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

[ash48.livejournal.com]

And I still want to believe that the dark silhouette watching Sam when he took off in 8x01 can somehow salvage a part of the Sam/Amelia story,

Oh yes...I've been clinging on to that one also. Though I'm pretty sure we are meant to believe it was Don. I think the story starts just after Don's return and this was the set up for the "love triangle" between Amelia, Sam and Don. And as much as that kinda sucks, I pretty much think that's how Carver sees Sam's story here. I think we are meant to feel really conflicted by Sam's decision to leave Amelia after Don returned. It didn't work for me - but maybe it did for some others.

I will happily be wrong though!

And yeah - I've been puzzling over that zoom. I've even wondered if it was a last minute decision in the editing suite - speed it up to make it look even...um...cornier. Eek..I just don't know.

[growyourwings.livejournal.com]

*butts in*

"'I'm pretty sure we are meant to believe it was Don. I think the story starts just after Don's return and this was the set up for the "love triangle" between Amelia, Sam and Don. And as much as that kinda sucks, I pretty much think that's how Carver sees Sam's story here. I think we are meant to feel really conflicted by Sam's decision to leave Amelia after Don returned. It didn't work for me - but maybe it did for some others."

I think the same thing - the figure was supposed to be Don. Which is, for me, a WTH? moment as far as SPN moments go. So did not work. It was so WTH for me that sometimes I forget it even happened-feels like a huge disconnect. So I'm with you Ash, on this one.

[percysowner.livejournal.com]

Well, I know that JC said it was a triangle between Amelia, Don and Sam, but it played out as a triangle between Amelia, Sam and Dean (or hunting as a life style). In the end Don was barely featured. He had a few minute scene with Sam and nothing more. Amelia had pretty well made the choice of Sam. She didn't want him to leave when Don returned. She came to Sam as soon as she saw him in town and she showed up at the motel. Sam left as soon as Don showed up to "give him a chance", didn't try to contact Amelia until he thought she was in danger and didn't try to contact her once he knew she was safe. When Sam went out to think, there was no indication that Don played any part in his decision to not return to Amelia, he was choosing if he should be all in with Dean or all in with Amelia.

[growyourwings.livejournal.com]

FYI. I found a Carver interview from just before the mid-season finale in December. In it Carver says, "Viewers will also find out the identity of the mysterious figure who was watching Sam leave Amelia’s house in the season premiere. “Everything’s happening this week!” reveals the EP."

So yeah - even though they don't tell us directly it was Don, it *was* Don.

.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Yep. I think that settles it. Weird, but there you have it.

Don made such a brief appearance and had no real impact on, well, anything. I find it strange that he would have him in the shadows in the beginning - but I'm seeing this as Carver's way of story telling.

[hugemind.livejournal.com]

Though I'm pretty sure we are meant to believe it was Don.

I read the comments below as well and I have to agree that it really sounds like the mystery figure was Don. His 8x09 jacket does plausibly match the mystery figure's popped collar. This leaves me completely frustrated (and WTF, creepy stalker!Don??) and, just, sad because of the time they wasted on pointless nonsense when they could've been telling an actual story that matters to viewers. It's hard to feel conflicted by Sam's decision because Show is about two brothers that hunt together. I mean, it's pretty clear that the boys will reunite, so it's kind of pointless to angst over Sam's decision because we already know what it will be. Not seeing any affection/feelings between Sam and Amelia sure doesn't help.

I just watched "Caged Heat" and I totally want to entertain a theory that S8!Sam is actually soulless!Sam. /random

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I hear ya. And hence a lot of my negative reactions from a few eps ago. The penny dropped a little while back that this is all we are getting about Sam. There's no mystery, nothing supernatural going on. Just Sam (supposedly) falling in love, Don returning and him having to make a "decision" about staying with Amelia or returning to Dean. Um..no brainer. And not exactly riveting tv.

Let's hope they can now move on and give us some interesting story lines.
xx