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

[sam-dean-lover.livejournal.com]

hey ash <3, i also loved it! my grade for this ep is A+! going ep to ep let's see if ep 2 is a 5. its starting off great! welcome back Supernatural, ah, how i've missed you so much <3

[cassiopeia7.livejournal.com]

*hugs this post*

Yup. Everything you said. Based on what I saw in the promo, I expected to love this episode, but honestly, it was all the little things (in addition to the showstopper that was Sam's monologue) that made it for me.

(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).

They already have. Sam not telling Dean he was infected, and Dean not telling Sam everything Darkness told him. But as you say, at least the problem has been acknowledged, and -- I HOPE -- their mistake cycle will be addressed in future. Sometimes, change is slow, and those boys have an entire lifetime of making similar mistakes to undo. :)

Good to see you posting again, bb! ♥

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Oh wow! I haven't seen you be this positive for a while! I felt the same. Refreshing start to the season! :)

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Hi honey!

It's curious because they do often mentioned that they shouldn't do what they do (over and over again), but for some reason this felt a bit more like that might mean it (or, at least the part about saving people again). Though the test will be when they meet a demon. They seem to kill off meat suits without a thought, so if they start to exorcise again, rather than kill, it might be a change.

But, they also have to tell a story. They need to create tension and with all three of them keeping what's going on from the other, they're doing that. I just hope that doesn't keep up like that (though it's still Carver and I can't imagine he's changed his style of telling a story that much). Also, there's probably more seasons to come, so they can't "fix" them just yet. ;)

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Ack! Dammit! Forgot to mention Michael and Lucifer!! I was SO excited to hear them mentioned!

[debbiel66.livejournal.com]

I watched it almost as it aired so that I could actually participate in squee - very optimistic of me, if I do say so! I really and truly liked everything but the angel subplot, and to be honest, I didn't watch the angel subplot, so I can't truly say if I like it or not, now can I?

But it did indeed feel old school, the hospital conversation was great, and I'm actually looking forward to next week! Have been almost entirely unspoiled, more out of apathy than self-control. (I'm happy to know that the spoilers are exciting you, versus the whole existential dread thing. Am I right? Tell me I'm right...)

Me thinks the trooper-lady may not be what she seems....

[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

[cassiopeia7.livejournal.com]

Oooh, yes! When Crowley's man mentioned the Cage, I may have gone on point like a hunting dog. EX-CITE-MENT.

[cassiopeia7.livejournal.com]

But, they also have to tell a story. They need to create tension and with all three of them keeping what's going on from the other, they're doing that.

SO true. If they actually did things in a logical manner, avoided keeping secrets, etc., the Problem of the Week would be solved in fifteen minutes flat. Which wouldn't be nearly as entertaining. :)

Also, from above:

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

I see it now in your screenshot, but missed it in the episode, as Winchesters can shoot a hell of a lot better than THAT. ;)

[jessm78.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I don't really have anything to add except WORD. I was nodding along to your entire post. I enjoyed it as well for the same reasons. I had my expectations a bit low after the past two seasons, and I think it made me enjoy it even more.

And yes, ding dong the bob is dead! ;D

I'll just end with EEP, hurt!Sam!! But I bet there can be some GREAT fic arising from it!

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

See me rolling around in this review with GAY abandon! lol! Everything you said, everything, up to and including the mini Winchesters, which I didn't twig on until I saw the pic and your comment about it.

LOVE! That is all!

[jj1564.livejournal.com]

I thought it was a great start, and agree with most of what you said. There definitely is chemistry between Dean and The Darkness and I hope we see more of their interactions! I also thought 'mini Winchesters' when we saw the dad and two boys. I thought the actress playing Crowley did a great job too.

"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 got a strong world-weary vibe too, like 'we've fucked up and have to fix the world - again!" But they're still gonna do it, yaaay!

[percysowner.livejournal.com]

I really liked this premier, more than any since Carver took over.

I do feel for the writers trying to deal with Cas. They have to have him depowered so he's not an automatic fix-it, but they can't permanently depower him because the Cas people fell in love with (not me)was powerful. Also, part of why he is there is so that Jared and Jensen don't have to be in every scene. That means he gets stories away from them and thus far, those stories don't work for me. I don't care about angel politics. I don't care much about the angels period. I hope they find a way to work around this, somehow.

[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.

[amypond45.livejournal.com]

The big moment for me of this ep was Sam's monologue, and I need to go back and watch it again just for that! Second moment was Dean's response to Sam's monologue (again, I gotta go back and watch it again). All I could think was, "I did that to your face, Sammy. I almost killed you. I have no idea what you're talking about right now, but yeah, I'm going with whatever you say, just on principle."

[caranfindel.livejournal.com]

Little Winchesters! I said the same thing and took basically the same screencap before I read your post!

[greyowl88.livejournal.com]

That bob, the mop
That terrible flop
It's finally ex and hop
Good job!

Sam running into the broom closet to hide must be the aftermath of the mop hairdo. ;)

All joking aside, I really enjoyed this season opener. Welcome back, Show! :D

xx

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I thought I'd rewatch before I started trying to comment but I'm none the wiser about how I feel about this, not really. I enjoyed the episode (I usually do), but though I wanted to be really excited about it, I wasn't.

Sam looked terrible throughout - so worn and ill even before he got infected, and all I could do was worry every time he was on screen. Dean feels like a parody of his younger self - clinging to the bluster and bravado but without the depth he used to have. His empathy seems as worn down as Sam's appearance.

I was curious about Sam asking Dean to let him do what he does. What - exactly - does Sam do? In this episode he ended up doing a lot of running down corridors, he got throttled (again!) and then infected with evil blood (again). Why was locking himself in a closet such a great idea? Where's the bright, intelligent mind he used to have? Where are his analytical skills?

I am interested in the Darkness - I liked her scenes with Dean, and that conversation had potential. I really liked the idea of Dean being linked to the Darkness. i liked that the boys shared the responsibility for the release of the Evil this time, and I am happy that this disturbance to the Force has stirred up Lucifer and Michael, because that is one Angel storyline I'd welcome.

The baby being the Darkness seems a little odd, unless she's going to have some accelerated growth, like Dean's monster baby girl in whatever season that was. I liked the police woman though she was ridiculously calm throughout - that character would have made a good angel. I winced at the fact that she was on her feet, kicking ass one second and the next suddenly needed a wheel chair. Then within two minutes of Dean getting his healing hands on her she was good as new - no blood loss effects or anything. *handwaves*

I care nothing for Crowley (male or female versions), or Cas and the boring civil servant angel cohorts. What happened to Hannah? I confess I can't remember if she bought it last season or not.

So - yeah, I'm conflicted!

[stormcloude]

I want to know how all those people could die when Death was gone.

And that policewoman was pretty much a younger, sexier mixture of Jody and Donna. That felt like cheap audience manipulation to me.

[killabeez.livejournal.com]

This was an interesting episode for me! At first, I didn't think I was going to like it. I was finding that Sam and Dean's actions were confusing, and that their priorities were skewed. But then Cas's scene in the barn was rather poignant, and I fucking LOVED female Crowley. (My least favorite thing about this episode is probably that we had to lose her so quickly. I know, Mark Sheppard, yadda yadda, but I really wish we could have our cake and eat it on that front.)

Then Sam had that moment where he confronted Dean and Dean fucking listened and I almost leapt for joy. Not only have I been waiting for that moment for THREE SEASONS and SEVEN EPISODES (yes I was counting) but it was just perfect in every way. Not only did Dean listen, he let Sam participate in the decisions. And even more, what Sam said actually retroactively fixed some of my frustration with the first half of the episode—because he is literally saying, we're screwing up and we're failing and we need to fix it. So, seeing the evidence of that in their mistakes and their lack of coordination and misplaced priorities works. We also got hints that they still can be what they once were, with the moments of synchronization.

The one-off actors were charismatic, too, all of them. Nice casting.

[killabeez.livejournal.com]

I wondered that, too, about Death being gone. It would have been nice if the Winchesters had wondered it as well.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

The angel subplot was pretty short and there really wasn't much going on. It would be great if they could drop the whole demons and angel thing, but having Cas and Crowley (and rowena etc) around means the Js get some time off - which is a good thing. Also, I think a section of fandom would implode if Cas disappeared.

versus the whole existential dread thing. Am I right? Tell me I'm right…

haha! well, yes. From what I've seen from the Js and some spoilers I'm pretty happy (so far!). I have no idea where they're going with this and I can't see Carver changing his spots overnight. There's bound to be the same old issues come up again this season, but maybe they're actually going to address some of them. We'll see!

[percysowner.livejournal.com]

Carver may not change his spots quickly, BUT Robert Singer has quietly entered semi-retirement. He is no longer Executive Producer. He is Executive Consultant, the same title Eric Kripke still holds http://www.thewinchesterfamilybusiness.com/article-archives/news-and-announcements/19483-robert-singer-quietly-steps-down-as-supernatural-executive-producer

I have thought that Singer's influence was part of the problem with Supernatural. I quite liked season six and I know that Singer took charge either late season six or in season seven, which is when I thought the quality went down. So maybe things will start to jell 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! :)

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I want to know how all those people could die when Death was gone.

Um, that would actually take thinking - and I'm not sure that's occurred to them yet (the characters or the writers). Hopefully that will be addressed soon. Maybe next week they'll all be alive again.

That felt like cheap audience manipulation to me.

But that's with everything really. They have always cast attractive women in roles - pretty much all TV shows do (and movies! Hubby pointed that out in The Martian). The mix of Jody and Donna is knowing what "types" the SPN audiences like, so yeah, I can't understand them doing that. The interesting thing will be if she's developed later on.