10.10 episode reaction/review

[ash48]

Before I begin can we just take a moment to pause an appreciate Sam with wet hair. Because HOT DAMN!



::koff:: Ok. Now I have that out of the way I can get on to less serious matter - the episode.

*phew* I liked that much better than part one of the Cas/Claire, Crowley/Rowena, Dean/MoC, Sam/Dean saga. It certainly kept me more engaged than 10.09. I think because it was more evenly handled. There were fewer looooooong scenes with Claire and Cas and if felt like it at least moved the MoC story on a little further. MOSTLY, I liked it because we got some significant character movement from Dean (other than just being badass *yum*) and even though it looked like Sam didn't do an awful lot, there were some lovely subtle things and ONE particular character development that I loved (more on that later).

I enjoyed Cas a lot more this time. His scenes with the boys were evenly handled (good interaction with both Sam and Dean) and there was a greater sense of them working together in a more cohesive way - rather than the push pull we've been getting for quite a while now.

Unfortunately, I think the Claire story line was pretty messy and, by the end, didn't really seem to have a whole lot of purpose. Ok, we saw that Cas cares about what he did to that family - so there's some closure for him there, but in terms of Claire I'm not entirely sure what she got out of it all. Maybe closure as well. I'm not going to dig too deep because I have a feeling we'll either not see here again OR she'll become pivotal later on (and probably sacrifice herself or something) and then we'll know more about why she was introduced (personally, I think it was to give Cas something to focus on and to create a story outside of Sam and Dean). If she does return, I'd like to see them move away from the cliched rebellious teenager, but that's just me.

The two strangers that she hooked up with were totally strange. I was convinced they were demons and had a motive for killing Dean (or maybe even hunters?), but they ended up being just two people who were prepared to axe and baseball bat poor, unsuspecting Dean to death. Nice people! If they weren't possessed then what excuse do they have for being such dicks?

And, for the first time in FOREVER I actually enjoyed Metatron. I know! Maybe it was the hiatus that's made me so soft. The thing is, I actually enjoyed the performance. I have a feeling Curtis is getting a better handle on the character. The way he crossed his legs in the interrogation scene was a wonderful bit of body language. He was suitably slimy, but there was more nuance. He talked too much of course. I have NO IDEA why Dean waited so damn long to shut him up (other than for story telling purposes of course). I wanted to jump in there and grab that blade myself!

I'm not sure why they thought Metatron would buckle under torture, or even help them. I'll accept that they were prepared to try ANYTHING.

But it's Sam and Dean that I found most interesting (well, *duh*).

Dean

Aside from enjoying Dean's decent into darkness and violence, what I really liked in this episode was (FINALLY!) a sense of honesty from him. He actually admitted he went over the line. This is kind of huge for Dean. It was simple and straight forward. He actually said I CROSSED A LINE! There were no excuses or coverups. He finally opened himself up to Sam and Cas and admitted he's in trouble. THANK YOU!

It was also very interesting that Metatron called Dean on his mistakes - made it VERY CLEAR that killing because of the Mark is not the only line he's crossed. Unlike anyone else who talks to Dean, he doesn't give Dean an out. There isn't a "but you did your best" or "you had no choice" etc (neither Cas and Kevin were able to do this). I was really happy to hear him mention tricking Sam into the possession (any mention makes me happy, because it means thy haven't forgotten that). It would be an added bonus if Sam was somehow involved in that discussion, but as this has been a major part of Dean's character arc it's great that it's still there. A major part of my dissatisfaction with S9 is that Dean never confronted what he did. It feels like this is actually a turning point for Dean and I'm excited about that. For Dean to pull himself out of this he needs to stop pretending everything is ok. I mean, obviously he knows it's not but by saying it aloud he's taking that step forward. Perhaps just the act of believing in himself (like Sam believes in him) will be just what it takes to help him through this. *hearts* Dean.

Oh, and he (nearly!) made a sandwich. :)

Sam

It was actually something I read on twitter (I think from a tumblr link or something) about how Sam told Dean that the strength was inside himself. They compared it to when Sam was struggling with his blood addiction and Dean's response was to lock him up. I perfectly understand how that worked with the storyline at the time, but it's a great comparison when we want to look at their different approaches. Sam telling Dean this is the Sam I remember. The one who absolutely believes in his brother. The one who knows DOES have that kind of strength in him. More importantly, this moment showed us Sam's incredible strength of character. Sure, he doubts himself and knows he's let Dean down in the past, but from his personal experience he knows that it takes inner strength to fight your inner demons. Maybe, just maybe, part of what Sam has been through is being used as part of what's making him so strong now (I can but hope!). I liked that Sam was smart and not *just* intensely worried about Dean. He actually had some solid advice for him. Advice that's come from knowing what Dean is going through. I will forever live in hope that we get some Sam POV (one day!), but in the meantime I'm glad at least we get to see Sam really think this problem through in a clever, passionate, selfless way.


other stuff

BAMF!Cas is great! Though him watching Sam struggle with the door before the penny drops that he can just blast it with his angel juice was kind of hilarious. I no longer buy clueless Cas. He's just been through far to much to be thinking…"what's Sam up to then?". Not sure why Sam didn't think to ask Cas either.

Heaven's door in a kid's park is a strange choice for something that could be seen by just about anyone. I'll *handwave* and say there's a glamour over it all.

Crowley and Rowena have nice chemistry. I'm not really interested in what's going on there but I do like Rowena's mischievousness. I'll be annoyed if Crowley remains totally clueless to her tricks (I liked that he knew she had played him before), so I'm hoping there might be a double double cross later on. Though, I hope she's not for the chop. I'd like to think they can come up with a better resolution for her character other than death.

I think overall there was a running theme of responsibility and inner strength. Claire finally took responsibility for her own life (and not blame her past), Cas has let go of his need to be totally responsible for Claire, Dean took ownership of his actions and Sam (perhaps) sees his responsibly for Dean more clearly (and Sam is certainly drawing on his own inner strength and reminding Dean that he also has strength). No idea about Crowley and Rowena. They mostly seem to be just playing games. I'll be interested to see what Rowena's end game is.

I thought the direction was very strong also. :)

And for the trivia buffs out there did you recognise the motel that Claire was in? The same one Sam and Ruby were in in Lazarus Rising. :)





4.01 Lazarus Rising



10.10 The Hunter Games.



[Poll #1996242]

Comments

[chomaisky.livejournal.com]

I liked that Sam was smart and not *just* intensely worried about Dean. He actually had some solid advice for him.He should've given Dean that advice long long ago. But I'm glad that he got it out eventually.
Wet Sam's the best!

[ash48.livejournal.com]

He should've given Dean that advice long long ago.

HAHA! That would be FAAAARRRR too sensible!!! Where would the drama be? The angst?!

He got it out eventually….*flops down*

WET SAM 4 EVA! (I actually commented out loud when I was watching "damn that's hot". Hmmmmm...

[zubeneschamali.livejournal.com]

I definitely appreciated wet!Sam. (Though I'm not sure why his hair was wet, but whatever.) And threatening!Dean was pretty damn hot, too.

But I'm annoyed at how clumsy the main storyline was: we're going to bring Metatron back so we can show Dean getting closer to the edge and as a very thin excuse to bring the First Blade back, but then we're just going to stop it there because Cas promised he wouldn't let Metatron get hurt. Um, okay. I agree that the scene with Metatron calling Dean out for everything he did to Sam and Kevin was great, so maybe it was worth it for that?

On the other hand, I'm pleased to have the First Blade back in play, because my personal theory is that the Mark won't be satisfied until the person bearing it spills his brother's blood with the Blade.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Hair was wet because it was pouring with rain. Teeming down (I figure they had to get the scene shot, no matter the weather!).

And I agree. Bringing back Metatron really made no sense at all. What did Cas think Dean (or Sam for that matter) was going to do? Feed him cupcakes? It was an obvious set up for us to see Dean lose it (but I'm so used to seeing this technique used in the show I think I almost just accept it. Extremely frustrating).

because my personal theory is that the Mark won't be satisfied until the person bearing it spills his brother's blood with the Blade.

Oooooooooh. We gotta be heading there don't we?! (and very selfishly I want this to fit a song I want to use for a vid…;D)

[tebtosca.livejournal.com]

my personal theory is that the Mark won't be satisfied until the person bearing it spills his brother's blood with the Blade

So what if getting RID of the Mark means NOT doing what Cain received it for, i.e. Dean can't kill his brother so he subverts the Mark and is no longer ~worthy of it.

[greyowl88.livejournal.com]

When in the playground the hood was pulled off the person and Metatron's face showed I thought of you saying "oh please no, not him!" or so. lol. It did turn out that he played better than before and maybe the more gritty side that was included in his personality made him more real. And he didn't get to talk quite as much. I liked the conversation with Dean but was also glad when Cas grabbed him to take him back to heaven. lol

I'm beginning to enjoy the king of hell being played by his own mother and have stopped to expect hell (and its inhabitants) to be a dark place way beyond the understanding of humans like it used to be in the beginning.

I liked the overall feeling of this ep while watching. After freaking out so much about the last one I'm glad I felt that way. Though the Claire storyline is something I'm mostly blanking out. It just doesn't go down well with me. *focusses on wet hair Sam and dark n honest Dean instead*

So, yeah, (with my carver-adapted eyes) I did enjoy most of it and ticked that box in the poll. :)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Sammy's wet hair! Woot! Dean all bamfy was quite a turn on too. That's the shallow end I'm wallowing in here, sue me.

I thought of you the moment the Astoria popped up!! I was also noticing that all the colour in this episode seemed to be very earthy most of the time - both Sam and Dean in greens/browns/rusty ochres, the bunker mostly green and brown and yellow... then when Dean went into imminent danger with the weirdo axe murdering couple, he'd changed into his lovely dark red shirt. I like to think that was all deliberate.

I'm hopeful after this one, I enjoyed it a lot (though I wasn't excited by it, if that makes sense). I'm getting more of a thoughtful vibe from this one rather than a feeling that they are trying to ramp up tension just for the hell of it. I didn't think Clare was over the top teenage angsty, and the points she raised with Cas were pretty fair. I have happy they had her actually say how horrible/uncomfortable it was having Cas there talking to her in her Dad's body.

I am starting to warm to the Crowley Rowena side of the story now they've brought the Blade back into play because that could make things interesting and relevant, rather than having their interactions just a side show and a distraction from the meat of the story.

[el1ie.livejournal.com]

I went with ok, but probably should have said Great, there were bits I was really happy with, but it did have it's WTH moments too.

Point in fact is what keeps Metatron in his meat suit? Keeping him locked up in heaven is one thing, but as soon as he got earth side, why didn't he just pixie dust his way out and find another host? Or have I forgotten something?

The strange people poor Clair finds herself with was a little boring, I think it was to show that Dean can control the mark or maybe it was just to fill in time, I'm not sure at this point.

I'm torn with Crowley and Rowena, there's a point I'm just done with the ineffectual king of hell and the dungeons, but there was something very engaging about watching the two of them and Rowena is smart and cunning, if a little over the top in villain smirks.

Wet Sam was adorable wasn't he? Dry Sam still has that awful bobbed hair that is mesmerizing...but yes, the brother stuff here was good and more pushing forward than we've seen for a long time. I'm finding Dean a little easier to live with this season and that makes me very happy.

I'm thinking Cas didn't step in to obliterate the door thinking Sam could and it's a drain on his grace that he might need otherwise. The Claire story was a bit muddled but I was pleased with the overall direction that from her point of view Cas murdered her father and every time she looks at him she is faced with that reminder and her father at the same time, I can only imagine how horrific that is for her. I'm glad they made their peace, she can't be with him, but will stay in touch, the world is a hard place though for a young girl and I wish they'd made a point of giving her someone to go to, Jody would have been an ideal choice.

Anyway, I enjoyed a lot of it.

[ayane42.livejournal.com]

meh. i am sad that i didn't enjoy much about the episode. wet!Sam, omg yes!! Dean almost going black eyes with Metatron, yes!!!

Cas/Claire, eh. why? why is she still here? i'm hoping it's not some attempt at the powers that be to make this a fucking spin off. ugh, god i hope not. i get that Cas is fucked up over Claire, but last episode should have been enough. geez, so not interested in that relationship.

i can see potential, but am so worried, stressed that Carver and his horrible writers are just going to mess it up. i cringe at that. and there's another season to go :( guh.

i don't how the number of people watching goes up when i have been so disappointed since season 8. TNT is playing reruns and we're in the Leviathan and Lucifer episodes. those are so much better!! i have to tear myself away from the TV to get ready for work.

anyway there's my vent :(

[killabeez.livejournal.com]

This was very uneven for me. Crowley is being made to look like a complete idiot, Rowena is too OTT for me, I really can't stand the sight/sound of Metatron for even a second, Cas looked like an idiot for letting him out, and the weirdo couple Claire hooked up with were totally unbelievable (and strange).

However, that being said, it had a lot of stuff I did like! And nearly all of it about Sam and Dean, so overall, I enjoyed it. I totally agree with you—this was my Dean! I was so happy to see him! I almost couldn't believe it. I love the way he was written and the way Jensen played him throughout this episode. Also, wet Sam! Competent Sam! Smart Sam! Sam having interactions with Cas! Sam being VERY MENACING at Metatron! ♥ Mention of Kevin! Mention of Gadreel! Everyone came back from hiatus looking really good, too, if I can be shallow for a moment. They all looked rested. :) I also liked Claire much more in this one, and thought the dialogue written for her was believable. I do like that actress, a lot. And her hair is aces. :)

The scene where Sam tells Dean in the most empathetic way possible that maybe he neds to fight the Mark from within was a complete surprise to me. I love the idea that Sam realized that (because of his own struggles), love the way he brought it up with Dean, and I love the idea that maybe it isn't just an easy magical fix, but that Dean actually has to work at resisting its pull. And then we saw him do just that. So overall, I give it 6-7/10. Even though a lot of it bored me, the stuff I cared about worked. :)

[sam-dean-lover.livejournal.com]

my grade is a C-. the only good were wet!Sam, Sam and Dean conversation, and the metatron confrontation other than that the rest didnt work for me nope. next week, i have no idea

[caranfindel.livejournal.com]

I was really happy to hear him mention tricking Sam into the possession (any mention makes me happy, because it means thy haven't forgotten that).

Yes, this! And yes, wet Sam, more please!!!

[catinplaid.livejournal.com]

Great review! I too think that all the terrible things Sam's been through make him stronger. I loved his advice for Dean. And Dean took it to heart. He stopped himself from killing Claire's new found "buddies", after all!

I too loved that Metatron called Dean out on lying to Sam and getting him possessed. And his words had an effect on Dean, too! He definitely knows what he did to Sam was horrible... But I think, addressing this will be a necessary step for him to get better. As you said, he needs to stop pretending everything is ok in order to get out of the mess he's in now.

I thought of your sandwich meta when Dean went to make himself a sandwich! :)

And wet!Sam is the best!

p.s. fun with Photoshop

[killabeez.livejournal.com]

I love your cap of wet!Sam, and then I was thinking about how much I love seeing his hair off his face, and how I've wanted to cut his hair forever, and this happened. I couldn't resist. (forgive hasty bad photoshopping!)

[pocochina.livejournal.com]

Bringing back Metatron really made no sense at all. What did Cas think Dean (or Sam for that matter) was going to do?

They needed to know what (if any) info on the Mark was on the demon tablet. They don't have the tablet, or a prophet to read it, so they had to go to the guy who wrote it down. Nothing to lose if it didn't work, but potentially a lot to gain if it did.

[quickreaver.livejournal.com]

+ 2gazillion to Wet Sam. :D

[quickreaver.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think pocochina answered the "Why Metatron?" question. And when it became clear he wasn't spilling a single bean (and Dean may well kill him), they took Met out of play. Totally worked for me, especially because Cas cared about his ties to Heaven. I love it best when Cas is being the ANGEL we know he is, not some pseudo-human.

And I completely agree with you on the Blade! *squirms anxiously* Oh, the angst!

[amypond45.livejournal.com]

I know, I know, I'm pathetic. This show still awes the pants off me and I can't be very critical cuz I'm still reeling from how amazing it is! But I will say that I wish we didn't get to be quite so comfortable in Hell. I mean, doesn't it trivializes Dean's and Sam's past experiences there just a little if the place looks so much like a dusty basement?

Re: p.s. fun with Photoshop

[quickreaver.livejournal.com]

I WAS THINKING THE VERY SAME THING. How potentially delightful Jared would look with short hair...THIS, coming from a dyed-in-the-wool fan of his longer hair!

Re: p.s. fun with Photoshop

[killabeez.livejournal.com]

His hair is beautiful, and I particularly loved his S8 mane, but that jawline, man. I wanna see it.

Re: p.s. fun with Photoshop

[quickreaver.livejournal.com]

And his neck. *lolls*

[galwithglasses.livejournal.com]

I definitely like Sam's wet hair over the thoroughly distracting bob thing they've got going on this season. There were a couple of other things I liked - Sam telling Dean that a lot of this is his to resist. The whole Dean and Metatron (oooh, I can't stand Metatron) talk about Kevin and Gadreel. Rowena on the whole seems way too overdone but there was some line about "not apologizin' for being a career woman" that cracked me up with her delivery of the line. What I don't get is who the people were that Claire was hanging with and why they thought going after Dean with a bat and an axe at a populated campground was a good idea. Where was their gain? They didn't seem to even know her all that well. Also, does Rowena want the blade for heself or did she just have Minion #1 go get the blade just to mess with Crowley's head?

As much as I think it's dangerous for Claire to go off on her own, I'm glad she isn't going to be road tripping with Cas and that she said how bad it was to see him in her Dad's body. But Cas couldn't have found a way to give her a couple of hundred bucks for food and shelter so she doesn't end up resorting to stealing or hooking for meals? Really? She acts all worldly but she has rotten judgement in people and no apparent street smarts. A blonde chick hitchhiking on a horror show, yeah we know where that'll go. Plus, she's this totally minor character and it's bugging me that I even care.

[quickreaver.livejournal.com]

Oooh, interesting observation! Dean is so accustomed to being the impetuous one--shoot first, ask questions later--but now he has to rely on his self-control and inner strength, which should be cool to see! It'll be a struggle, for sure.

[madebyme-x.livejournal.com]

I was pleasantly surprised by the episode. It felt more balanced, like we saw an equal part of everyone's story. I appreciated that.

I thought of you when Dean almost made a sandwich! Perfect timing or what!

And I'm so happy to see you so happy about Sam's hair - a first this season, right? It may have only been one scene, but wet hair is welcome any time!

As soon as I saw that motel, I knew I'd seen it somewhere - so thanks for heads up, it saved me having to ask you about it. Thanks for sharing :)

[cassiopeia7.livejournal.com]

Wet!Sam FTW. Seriously. Mere mortals get wet, they look like drowned rats. Sam gets wet, it's Greek God time!

Sam was smart and not *just* intensely worried about Dean. He actually had some solid advice for him. Advice that's come from knowing what Dean is going through.

It was so wonderful to see Sam kicking that big brain into gear, especially after so many seasons of just idling. Sam's gonna solve this problem, just wait. :)