Yup, I saw it

[astri13]

So, I watched the Season 3 Premiere. That means

Well, that was...lackluster.

First off, Katie Kassidy is in the credits, just like that. Great, now Jensen is bumped down to supporting cast because first fiddle in the chorus is STILL just the chorus and not the stage. For a co-lead status they could have given him a freaking "and" or put the girls under "also starring". HATE!!!

Secondly I was so-so with Dean himself. So he is detached and "whatever"-like. But what happened to his feelings toward Sam? I mean in the Finale it was all "don`t tell him, he can`t know". Now that Sam knows Dean doesn`t give a shit anymore? He knows how much that`s gonna hurt and he doesn`t care a lick about inflicting it on Sam?
Now if that is a defense mechanism, I would have liked some hidden looks, some little hints that there is more going on under the surface than Dean being a jerk. It`s a fine line making a lead character so unsympathetic.

I liked him being coldly focused on the job - when he was. The hedonistic moments already make me roll my eyes if they get played like that. Super-dorky dance of cringitude and gratuitious expositional burger eating of "I only got a year to live and I don`t CARE about anything." You might wanna repeat this point a few more times. I think some people in Timbuktu didn`t get it.

I felt sorry for Sam whose character emerged the most unscathed here.

Ruby? Pretty much a non-entity, though the knife effects and the knife-fu itself looked rather cheesy. Presumably she will be a demon or something sent as a bodyguard for Sam so he can fulfill his destiny? And half the demons don`t want him as their leader and half do? Btw, "boy king" - I do hope they don`t plan to make Sam some mythical super-special Chosen One. I thought we were done with this crap. I like the guys being humans caught in the crossfire.
Or at least then give Dean a freaking storyline of his own in which he isn`t just a tag-along in another man`s destiny.

The Seven Sins turned out pretty anticlimatic, except Pride who was pretty cool. But in retrospect that makes Bobby more chicken-little with the bru and ha.

Isaac and Tamara were not unsympathetic but they were pretty much just there.

So all in all, I didn`t feel it, the chemistry of the brothers or the characters or anything really.

Disappointing. :/

Comments

[i-am-schizo.livejournal.com]

o.O

Oh well, I'm gonna see it tomorrow night...but as I'm kinda out of the fandom anyway...Damn, I need the show to gimme back my squee because I do wanna read fic and actually enjoy what I read but I'm afraid that if the show won't get me to squee anymore I'm really officially out...and in desperate NEED of a new fandom. FUCK. Damn, I need stories that make me happy but SPN doesn't do it anymore as it seems...okay, I shut up...*whines*

[astri13.livejournal.com]

Well, I hated the Finale too so you might still like it tomorrow. I just couldn`t get into it all that much.

[katikat.livejournal.com]

I liked the ep. Sure, Kripke should tone it down a bit with Dean but I can see where he is headed with him. And I was afraid of the Ruby character but her entrance was actually quite good, especially since she wasn't too condescending.

[astri13.livejournal.com]

I just felt very disconnected from everything going on onscreen, maybe Sam excluded. And I get that Dean is off-kilter and disjointed on purpose but in that last scene they lost me.

Would have liked something more like that one look in the midst of things that at least gave a little hint of what`s going on there. Old viewers at least can draw from previous established character works but new ones - and hello exposition - I`ll imagine would have a hard time relating to the guy.

[aithne414.livejournal.com]

I don't think I'm even gonna watch it. I was talking with simpatico, and she said if I wanted to preserve my good memories of the show, I probably shouldn't.

I'm gonna keep an eye on the board, and if things look like they're improving, I might dip my toe back in. But with the most recent sides, I feel very done with this show. It's not the thing I fell in love with, anymore.

[astri13.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the sides were not my thing really. Seems very ludicrous overblown destiny and magical super-duper...oh yeah and an also run watching in awe. Maybe it`s for the best, maybe if the ratings don`t pan out I won`t be heartbroken now. :(

[ravenhawk7.livejournal.com]

I just watched it tonight, although I did enjoy it there was moments that were supposebly comedy that I didn't find that funny. I dunno how I feel Ruby wise, I was confused as to why Bobby looked so scared when faced with that "Sin" hes used to this kinda stuff?

I dunno what to make of Issac and Tamara, I wasn't too fussed on them to be honest. I liked the whole Sam walking in on Dean that bit was funny and the .*whats in the box?* LOL! that to me was classic supernatural style!

Bring back Dean who cares and I agree we needed some shifty looks just to reassure us that Dean who loves his family and likes fighting evil sons of bitches is here to stay and hes not going!!!! :D

p.s.sorry I ranted lol!

[astri13.livejournal.com]

Bring back Dean who cares and I agree we needed some shifty looks just to reassure us that Dean who loves his family and likes fighting evil sons of bitches is here to stay and hes not going!!!! :D

I`ve forever been saying that Dean needs to retain a sense of self and not give up everything for his family but this Dean went a hundred miles over the line in the other direction. The love for family was a defining traits of his, if they take that away, I`m deeply saddened.

Also, rant away. This is a rant-friendly place. :)

[ravenhawk7.livejournal.com]

woohoo on the rant friendly place because usually when I start I don't shut up ;)

Yeah I think they've went way past the line..I don't know if I'd like him like that, he was always so endearing with his love for his family and how much he'd risk and do for them!

[andromakhe001.livejournal.com]

The ep didn't feel like Supernatural to me. I thought Dean was totally out of character. It almost felt like sabotage. There were a couple of good scenes. The end of the demon interrogation just before they left the demon to Tamara. That meaningful look shared across an empty room and also the boys looking at each other when Bobby and Tamara were fighting. Oddly, so long as there was no dialogue, it worked.

It just felt empty, vapid...it had none of the charm that made Supernatural special to me.

[astri13.livejournal.com]

Empty is a good description. The only good thing I see coming out of this? If it goes on, I`ll definitely come to the point where I can drop the show without major pains. Or I wouldn`t even be anxious about the ratings. I feel numb.

S3 speculation

[(Anonymous)]

WORRRRRD. This is why I didn't watch the ep because I knew it would suck out loud. :)

Mary/YED backstory is intriguing to say the very least. Um, is it wrong that I think Mary had an intimate relationship with the YED at some point and that's how she recognized him in the nursery? It always struck me as odd that we get something on Sam's 6 month birthday but NOTHING where Dean's infancy is concerned. Who knows what could've happened in 3 and a half years time span? <--fanfic heaven right there, oh yis.

This only leads me to wonder just how MANY people and demons alike Sam will kill to save Dean. Makes me worried...and giddy at the same time. Protective Sam hits my kink buttons hard. :)

Now that I think about it, Dean's creating a monster in his little brother. Irony's funny like that.

The demons have Sam exactly where they want him in terms of forcing his hand. He'll be too busy trying to save his brother to notice anything else going around him. Why have one when you can have them both? Nothing makes sense anymore when it comes to their roles as brothers or the mythos.

Oh and I've noticed when Dean's life was in danger from the YED Sam failed to save him with his useless powers BOTH times. About Dean's supposed latent abilities i've seen in many speculative posts, it makes me curious as to what role Dean might play this season if he has one AT ALL that doesn't contribute to what he can do FOR SAM. I believe he's not all that improtant since he got shafted in Cold Oak by Jake. I kinda loved that scene. Yes I'm a bit twisted so what? :p

p.s. I'm anonymous cause I don't have an LJ account. Just so you know, I'm not a stalker or anything. lol.

sorry about the rant. :]

[legoline.livejournal.com]

HA! I KNEW IT! :-)

[astri13.livejournal.com]

Yeah well, I`m rather sad to be that disappointed. I feel like I`m losing my enjoyment with the show in general. :/

[legoline.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm a bit underwhelmed but I think the show will be okay :-)

[astri13.livejournal.com]

I seriously hope though that Dean is not here to say. He can be an ass all he likes if I get to see there is more going on underneath.

[legoline.livejournal.com]

I think he'll be back to angsty soonish - maybe they're having him being goofy and detached right now so it'll hurt more towards the end when he realises what he's giving up.

[astri13.livejournal.com]

Your word in Kripke`s ears. I like him not being all emo about the deal but the Sam-Dean relationship was really off to me.

[legoline.livejournal.com]

I've discussed this with a friend and we sort of agree that maybe he's still on a high from having Sam back and being the tough guy who doesn't care - but that might wear off soon. I hope :-)

[astri13.livejournal.com]

I hope in the next episode actually we get some more rounded Dean. I could deal with him in this one all through till the last scene where I thought "okay, here comes the pay-off" and then a great, big nothing came.
Don`t know, maybe if it was just an in between ep, I could write it off easier but for a Season Opener it was a let-down.

[legoline.livejournal.com]

I just thought it felt weird he was opening up so much. But who knows, maybe now that he thinks he's dead anyway he doesn't care anymore. He was like that in Croatoan, too.

[lita-of-jupiter.livejournal.com]

Nicest moment for me was the conversation in the end where the terms are exposed and some of the Bobby moments, otherwise it was an all right episode.
Ruby already am not fond of her, and I think you have her nailed.
Knowing the boys and the demons with quirky shadowing movements... meh....

[astri13.livejournal.com]

Nicest moment for me was the conversation in the end where the terms are exposed

I liked that part but right afterwards when Sam layed it on the table how much he would suffer, I was expecting an emotional pay-off from Dean or at least him looking like he was conflicted. Yet everything remained so blank, it physically hurt me to watch. :/

With Ruby the slo-mo fighting really sucked because you could see that in real time her movements were totally off. She was like a mile away from the guy she supposedly stabbed. Usually I love slo-mo but not to cover up an actor who can`t do decent stunt-work.

[lita-of-jupiter.livejournal.com]

The Ruby fight is one I am desperately trying to erase from my mind... it did not happen... did not! did not!
Unfortunately from seeing spoilers from future episodes we will see more of the "kick ass" girl... *sigh* is it to much to hope she blows herself up? I am hoping for that so far every blond connected to Sam has, so its not too much to hope!

If she is supposed to be a fighter they could have given her some classes... my 7 year old cousin can pretend fight better than she can...

I am trying to excuse Dean's behavior by it being too close to events and him being in some sort of shock/repression stunt, or trying to drive Sam away... whatever... something to explain his behavior here...
Specially since this was a Kim episode and usually those are the best ones, he can make those boys work!

So I am hoping there is a reason for Dean being such a Jerk...

Did you also get the feeling Jensen wasn't comfortable playing Dean the way it was written?

[astri13.livejournal.com]

If she is supposed to be a fighter they could have given her some classes...

Definitely, Miss "I`m a gymnast. I don`t know if you could tell when I walked in." No, actually I couldn`t tell. *groan*

Did you also get the feeling Jensen wasn't comfortable playing Dean the way it was written?

I don`t know. It`s very hard to tell what was deliberate and what wasn`t. I guess he didn`t actually like this Dean, same as many fans.

[lita-of-jupiter.livejournal.com]

I hope he was feeling uncomfortable with the character... since he seems very protective of Dean and it would be bad news for us fans should he suddenly decide that Jerk!Dean is a great chap and here to stay...

I have to hope he is itching to play the Dean he took 2 years to create and perfect!

[aizjanika.livejournal.com]

I thought this episode was disappointing for many of the reasons you mentioned. I actually really disliked it, for the most part.

[astri13.livejournal.com]

There were some small parts I dug, Dean`s hand-signals in the house or him being gung-ho in that bar or tricking Lust but then we had the stupid overabundance of slapstick moments again.

And what really, really threw it off was the end scene. For me they should have resolved this tension - to Sam or just to the audience - within this episode. In "Children..." Dean behaved very rash but he opened up a little bit to Sam in the midsts and really opened up in the end.

Here - nothing. "Yeah, I`m entitled to it so suck it up, bitch." Huh? At least a look from him or something to show that that`s not real was needed. As it was they left it standing like that and that didn`t do.

[rheasilvia.livejournal.com]

Hab dein Review vorher gar nicht gelesen, weil ich die Folge da noch nicht gesehen hatte - aber das hier überrascht mich irgendwie nicht:

Btw, "boy king" - I do hope they don`t plan to make Sam some mythical super-special Chosen One. I thought we were done with this crap. I like the guys being humans caught in the crossfire.

*g* Dein Wort in Kripkes Ohren!!

Ich fühle mich schon besser, weil ich wenigstens nicht die Einzige bin, die SOD-Sam als schlimmste Katastrophe für die Serie sehen würde. Aber noch hab ich ja Hoffnung... ist ja letzte Season auch nicht so gekommen, wie ich gefürchtet habe. Auch wenn ich das Finale auch sehr wenig begeisternd fand.

Mit Dean kann ich leben. Es bleibt abzuwarten, wie sich die Sache entwickelt, aber ich habe eigentlich nicht die Befürchtung, das es einfach so weitergeht.

Ganz ehrlich: SPN ist IMO keine wirklich gut geschriebene Serie. Das ist sie nie gewesen und wird sie auch nie sein. Aber sie hat durchaus ihre Stärken, und die liegen in der Charakterisierung. Solange sie da keinen Mist bauen, bin ich glücklich... und ich denke, bisher haben sie das noch nicht.

Mal abgesehen von ein paar Eps zwischendurch - ich denke vor allem an Croatoan - die ich einfach ignoriere. *g*

[astri13.livejournal.com]

Ich fühle mich schon besser, weil ich wenigstens nicht die Einzige bin, die SOD-Sam als schlimmste Katastrophe für die Serie sehen würde.

Ich kann mit sowas leben wenn mir eine Serie oder Story generell von Anfang an klarmacht, dass es auf mythische Kämpfe und das Ende der Welt hinausläuft. Zum Beispiel dass das eine Serie über eine einmalige auserwählte Vampirjägerin ist und schon die erste Folge vom Weltende spricht.

Dann weiß ich Bescheid und kann mich drauf einstellen aber erst mit relativ normalen Jungs anzufangen und dann einen zum Fürsten der Hölle zu machen, der dann vielleicht noch Blitze aus den Augen schießt? Nein danke.

Die haben nicht mal das Budget um so einen Storybogen richtig durchzuziehen. Geschweige denn die Frage was dann mit Dean wird, steht der dann daneben während SuperSam die Gegner plattmacht? Hilfe, hilfe.

Ganz ehrlich: SPN ist IMO keine wirklich gut geschriebene Serie. Das ist sie nie gewesen und wird sie auch nie sein. Aber sie hat durchaus ihre Stärken, und die liegen in der Charakterisierung.

Sehe ich eigentlich genauso und von daher tut mir der Weggang von Raelle Tucker schon weh, weil die meiner Meinung nach sehr character-lastig gearbeitet hat.
Kripke? Nicht unbedingt seine Stärke. Sera Gamble? Die schreibt mir zu sehr karrikaturmäßig, mehr wie Tall Tales, nur in echt. Shiban? Der verliert sich in den "coolen" Plotpunkten zu denen er hin will. Edlund? Gute Comedy aber eher weniger bei Charakteren.

[rheasilvia.livejournal.com]

Yep, die Sam-Problematik sehe ich ganz genauso...

Und mach mir mal keine Angst, was die Zukunft der Charakterisierung bei SPN angeht! :-/ Ich verfolge die Vorgänge hinter den Kulissen nicht, deshalb ist das das Erste, was ich in Bezug auf diese Gefahr höre...

[astri13.livejournal.com]

Naja, Bob Singer und Kim Manners sind ja noch da. Wenn die weg wären, würden mir allerdings die Haare zu Berge stehen.

Es stößt auch ein neuer Writer dazu aber von dem kenn ich nichts, da kann ich nicht beurteilen wie der schreibt.

Ohne dich jetzt total zu spoilern, kann ich zumindest sagen von den Skriptseiten, die ich gelesen hab, ist die Charakterisierung relativ okay. Die kleinen Holper gibt`s halt immer.

[rheasilvia.livejournal.com]

Sehr gut - dann bin ich wieder etwas beruhigt. :-)