9.22 reaction (And I mean reaction - not a review).

[ash48]

Please don't enter if you don't want to read ranting, swearing, sarcasm, wank inducing comments and general lack of positiveness.

I'm not even kidding guys. It's probably due to the bad mood that I have been carrying all day and the lack of wine I drank during the episode. It's not even that I totally hated it. It's just that realisation (like the one I had in the middle of last season) that it's not going anywhere near where I was hoping it would. I'm mostly just venting (but please heed the warning. I am more than happy to hear your positive comments though - if fact, I probably need some cheering up).



I think I've figured out the one thing I really want from this show...

For it to make fucking sense!

That's it. That's all I really want. I mean sure, I'd love the brothers to be on the same page, I've like to actually recognise the characters again, I'd like there to be less boring angel shit, I'd like to actually care about what's going on but MOST OF ALL...make fucking sense!

I've been patient. I've been veeery patient because I truly believed this was all going somewhere (shut up tebtosca! ;D). I actually thought the issues they raised in the beginning of the season were actually going to MEAN SOMETHING. And I know many of you told me it wasn't going to happen, but I held on. I actually thought there was potential to dig deep into this relationship and GO SOMEWHERE with it.

But no. It's not about that. In fact. It's not about anything. It's not about Dean realising the lines he crossed when allowing an angel to possess Sam. It's not about Sam trying to understand Dean and his motivations and reasons for making the decisions he does. It's not about issues of trust or good intentions or fighting the good fight. Shit, is it even about family any more? Oh that's right. It's apparently about Team Free Will and therefore it's full of warm fuzzies and everything is going to be fine because TFW rides again! (Which would be wonderful if I actually gave a shit about that).

*deep breath*

I would like to try and step back and see what this episode was actually trying to do but because in the end it essentially did nothing I am at a complete and utter loss.

We saw Dean getting darker and a couple of those moments were hot as hell (and I wish that at least saved the ep for me) but now we just have an even dickier Dean than we've had all season. One minute he's a lying liar who lies and then he's a threatening scary mother fucker. I get why he's that way and maybe there is something interesting here. Maybe, just MAYBE his "It's a dictatorship" is tapping into a part of Dean he's always wanted in the relationship. In S5 Dean had to realise that Sam was his own person and as this is a rehash of that, that comment could actually be important to the story line (heaven forbid there might actually be something important here). Ha! And I like the one-upmanship of Dean's "we're not even partners". Go Dean! (listens for fandom hating on Dean...*crickets*..on that's right...). I love how Carver is showing Sam and Dean's maturing relationship. So fucking mature.

I actually don't have an issue with MoC!Dean because he's part of the storyline and now myth arc (and Jensen is embodying this new version of Dean) and that's what happens. He's dark, he's cut off from humanity, he's driven and uncaring and all that stuff - and that actually would be doubly amazing if we didn't have all that stuff that the first half of the season opened up (this is what he did last season didn't he? Second half completely different and unconnected to the first half? Why am I even surprised).

But why does have Dean being all dark and scary mean that Sam has to be an ineffectual, frowny face, "oh, I think that nasty Mark might be changing you Dean" type of character now? Yes, yes I know, I know it's all about drawing out the tension blah blah, but seriously? In S4 Dean knew when Sam was off the reservation and DID SOMETHING ABOUT IT! Sam is ...what? What the fuck is he doing? Oh, that's right. Nothing. Just taking orders because that's what he always does and he can just wander off with Cas because clearly leaving Dean to do what ever Dean is going do is fine with him.

Fuck that shit.

I'm sure Cas was interesting to those who are interested. I'm not, so I really don't care what was gong on for him. Though I did like the Sam and Cas scenes just because it was Sam and Cas. Even though it amounted to absolutely nothing. Not even a decent chat about what was going on with Dean. Cas knows about the Mark but didn't say anything to Sam. Because that always works. (I am sure in any other episode I would be squeeing about those scenes. There were some nice moments, but I'm so annoyed that I'll have to come back to them later).

I have nothing to say about Metatron because of ALL the big bads that have EVER EXISTED he is the most boring and most annoying. In fact, the only thing I will feel when he dies is relief so we don't have to see him any more. What even is his character? He's supposedly "writing" all this but what does that actually mean? It's doing my head in and in fact I don't care. So that's easy.

And then there's Gadreel. Is he dead? I kind of hope so because that will be one less angel to have to worry about seeing again. Though if he is dead what was the point of him? Other than to give Jared something interesting to work with at the beginning of the season. If he's not - well, why not? What's he going to be able to so in one episode? Side with Sam (who clearly was ready to hug him and welcome him onto the fold because he actually liked being possessed and his body used to kill someone) and help foil Metatron? Maybe Gad and Sam will be soul buds. They share soooo much now. All of Sam's memories for starters.

The one thing I really did like was Dean attacking Gadreel at the end. Now THAT MADE SENSE! I was worried that they were going to greet him with open arms but thankfully Dean remembered what he did to Kevin and Sam and got his revenge (at least the ep ended on a kind of exciting note).

How did Gad get in I wonder? Oh that's right. They left the front door open.

Don't even get me started on Tessa. It has taken me AGES. And I mean 9 YEARS to FINALLY be pissed off with them bringing back characters just to kill them. It made me nostalgic though for that wonderful episode she first appeared in "In My Time of Dying". Oh and... I thought she was a reaper? So are they actually angels? Did I miss something there? And I thought she could only be seen when someone was dying. LOL!CANON!

But, the turning point for me in this episode (because actually, I was mostly enjoying it up until this point) was when Metraton was addressing them all on the computer. That was when I lost my shit (and fell asleep).

Because it made me realise how damn STUPID angels are. What the fuck?! They change loyalties because they suddenly BELIEVE the angel that kicked them out of Heaven in the first place? The one that tells them he'll be their God?! Can they not think for themselves ?! (reminds be of humans actually). If angels this season weren't boring enough already (oh Zach how I miss youuuuu!!) they then make them STUPID on top of it. I hope they all go back to heaven and the gates or moving portals are closed FOREVER!

And then he asks Cas to kill Dean - because we know that's going to happen. My goodness! I was biting my nails with tension! Would Dean die?! Oh noes! Oh *phew* Cas chose Dean. I had no idea that would happen.

Oh and yes. Sam got to be all worried again (and now I am finally understanding why Dean!gals were getting pissed off with sidelined Dean when Sam had the story. I UNDERSTAND NOW!). Why the hell both characters can't actually have, you know, characters when something is happening to the other I don't know.


I'm sorry. Most of that was just getting it off my chest. I felt like this in the middle of last season and now I'm feeling it in the penultimate episode of the season. What I hate more than anything is I know...I KNOW...I am going to massively disappointed with the finale. I can't think of a single thing that will salvage this season for me. Maybe Sam will be allowed to grow some balls (but if he does fandom will hate him all over again. Becauyse yes, I've already seen someone say that at least Dean is being nicer to Sam than Sam was to him when Sam was pissed off. I JUST CAN'T WITH THAT SHIT). I'm BEYOND thinking we'll even get a SMIDGEON of his pov. Possession? What fucking possession?! Oh that's right. He's fine with that because he's so used to his body being used and abused by something else. He's fine with Dean making choices for him. ARGHHHHHHHHH

Actually. I know what will salvage this for me. If Dean kills Sam and then kills himself and they put themselves and everyone else out of their misery. (Well, mine anyway). And then Cas can rule the world and have his own SPN spin off.

(As much as I would love to say "I QUIT YOU", I know that I can't. I suppose there's this 1% of hope left that next week will actually give us some powerful Sam and Dean. Something that ties in at least a little bit of the potential of the opening episode. I will try and remain positive going into that episode).

Comments

[jessm78.livejournal.com]

Thank you thank you thank you THANK YOU!!! You said pretty much everything I was thinking (but I tempered my "review" a lot...*sigh*). I actually snarked in my review if this is going to be a tradition now, to kill off old characters in the penultimate episode of each season (like they killed Sarah off in last year's).

I don't think Gadreel was killed, maybe just wounded? If he was killed, wouldn't he have lit up the place? It looked like it was just a big laceration across his chest that was glowing, but it stopped. But I guess we'll see.


(As much as I would love to say "I QUIT YOU", I know that I can't. I suppose there's this 1% of hope left that next week will actually give us some powerful Sam and Dean. Something that ties in at least a little bit of the potential of the opening episode. I will try and remain positive going into that episode).

I will try this, too. And I really hope they don't make Dean kill Sam ... I mean sure, they'd find some way to bring him back next season (anyone up for a season 6 redux where Sam is back but something's wrong with him? /more snark), but it would just completely kill the dynamic between them.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, that's right. It was Sarah last season and now Tessa. What is even with that? She so didn't need to die. Or even really be in that episode. Weird.

I'm sure he's not dead. Very underwhelming death if he is. I'm sure they'd make more if it if he was dead. We haven't seen any burnt out angel wings for a while (and I think they are going to need his juice if Cas is losing his).

And I really hope they don't make Dean kill Sam .

I'm actually thinking that if they do make one kill the other then it will be Sam killing Dean in order to save him. It would tie into many things if they did it that way - but to be honest, I have no idea where this will go that will make any sense of it all. And if Dean dies they'd have to find a way to resurrect him - I'm just not sure if they can keep getting away with that.

[galwithglasses.livejournal.com]

I was super ticked off after Meta Fiction and haven't really come back from it. What came out of it though was this. I always saw Chuck as the way Kripke inserted himself into the story. Because that's how I saw Chuck, I automatically saw Metatron as Carver in Meta Fiction and I will never be able to pull them apart. I like them about equally which is to say nope. Less after this episode.

So yes to all your comments and then some. Sam 'thinks' something is wrong with Dean? Why the Hell has no one locked Dean in the frickin' bunker dungeon? Angels overpowered him so it's doable. By now, I'm trying to figure out why they don't cut his damn arm off. Where is Sam's massive research effort to find out what the Mark is and what it does to a person? Why is Cas the continual stooge? Why are all these angels so lame? Why did they kill off Abaddon, an excellent Big Bad and leave us with Metatron, the angel most in need of a wedgie? Don't even get me started on Tessa, the retconned reaper angel (o_O wtf) driven to suicide-by-cop (Dean). What an incomprehensible waste of a great character.

I'm really worried about the finale. They could actually make Dean totally unredeemable to me. I get that heroes have feet of clay but they gave Dean concrete shoes. I have never looked forward to a hiatus before….

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I was super ticked off after Meta Fiction and haven't really come back from it

I'm still smarting from that episode. And yep - every time Metatron speaks I think of it as Carver. Having a laugh at our expense.

Oh and yes yes yes to all your whys!! WHY WHY WHY!!?! No good answer for any of those. It just doesn't make sense! Arghhh.

the angel most in need of a wedgie?

Bwahaha! PERFECT!

They could actually make Dean totally unredeemable to me.

This is a big concern. Watching him attack that female angel was very borderline to me. I get that they need to show his growing darkness - but much more of that and Dean will have a looooong way to crawl back. They are obviously mirroring what Sam was like when he was on demon blood (and the way he drank vessels dry) so I suspect Dean will be getting much the same treatment that Sam did by the end of S4. Sam released Lucifer....maybe Dean will release...um...God? right now I think God does need to make an appearance and say..."that's enough! This is now just getting silly".

[percysowner.livejournal.com]

Oh and yes. Sam got to be all worried again (and now I am finally understanding why Dean!gals were getting pissed off with sidelined Dean when Sam had the story. I UNDERSTAND NOW!). Why the hell both characters can't actually have, you know, characters when something is happening to the other I don't know.

Although I understand the frustration, I still know that while all Dean did was worry he also got to TALK TO PEOPLE and not be tied up, sent out of the room, hide behind a potted plant. We at least knew what Dean was thinking and feeling. We didn't know about Sam, but Sam had the mytharc, so although I didn't like it, I accepted it. Now Dean has the mytharc and Sam still doesn't talk to anyone, gets sent out of the room, or blends into the wallpaper. I at least hoped that once Dean had violated Sam and then Dean started going dark that Sam would get a POV, but no, it's still the Dean emotional show. And I'm ticked.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Dean did was worry he also got to TALK TO PEOPLE and not be tied up, sent out of the room, hide behind a potted plant.

Very true (hee..hide behind a potted plant...).

I too thought that once Dean went dark side (and is no longer a reliable narrator) we'd get to see Sam's side of things. And there have been plenty of opportunities. All of them with Cas. It makes me think that they really don't see that Sam actually has any feelings about what's happened to him OR what's happening to Dean (other than worry). I truly think they just don't have a handle on him. It make me so sad.

[bowtrunckle.livejournal.com]

Word to everything and then some. I'm so on board with so much of this that I'm sort of beyond words. But more than anything, your post has stirred up actual feelings for SPN. I think feeling annoyed and angry (at Carver) is better than feeling NOTHING whatsoever because it means that SPN must still mean something to me if I'm getting all protective over it. So thank you, I guess? :)

[ash48.livejournal.com]

It's weird isn't it. I always manage to feel something with this show. It gives me extreme highs and then extreme lows and sometimes I'm just happily content. But I'm rarely just *meh*. But sometimes I just want to be! And I absolutely hear you about being protective of it. ;)

And you're welcome. I guess? :)

[callme-k.livejournal.com]

Of all the WTF in that episode, the lingering question I had was why was Sam sleeping with a loaded gun? Ok, sure...Gadreel just waltzing on in there at the end could answer that, but the two incidences were mutually exclusive. Habit? Sure - if not for the bunker being their supposed sanctuary. B/c of Dean? Meh, not likely.
When even small issues like this aren't making sense...what hope is there?!

"LOL!CANON!" Indeed. Maybe they think fans who'd remember Tessa have long since bailed on the show, so retcon isn't an issue.

I have nothing to say about Metatron because of ALL the big bads that have EVER EXISTED he is the most boring and most annoying. In fact, the only thing I will feel when he dies is relief

...so long as he doesn't survive into s10. Oh gosh, please say he doesn't?!!!

[ash48.livejournal.com]

the lingering question I had was why was Sam sleeping with a loaded gun?

Oh good question. I was too busy looking at sleepy Sam, but yeah. I figure it's just habit. I like the idea that it could be because of Dean but there's no indication he's scared of Dean. I mean, heck, Sam's barely noticing there's anything really wrong with him.

Maybe they think fans who'd remember Tessa have long since bailed on the show, so retcon isn't an issue.

Good point! I don't know what they are thinking to be honest. It was a shocking use of a returned character. Made no sense at all.

I sincerely hope Metatron doesn't exist beyond this season. I couldn't stand it!

xx

[novakev.livejournal.com]

Ohh, a ranty reaction. How unusual. I mostly liked this episode, basically because it had Sam scenes even if he was a bit OOC.

I must have zoned out at that near last scene because I hear there was a "endearing" Dean and Cas scene, which I clearly do not remember. Maybe I missed it, too busy roiling over Dean's declaration, and Sam just sucking it up.

Cas, angels in general, Metatron storylines - can we just be done with them?! Nope, Cas is back next season.

The Tessa being "an angel" thing began with the Taxi Driver episode when Crowley killed the rogue reaper with an angel blade and he called reapers angels then. It continued this season with Bart's angelic reaper. So, I wasn't surprised by this. I did liked that Dean didn't actually kill her.

I'd like the boys to have more interaction with each other, preferably a scene where they agree on something. (Hmm, I wonder when that last occured.)

I thought I'd have some positivity to add here, but, I guess, it is lacking. Maybe, though, the next episode will have something that is not devastating! :)

Lots of good hopeful luck on staying positive!!! Hugs

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I haven't actually ranted that much this year. I have felt like we've been heading somewhere really interesting AND I've enjoyed enough of the episodes not to rant that much (hee...unless that was sarcasm...;D)

It DID have some Sam scenes - for which I am always grateful, but boy I wish they'd let him say something (though...maybe not. Cause when he does fandom goes nuts).

Yeah - the angel reapers have been around since that dreadful Taxi Driver. I was really just hoping they were one offs. Bringing Tessa into it was a shame. She was definitely not an angel when she first appear (of if she was she couldn't be seen unless you were dying).

Maybe, though, the next episode will have something that is not devastating! :)

Hahahaha...haha...ha....*clutches sides* nothing devastating in the finale. Actually, I think it's going to be a killer! I'm not sure yet if it will be a "good" killer or a bad one. ;) I think we are heading for something pretty torrid - I just hope we get to see the brothers actually being brotherly at some point. Preferably Sam doing something - saving Dean would be good, but even that I'm not too hopeful about.

But yes. Positive!
*hugs*

[el1ie.livejournal.com]

I found it really exciting, on the edge of my seat wondering if Metatron was actually going to button up his woolly cardigan or maybe, maybe - **bites fingernails** Castiel would find out about his secret raincoat fetish!

I haven't got the energy to even be angry with show any longer, another episode, another "Fuck you" from Carver, wash, rinse, repeat.

**weeps for lost potential**

**weeps for show canon**

**weeps for a Sam and Dean I actually used to like and find empathy for**

Anyone got a tissue? *sniffles*

[greyowl88.livejournal.com]

*hands you a tissue* :)

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Oh yes. I found it very exciting too. I was really worried there for a moment that Dean would be killed. I thought Cas would definitely choose his loyal subjects.

I loved how his loyal subject jumped ship because he couldn't kill Dean. That made a lot of sense.

That's a lot of weeping. I feel ya! Still one to go so..maybe...? Heaven knows why I'm still hopeful, but I am just a tiny bit.

*hands big tissue*
xx

[maenad.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. That bad?

I mean, I gave up half a season ago when I realised that my primary response to new episodes was crushing boredom, but I still check people's reviews sometimes in the hope that I am utterly wrong and the story has gone somewhere brilliant and interesting.

I guess not, then?

It just makes me sad, though, because I remember catching Mystery Spot completely out of context and thinking - 'this is much cleverer than the world in general is giving it credit for'.

At least they killed Meg off a while back with a reasonable amount of dignity. That's my bright spot, such as it is.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Oh hey you! I wondered if you were still around and/or watching.

and yeah - continuing to go down hill. :( Killing off characters with no real feeling - just for the spectacle of it (or to enhance the heroes story and as our heroes and actually heroes anymore it's just empty death). They killed Kevin and then brought him back almost immediately. Death is just a momentary blip. And mostly just boring. The angels are such a yawn fest. Gadreel had potential but they've changed his motivations and his actions and direction so many times I've been left not caring about him either. And don't get me started on Metatron.../o\

I wish I had been able to jump ship. For me this season was either going to be spectacular or a complete waste of potential. With only 1 episode to go the latter looks more likely.

[werty30.livejournal.com]

Maybe it's so boring and nonsensical to make the viewers REALLY care about closing those portals to heaven? It would be so gratifying at this point. No more long speeches on the nature of writing. No more awkward bowling games. I'm sure that creating the most boring villain was intentional. XD

Like you, I'm also looking forward to the next episode. The season premiere set up something interesting between Sam and Dean, something the writers had never done before. The finale has to resolve it somehow, they can't just forget about it, right?

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Maybe it's so boring and nonsensical to make the viewers REALLY care about closing those portals to heaven?

Oh I liked that! It's definitely working if that's their plan. I will definitely be cheering if they manage to get ALL the angels back in heaven (and close those portals).

I have high hopes for some resolution for what they set up in 9.01. Or at least it being addressed. I'm almost too scared to be excited for it, but I've read some things that are making me hopeful.

[carryuinmyheart.livejournal.com]

It has come to the point where I almost wish I had never started watching this show. The main characters have become unrecognizable, except in very rare moments (and, unfortunately, those moments when we see who we think Sam and Dean really are (8:23) become the anomalies); the plot seems to be "make it up as we go along" or "throw it at the wall and see what sticks"; canon is ignored or erased; and the underlying themes of brotherhood and family and saving people have fallen by the wayside. Every week brings a new affront (or two or three). It hurts to watch now, yet I can't explain to myself why I'm there every Tuesday. Is it that I hope the show gets better (and out of all my disappointments about the show, getting better, to me, would mean repairing Sam and Dean's relationship), or that I've just invested so much time and emotional energy into it that I'll feel like I foolishly wasted all of that if I don't continue. I don't know. I think it's the latter.

Anyway, I'm wondering if anyone else thought that the little girl with the giant sundae in the ice cream shop was Gabriel (an angel with a sweet tooth and a lot of snark)?

[ash48.livejournal.com]

It has come to the point where I almost wish I had never started watching this show

Oh my goodness. How many times have I said that to myself?! I sit down to watch and think why do I keep doing this?! But, like you, I can't pull myself away. I keep thinking - this time they'll make things better/do something interesting. Though, I am usually pretty happy with the eps. It's just this one (and Meta Fiction) that irritated me. This one was more about timing. If it had aired a few weeks ago I wouldn't have been so hard on it.

And I can't say I thought of Gabriel when I saw the little girl. She reminded me a bit of Lilith though - very snarky.

[hugemind.livejournal.com]

Trying to offer some positive thoughts here. :) (Eep, sorry for the wall of text. /o\ )

I think Sam seems ineffectual because he doesn't know what the MoC is doing to Dean. In S4 Dean saw Sam trying to exorcise demons with his mind and Dean knew about Sam's possible powers, so he knew what he was dealing with right from the start (well, he didn't know about Sam drinking Ruby's blood, but he knew enough). And because the Mark didn't turn Dean permanently into a green rage-monster the moment he touched the Blade, Sam may have thought that he had more time to figure out what's going on.

As for Dean realizing that he crossed a line when he let an angel possess Sam, to me it felt like he's known it since he made the choice. Especially since "Zeke" told Dean that Sam couldn't know, so basically from the 1st ep of the season. Then his guilt culminated in letting himself be MoC'ed because he didn't care about what would happen to him because he didn't have Sam anymore and he could at least take down one Big Bad. Maybe I'm a bit more content with the season because I never felt that Sam's main problem with being angel-possessed was the non-con body usage but the fact that Dean made it happen which caused Sam to lose his trust in Dean. The lost trust they addressed this season, so I'm happy enough with the situation. However, Dean never really connected the dots to see what in Sam's opinion he did wrong and the 'working but not as brothers' scene could've been clearer, but I'm still mostly okay with the way things went down and hoping that after Dean gets de-MoC'ed, the boys will sit down to talk this whole thing out. Even though objectively what happened to Sam was non-con body usage, I'm maintaining my earlier opinion (that I think I wrote in a comment somewhere in your LJ earlier this season) that it was not the same exact thing as a demonic possession because Gadreel's intentions were very different from what a demon would be doing in that situation. Like Sam said in 9x21 he wasn't afraid that he'd be hurt and that it was more like "shared housing" than possession (and Sam would know the difference). Anyway, that's how I'm reading this and I'm letting Sam decide what most hurt him about the whole thing and I'm refusing to let anyone piss in my Cheerios. ;)

Metatron is annoyingly smug, like he's stuck in an Evil Overlord monologue mode, but that's angelic villains for you, I guess. *shrugs* He really needs to go and I wouldn't mind Show scaling way down on the angel stuff next season. But I'm glad that this ep looked like much of the angel stuff will be dealt with this season and I'm excited to see it go. I wouldn't mind if Cas said goodbye as well, because its mostly his existence that makes the Show come up with boring angel stuff in the first place. Part of my 'YAY, finale' excitement is the anticipation of getting to see Metatron die a bloody death. :D I'm guessing Gadreel will give the boys info on Metatron's operation before he dies (if he dies because that wasn't an insta-kill), and he might even give Cas his grace if doesn't die too fast and if it's in any better condition than Cas's current one. Anyway, I'm happy that Gadreel gets a chance to right some of the wrongs he did.

In conclusion, hot MoC!Dean, will-step-up!Sam, and doomed!Metatron! And Carry on my wayward son. \o/

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Hey.

Thank you so much for your positive take. It has helped! I do sometimes wonder if it's fandom's overall reading on that opening scene that has left me hoping for more rather than what they show actually intended with it. I think Show probably HAS addressed some of the issues it raised and have given us enough hints about how Sam felt about it (which is essentially my major gripe. Not seeing Sam's pov on the possession). I suppose I just hoped that the actual possession would become a "thing" rather than just Dean's guilt about it. I think I also hoped that Show helped make people see that Sam was within his rights to be annoyed at Dean for what he did. I know some viewers have got that, but I still see Sam being hated on because he had the gaul to stand up to Dean. I know what he said was hurtful, but it needed to be said. I want those words to have mattered - to see that Sam meant that he wouldn't save Dean in the same manner Dean saved him and that Dean would get that. I know we still have one episode to go and those things might be addressed, but I'm thinking all that stuff was merely a catalyst to get Dean to take on the Mark.

The Mark storyline I follow really well. It makes sense. And I see Dean's guilt and how horrible he feels about himself clearly. But as he said to Sam "I'd do it again" it means that he hasn't progressed from the person he was in 9.01. He watched Sam be tortured, saw Kevin killed, felt the guilt and pain and yet he said he'd do it again. I know he meant he save Sam again - but I think, as a character, he needs to understand there are some lines that probably shouldn't be crossed. I know family is EVERYTHING to Dean so maybe he'd come to the same conclusion, but it just feels like there's some genuine understanding that he's missed throughout this whole thing. And by that I mean the writers aren't giving him that growth. Of course, with the Mark it means he can't think about all that - but maybe after the Mark things will change for him.

and I'm letting Sam decide what most hurt him about the whole thing

Hee. I do like this. And if the Show would actually let us know how Sam feels about it I'd be right there with you! I don't even care if they make him say "I'm ok with that possession. I have had worse inside me so on that scale Gadreel was pretty good" at least we'd know that's how Sam is feeling. Though, I suppose he did say (upon reflection) he doesn't want to talk about it so we have to assume he's not ok with it. And he gets pissed whenever he sees Gadreel. Which means if he's not ok with it are we going to see what kind of effect that's having on him? We haven't been allowed to see any effect on him (um..maybe a death wish in the episode with Castiel - but that didn't really go anywhere ).

Mostly I need to get past wanting more from what started the whole shebang. I did expect some to be addressed in that episode and that is purely why I was so down on it. If that had aired a few weeks ago I wouldn't have had an issue with it at all (expect the lol!canon angel reaper and all the boring angel stuff).

Aaanyway. Thank you!! That will help me go into the next episode more positively. :)))

[sarahk-1963.livejournal.com]

"That was when I lost my shit (and fell asleep)".

You made it that far....I tried to be interested, really I did, but I actually found that I was more interested in my knitting than trying to follow all that tripe.

Bless you for putting into words exactly how I think 99.9% of the fandom felt about this episode.

Cheers
sarahk

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Ha! Maybe I should take up knitting when I watch an episode. Might help me be a little calmer about it. :))

[heliokleia.livejournal.com]

After reading your "reaction - not a review", it's time for adding my own two cents to that Hottie post of yours, my dear.
*clears throat*

First of all, after watching "Stairway to Heaven for the second time, yesterday, the more I have to shake my head. And I agree with nearly all of your ranting points... except Cas. And Dean a little bit.
*Cheshire-Cat grin*

Yep, I'm one of those, "who are interested" [in Cas]. Loved him from his first impressing appearance, squeed for him when he joind TFW and finally feared for him after "Swan Song", for what Gamble and now Carver wanted to turn him (and still try to do so, IMO).
*shakes head + rolls eyes*
- Because the Cas I fell in love with, will always choose the Winchesters. Though, not in that reluctant and fake tension way, Andrew Dabb wanted the viewers to believe.
[♥ your sarcasm to that point, btw^^]

Did they really believe that anyone would think Cas might kill his best friend for some (meanwhile proven) dumb and demented angelic trimmers?

Then Tessa. So reapers are angels now. Wow. On Tumblr, someone commented to that, "next, reapers are zombies. Then vampires."
*snorfles*
- Well, Ben Edlund at least, had the courage to apologize for some rubbish he wrote, ignoring Show's lore.
(On his twitter account.)

But with Carver [who definitely has lost his touch] and Andrew Dabb [who obviously's still dealing with the "Bloodlines" desaster], I have less faith that they'll put things right again. Poor Tessa. What a waste.
*sighs*

Next Booggertron Metatron. I second you thoroughly there, my dear. Though, that he was called a "nerd" made me lol, hehehe...^^
- But yeah... Good Ole Zach had more juice and presence in one blink of his eye!
*squees at memory*

Finally Dean. I confess, I'm a Deangirl. So of course, I love me some true dangerous, growling and badass El Deano.
*makes seal noises*
- I even found it somewhat hawt when he told Flagstaff angel on the ground that, "honey, there ain't no other men like me." *rawwwwrrrrrr*
On the other side, he really scares me. So bloodthursty and dickheaded under the influence of the MoK... Kudos to Jensen's stellar performance, after all.

And Sam. Oh Sam. What did they do to you? They're violating your character since two seasons yet.
*sighs moer*
I heard that Kripke and Edlund are free now. Time to come back and clean up the mess, sirs.
Because no, we definitely don't need another painful round of brother vs brother with one dead at the end of season.
*glares at TPTB*
- But after reading Jared's tease for the season finale at the CW's Upfront in NYC this week, I really fear for The Boys and TFW.

Oopsie... the comment went longer than expected. But when it comes to my beloved HOTTIES, then yeah...
*blushes + looks sheepish*

Have a glorious weekend, dear.

P.S. May I dare to ask you to add you to my flist, dear?

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Hi there! firstly..of course! Let's be friends. :))

I always love hearing from people who are interested in Cas because I always feel like I am missing something from him. And actually - I do have a bit of interest in what they are doing with Cas, it's just unfortunate he's surrounded by lots of stupid and insipid other angels.

And in truth, what I have really liked is watching his developing relationship with Sam. I also think he's had more character growth this season than either Dean or Sam so that's been pretty consistent (I was particularly grumpy when I wrote this reaction so I was harsher on Cas and TFW than I would normally be).

Finally Dean. I confess, I'm a Deangirl. So of course, I love me some true dangerous, growling and badass El Deano.

Hee! Well, I have to say that even as a (mostly) Sam!gal I have enjoyed watching Dean get darker too. It's something I've been wanting to see - particularly to see how Jensen would handle it. He was pretty scary in this and I think that's an interesting development. I want him to get really really dark..*rubs hands*

Oh Sam. What did they do to you? They're violating your character since two seasons yet.

And see here lies the rub! I am so frustrated with Sam's lack of - well, anything that I'm almost at my wits end. And it clouds much of my reactions. There's been such a great opportunity to do something with this possession and it's pretty much amounted to nothing. It's been a catalyst for Dean - which is fine - but at the expense of Sam - which is a shame.

Thanks so much for dropping in and commenting. Your comments made me smile. And I hope we'll have more to smile about after the next episode (though I suspect there might be mostly crying...)