RE the phone conversation with Dean that led to Bobby's self-righteous and self-indulgent meltdown, I think that's exactly the kind of writing that Jensen was talking about when he said the writers didn't seem to know how to write Dean anymore.
I think the whole phone conversation was what you said at first -- a contrivance. They put those words in Dean's mouth so that Bobby would have an excuse to go off on him and holler some of the things the writers have heard the audience holler about. It doesn't matter that it was out of character for Dean, they just needed someone to give Bobby an opening. What makes it so ridiculous is that we've never seen Dean call up Bobby just to vent or whine or whatever, so it literally made no sense for Bobby to suddenly start yelling about how he's sick of these guys' issues -- unless Bobby's been reading the TWoP messageboards too.
I do think there was a lot of goodwill towards Jensen, which I suppose is nice, but I think the feel of a television episode (unlike a film) is more dependent upon the writing than the direction. I don't see why anyone would be relieved that Jensen did a good job since I can't imagine how Jensen -- or any director -- could fuck up an episode. The writing is another story. This episode had many of the unfortunate earmarks of Dabb & Loflin's writing, especially that mindlessly sadistic scene in Bobby's basement, and neither Jensen nor any director could redeem that.
I think I'm in something of a minority because I've always felt SPN is at its best when it knuckles down and takes itself seriously -- and by that, I don't mean teary roadside confessions. "Lazarus Rising" and "The End" were great episodes because they were intense, not because they were melodramatic. It sometimes seems that this fandom thinks there are only two choices: the show can be lighthearted and fun or lugubrious and angsty. There's an awful lot of middle ground between those two poles and I wish the show would venture into it more often.
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2010-10-16 11:24 pm (UTC)I think the whole phone conversation was what you said at first -- a contrivance. They put those words in Dean's mouth so that Bobby would have an excuse to go off on him and holler some of the things the writers have heard the audience holler about. It doesn't matter that it was out of character for Dean, they just needed someone to give Bobby an opening. What makes it so ridiculous is that we've never seen Dean call up Bobby just to vent or whine or whatever, so it literally made no sense for Bobby to suddenly start yelling about how he's sick of these guys' issues -- unless Bobby's been reading the TWoP messageboards too.
I do think there was a lot of goodwill towards Jensen, which I suppose is nice, but I think the feel of a television episode (unlike a film) is more dependent upon the writing than the direction. I don't see why anyone would be relieved that Jensen did a good job since I can't imagine how Jensen -- or any director -- could fuck up an episode. The writing is another story. This episode had many of the unfortunate earmarks of Dabb & Loflin's writing, especially that mindlessly sadistic scene in Bobby's basement, and neither Jensen nor any director could redeem that.
I think I'm in something of a minority because I've always felt SPN is at its best when it knuckles down and takes itself seriously -- and by that, I don't mean teary roadside confessions. "Lazarus Rising" and "The End" were great episodes because they were intense, not because they were melodramatic. It sometimes seems that this fandom thinks there are only two choices: the show can be lighthearted and fun or lugubrious and angsty. There's an awful lot of middle ground between those two poles and I wish the show would venture into it more often.