9.20 episode review/reaction

[ash48]

(changed my cut tag....lost my sense of humour...)

I ain't got nothing guys. Reviewing this would be like me reviewing an episode of Charmed or The Vampire Diaries or The Young and The Restless (not that I've watched those, but I imagine they're a bit like this. Maybe?)

I have no idea if that was good or bad because it's just not my kind of thing. For those who like romancey drama with supernatural beings as the back drop then this might have been awesome. But, that's not me. Too many beautiful, unrealistic (and rather boring) characters for my liking.

I knew this episode was a pilot so I'm not at all surprised or even disappointed after watching it (only it means we've ended up with 22 episodes instead of 23. BOO!).

What I DON'T GET is did they actually think that would appeal to the Supernatural audience? I haven't checked many reactions but I have a feeling there might be some pissed off fans because that pilot could have been done separately to this show. It didn't even have the same feel so there's no reason why they couldn't have launched that as a "new" show - without any connections to SPN.

It makes me even more worried that Carver really has no understanding of the SPN audience (and probably explains why the first half of S8 was such soap opera). We are NOT that audience (ack! are we? I don't mean to speak on behalf of the spn fandom...)

Ok. So there was a smidgeon of Sam and Dean stuff. And did any one else just kinda melt a little when they appeared on the screen? It was almost like a relief to see them. I was instantly engaged and eager to know what was going on with them. Every "Sammy" warmed by heart just a wee bit. Even their weariness and heart aching experience was a welcome sight (and even though this season has been a trial, after watching I might actually be grateful for it). And I did like Dean's one liner when he chopped off the vamps head. :)

And I was grasping onto anything. Dean telling that guy (I know, I can't even remember names) that monsters don't exist was cruel and gave us a glimpse of MoC!Dean and Sam even managed to (almost) draw a tear with his declaration that once you're in you can never get out. Was it just me or did Sam actually seem really tired and weary? Whenever the boys encounter newbies entering the "business" there's always a level of sadness and deep knowing. Usually Dean has it too, but he's clearly not bothered (more evidence of him disconnecting and drawing away from humanity). I liked seeing it come from Sam though (we actually got some Sam moments! yay :D)

But we can't really read too much into what the boys were up to because they didn't do anything. Didn't have any part of the action or even the story. As I said - no idea why they had to create this as a spin off. I would have been happier to see this as a Castiel and Crowley spin off, or a Charlie and Dorothy, a Jody and Annie/Alex one or even a Garth and his new werewolf family one. I thought that was what spin offs were? A character from one show creating another show? Man, even a ghost!Kevin and Mama Tran spin off would have more exciting.

So yeah. Very unlikely I'll be following that. I feel particularly cheated and annoyed that a show like that would be connected to Supernatural. Sure, make a show like that - there will be people who will love it. Just don't try and tell me it's a spin off of Supernatural.

Comments

[cassiopeia7.livejournal.com]

It makes me even more worried that Carver really has no understanding of the SPN audience (and probably explains why the first half of S8 was such soap opera). We are NOT that audience (ack! are we? I don't mean to speak on behalf of the spn fandom...)

I hadn't thought of it that way, but man, that's scary if true. Carver seemed to be aware of the SPN audience during the first three seasons, but maybe that was more Kripke's influence. IDK, maybe Carver spent his time away from SPN watching too much Twilight and Vampire Diaries. He's seen the 'success' of those genres and wants to turn SPN into something that it is most definitely not. His showrunning view feels less like that of someone who was around at the beginning and more like that of fans who started watching after S4, and think that the core of the show is something else entirely.

In any case, I agree wholeheartedly. We are NOT THAT AUDIENCE.

even a ghost!Kevin and Mama Tran spin off would have been more exciting.

LOL, yes! I would watch the hell out of that. :D

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Carver confuses the hell out of me! When I think of the last two seasons they are actually really dark (which that series looks like it's going to lack). There's also an element about them that I really like (looking into the darker elements of the boys relationship) - but then there's also that soapy kind of drama and overly dramatised angst that I really don't like that much (all the heighten drama about said relationship). He really "got it" with Mystery Spot and the Xmas ep and I don't know if that was Kripke or what. I wish I knew because I hang onto hope that he actually really DOES get it.

I'd watch the hell out of Kevin and Mama Tran too! It would be cool if they did a spin off that included all SPN's secondary characters. They'd probably all come together as a post meeting the Winchesters support group... ;)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

As you know, I didn't get this either. Even the lore wasn't the same so why try and pretend this is in the same universe as SPN? Other than to try and cash in on SPN's unanticipated success and longevity.

Yeah, I can't really believe the Carver we have now is the same Carver who gave us Mystery Spot and A Very SPN Christmas.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Yeah. It's so weird. I've just been on twitter (tweeting away!) and the feeling is one of being cheated and a bit used. And insta!audience. I'm sure the show has some merit in a different universe. I thought spin offs had to at least have characters from the original show.

The more I think about it the more I think this was a bad (marketing) move.

[novakev.livejournal.com]

You're right, it's not a spinoff, just a new show hoping for some of Supernatural's audience.

It might appeal to the younger crowd. My daughter loved it, though at first she didn't realise it was Supernatural because the feel was all wrong.

I went in with extremely low expectations so I almost enjoyed it, though I won't be watching the show.

As a spinoff, my vote would be for Bobby and Rufus!

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Yes. It's made me feel a little used. Perhaps a warning from TPTB that it was completely different might have been good. Or even airing it earlier in the season so it doesn't come at a time when we are all desperate to know what happening at the moment (well, some of us. I know not all are liking this season).

Bobby and Rufus!!! yay!

[sam-dean-lover.livejournal.com]

hi, i watched something else yesterday but did read reactions of the ep on spoilertv, some people liked it, some thought it was awful. 9x21's promo looks good

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I'm sure there will some who it will appeal to. :)

*sit on hands* I'm going to stay spoiler free for the next 3 eps. Well, try to...

[alienat.livejournal.com]

I agree with you, this new show doesn't have anything to do with SPN, except that it's apparently set in the same universe.

The feel of this episode was so off, way too cheesy and clichéd.

I won't be watching. I'm so sick and tired of the 'same-formular-shows'. Throw in some overly beautiful actors, with a forbidden romance, that of course is/was doomed but they still love each other so much. *rolls eyes* Then the bitch who wants to ruin everything and the human who has to work with the so called monster so they can save the world. Urgh. :( So overdone, really.

Besides, how can Sam and Dean have been hunting for years and nobody, not them not any other hunter, ever picked up on five monster families ruling the Chicago underground? Yeah, sorry, but that's just stupid and totally unbelievable.

As you can tell I'm not amused. LOL Not that I care too much about the current plot on SPN, but I at least want to see Sam and Dean on my TV when the series is called SPN. ;)

[ash48.livejournal.com]

*nods* I have to assume this will appeal to some but it will need to be a lot edgier for it to appeal to me. Maybe they have an interesting plan ahead and I'd be curious to see if they do. From that episode it didn't exactly grab me.

how can Sam and Dean have been hunting for years and nobody, not them not any other hunter, ever picked up on five monster families ruling the Chicago underground?

I think we have to hand wave that. It makes no sense at all, but I don't think it's meant to. Though, it would be really interesting if they do address that if the show takes off. What would might have been interesting is if they had some how incorporated the SPN world that we know with this one. If one of the monsters mentioned John, or Sam and Dean. Saying how they've kept off their radar until now...(or something).

Annway. I think it helped me appreciate what we DO have (even though it's a challenge at the moment...;D)

[nearmiss76.livejournal.com]

I already suspected that I wouldn't like this one, from what I'd read about it... I like my shows sans a romance aspect, and the whole thing sounded like something I'd seen many times before and didn't like the first time.

I guess I'll just be skipping this one.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Hi there. :)

Yeah, there's a heavy romance aspect - which might appeal to some, but it's not my cup of tea.

I did like the S&D moments though - I always like outsider POVs of the boys. Even though it makes them look a lot older and world weary.

[zebra363.livejournal.com]

This post isn't showing up on my flist for some reason, and judging by the much lower than usual number of comments I wonder if other people are also having that problem.

I didn't mind the episode since I like the idea of underground monster societies, though of course I would have liked more Sam and Dean. The thing that bothered me was the older brother shapeshifter warning off the vampire girl. I wish the show wouldn't constantly ram home the "look after my little brother" theme! Do any real grown men go around saying they have to look after their 20-something little brother?

[ash48.livejournal.com]

This post isn't showing up on my flist for some reason, and judging by the much lower than usual number of comments I wonder if other people are also having that problem.

Hi. Yes, Ellie (below) mentioned it also. I wonder what that was about. (I thought no one was saying much because they either hadn't watched it, didn't care or that I didn't actually have much to say.

Strangely, I didn't mind there not being much S&D (I knew there wouldn't be when I knew it was a pilot) but I was really disappointed that it looked and felt nothing like the SPN 'verse or was in any way connected to it. I suppose I don't mmd the monster family idea - but I would liked it to have been a little less cliched and a bit edgier. I think it could find an audience - but I can't see me being one of them.

Do any real grown men go around saying they have to look after their 20-something little brother?

I can't imagine it! I never refer to my brother as my "little brother" (though I do have a sister I am close to and sometimes call her "little sis" - and she calls me "big sis"). Maybe the notion of protective big bro was an attempt at connecting S&D to these new leads. *shrugs* I didn't think too deeply on this one (maybe that was their attempt at
"appealing" to the SPN audience.

[el1ie.livejournal.com]

**hangs head**

I haven't even seen it yet! A whole day and a half as passed and I'm not entirely moved to find the time today either - that's bad news for me.

I guess I don't mind the idea that they want to use our show to launch their brand new supersoap, but what should piss me off is that they've chosen episode 20 to do it. Before 12 or 13 and I'd have given them far more leeway. But on saying that it hasn't interrupted the flow of our show because our show is moving like molasses uphill! WTF ever happened to building tension and excitement? Just 3 episodes to the finale, they had all these story threads at the beginning of the season and yet they've done nothing with them, once again I suppose they'll cram it all into the next three episodes. It's a bloody tragedy and a waste of such layered characters and talented actors who are starting to give off the vibe they're done with this shit.

Had to go hunting for your review today, can't think why it's not showing up on my flist...hehe, I'm reading reviews on an episode I haven't even seen! Me, the spoiler freak! Not heard a word about the next three yet though, so all is not lost! :))

[ash48.livejournal.com]

A whole day and a half as passed and I'm not entirely moved to find the time today either - that's bad news for me.

It's not SPN so that's ok. ;) I mean..it's really nothing like SPN. I had to watch it for the boys brief appearances (and I was curious) but it's totally skippable. I fast forwarded through the romantic (and boring) bits. I did like the S&D bits. :)

WTF ever happened to building tension and excitement? Just 3 episodes to the finale,

Yes! This. The timing is really weird. Earlier on we might have been less...um...miffed by how irrelevant it is to the current stories (and it doesn't help that the brothers are so at odds either).

they had all these story threads at the beginning of the season and yet they've done nothing with them,

*cries* I can only hope the last 3 eps will be epic.

It's a bloody tragedy and a waste of such layered characters and talented actors who are starting to give off the vibe they're done with this shit.

Yeah, I'm getting that vibe too. And I don't want that to be the case...*sob*

Had to go hunting for your review today

Strange. Zebra above said the same thing.

I'm reading reviews on an episode I haven't even seen!

haha!

Not heard a word about the next three yet though, so all is not lost! :))

Me neither! Trying to stay as spoiler free as I can now. :)

[galwithglasses.livejournal.com]

I don't think I'm going to bother with this one. Is this CW's response to Teen Wolf? I haven't seen that or Vampire Diaries so I don't know. I'm having enough trouble just hanging on to my enthusiasm for SPN and I'm already so hacked off about canon and discontinuity that I think I'd probably have a stroke. I am realizing I'm taking this all way too seriously and need to go have some chocolate and chill out. Maybe a pint or two of chocolate chip ice cream........

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Is this CW's response to Teen Wolf?

Hee...this makes TW look positively deep! I like TW because it is at least a little edgy (and it have Dylan O'Brien who I kinda love a bit...;D). It's more like Dallas with fangs and fur and ...er...shapeshifting abilities.

Maybe a pint or two of chocolate chip ice cream........

Sound like a plan!! I want to be less serious but... damn it! I can't. The next 3 eps are gong to kill me. I am expect SO MUCH! I want it to cure all of S9 (and S8!).

*clings*

[ayane42.livejournal.com]

yeah "bloodlines' is the first spn episode that i struggled to watch. i found it confusing and boring, sigh.

but hey, Sam's hair at the end, yeah, that was nice!

yeah, Carver, sigh, i don't think he knows what the hell he's doing.

Sera Gamble? I loved her, seasons 6 and 7, i really really enjoyed, but beginning of season 8, like wtf?

isn't there a convention this weekend? maybe someone should ask the boys wtf. i mean i know that writing an episode is a whole collaboration, with tons of people, but gah, really, read the internet and see that half of the people are really pissed about this!! gah!!!

this episode bugged me so much. this show really means alot to me. i identify with it so much. and the boys and what they have gone through in their lives. i know people change and supposedly Carver is saying that the boy's relationship is changing and maturing, but what they have experienced together as brothers, that doesn't go away. it's that thing that they have together that no one else can truly understand.

gah, sorry. this is really bothering me. thanks for a place i can say something

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I admit I fast forwarded through some of it because I just wasn't that interested. I'd say it's a first for Supernatural but as it wasn't actually Supernatural I don't feel like I cheated on my show..;)

Sam's hair!!! \o/

I believe there is a convention. It will be interesting to see if anyone does ask any questions about the new series (though I suspect the boys will know little about it. They essentially guest starred in another show).

Carver is saying that the boy's relationship is changing and maturing,

His idea of maturing is interesting. He seems to think that being jealous or disappointed or doing something hurtful to the other is somehow mature. I get that their codependency is probably an "issue" but it's also what makes their story so compelling.

I am looking forward to the next 3 eps - even though I am terrified at the same time!

[bythedamned.livejournal.com]

So, I've been thinking about format and how used we all feel (myself included. I had no idea it was a pilot, so spent the first 20 minutes answering all the WTF questions. I knew something was off from the get go though, because the light quality was too bright, like in It's a Terrible Life.)

Anyway, I feel like I'm so offended they stole an SPN episode I'll never watch this show, but if I had just heard about it on a promo I would have been interested. 5 different monster species?? Including Djinn?? With, yeah, romance, but also guaranteed feuds and other plot lines? I would have been so there. I think if they had ended the spn ep 10 minutes early to give us an extended teaser we still all would have seen it, only we'd be thinking 'hey, sure, why not. If they think it'll appeal to the spn audience, I can sit through 1 episode to check it out'. Plus, they ought to know that anything that gives us less Sam and Dean is a bad thing, by default. They really shot themselves in the foot here. But then I also got to wondering... Did Carver just okay this because they were short an episode?

Oh, and, ditto. I'd watch any of the spin offs you mentioned. Especially something with Crowley or Jody and AlexAnn.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Hi!

I had no idea it was a pilot, so spent the first 20 minutes answering all the WTF questions.

Oh wow! That must have been super confusing. In fact, I am sure many viewers would have been incredibly confused. Many on-line fans knew but that doesn't count for the many many other fans who watch. If I didn't know, I'd be thinking it was another AU type episode (one that didn't include them).

I did know what was coming up. There was an interview with Dabb recently who mentioned the monster families, the different monsters etc. What didn't come across in the episode was how dissimilar it was to SPN. I was prepared for very very little Sam and Dean - I just wasn't prepared for it not be absolutely nothing like it.

Did Carver just okay this because they were short an episode?

I wouldn't have said so. I think it's his own creation? Hmmm, I'm not sure about that. I think they're hoping it will get picked up as a new series and...*shrugs* they all have guaranteed jobs or something? (I'll have to find that out. IMBD has it listed a created by Kripke - but I'm sure that only means the SPN part of it (which was non existent).

Saddest thing is, it meant 1 less episode of SPN..:((

[cloex-brosluvr.livejournal.com]

What I DON'T GET is did they actually think that would appeal to the Supernatural audience?
I think they wanted to cash in the Supernatural fans watching it and then hoping enough would like it to set it in motion for a series, but no thank you.


I can get over the fact that there wasn't enough Sam and Dean but the characters that they did have, I never felt ANYTHING for them at all. They never grabbed my attention which is what they should have done for me to be interested in them enough to follow their storyline.


I think any other spinoff - using a character that has already been on Supernatural - would have been better than this crap.


Like others have said ,this wasn't on my flist, either.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I think they wanted to cash in the Supernatural fans watching it and then hoping enough would like it to set it in motion for a series

Yeah. Which might have just backfired. They would have been better to launch a new show and had Sam and Dean guest star in it. I think fans would have been thrilled to S&D pop up in another show - rather than our show make an episode that looked and felt nothing like SPN. I am mighty confused by that.

I never felt ANYTHING for them at all.

I didn't either. In any way at all. I was desperately trying to. I WANTED this to be awesome (yay another show to get excited about), but just far too cardboard cutout to me. And the emotions seemed so empty. Girlfriends and brothers died and there was just...nothing.

Anyway. Luckily it's not SPN!

[stormcloude]

I wish the writers and producers could see this.

Also your post didn't show up on my flist.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I wonder how much the writers and producers will see. I haven't seen much positive comment - but then I think SPN fans won't be positive when it was nothing like their normal show. I'm stressed that this will be called "Supernatural: Bloodlines" if it gets picked up. I hope they drop the Supernatural part as it really isn't at all connected.

[greyowl88.livejournal.com]

I only found this post now due to you posting a link to it. I thought at the time maybe you didn't post one because you rather say nothing than flame it or so. :P
What they introduced there was a whole different kind of show (bored me to death to be honest) where this "newly born", young hunter doesn't even fit IMO. I wouldn't mind keeping him for SPN, I liked him.
I agree about the relief thing when Sam and Dean appeared. I think it woke me up. lol. So, yeah, whole heartedly agreeing with your thoughts here.

xx

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I only found this post now due to you posting a link to it

Weird.

wouldn't mind keeping him for SPN, I liked him.

I think there was potential there also. What might have been great is if they introduced a couple of the characters in an earlier episode and then gave us this one - we might have felt more connected to them.

[jessm78.livejournal.com]

I'm glad that it's not just me. I felt the same way about it. Not really my thing.

Most of the reactions I've seen were negative. A lot of people I saw were saying they hated it and would not watch the spinoff. The chief complaint seemed to be that(apart from Sam and Dean not being in it much) was that they messed with canon. The one thing I didn't get was with the shape shifters. I thought they were supposed to shed their "skin." Now they can just transform into other people just like that? Are they a different "breed" of shape shifters or something?

Oh goodness, yes. It was like a relief to see the boys on the screen.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

The shape shifter issue has been raised quite a few times. I've also seen an argument that in one of the Alpha!shapeshifter episodes they just turned and didn't shed skin. It was also suggested that has they are "pure" (as in pure bloodlines) then they might be able to do more than the run of the mill shapeshifter. I suspect we have to hand wave much of that stuff (more rules may be made and broken if it gets picked up).

[azziria.livejournal.com]

So, I'm calling that a fail. A total fail.

WTF exactly *was* that? What was the thinking behind it? And why the h*ll call it Supernatural? Even our boys didn't really feel authentic. I can't believe this was done by the same person who devised the utter brilliance of Mystery Spot and A Very Supernatural Christmas.

I certainly won't be bothering with this again. And I feel like I've been cheated out of an episode :(

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I am still confused about what they were actually trying to do. It was a backdoor pilot for this new show, but as it's nothing like SPN it makes little sense to me. Surely they would have realised that they'd have quite a lot of annoyed SPN fans on their hands. That said - maybe there's a silent majority that liked it. For me, I don't mind either way if it goes ahead, I just hope they remove the "Supernatural" connection to it. It's called "Supernatural: Bloodlines" at the moment. (it also makes a mockery of Sam and Dean - not knowing that Monster families existed in Chicago. And now that they do, what are they going to do about it?

[hugemind.livejournal.com]

*another one whose flist view lost this post*

I've seen this ep get a lot of flak on my flist. The promos etc. using the word 'spin-off' were definitely misleading. They really should've stated that this is a pilot for a new show that doesn't have SPN characters as the main characters so that people would've known what they are in for. I don't know who to blame for inserting this into SPN but they could've just as well shown this as its own entity.

Objectively, the ep was well enough made and did its job of introducing us to its world and characters (even if it took me a second viewing to get it all straight) and what kind of stories we might be expecting from it. I don't hate it for hijacking SPN for an episode, or for it doing so this late into the season (because in S6-8, ep 20 hasn't been a straight-up mytharc ep either, there's been a Cas ep and two Charlie eps), or for destroying canon (because we've had stuff like werewolves turning outside the full moon before). I'd rather rewatch this than "Bitten" because that had even less of the boys than this and this has Freddy Krueger claws and no teenage love triangles. And because I knew this ep was the pilot ep, I had less of a whiplash than with last week's MotW ep. But I'm not sure if I'd watch this new show because the mafia-style family setup reminds me too much of boring mob movies. I might check out an ep or two, though, if the show is green-lit.

However, I do think that with some small changes this could've looked more like an SPN ep (show the boys' reaction to Ennis shooting the bad guy, have a final scene with boys in the car talking about the monster families of Metatron or something, add even just one or two mytharc-related lines for the boys, make the boys look less stupid etc.), but I guess they decided that this ep is about the new show and not about the boys except when they take off in the end. Outsider!POV of the boys is always great to see, because there are not many opportunities to do that, and I would've liked to see a bit more of it here.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I don't know who to blame for inserting this into SPN but they could've just as well shown this as its own entity.

My thoughts exactly.

even if it took me a second viewing to get it all straight

Oh wow, you watched it twice!

Outsider!POV of the boys is always great to see, because there are not many opportunities to do that, and I would've liked to see a bit more of it here.

Definitely. I knew we weren't going to get much of the boys but I was hoping we'd get to see some great outsider POV. We saw some, but it made them look out of touch and a bit dense (and old!). I'd like Ennis to see just how damaged they both were. Sam started to give some hints but it would have been great to actually see that (though maybe it would have put him off and then that wouldn't work).

I would have absolutely no issues with this new show at all if it wasn't aired as an SPN show when it really wasn't. I even think they might be missing out of viewers by doing what they did. Those who hate SPN wouldn't have tried it out - and it might just be something they like.

[citrusjava.livejournal.com]

Reviewing this would be like me reviewing an episode of Charmed or The Vampire Diaries or The Young and The Restless

I actually gave Vampire Diaries another shot after that one, kinda going on "if I'm gonna be watching that sort of show, it might as well be something I'm told was slashy".

What I DON'T GET is did they actually think that would appeal to the Supernatural audience?

WORD.

the first half of S8 was such soap opera

Really? I know I hated it, but didn't connect that to soap opera anything. Now I'm curious, how so?



And I was grasping onto anything. Dean telling that guy (I know, I can't even remember names) that monsters don't exist was cruel and gave us a glimpse of MoC!Dean and Sam even managed to (almost) draw a tear with his declaration that once you're in you can never get out. Was it just me or did Sam actually seem really tired and weary?

All of this! YES!

I liked seeing it come from Sam though (we actually got some Sam moments! yay :D)

YES, YES! I miss Sam so much!!!

I would have been happier to see this as a Castiel and Crowley spin off, or a Charlie and Dorothy, a Jody and Annie/Alex one or even a Garth and his new werewolf family one. I thought that was what spin offs were? A character from one show creating another show? Man, even a ghost!Kevin and Mama Tran spin off would have more exciting.

OK, not Garth, but all the rest, yes! I assumed that was going to happen, too... Man, that sucked... why?

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Really? I know I hated it, but didn't connect that to soap opera anything. Now I'm curious, how so?

haha! Settle back and I'll explain...(most of my early s8 reviews mention the soap element in the show. And then I made this vid (http://ash48.livejournal.com/290520.html) as my way of emphasising my thoughts).

When we think about the main story lines in the first half of S8 they deal with - jealousy between the brothers and a love story for Sam. There were "love" triangles all over the place - conflict because of one's relationship to someone else. So - Dean's jealousy over Sam/Amelia, Sam's jealousy of Dean/Benny, Cas's jealously over Dean/Benny. The emotional drama relied on lack of communication (bit like this season) between the brothers. But for me it was mostly the badly handled Sam and Amelia relationship. The half season hiatus cliff hanger was Amelia walking back into Sam's life. I mean...that was it! We were supposed to be all "OMG! Amelia is back! Who will Sam choose between Dean or Amelia?" (as if that was even a question). And then there was Don walking back into Amelia's life - and this was supposed to create conflict for Sam. The "mysterious" man in the bushes in ep one created speculation that something supernatural was going on. Instead he was just part of the love story.

Throw into that Sam wanting a "normal" life again and Dean being made with Sam about that (again - we'd already been through all that in S1). The whole thing then wrapped up with Sam ditching Amelia for Dean and Dean ditching Benny for Sam. So yeah - all the heighten drama due to love and loyalty (we even had an episode devoted to benny's love life) was enough to make me think we'd entered another universe where SPN was a soap opera. I accept that the relationship issues are an important part of the show, but in S8 they were manufactured to the point of being nauseous (for me anyway).

Man, that sucked... why?

Simply because it was bad. Bad bad. Bad plotting, boring characters, tiresome tropes, cliched women. Also, it felt nothing like SPN so I think many felt cheated. I certainly felt like I was being used as a SPN fan to get insta!audience. It could have been interesting, but they played it too safe. Oh, and it didn't really make a lot of sense.