3.05 - Part 2

[astri13]

Finally saw what I was missing from the ep so there is my belated second part of the review.

Also, that open Season-crack they made in the "Magnificent Seven"? Well, on TwoP it`s true right now. Prey of choice answers to the name of "Dean".
Seriously, all the dumb lines in the world would not justify that intense backlash to me. Let alone the heretofore unseen people popping up to express how their disgust for the character has once again been thouroughly validated. I see, the second a fictional character is losing popularity, it`s jump-on-thebandwaggon time because apparently it was impossible to speak out against a fictional character before. Whatever.



- I think it`s a bit much to have Dean not recognizing the girl-apple in the fairytale themed atmosphere. He immediately knew the frog-thing. Are there really people who DON`T know the basic stories of the most common fairytales? Really? Have never met one in my life.

- Liked the Mischa Barton crack however.

- Dean as the huntsman was funny also

- Yeah, the theme was executed somewhat unsubtly - snowhite, little red - in places but I`ve gotten used to it from the show.

- I didn`t mind the last "let me go" that Dean implied to Sam there
Of course it`s fucking hypocritical since he did nothing of the sort with Sam but since when have people stopped trying their loved ones from repeating their mistakes? Former drunks preaching to their children against drinking would be hypcritical just the same yet most might do it. And most might get applauded for it.
He thinks Sam is emotionally stronger, he thinks Sam doesn`t need him as much and he wants to make it easier on Sam. Sure, he doesn`t but he didn`t say that to be a mean, spiteful asshole either.

Usually I hate hypocrisy with the passion of a thousand burning suns but that kind of utterly, normal, human hypocrisy? I`d be hypocritical even criticizing it.

- the last scene between Sam - Crossroads - hm, Sandy McCoy is cute as a button but I seriously didn`t like her portrayal

And judging by Jared`s acting, I guess, we`re supposed to take from it that she hit a nerve? That on some level that IS what Sam feels about Dean? I mean we had this theme before - with little blinks from Dean`s side too - but I found it a bit disappointing because that`s quite a harsh view. I don`t doubt for a second that he loves his brother but that isn`t necessarily the same as respecting someone. Hm.

The shooting itself, yeah, I was spoiled for it so I wasn`t shocked. But I still liked it.

And I love the idea that somehow there might be a place in the myth for Dean too. Lets face it, right now by nature of the storylines he is passive - he doesn`t know about the Mary-thing, he has an inkling about the DemonKing-thing but doesn`t play much of a role there yet and in the deal-thing he has to be passive. He needs agenda in the plot to move forward.


And on the subject of next week`s promo. Looks really cool and nothing at all what I had gathered from the sides. Hm.

Comments

[katikat.livejournal.com]

Hehe, that's why I don't read the sides. They are completely torn out of the context and skew your view of the ep :) And you're right, the promo looks awesome! *bouncy*

[astri13.livejournal.com]

Ha, I need to read the sides because I`m terribly curious and just can`t wait. :) But that promo seriously made my mouth water for the episode. In fact what I saw of Bela in it, I liked. She seemed scared and out of her depth so I can some smugness much easier.

I guess I`m at the point where I need to stop reading the boards. I really enjoyed the last eppie and the two before that had way more I liked than I disliked and I really loved both characters in "Bedtime Stories" and just when I`m ready to squee, I muddle my way through pages of bashing. Nope, gotta leave of that for my own sake.

[legoline.livejournal.com]

See, that's why I avoid forums and communities - to stay sane and my squeeful self :-)

I'm happy to hear you enjoyed the episode!

[astri13.livejournal.com]

I'm happy to hear you enjoyed the episode!

I guess I needed some good, old-fashioned brother-time. :)

[legoline.livejournal.com]

Yeah - as much as the girls don't really bother me so far, it was good to have an old fashioned episode for once.

[lovis.livejournal.com]

Girl, I'm with you on most of what you said. Once again. ;)

Though, I think Sandy wasn't so bad (at least better than K-K-K-Katie) and I really can't except that Sam thinks of Dean in any way the Crossroads Demon was implying. *pout*


Okay, but what I'm really want to ask (as I'm completely unpoiled and would like to stay that way) please tell me that's Christian Kane I saw in that promo!!??!?! *squeee!!*

[lovis.livejournal.com]

OMGOMGOMG!!

accept accept accept !!!

*blushes*

[astri13.livejournal.com]

Okay, but what I'm really want to ask (as I'm completely unpoiled and would like to stay that way) please tell me that's Christian Kane I saw in that promo!!??!?! *squeee!!*

Sorry to say but I`ve not heard of Christian being on the show. I`d love it but I think they`d promote it a bit. So as far as I know, no, not him. :/

[lovis.livejournal.com]

*sniff*

The creepy guy in the promo totally looks like him.

[suonguyen.livejournal.com]

Yeah I was a little dissapointed by Sandy's portrayal... the part where she got shot was awesome... But yeah I dont like it as much as the previous crossroad demons.

I was a little dissapointed with the way the ep got resovled too, they built it up really well thoughout the ep then kinda resolved it on a not-quite-there-climax. LOL and for once I would love to see Sam do the dirty work and Dean do the convincing.

Haven't seen the preview for the next ep yet... but I'm sure it'll pop up somewhere

[suonguyen.livejournal.com]

And I reckon someone should have so kissed that frog!!

[astri13.livejournal.com]

*snickers* Would have been awesome.

[astri13.livejournal.com]

LOL and for once I would love to see Sam do the dirty work and Dean do the convincing.

Heh. Me too.

But yeah, the resolution was a bit quick and pat.

[aizjanika.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure what you mean by the first paragraph. I'm confused. I don't remember the open-season crack--do you mean on the show or was it something someone at TWOP said?

I have to admit, that I haven't liked Dean this season at all--not the writing for the character or the portrayal. OTOH, in this latest episode, at least they didn't have Dean acting like a total ass, except for the "gay" line, which seemed out of place and completely out of character for Dean.

If TPTB wanted people to hate Dean, I think they succeeded. At least a few people on my flist who used to be avid Dean girls now like Sam better.

Even though I kind of dislike Dean now, it doesn't make me like Sam more. I actually like Sam less, too. *g* I'm not sure why, but he's seeming off to me, too--at least in relation to Dean, and without the Dean, why should I even care?

I thought next week's promo looked horrifying--if you saw the same promo that I saw. There was nothing in it but Bela. *g*

[astri13.livejournal.com]

I don't remember the open-season crack--do you mean on the show or was it something someone at TWOP said?

It was in "Magnificient Seven", Pride said it was "open Season" now.

have to admit, that I haven't liked Dean this season at all--not the writing for the character or the portrayal.

Apart from the Premiere and stuff in TKAA, I have found Dean again. And apart from that line I did really like him in "Bedtime Stories" yet it is after that episode specifically that Dean-bashing pops up at TwoP. And I don`t see why? He wasn`t a jerk in that one so why does he get it now?

If TPTB wanted people to hate Dean, I think they succeeded. At least a few people on my flist who used to be avid Dean girls now like Sam better.

That never works with me. I don`t shift my loyalties from one character to another when something happens to my favorite I don`t dig.

I thought next week's promo looked horrifying--if you saw the same promo that I saw. There was nothing in it but Bela. *g*

Yeah but think of the sides. :) The promo looked more like an adventurous ghost story with Bela quaking in her boots at the sight of a ghost. I take that over smug smirking and acting all superior any day.

[aizjanika.livejournal.com]

I hope you don't mind my continuing this conversation, but I didn't want not to answer. *g* Feel free to ignore. As I said in the other comment, I answered here before I'd read your other post.

I'm not shifting loyalties away from Dean--he's still my favorite. My problem is that how he's portrayed on the show now is as a character I can't like any more. I'm sorry to say that, but it's true. It's Dean saying and doing those things that I dislike and being a type of character that I would never have liked if this was who he was in seasons 1 and 2.

andromakhe001 mentioned that Dean didn't used to fit the stereotype of who he seemed to be in the beginning (except she phrased it much better than that *g*), and that's why I loved him. Now he does seem to fit that stereotype. Even if they backtrack on this, I'm going to have problems with it, because those episodes still exist in canon. I doubt they will backtrack on this, though.

All of this pains me and makes me sad because it makes me like Dean, Sam, and the show overall much less.

I did like him in Bedtime Stories, though, except for that one comment. I think all of this is out of character for Dean, but it is rather odd that people are hating on Dean for that one comment (which was pretty bad) and not for the rest?

I still love Dean, but not Season 3!Dean. I felt the same way about Daniel Jackson in season 10 of Stargate. I didn't shift loyalties to another character. Eventually I had to stop watching the show--after 9 1/2 seasons. I just couldn't take it any more.

I have no interest in Bela one way or another--it makes no difference to me how she's portrayed or how she interacts with the guys. I'm just not interested.

I actually dislike the way it seems she'll be portrayed in this particular episode, because I bet they're going to have Dean save her and she'll be showing her "vulnerable" side and then we're supposed to feel sorry for her and start to like her, but it's already too late. She shot Sam. End of story for me, and it should be for Dean, too. *g*

[astri13.livejournal.com]

I still love Dean, but not Season 3!Dean.

See, I can get this. I might not feel the same way but I know what it`s like to have a beloved character destroyed in front of your eyes. I mean at a certain point I`d probably just imagine that "What is..." was the series finale and the rest was a dream aka Bobby comes out of the shower.

and she'll be showing her "vulnerable" side and then we're supposed to feel sorry for her and start to like her

I know that worries me too. But I`d like it even less if she was all "a ghost, pfft, Super-Bela fears no one."
I felt the same when Cassie in Route 666 did that stupid "don`t go being authorative" spiel to show how tough she was and at the first sign of real danger she screeched for big hero Dean. Ha. I`m affraid I`m petty that way. *g*

[astri13.livejournal.com]

edit

It just struck me that in SPN Bobby could literally come out of the shower but you know what I meant, right? :)

[gatorpez.livejournal.com]

If TPTB wanted people to hate Dean, I think they succeeded. At least a few people on my flist who used to be avid Dean girls now like Sam better.

I am actually liking Sam less right now, not just because of some of the stuff on-screen, but also because it feels like TPTB are trying to make me feel a certain way about him versus Dean. I felt this in Season 1 too, to me, it felt like TPTB wanted me to like Sam more than Dean, which just pisses me off when the writers are trying to tell the audience how they should feel.

[aizjanika.livejournal.com]

I like Sam less, too.

I do get the sense that TPTB of the show want us to dislike Dean, but...he's becoming exactly the type of character that I dislike. I never would have watched the show at all if this is who he'd been in seasons 1 and 2. He's doing things and saying things that make me dislike him. It's the writers putting the words in his mouth, but he's still doing and saying those things.

I also think that Jensen is playing him much different this year, too. It's so weird, because there's just zero connection between Dean and Sam this year, even when they are in scenes together. Even in that argument scene, it felt off to me--cold, no intensity as there used to be in even the most innocuous scenes between the guys.

[astri13.livejournal.com]

it felt like TPTB wanted me to like Sam more than Dean, which just pisses me off when the writers are trying to tell the audience how they should feel.

And that always, always backfires for me. See Lex-Clark as well. The more the writers beat down on Lex and prop Clark to me as awesome, the more I love Lex and resent Clark.

[kentawolf.livejournal.com]

Yeah, they could have been a little more subtle with Snow White, there.

Your whole section on the "let me go" line is interesting. Such as He thinks Sam is emotionally stronger, he thinks Sam doesn`t need him as much and he wants to make it easier on Sam. I find this is such in line with Dean thinking very little of himself. And yes, it is mean. But I think maybe it's like the unintentional meanness of Sam's line in "Shadow" of "I can go back to being a normal person," as if hunting is only for abnormals (= Dean is abnormal and leading an undesirable life). Dean is pushing Sam away with all his might, trying to prepare Sam for (what he thinks is) the inevitable BUT MOST OF ALL, Dean is pushing Sam away so harshly because it is what he needs to do to cope with his own death. Distancing himself, making it seem that his death is (1) no big deal, and (2) inevitable, is the way Dean tries to dissociate from the situation. I mean, Dean isn't AT ALL okay with his own death, which I thought he was. Well, at least in consequence of the "I'm tired" sentiments. What changed my mind was the overly straight face during "Sin City" when saying he wasn't afraid of his death to Demon!Casey. That whole discussion turned my mind around.

So it is very selfish, but as always, I feel for the man. I got tear-y at the "let me go" scene.

Wow. Brain vomit.

[astri13.livejournal.com]

Dean is pushing Sam away with all his might, trying to prepare Sam for (what he thinks is) the inevitable BUT MOST OF ALL, Dean is pushing Sam away so harshly because it is what he needs to do to cope with his own death.

I think Dean right now is like a well run dry. He still protects Sam at all cost - for example taking the foot and curse in hand in ep 3 without hesitation - yet he can`t allow himself to emotionally cuddle Sam over this. Because what would he say?
"Yes Sam, I am afraid and want to live and I regret the deal now"? Way to make Sam feel guilty even more.

He is in a no-win place right now and sure preaching to others what you have been shown unwilling to do yourself isn`t all that high and noble but to me it fits very much with the parental dynamics they have. Parents usually want their children to do "better", to spare them their mistakes.

Dean couldn`t let go because he felt he`d failed his duty so horribly and where did that take him? Right now he only fears if Sam won`t let go, it`ll take his life. But in reality it might take his soul. Even more horrifying.