ash48 | 9.13 Review recs (for those who aren't sick of reading about it!)

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recs,
s9 musings

9.13 Review recs (for those who aren't sick of reading about it!)

I want to share this great review of 9.13 at SpoilerTV: The Problems with Saving Each Other

It's an even handed and well observed look at the final scene (was there actually anything else in that ep? I seem to remember a tank top and a hair net…) and might actually make you believe Carver has a plan (ok, so it might not convince you, but I think there are some valid points). It also confirms my belief that he started this direction (but stumbled) in S8.

I'm still trying to get over the fans' reactions toward Sam. This review helped me understand it a bit better, but to be honest I am still left shaking my head. To not have a shred of sympathy for a character who has been through and suffered so much leaves me speechless. But. I don't want to rehash that. I know everyone has different views on the brothers - but I gotta say I never realised there was such a divide for some. I have no idea how anyone can actually watch the show with such a deep level of hatred for one of the main characters.

I thought this post by

bittersweettwit on why Sam's behaviour isn't OOC is interesting too. I've seen some comments (not on my journal) that suggest that Sam must still be possessed, or have Lucifer still inside him to say something like that. O_o This is a good argument for why he is actually in character.

And

fangasm has written an interesting and well constructed review that also looks at why fans have reacted so passionately about it - namely that we don't like change. I agree with much of it, but some I'm still pondering. I get that one of the reasons we love the show is because of the brothers unhealthy, messy, codependent relationship and we don't like the idea of that changing, but I for one would like to see them working toward a less destructive relationship full of positive love rather than the cycle of sacrifice and resurrections. The fact that they are addressing this now, could mean we are heading toward change. Personally, I think we can have a show about brothers who have a healthy(-er) relationship and it still be engaging and capture our hearts like it's done for years (or, you know…not ;D)

And if you're still feeling down or worried (or pissed) you've just gotta see the promo for 9.14. I'm pretty easy to please so just seeing the boys on the screen together makes me pretty damn happy (even when they are working through a rift). Shame we have to wait until the 25th to see it!

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I have no idea how anyone can actually watch the show with such a deep level of hatred for one of the main characters.

Fandom has confused, angered and upset me so much I've decided to just watch show and ignore fandom for some considerable time.

I'm just here now because I need to tell you I've always admired your support for show and all sections of fandom and I'm proud to have you on my flist, still loving both brothers, both show and fandom and trying to see all sides.

Thanks for the link to the promo, hadn't realised show was on short hiatus.

**hugs you**

Edited 2014-02-11 14:22 (UTC)

It's been interesting to me that a lot of the reaction from people who are a little less engaged has been very different from what we see coming out of the heart of the fandom. Like, this review from someone on my flist for whom Spn is just one among many shows she follows and reviews, with a couple of comments from people in a similar state of relative detachment (well, and me: if I'm anywhere close to detachment it's because of a not very peaceable and hopefully temporary "get me the fuck out of here" thing):

http://alethialia.livejournal.com/647767.html

By far the best and most accurate review of this episode.

I think it's natural for us to try and sympathize with the character that we feel the most attached to because that's usually the character we think we understand the best. That, of course, can lead to rather heated emotions (I still remember the fandom war between the Deangirls and the Casgirls after Cas beat Dean up in S5).

However, I think you need to be able to see the faults in even your most favorite character, or else you aren't really understanding them very well at all. Hating the ~opposite side because events shine a light on those faults is where people take a wrong turn into over-investment.

Thanks for the recs, I'll definitely have a look at them.
These days I try very very hard not to let unfair Sam-bashing ruin my love for Dean, because, you know, the UNFAIR Sam-bashing is usually juxtaposed with this innocent(yes, and very innocent, "Sam how can you say that to your brother when he's sacrificed so much for you?! You have no heart!" kind of innocent), hurting image of Dean. I'm speaking from a gross experience which gave me a painful, sleepless night.

Aw thanks for the rec Ash *hug*

Interestingly enough I posted a link to it over on Twitter and Eric Charmelo (the writer of the episode favourited it). Of course it's most likely a case of him just seeing the title and being glad to see praise (especially since a certain hateful group of fans have been bashing his account non-stop) than a case of him actually reading it but it was still nice to see :)

Sometimes I wish I could watch in the detached way I watch my other shows too, it would mean a LOT less heartache. Thanks for the recs, and thank you also for always being so open-minded and non-judgemental and for your LOVE of show and both brothers always. It means so much ♥ I rarely comment here because I often feel overwhelmed and there are other people here that express themselves way better than I could ever do but I always read and love your thougtful insightful and fun reviews.

I have no idea how anyone can actually watch the show with such a deep level of hatred for one of the main characters.

This. I'll never understand it. it keeps me up at night.

Thanks again, bb, I'm very easy to please too! EXCITED for the next ep!

While I'm definitely not sick of reading thoughtful, analytical posts, as I want to understand both sides, I'm done with the vicious bashing (of Sam and Dean) that's been going on in public forums. IDK, maybe because I tend to stick with my smallish circle of bi-bros, Dean-friendly Samgirls and Sam-friendly Deangirls, I'm unaccustomed to behavior as venomous and hurtful as that which unfolded after 9.13.

I never realised there was such a divide for some. I have no idea how anyone can actually watch the show with such a deep level of hatred for one of the main characters.

Dear God, THIS. SPN is a show about two brothers. How do people like that even WATCH? Me, I'm never giving up on Show and my boys, but am definitely taking three giant steps back from fandom-in-general. (But not you, bb, never you.)

just seeing the boys on the screen together makes me pretty damn happy (even when they are working through a rift)

This times a million⁹⁹. Thanks again for all the links! ♥♥♥

*edited for html-fail :(

Edited 2014-02-11 16:02 (UTC)

I'm pretty unhappy that Carver is changing their love which saved the world during the Kripke years into something bad and destructive that needs to be "matured." He can just fuck right off.

I LOVE that you are still so much for the show as a whole..and that i am not alone in still feeling the joy of each new episode.

In my mind you can't love Dean without Sam and vice versa..that IS the show after all..

(((ash))

Hey Ash - posted this this morning. You might appreciate it. :)

http://growyourwings.livejournal.com/874438.html

Helloooooo :)
Read the first article you linked, and really liked this comment from:
"percysowner lala2

Except we've been here in season three with Doc Benton the Zombie Frankenstein. Sam found out about his immortality formula and begged Dean to use it to avoid Hell. Dean said no it was a line he wouldn't cross and Sam honored that. He didn't pull pages out of Doc Benton's journal and make up the formula when Dean wasn't looking. He didn't slip the formula into Dean's coffee on the sly. He didn't start taking notes on what kind of organ donor they would need when Dean's body began to fall apart. Sam threw the journal into the grave with Doc Benton and did what Dean wanted. Sam has ALREADY PASSED the "I will treat my brother like a human being who gets to make decisions about his life" test. So Sam has been in a very similar situation and made his peace with doing what Dean wants."

Don't know the guy, but agree with this. I missed all the apparent Sam hate, but I reckon he's reacting pretty truthfully, to life (as in, rl) their life, and his character.

...off to read some more :)

Damned. I didn't realize there is a mini hiatus and was looking forward to watching the new ep this morning. *sulky face* I watched the promo instead. Now it's even worse to wait until the 25. LOL ;D

You know I'm even tempered about the show and love it as a whole. So, yay for people who get the growing of the show (which goes along with the aging of the characters as well as the actors!!) and are able to embrace some change. Seeing Sam and Dean one day with their old age walking frames still acting like they did as boys feels just wrong to me. I mean I'm all for fans looking at things from different angles and that but this bashing and hating on characters makes me think some people need an outlet for issues that are not nescessarily rooted in the show. But, yeah.. each to their own.
Thanks for still being here with your squee and love for the show. It's good to know it's always safe to read your thoughts, even when you get upset about something.
And since I'm in a hugging mood, here it comes!! ((squiiiiidge)) :D

♥♥♥

Thanks for the links, Ash! And for your generally lovely, positive attitude - it is helping me feel more connected to spn fandom, when I had started to withdraw.

I'm actually quite interested in where the show is going right now, though I don't mind the hiatus - it's giving me time to process a bit, and hopefully get some of my own meta out there before the next episode airs :)

(I did get a little annoyed with the Fangasm review when they started talking about how Sam is going through delayed adolescence and is acting out against Dean - that seems like a very dismissive view to me. But some of their other points, about how deeply we feel about fictional characters, were quite good.)

It sucks when either of the brothers are bashed.

I do feel sympathy for Sam, but I don't like that he wishes he had died, and I don't agree with what he's said to Dean about it.

I get that one of the reasons we love the show is because of the brothers unhealthy, messy, codependent relationship and we don't like the idea of that changing, but I for one would like to see them working toward a less destructive relationship full of positive love rather than the cycle of sacrifice and resurrections.

One of the big reasons why I love the show is the lengths they'll go for each other. With that gone, it means that they can live without each other, and that they're not the most important thing in each other's lives. That's not what I want to see happen.

I've always been extremely selective of what I read online regarding fandoms. More so with SPN than any other fandom I think because it's always had so many, er, interpretations that I just didn't understand. And after discovering how vicious Spuffy Vs Bangel shippers in the Buffy universe can get, I was like, "Nah, I just want fun." Getting into arguments with other people isn't my idea of enjoying a fandom. And, when someone bashes a character I love, frankly, it hurts my feelings. I love my favorite characters too much. LOL

I've been taking my time getting to the SPN episodes lately - mostly to avoid some of the heated backlash and it's the perfect excuse when people ask my why I'm not on tumblr these days (LOL)

I was SO WORRIED about what fandom would say about Sam that I still haven't ventured anywhere. I figured I'd come to your journal first (It's always felt like a "safe" sane place).
I read through your other 9.13 post and OMG over 250 comments? (I did not read through all those). Wow. People have opinions on this episode, huh?

I came away from the episode with an overwhelming sense that Sam was trying to tell Dean "I love you enough to let you go if the situation had been reversed." I understand that fans watch the show from all sorts of angles but am pretty baffled that other interpretations could be so prevalent.

As always, thanks for the great meta and links to other posts.

My episode summary:
Yoga. Instructor.
- "Nice shorts."
- "Nice hair net."
Sam obviously wins. HOW IS THAT NOT CLEAR?
;p

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