12.08 reaction
Dec. 9th, 2016 09:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ash48I'm torn between not wanting to think too hard about this episode and actually thinking too darn hard about it.
The problem for me with episodes like this (read that as episodes by The Duo) is the amount of questions (and holes) it creates. I don't mind "good" questions - like what are the BMoL up to, who are they etc (because we haven't been given all that info yet) but it's the stuff that doesn't make sense that frustrates me. The Duo are notorious for developing "handy" solutions for their narratives. That magic egg suddenly making an appearance just smacked of a lazy solution to me. I mean, I loved that Sam got to wield it and the effects were pretty cool but I had trouble letting go of my eye-rolling on that one.
Also, what powers does Cas actually have? He can exert mind control it seems but he can't use any power to, say, keep doors shut or toss people round? There were so many opportunities for Cas to use some sort of power but he never did. I mean I GET IT. They can't have Cas fully powered up but, once again, Cas came across as ineffectual. When he got out of the car (when the boys were confronted with the secret police) I thought we were going to get some of that bad ass Cas we saw earlier - but Dean stopped him and Ketch saved the day.
Something else that irked me was Sam reaching out to the BMoL. I'm just not sure why he'd do that. After what they out him through I'm pretty sure he'd never want to have anything to do with them again. I suppose he was desperate but still. Again, it was a "handy" way of getting the BMoL involved. It would have been more natural if they appeared because they had been following them (as was set up in earlier episodes).
Sam and Dean being caught in the end of sloppy (they must have realised they had to get out of there quickly), the boys touching surfaces in a murder scene is always frustrating (don't open a door with ungloved hands boys!) and Cas losing Kelly was also sloppy.
All that aside there were some interesting developments. The boys going to prison (didn't see that one coming) and the potential of the Nephilim is intriguing. I'm wondering now if that will create part of the season finale. I suspect we'll hear no more of that for a while - probably more of the BMoL and Mary etc and then back to that part of the narrative.
Sam getting to say "go to Hell" to Lucifer was satisfying and the boys thinking they actually got Lucifer was a bitter/sweet moment. I have no idea what actually happened at the end - I'm assuming Lucifer is still around because going down a vent surely doesn't mean he's gone back to hell? Or did he get kind of split up? It looked like some of him went into the egg thing and some down the vent? I dunno.
The President being possessed is far too damn close to reality - though it didn't feel like the show was making any comment about the current political situation. I loved the "just nuke 'em" line.
Overall, I'm not a huge fan of the ensemble episodes (hmmm, though maybe that depends on the ensemble..). I get why we have them (and I'm glad the boys had an easy schedule for this one), but I'm happiest when my screen is mostly filled Sam and Dean *g*. I'm kinda shallow like that ;D
Side note: I'm a bad LJ fan at the moment. I hardly ever pop by. I'm genuinely sorry about that - life just seems full of other stuff atm. :/ *hugs* to you all.
The problem for me with episodes like this (read that as episodes by The Duo) is the amount of questions (and holes) it creates. I don't mind "good" questions - like what are the BMoL up to, who are they etc (because we haven't been given all that info yet) but it's the stuff that doesn't make sense that frustrates me. The Duo are notorious for developing "handy" solutions for their narratives. That magic egg suddenly making an appearance just smacked of a lazy solution to me. I mean, I loved that Sam got to wield it and the effects were pretty cool but I had trouble letting go of my eye-rolling on that one.
Also, what powers does Cas actually have? He can exert mind control it seems but he can't use any power to, say, keep doors shut or toss people round? There were so many opportunities for Cas to use some sort of power but he never did. I mean I GET IT. They can't have Cas fully powered up but, once again, Cas came across as ineffectual. When he got out of the car (when the boys were confronted with the secret police) I thought we were going to get some of that bad ass Cas we saw earlier - but Dean stopped him and Ketch saved the day.
Something else that irked me was Sam reaching out to the BMoL. I'm just not sure why he'd do that. After what they out him through I'm pretty sure he'd never want to have anything to do with them again. I suppose he was desperate but still. Again, it was a "handy" way of getting the BMoL involved. It would have been more natural if they appeared because they had been following them (as was set up in earlier episodes).
Sam and Dean being caught in the end of sloppy (they must have realised they had to get out of there quickly), the boys touching surfaces in a murder scene is always frustrating (don't open a door with ungloved hands boys!) and Cas losing Kelly was also sloppy.
All that aside there were some interesting developments. The boys going to prison (didn't see that one coming) and the potential of the Nephilim is intriguing. I'm wondering now if that will create part of the season finale. I suspect we'll hear no more of that for a while - probably more of the BMoL and Mary etc and then back to that part of the narrative.
Sam getting to say "go to Hell" to Lucifer was satisfying and the boys thinking they actually got Lucifer was a bitter/sweet moment. I have no idea what actually happened at the end - I'm assuming Lucifer is still around because going down a vent surely doesn't mean he's gone back to hell? Or did he get kind of split up? It looked like some of him went into the egg thing and some down the vent? I dunno.
The President being possessed is far too damn close to reality - though it didn't feel like the show was making any comment about the current political situation. I loved the "just nuke 'em" line.
Overall, I'm not a huge fan of the ensemble episodes (hmmm, though maybe that depends on the ensemble..). I get why we have them (and I'm glad the boys had an easy schedule for this one), but I'm happiest when my screen is mostly filled Sam and Dean *g*. I'm kinda shallow like that ;D
Side note: I'm a bad LJ fan at the moment. I hardly ever pop by. I'm genuinely sorry about that - life just seems full of other stuff atm. :/ *hugs* to you all.
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Date: 2016-12-09 03:14 pm (UTC)I liked the 'nuke 'em' line, and I think the actor did an excellent job playing the president. The girlfriend actress was good too.
Castiel's vacillating powers bug the heck out of me. The writers let him have whatever he needs whenever he needs it to resolve the current situation (deus ex machina: angel-version), but he apparently doesn't have any powers when the writers don't want them used?
Where Lucifer went at the end is unclear to me. Where did Rowena banish him to? Or just 'out' (a floor vent)? I didn't enjoy the episode enough to want to watch it again to figure it out.The boys' dialogue seemed a bit over-triumphant: surely Lucifer will be back in some form. (I thought Rick Springfield did a great job by the way too.)
It didn't bother me as much as you that Sam called the BMOL. I can almost imagine Dean holding a bigger grudge against them than Sam (at least, the Dean in my imagination-- the episode where Dean found Sam left a little to be desired). I can accept that Sam felt so overwhelmed at the situation that he considered calling them, but hung up before connecting.
On the other hand, I totally agree with you that it's ridiculous that two intelligent, experienced hunters would sit around waiting for the president to wake up knowing the Secret Service is just feet away and has orders to eliminate them. Seriously???
I really wish that the CW and Supernatural would come to an agreement *now* that they would end at the 300th episode and then write an arc that will wrap everything up in mid-season 14, so we can enjoy a slow build and foreshadowing... and some logic. And much as I love them, I don't think I want to see the boys in their 40s still doing this.
no subject
Date: 2016-12-09 03:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-12-09 06:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-12-09 07:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-12-10 10:58 am (UTC)but he apparently doesn't have any powers when the writers don't want them used?
This is the thing I get frustrated with the most. They can given him these "sensing the truth" powers, but not that someone is planning to give him the slip.
The boys' dialogue seemed a bit over-triumphant: surely Lucifer will be back in some form.
Yes. Especially as we saw him go down that vent - and not burn a hole in the floor like demons (and angels?) do when they go to hell.
and then write an arc that will wrap everything up in mid-season 14, so we can enjoy a slow build and foreshadowing...
That would be awesome. I'd love them to build toward a series finale that was powerful and well considered. I think that might be wishful thinking though.
xx