So ya know...

[ash48]

I'm not going to be writing up a reaction or review of 10.12. In fact, it's unlikely I'll be writing them any more. I feel I only want to complain these days and that's not fair on anyone (though I'm thinking of writing up some general stuff - mostly to help me try and work why I'm feeling just over it all).

I am still curious about what every one thought so I'll still do the polls (if you're all still happy to fill them out *g*).

[Poll #1998102]

Comments

[tebtosca.livejournal.com]

Here's the thing to remember about Carver - he doesn't give a shit about Sam, and he's never going to give a shit about Sam. He came in and from the first episode of his era, he rebooted Sam back to the simplest version of himself - "Normal Life Sam". It didn't matter what had happened between the pilot and 8.1, because Carver was going to make that fit regardless.

Sam has always been used as a plot device on this show, but Kripke and Gamble understood that there was a human being underneath as well, and cared enough about him to try and tease out emotion and characterization through that. Carver doesn't give a fuck about that, because I firmly believe that he is not interested in Sam as a character and thinks he's boring and, because of those reasons, doesn't want to work hard enough to figure him out and put him onscreen.

Do I think he likes Dean? Nah. But Dean's an easier character to write. Everyone and their mother knows how Dean is feeling at any given moment. Dean is iconic, he's popular, he cries so pretty, he has his hot car and his well-known catchphrases, and he comes in the package that is Jensen Ackles. He's easy to throw things at, and they know people are going to connect to him because of all the reasons in this paragraph, no matter what the character says or does.

Carver likes the supernatural creatures. Cas and Crowley and Benny and Garth the new werewolf -- this is all playing to his nouveau-Being Human schtick that he came in trying to turn the show into, even if it's really like shoving a square peg in a round hole. Kripke said the show was about normal humans in an extraordinary world - Carver likes extraordinary creatures in a normal human world. But those are the types of characters that he enjoys, and if he could get away with not focusing on the brothers because of J2 contract reasons, you can bet your ass he'd do it in a heartbeat.

What am I trying to say? I don't remember, because I have the flu and I'm hopped up on Dayquil lulz. But the moral of the story, I guess, is that once I figured out all the above, I realized that if I was going to continue to watch, I had to accept that was the shit I was going to get, and try to enjoy the other stuff that WAS better than the last two years of terribleness.

As for this episode, Dylan Everett was great and it pleases me greatly that most of him nailing the mannerisms came from working with Jared, and Jared knowing Jensen's body so well (RAWR, BABY, RAWR)

[lavinialavender.livejournal.com]

God, this is so well summed up and SO. INFURIATING.

Thank you, though, for putting it into words. I'm going to go plunge headfirst into my AU where I try to make all these problems right (i.e., with not treating Sam as an actual person).

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Hey hun,

Firstly, I hope you are feeling better. Secondly, absolutely agree about Dylan's performance. I re-watched it just so I could admire that performance all over again. I was struck by how successfully he manage to pull off an adult Dean in a teenage body. And so awesome hearing that Jared helped him because he knows Dean and Jensen SO WELL! Yeah baby…

And thirdly. I think I'm finally convinced. I'm trying to get past wanting more but it's just so hard. Even though I am convinced I still hold out hope that we are wrong (and I'm sure it's that hope that killing me…).

xx

[cassiopeia7.livejournal.com]

Carver likes the supernatural creatures. Cas and Crowley and Benny and Garth the new werewolf -- this is all playing to his nouveau-Being Human schtick that he came in trying to turn the show into, even if it's really like shoving a square peg in a round hole.

Agreed 1000%. I do believe you've hit upon the issue. The Supernatural we know and love, the one Kripke created and Gamble tried to carry on, the one that was all about Sam and Dean . . . it is no longer. :(

. . . and I TOTALLY agree that Carver doesn't seem to give a crap about Sam or Dean. They're just there to witness the escapades "fun" angels and demons and creatures. Effectively reduced to extras on their own damned show.

(Oh, darn you, woman, now you've made me even more irritated with Carver -- and I didn't even think that was possible!)

Jared knowing Jensen's body so well (RAWR, BABY, RAWR)

RAWR, indeed. Yeah, baby!

[growyourwings.livejournal.com]

This is really spot on.

[meus_venator]

I read your post over at cassiopei7's journal. I was going to stay out of this, because I can get too bitter too fast.

I think a lot of what you say is true, and it's sad because the reason we love the show is Sam and Dean (both of them conscious). BUT, it doesn't forgive the sloppy writing and continual recon of Canon. I just think Carver is a sloppy show runner. I don't think he's checking his writers stories for continuity or canon. No other show on TV is as all over the place as SPN is right now. One minute a vampire is a vampire, next their a Vamp prepper using all the bits. Why not just invent a new monster? And why not interrogate Booger/Goober whatever his name is with the little brain sticks, call Crowley over and get his help. And why haven't Sam and Dean gone to visit Cain as he requested? That line was written in Carver country, so he should be able to remember that one. Sloppy details in every episode and knocking Sam out for the hundredth time doesn't make it better. For a guy who wrote Mystery Spot that was all about Sam, he sure seems to have lost his understanding of Sam in particular.

If we at least got some interesting monster story lines out of it I could go with your explanation, but Castiel and Ken's epic road trip just hasn't been that interesting and neither has Crowley's storyline. When Sam and Dean even when they are guest starring in the show they still have the most interesting storyline.

See, I got all upset, but I'm still watching, if only for the pretty, but it's not our show anymore. At least with Sera, I still felt it was our show, just slower and darker with a lot more killing. I keep hoping Jared and Jensen will scoop up Kripke and smuggle him back to Canada to do the show. Start broadcasting the rebel years of Sam and Dean where they jack into all the network feeds and show Kripke's new version of SPN, now wouldn't that be something. LOL

[fufaraw]

THANK YOU so much for articulating this. It's where I've reached, actually, with SPN, and J2, and even US (well, Canadian) BH, along the way. Things I've thought, or somehow knew, and just haven't been able to tease out into actual communicable words (I should hire you to verbalize my frantic hand gestures and inarticulate facial expressions--do you have a day rate?). But this is exactly it. It's almost a relief, after holding on and trying to will and expect more, to let go of that and enjoy performance and rapport and shennanigans, and stop waiting and hoping for show to return to its former promise.

I have a completist kink a mile wide, and even if I fold laundry while show is on, it's on until the last ep. I just have had to find a way to step away from expectation.