(no subject)

[oselle]

I expected to hate this "high concept" episode, but I did enjoy it quite a bit. First of all, making fun of "paranormal documentary" shows like Ghost Hunters is a terrific idea. I don't know if you've ever watched Ghost Hunters but wow...if you ever want the idea of haunting to be debunked, just go watch that show, because nothing, nothing paranormal ever happens in any episode. The scariest thing I ever saw on that show was the creepy white trash family that not only bought the most pathetic-looking, rundown house in the Deep South but then proceeded to live there -- FOR TEN YEARS -- in spite of the fact that it was so haunted that none of them ever got a good night's sleep. FOR TEN YEARS. The film crew ran around gamely trying to find something scary, but all they came up with was a room with no electricity and a faintly moving porch swing. Finally, with the help of the film crew, the family tried to dig up their front yard in search of the Civil War-era bodies that were supposed to be buried there, but the whole thing was shut down when the county wouldn't give them an excavation permit. Terrifying! I spent the whole episode wondering what Sam and Dean would have made of such nonsense.

But I digress. The episode really captured the goofball, handheld-camera style of Ghost Hunters (though they should held the "documentary" feeling by not adding any background music). It was a pure delight to FINALLY see Sam and Dean use ACTUAL FOUR-LETTER WORDS (albeit bleeped) and Dean giving the finger to the camera was BLISS. I loved when Spruce tried to get Dean to open up about what "having two months" left meant and Dean responded with a GORGEOUS string of expletives that I simply must quote: "I'm not gonna whine about my bullshit problems to some bullshit reality show. I'm gonna do my fucking job." SIGH!

Things sort of fell apart for me when they, IMO, turned that poor kid's death into a joke about his gay crush on Ed. It was a gay joke that went on far longer than it should have. One of the things that came out in this weekend's Wincest wank was that Kripke & Co. deliberately plug "gay subtext" into the show just to mock the Wincesters. I think the line about "gay love transcending the veil of death" was just that sort of thing. Given the occasionally delusional fervor of some Wincesters, I can see how the writers would want to goof on them, but you know what? They're probably some of the show's most loyal viewers. Goof on them if you must, but try and keep it subtle, okay?

All in all, not as bad as I expected. I think (and hope) that they wanted a somewhat humorous episode because the next three are going to be a nonstop angst-fest. And oh God -- be here next week, because 3:14 looks like it's going to kill me deader than dirt, and I will be communicating with you via virtual Ouija board. Should be fun!

Comments

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

I did like parts of it, and thought they did a good job of mocking Ghosthunters, which certainly deserves the mockery. And loved the bleeped profanity from the Winchesters, and Dean's reaction to the poking from Spruce. Otherwise, it bored me. Too much goofing around, not enough Sam and Den.

[oselle.livejournal.com]

An offline friend of mine told me she found it terribly boring. I was surprised by how much I liked it because I don't usually go in for these gimmicky episodes. I was totally on board with it until they had to turn that kid's death into a gay-love joke. But now I'm on tenterhooks for next week's episode and oh God, I hope that's just some evil apparition and not the real John, come back from the dead to torment Dean some more. As my friend said, Hell must look pretty good to Dean right now if John's not there.

[layne67.livejournal.com]

I adore that episode omg I thought it was *bleep* brilliant! Love the camerawork too, and yeah, I love 'Blairwitch' ( the first, not the second one though ) and the Bourne trilogy.

Completely agree with you about 'Ghosthunters'. I watched some episodes here and there because my kids love it and I didn't get what is it about it that enthralled them so much. Like you said, they never ever got one on camera, and all those "ghost-sounds" *shrugs*

[oselle.livejournal.com]

Ghosthunters is so much ado about nothing that I can't believe it's still on the air. Hour after hour of guys running around with night-vision cameras saying, "Did you see that?" No, I did not see that, and neither did anyone else.

[i-o-r-h-a-e-l.livejournal.com]

Now I can read this. :D

I also thought the gay things is a bit too much. I do like slash but for the show to give it to my face made me a bit uneasy. Still, the episode means to mock everything so I think that's the way they show that they do listen to the fandom. :)

They're probably some of the show's most loyal viewers.

How beautiful the way you put it.

I thought you would hate this ep. :D

[oselle.livejournal.com]

I thought I would hate it like poison but the Ghosthunters spoof was very well done (don't know if you have Ghosthunters over there but it's just AWFUL). The cracks about the writer's strke and Winchester swearing were fabulous.

But I still don't know what to do with all that gay hilarity. Either they were giving a shout-out to the Wincest crowd or they were mocking that corner of the fandom -- one way or the other, they were laying it on WAY too thick. I prefer the story to operate in its own universe as if it really existed -- no viewers, no fandom, no fanon. Giving these little "winks" of acknowledgement to the audience ("we know you're out there!") just kills the illusion, IMO. So yeah, it had its moments, but I don't want to see another episode like this (or elements of this episode) any time soon.