12.06 reaction/review

[ash48]

I'm knee deep in report writing at the moment so this is brief...



I LOVED LOVED LOVED that episode. Every single minute of it. :D

You know, as much as I love eps that feel like old school eps I think I enjoy episodes that reference them just as much. I love seeing that Sam and Dean have changed from those early days, but that those days are not forgotten. I ADORED the "then" segment - so many memories from the past - Wendigos, Ellen and The Roadhouse, hunter gatherings, good old fashioned exorcism, that meat suits are human!! (yay!)

I loved the opening montage. It captured Asa's story beautifully. His sudden death made me gasp out loud - so unexpected.

I LOVED that the brothers are hunting legends (as they should be!) and not generally hated in the community (as the sense we've been given so many times).

Jody, Mary and Billie in the one episode!!! \o/ I love these ladies to pieces. I really love what they are doing with Mary. Jody is always wonderful (I loved her reaching out to Dean) and of course Billie has a great presence as a reaper

Loved the hunting twins! (now there's a spin off I might actually watch)

Dean calling out Sam when he was locked outside and then demanding to be let in. <3 x 10000000

Sam's possession by Lucifer mentioned (again!). I have no idea what they're planning to do with this (if anything), but I love that it's being addressed. More recently it's been addressed in a way that makes Sam out to be a hero, not a betrayer as they have done in the past.

I love that Sam is empathic to Mary. And that he understands Dean. *happy sigh* I am so happy they are giving us a Sam I truly recognise this season. <3

Smart boys! Proud Mary! Hunting Families! A (semi) happy ending! So much to love.

The writing, pacing, direction, acting, secondary and side characters - all on point.

I'm loving these new writers. They are a breath of fresh air. And they have done their homework (clearly those early eps stuck with them *g*).

Thanks Show. I needed a feel-good ep this week. <3

Comments

[septembers-coda.livejournal.com]

Ah, we are so much on the same wavelength! I had many of these same thoughts and especial loves. <3 I'm so glad you wrote this, because I wanted to say how much I loved this episode, but haven't had much reviewing in me for some reason. I loved all that you loved, and agree there was nothing I DIDN'T like about this episode, and I too want to say how great most of the new writers are! It's stunning to me that a series in its 12th season can still bring it 100%, and feel so fresh, and yes, beautifully acknowledge and build on its own rich history.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

*NODS* So much to love!

I'm struggling to find the time to open LJ, let alone review these days, but I wanted to squee because I enjoyed the episode so much.

Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts! :D
xx

[runedgirl.livejournal.com]

Yes yes yes yes, so much yes! It feels so reassuring when they reference the things that of course we have always remembered, so that we know that THEY remember too. Loved the witch twins, loved having Jody and Mary and Billie all onscreen, and especially loved that Dean was so frantic to get to Sam the second he realized shit was going down inside that house. I will never get tired of Dean yelling "SAMMY!!!" or demanding "Where's my brother?"

Me = happy fangirl :)

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Me = happy fangirl too!

I was very impressed with the way the writer was able to involve SO many characters and give each of them solid notes. No matter how minor. I loved the connection between Asa and Mary - the way hunters are often "blamed" for doing their job (and feeling guilty because of it) and seeing how Mary feels about that.

I so hope they stick to their journey with Mary - I'm loving her conflict in being back. It's so hard for us to imagine her not knowing her boys because WE know them so well. Samantha is really getting Mary's emotions right.

xx

[amnisias.livejournal.com]

This was a great ep, although it took me a couple of minutes to recover from the shock that it was not going to be about how Asa reconnected with Mary. I had a whole head canon. Man, his death was harsh.

But I agree, this mix of retro-reflective and full awareness of 'the story so far...' is realy refreshing and makes for a more mature series, one that's not just stuck in a status quo or recycling old material.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Man, his death was harsh.

So harsh! Totally unexpected. I literally gasped out loud.

But I agree, this mix of retro-reflective and full awareness of 'the story so far...' is realy refreshing and makes for a more mature series, one that's not just stuck in a status quo or recycling old material.

Oh. Perfectly said. Exactly that. It kinda feels like it's grown up without changing the core of the characters.

[madebyme-x.livejournal.com]

Yes, one thousand times yes!!!!

I loved this epsode, and the mix of old and new charterers, and how they all interacted with each other (I too loved the twins - very intriguing, and would agree about the spin off!!!)

The only that would have been awesome, would have been a reference to the anti-possession tattoos (I want to see if Sam has one?! And it's been so long since we've seen them 'flash' them) And why would no other hunter, including the witch twins, not have an anti-possession charm, or a spell, or a tattoo, or something? Maybe it's just to remind us all how awesome they are!!!! ;)

But I loved it, really really loved it!!! (especially the Sam and Mary scenes, and how they held each other as they left for breakfast, and Jody and Dean's little convo, and Mary and Jody's too!!!) So much squee!!!!

[ash48.livejournal.com]

would have been a reference to the anti-possession tattoos

Oh yes! That would have been perfect. Sam and Dean could have stated that they can't be possessed because of them (and yes! why doesn't every hunter have one?!). It would have been a good opportunity to confirm that Sam does indeed have one. And they needed to flash them again for sure! :D

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Some minor niggles but while there was so much else to love, who cares... Jodie! Hunters who gather and talk about hunter legends and legendary hunters! Protective!Dean! Clever Sam! Teamwork! Twins!

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I must admit I didn't have any niggles to begin with - but someone else mentioned hunters having anti-possession tattoos so that might be one niggle for me now. I figure it would have spoiled the whole episode if they all had them...(but we could have seen Sam and Dean's just to confirm how clever they are. And that Sam has his back!)
xx

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

yep, that was a major one really - because SURELY they would have made Jodie get one yonks ago, just for starters. But hand wave, hand wave - I hope she's gone and got one now!

[debbiel66.livejournal.com]

Wow, just watched, and it was good! Celebrating the life not only Asa but also the glory days of this show. I personally loved when they all took turns with the Latin during the exorcism. So fitting that they are all united by the mother tongue of hunters.