11.01 Ep reaction/review

[ash48]

Woot! Show is back and what a way to return!

Damn, I enjoyed that. I think I'm going to have to...squeeeeeeee!

I'm reluctant to say "it's just like the old days", because even though it was reminiscent of past episodes (Croatoan in particular), it managed to bring what's happened over the last couple of seasons into the "now". It managed to start a new journey, but not at the expense of what's gone before. In fact, I loved the way it connected the MoC with the darkness and Dean. It also connected Sam's overall journey to where he is now. It also had some wonderful creepy moments (woman hiding in the closest *yikes*), some solid SamnDean moments, hints of real character development and a shit load of unanswered questions. To me, that's a great way to start a season.

Highlights:

At the very top of my highlight list is "When did we forget how to do this? If we don't change, right now, all of our crap is just going to keep repeating itself."

Anyone who has been following my reactions over the last few years will know how desperate I've been to see Sam and Dean acknowledge this. I have been SO frustrated with the constant sacrifice/blame/create-more-problems cycle without it seeming to get anywhere. I know it's part of the storytelling, but without it ever reaching any sort of resolution (and I don't consider "I'm proud of us" a resolution) it becomes a tedious cycle.

Carver has often spoken of a "maturity" of Sam and Dean. He said it first at the beginning of season 8, but instead of maturity we saw them both take a step back, with jealousy and pettiness darkening their relationship. In season 9 we saw further steps back with dishonesty (bordering on cruelty) and nastiness and season 10 we saw them cross further lines - not only in their brotherhood, but victims took a back seat while their focus became even more insular. For the first time, since the beginning of S8, I actually saw this so-called "mature" Sam and Dean (and rather ironically Carver hasn't mentioned "maturity" this season that I know of).

The maturity not only came in Sam saying "we need to change", but with Dean accepting it. There was also a world-weariness about them, but they still maintained a level of focus to help. It seems that "saving people, hunting things" really is back - with a renewed focused on "saving" people.

I won't deny I'm contradictory when it comes to Sam and Dean. I can shout "burn the world for each other" one minute and "stop burning the world for each other" the next. Truth is, I want them to have that level of "I'd burn the world for you" about them (which they definitely have), but I also want them to acknowledge how problematic that is. I want them to care about the consequences of their choices. I felt we got that mix in this episode. Also, I don't think we have to have one and not the other. By them acknowledging how damaging and problematic their sacrificing ways are, doesn't necessarily mean they will stop saving each other. And love comes in many forms - not just being prepared to die for each other.

(The chances are, of course, that they WILL make the same mistakes again but at least in this episode their cycle of mistakes was acknowledged).

Another major highlight for me was seeing the way Sam and Dean's characters moved on from the end of last season. It seems to be a return to the way they used to be (certainly more of what we saw in the early seasons) - Sam being the voice of conscience, with Dean being all action. That balancing of each other was back. For them to work successfully as a team they need action AND conscience. I loved that each of them acknowledged that strength in each other. Sam knowing Dean wanted to save the baby, Dean knowing that Sam was thinking of the victims. I MISSED these aspects of their characters and it was wonderful to see that again. The strength of their relationship was a major part of this episode and I loved it for that.

I also loved what they did with Crowley. That 70's style house with the "swingers" inside was a delight. I loved female!Crowley - not just what the actress brought to it, but the levels of sexual ambiguity that came with it.

I really felt for Cas. Ha! I can't believe I said that - but damnit. That was some pretty nasty stuff for him. :( Cas must be a dilemma for the writers - always having to find a way to de-power him or not let him be around the boys as an insta-fix. I think they've handled that pretty well so far. At least there was contact with Sam and Dean and a new mystery surrounding what's happening to him.

Mini Winchester brothers! Was I the only one who saw the mini Winchester family here?



I liked the personification of The Darkness. I'm going to assume that having a "person" represent the darkness is the best way for the show to deal with it. I'm curious to see how they proceed with it - as I feel this darkness is more than a person. I'm hoping it ends up being a stronger presence than say, Eve. We'll see, but I liked the chemistry between her and Dean and WOW - there's some great potential in that storyline - what is that "connection" actually going to mean (and peeps were complaining that Dean wasn't going to have a story line this season. Looks like it could be a very interesting one *g*).

And I did love that Sam got some POV (and was allowed to actually say stuff!) - and his bob was gone!! \o/

Little niggles.

I don't have many niggles I have to say. The baby not crying at all was a standout (though maybe the mark had something to do with that?). The deputy hardly reacting to being stitched up was - well, either she has an AMAZING pain tolerance or it was missed. Maybe she's just that damn awesome!

Cas calling Dean instead of Sam was a little weird - considering he was calling Dean to give a message to Sam. I get that it doubles up as a "how are you" so that's totally forgivable. I liked that both Sam and Dean ended up talking to Cas.


Overall I think this is a great start to the season. I know I've said that before (S9 had me all sorts of excited for the potential), but at least we have a sense of them working together against a common foe. I know Sam didn't tell Dean he was infected (neither did Cas) - and already that's a return to their old ways, but I'm hopeful it might also be a catalyst for further discussion about decisions they will make. I accept we need certain elements in the story telling

I know I can't read too much into things. I've been burned too many times doing that. So, I'll take this episode for what it was - enjoyable on pretty much all the levels on which I enjoy this show. It had action, zombie wannabes, an orgy, Sam and Dean being actual heroes, an intriguing mysteries (what does the darkness want? how is Dean connected? what's with the baby? And SAMMY?! Whaaaaaa (::koff:: hurt!Sam I WON'T complain! *g*).



I'm going to simplify the reaction poll. 5 is "LOVED IT!! to 1 being "nope".

[Poll #2024460]

Comments

[tebtosca.livejournal.com]

I'll start by saying that I enjoyed it more last night while I was watching it than I do now the next morning upon actually reflecting upon it. As a casual viewer, it was a pretty good episode of television and I wasn't bored. As a person who cares about these characters, I have major issues.

First of all is the fact that Dean didn't seem to give one ounce of a shit about the brother he almost beheaded in the last episode. No concern, no affection, no "hey, how ya doing, buddy that I almost murdered?" He was fine with everyone else (including the car, which he was more concerned about than his brother) but in relation to Sam, he seemed the same as MoC!Dean to me. I'm sure you'll disagree, but that's the way it played to me. Whether that was an intentional script choice or Jensen's acting choice is up in the air.

They also made Sam a complete idiot noob at the end by having him lock himself in a closet with basically no weapons against a zombie horde. I mean, it was no different than Charlie locking herself in the bathroom last season -- more Carver era dumbing down the characters every time they need to make a lame plot point move.

Sam's little speech about "oh noes, saving each other is bad now" only means something if they try and test the theory, which they won't because then Carver will have to lolcanon himself. Sam's characterization continues to flip-flop every half season, so expect it to be opposite by 11.10.

I actually felt for Cas, but he was an idiot for calling the angels, too, so more Carver making people stupid. And Cas calling DEAN to tell SAM about Rowena and the Book, especially since Dean was supposed to be off-the-grid for all Cas knew, is Fanservice 101. But hey, it gave tumblr one scene to gif ad nauseum, so Carver did his duty lol

I enjoyed female Crowley very much, especially since she reminded me of Lucy Lawless. I wish we could have kept her instead of Sheppard.

Amara is hot and reminded me of a crossroads demon and had good chemistry with Jensen, so that is what it is. I'm assuming we'll age back up to that actress by mid-season.

Half the people I know called the Baby-as-Darkness weeks ago, so that's not surprising. It's intriguing enough, but the entire episode was so derivative of previous episodes/plots/themes that you could probably zip open the top of Carver's skull and see nothing but soap suds.

So, whatever, lets see where they go next week with Sam being infected and see if Sam acknowledges that his big plan to put on his big boy pants failed again and see if that gets Dean to be mildly concerned/protective or just even more pissy. I want to be excited for the brother relationship this year since both Jared and Jensen seemed so genuinely excited themselves about it in their M&Gs at NJCon (both of which I attended this time around), but at the moment, I'm not seeing them giving much of a shit about each other so who cares?

I know you hate me for this comment, but I'm Jeremy Carver's arch nemesis, you know I have to keep it real! :D

[cuddyclothes.livejournal.com]

They also made Sam a complete idiot noob at the end by having him lock himself in a closet with basically no weapons against a zombie horde. I mean, it was no different than Charlie locking herself in the bathroom last season -- more Carver era dumbing down the characters every time they need to make a lame plot point move.

It's the trope of "DON'T GO IN THE CLOSET! DON'T GO IN THE CLOSET!" I'm surprised the brothers aren't bumping into walls by now.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

First off "I know you hate me for this comment," NOPE no no. Not at all. I love the comment and I love you, so you can stop that already!

And I do love the comment because it's meaty and there are some things that I hadn't considered. OR, I had, but I had a different response to.

He was fine with everyone else (including the car, which he was more concerned about than his brother) but in relation to Sam, he seemed the same as MoC!Dean to me.

My first response to this when I read it was "huh, I didn't even notice that!" And it's true, Dean's response to Sam was not a surprise I think because I have become totally attuned to Dean being like that with Sam. I'm not sure the last time we saw Dean actually "care" about Sam - in terms of his emotional well being. That's not to say he won't do the grand things to save him - killing death for example, but that genuine "are you really ok" hasn't been Dean for a while now. I think the MoC was definitely part of that last season, and the one before was his bitterness in being told that Sam wouldn't save him. Oh man, I could waft on for ages about the psychology of why Dean is like that, but I don't think the show thinks about the characters that deeply, so I won't. Instead, my feeling is that Dean still hasn't shaken off the MoC affects - AND the darkness has "bonded" with him, so his new motivations might be even more subtle than having the MoC (um, though I might not really believe they would be that subtle, nor that they'd taken Dean down another dark path. But, maybe?).

Also, Dean is still pissed at Sam for saving him I suspect (and that's more about him feeling he's not worth it), so the last thing he's going to do is show any sympathy toward him. Guh, I don't know why I don't care about that at the moment. Dean's response felt true, and that's probably pretty depressing really.

And Sam continues to take that on the chin - he knows that deep down Dean cares, so he doesn't need those reassurances (yeah, I'm probably trying to convince myself a bit here…).

Sam's characterization continues to flip-flop every half season, so expect it to be opposite by 11.10.

haha *nods* And I suspect he's only made that speech to then go and do the direct opposite down the track. As usual, I'm hanging on to some optimism that the "the brothers are working together this season" hold true and they aren't completely contradictory.

The closest move was totally ridiculous! After "let me do what I do best" and then - NO PLAN! Flail! My first thought what he had planned to hole up in the closest because he had seen how tough those doors were (after witnessing it) and knew exactly what was in the closest. I wanted him to act like that was the plan all along. But he then looked around to see what he could use as a weapon and BOO, no plan. Just bad narrative choices. At the time I didn't worry because the women in there was a rabid and that was cool! (simple things JC, simple little things…*g*)

And, for me, I did see them care about each other a wee bit. I think for the casual viewer (and maybe that so-called majority of male viewers), they can't make the brothers too wishy-washy with each other - or emotional. Their trust in each others abilities was back (even if their abilities failed them), and Dean's "I know you will" as close to admiration as we'll get from Dean (or maybe it wasn't and Dean was being snarky with him :/). Carver seems to like these boys being horrid to each other for some reason. I suspect he thinks it supplies the tension (and the chatter between fans).

As I've said in some other replies - I can't see Carver changing his spots. The season isn't suddenly going to change from what we've seen before. But hopefully, it will be less painful that the previous three. I shall remain positive for as long as I can! :)

[amypond45.livejournal.com]

But he then looked around to see what he could use as a weapon and BOO, no plan. Just bad narrative choices.

And I thought he was already mixing some kind of cure in his mind using the medical supplies he was looking at on those shelves...

[casey28.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure the last time we saw Dean actually "care" about Sam - in terms of his emotional well being.

He asked Sam if he's okay at the end of 10.23, and 11.01.