Double-feature
Apr. 4th, 2009 02:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
astri13So, a belated tandem review of SPN
"It's a terrible Life"
I... had my initial aggrievances with this episode because I felt it gave a shout-out to all the dick-wheezles who bemoaned how Dean had whined about hell all Season - while earlier in the Season bemoaning how he was way too unaffected and normal after hell - but since I've come to the conclusion that it showed Zach's dick-wheezelness himself, I can live with it.
Also, if someone wants to see a definion of whining all the time, tune in to Smallville. Dean had three scenes total where he talked about hell. That they were clumsily tacked onto episodes isn't the character's fault. And there was OTHOAP which broke him down into little pieces so he reacted in the end by being in little pieces. What a surprise if that was obviously what the writing tried to achieve there. Quite frankly, I have seen way more whining about the character's supposed whining than I have seen the character "whining".
So yeah, my reaction has been and will be: Shut the fuck, up, Zachariah!
But I'm going backwards here.
The ep started out as another AU and gave us Dean Smith and Sam Wesson. Cute, show, very cute.
Dean was obviously very un-Dean-like which leads me to believe it was more than repressed memories. Because tastebuds/likes/dislikes for food, music and all that? Likely will stay intact even with amnesia. But Dean Smith really shunned a couple of the quirks that make Dean Winchester.
Sam was more Sam, I felt. His dreams/visions, I'm not sure if the Angels couldn't suppress his true self fully or if they deliberately did it so he could nudge Dean along. Nice shout-out to "there is something in my blood, I can feel it". And him smashing the phone all office-drone goes amok fit very well with Season 4 Sam of say "Sex and Violence" where he threw the phone.
Thing is while Dean is a more easy adapter to his environment, Sam tends to look for the greener grass. And he has gotten more highly competitive now - no doubt fed by Ruby's ego-stroking. It's no wonder the boring life of a cubicle drone couldn't sustain him.
The normal means of a hunter can't sustain him in reality either. He is at this point pretty much like Willow in the addiction storyline - and hope this show handles it better. Willow was sweet but always picked on. She wasn't in the crowd in school that could feel powerful and in control. So when she developed magic that gave her power and control, she had no real measure/experience of dealing with it. And it went straight to her head. While she was in denial about it.
Sam was not often in control in his life. And it was something he thus craved. Now the powers (Ruby) are offering him ultimate control and like Willow he has no experience of dealing with it. Hence, we are seeing how it's getting to his head. While he is in denial about it.
But it was nice to see how Smith & Wesson worked together like a team, felt a companionship and there was even a "Sammy" out of it. Tells me that in a way is their default stage. But reality at the moment superimposes so many issues onto this: lies/betrayal/hurt/anger that they can't reach that part of themselves.
Loved the little Wincesty digs in the elevator scenes.
Loved a good old ghost haunting for a case.
The end scene? Well, like I said above, liked and disliked it. Thing is, Zach is obviously a prideful Angel. Which is why from his perspective asinine stuff like "your fate - hell, torment, constant anguish - is so much better than that of mundane people". Because to Zach it is. Nothing worse than normal. So, basically why can't Dean be happy about being a Heavenly Chosen One already?
The lesson itself wasn't much of one applicable for the current crisis. "You love being a hunter." aka "You have a lovely singing voice." "Eh, I have a problem with being touted as the one who is gonna stop the apokalypse." aka "My appendix is about to burst." Sure, one is a compliment but doesn't help with intense stomach pains.
So, all in all a bit of a mixed bag but with repeated viewing more enjoyable.
and
"The Monster at the end of this book"
Wow, they are REALLY knowing their fandom. Simpatico? Used to be a well-known poster at TwoP though not for at least a year and a half.
The book cover with Fabio-Sam and Commando-Dean? Ahahaha. Though from the titles of the books some of the very best episodes are missing.
The writer is Edlund Carver, the publisher was Sera Siege. Don't know if it showed in the ep? But it was in the sides. And while they recycled an actress from Usual Suspects, she did a very good job, I felt. The showing of the tattoos looked exactly like when female characters are forced to flash their boobs to get something. And the publisher even licked her lips. *g*
All people want to read is Doctor M.D. *snorts*
Chuck was a sympathetic character. I felt bad for him in the end.
The actress for Lilith did also quite a good job. Lilith was less child-like which interesting since even in Katie Cassidy's body she behaved child-like. But why the need for sex? Frankly, I'm sick of the sex scenes by now. Luckily it wasn't one.
Castiel continues to be awesome and him and Dean together rock my world. The little wink wink nudge nudge was great. Also, I felt it showed how you can change destiny. With exorcize of free will. Which is something that struck me in the last scene. Why should Chuck not warn the Winchesters? If it is pre-destined, warning them will change shit. Only if they can change things makes Zach's threat to Chuck make sense.
The Chuck-Sam combo was always interesting. And see above for denial. Chuck very gently called Sam out and Sam literally can't bring himself to see it. Because he is set on his goal and if he allows himself to question he can't be set anymore. Human mind is a wonderful thing, eh?
Dean was generally awesome and yay for Smart!Dean. Vonnegutt. iTake that, buzzuh-Sam. :-p
Their attempt not to fight in the diner was great and I liked Dean making a point of it not being running away but just caution if you're dealing with a powerful enemy.
Julie Siege, the new writer this Season, really is a keeper.
Which brings me to Dabb/Loflin, the other new writers, whom I just learned penned the next episode. Noooooooooooo. And for the first time I feel compelled not to watch because who in their right mind goes to a restaurant where they served them rotten, rancy meat for a third fucking time? *headdesk*
"It's a terrible Life"
I... had my initial aggrievances with this episode because I felt it gave a shout-out to all the dick-wheezles who bemoaned how Dean had whined about hell all Season - while earlier in the Season bemoaning how he was way too unaffected and normal after hell - but since I've come to the conclusion that it showed Zach's dick-wheezelness himself, I can live with it.
Also, if someone wants to see a definion of whining all the time, tune in to Smallville. Dean had three scenes total where he talked about hell. That they were clumsily tacked onto episodes isn't the character's fault. And there was OTHOAP which broke him down into little pieces so he reacted in the end by being in little pieces. What a surprise if that was obviously what the writing tried to achieve there. Quite frankly, I have seen way more whining about the character's supposed whining than I have seen the character "whining".
So yeah, my reaction has been and will be: Shut the fuck, up, Zachariah!
But I'm going backwards here.
The ep started out as another AU and gave us Dean Smith and Sam Wesson. Cute, show, very cute.
Dean was obviously very un-Dean-like which leads me to believe it was more than repressed memories. Because tastebuds/likes/dislikes for food, music and all that? Likely will stay intact even with amnesia. But Dean Smith really shunned a couple of the quirks that make Dean Winchester.
Sam was more Sam, I felt. His dreams/visions, I'm not sure if the Angels couldn't suppress his true self fully or if they deliberately did it so he could nudge Dean along. Nice shout-out to "there is something in my blood, I can feel it". And him smashing the phone all office-drone goes amok fit very well with Season 4 Sam of say "Sex and Violence" where he threw the phone.
Thing is while Dean is a more easy adapter to his environment, Sam tends to look for the greener grass. And he has gotten more highly competitive now - no doubt fed by Ruby's ego-stroking. It's no wonder the boring life of a cubicle drone couldn't sustain him.
The normal means of a hunter can't sustain him in reality either. He is at this point pretty much like Willow in the addiction storyline - and hope this show handles it better. Willow was sweet but always picked on. She wasn't in the crowd in school that could feel powerful and in control. So when she developed magic that gave her power and control, she had no real measure/experience of dealing with it. And it went straight to her head. While she was in denial about it.
Sam was not often in control in his life. And it was something he thus craved. Now the powers (Ruby) are offering him ultimate control and like Willow he has no experience of dealing with it. Hence, we are seeing how it's getting to his head. While he is in denial about it.
But it was nice to see how Smith & Wesson worked together like a team, felt a companionship and there was even a "Sammy" out of it. Tells me that in a way is their default stage. But reality at the moment superimposes so many issues onto this: lies/betrayal/hurt/anger that they can't reach that part of themselves.
Loved the little Wincesty digs in the elevator scenes.
Loved a good old ghost haunting for a case.
The end scene? Well, like I said above, liked and disliked it. Thing is, Zach is obviously a prideful Angel. Which is why from his perspective asinine stuff like "your fate - hell, torment, constant anguish - is so much better than that of mundane people". Because to Zach it is. Nothing worse than normal. So, basically why can't Dean be happy about being a Heavenly Chosen One already?
The lesson itself wasn't much of one applicable for the current crisis. "You love being a hunter." aka "You have a lovely singing voice." "Eh, I have a problem with being touted as the one who is gonna stop the apokalypse." aka "My appendix is about to burst." Sure, one is a compliment but doesn't help with intense stomach pains.
So, all in all a bit of a mixed bag but with repeated viewing more enjoyable.
and
"The Monster at the end of this book"
Wow, they are REALLY knowing their fandom. Simpatico? Used to be a well-known poster at TwoP though not for at least a year and a half.
The book cover with Fabio-Sam and Commando-Dean? Ahahaha. Though from the titles of the books some of the very best episodes are missing.
The writer is Edlund Carver, the publisher was Sera Siege. Don't know if it showed in the ep? But it was in the sides. And while they recycled an actress from Usual Suspects, she did a very good job, I felt. The showing of the tattoos looked exactly like when female characters are forced to flash their boobs to get something. And the publisher even licked her lips. *g*
All people want to read is Doctor M.D. *snorts*
Chuck was a sympathetic character. I felt bad for him in the end.
The actress for Lilith did also quite a good job. Lilith was less child-like which interesting since even in Katie Cassidy's body she behaved child-like. But why the need for sex? Frankly, I'm sick of the sex scenes by now. Luckily it wasn't one.
Castiel continues to be awesome and him and Dean together rock my world. The little wink wink nudge nudge was great. Also, I felt it showed how you can change destiny. With exorcize of free will. Which is something that struck me in the last scene. Why should Chuck not warn the Winchesters? If it is pre-destined, warning them will change shit. Only if they can change things makes Zach's threat to Chuck make sense.
The Chuck-Sam combo was always interesting. And see above for denial. Chuck very gently called Sam out and Sam literally can't bring himself to see it. Because he is set on his goal and if he allows himself to question he can't be set anymore. Human mind is a wonderful thing, eh?
Dean was generally awesome and yay for Smart!Dean. Vonnegutt. iTake that, buzzuh-Sam. :-p
Their attempt not to fight in the diner was great and I liked Dean making a point of it not being running away but just caution if you're dealing with a powerful enemy.
Julie Siege, the new writer this Season, really is a keeper.
Which brings me to Dabb/Loflin, the other new writers, whom I just learned penned the next episode. Noooooooooooo. And for the first time I feel compelled not to watch because who in their right mind goes to a restaurant where they served them rotten, rancy meat for a third fucking time? *headdesk*
