Oh show...

[ash48]

For some reason a question dreamrequiem asked me in my 5.16 reaction post has still got me pondering.. and that is:

can someone explain exactly what made them flail about this latest episode? Everyone on my flist is spazzing out over it and I feel like I missed something.

And it's true. Everyone seems to have gone nuts over it (me included). I tried to explain why that might be so:


I can only speak for myself but I suspect a lot of it comes down to the fact that they explored the boys past. Their childhood. As you would know fans spend a lot of time speculating and writing about what their childhood would have been like, so to see it on the screen it something to squee about.

And to have such powerful scenes. Seeing what Dean remembers (mostly moments with Sam) and seeing what Sam remembers (mostly moments when he's escaped from his family) is heart wrenching.

But it's more than that. This was an emotional journey episode. It was about Sam and Dean. Not just them hunting a supernatural being. It was an episode that gave us more insight into who they are and what's (probably) going to be important as we head to the finale. And the return to the amulet was very potent. The emotional connection we (as fans) have to it is something else that could have everybody squeeing...

Personally I loved the surreal quality of it.

I don't know. What exactly was it about that episode?! Other than just <3333333333333333

I been doing a lot of meta and ep reaction reading and this episode has certainly generated some very thinky thoughts. Personally I'm still in 2 minds about whether the whole thing was manipulated by Zac to once again try and persuade Dean that he has nothing to lose if he says yes. I've read pros and cons for this and I can't make my mind up. But I think that's the point. It possibly doesn't matter if it was or wasn't. It had the desired effect either way of tearing at Dean's (ever decreasing) emotional stability.

I have also been hearten that a lot of people have been sympathetic toward Sam and his memories. Sam can't be blamed for the way Dean's been hurt by some of his choices. Dean once said to Sam "I'm proud of you Sammy" in relation to him being able to do his own thing. I pretty sure this still holds true.

Oh show. Oh episode. Oh hurty brain. (Shame that wasn't the 100th episode, considering the impact it left).



ETA Since posting this (and finding some more to read) I have discovered some real hatred for this episode. I mean like... Whoa. I suppose though for it to elicit such a strong response it really hit some nerves. (good and bad)

Comments

[debbiel66.livejournal.com]

I loved it for the new stories it told us about these boys... for Dean's face when he looked at Sammy, and Sammy's joy at being with his big brother on the Fourth of July. I loved it because Dean was a good boy to his mom too, just like we knew he would be, that their parents' marriage was perfect only after she died, and that she made him pie after he made her feel better. I also loved the fact that Sam loved the hell out of that stray dog and that he had a little adventure for himself, even though he didn't realize he was killing his brother. That kind of selfishness is part of being a kid - it made me sad that Dean had never realized that.

The end made me sad. I'm choosing to believe it will eventually be okay. But I loved this episode all the same.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Oh yes to ALL those things....

A kinda love that Sam had his own little adventure - trying to assert his independence so early on. And of course he had no idea what it would have done to Dean. I found it interesting that this episode was Sam truly understanding that. Seeing all this for himself.

Overall I felt Sam moved forward in understanding more about their relationship, whereas Dean seemed to have taken some steps backward.

The end made me sad. I'm choosing to believe it will eventually be okay

It absolutely will be. I always have and always will believe that. As this show is built around the issues of family it has to give us the ups and downs (though we certainly seem to be getting more downs lately....)

<3

[debbiel66.livejournal.com]

It absolutely will be. I always have and always will believe that. As this show is built around the issues of family it has to give us the ups and downs (though we certainly seem to be getting more downs lately....)

I keep saying this, but I've never watched a show where the writers/creators had quite so much faith in their audience...

I keep wanting them to underestimate us a little and throw us a little more consolation here and there... :)