saying to the screen..."get on with it!" or "he wouldn't do that!" (hee..and "for fucks sake!"...) But I know that's purely personal. I am sincerely worried that I'm losing the connection with my darling show. I'm not seeing it the way you and MJ are and it UPSETS ME!! (seriously...I cry whenever I think about it. Like now.) (and I shouldn't be because essentially the whole season has been about the screwed up relationship these boys have and that should be making me happy!)

I figure if the next ep doesn't do it for me I might just be a lost cause - because the next ep looks awesome!

(sorry for the rant...)