SPN 6:04: Weekend At Bobby's

[oselle]

I haven't looked around for any of the reactions to last night's episode, because I suspect the main topics of discussion (in my corner of fandom, at least) will center around two things: kudos for Jensen's directorial debut, and why the show chose to devote an entire episode to a secondary character.

Getting the first thing out of the way: Jensen seems like a great person and his description of how he studiously prepared to direct his first episode was so sweetly endearing that part of me really does want to turn into a ball of treacle and gush on about how incredibly happy I am for him. However the more down-to-earth part of me recognizes that there's something a little odd about being happy for the accomplishments of a perfect stranger (except of course if you're talking about the compassionate philosophy of "sympathetic joy" -- sort of the Buddhist opposite of schadenfreude -- but I'm sure no one here wants to talk about sympathetic joy). My selfish side also has to admit that I vastly prefer Jensen in front of the camera, not behind it.

As to the second thing, I've always reacted badly to any show (that's not an ensemble) turning over an entire episode to a supporting character. To me, this always smacks of a show that's lost its creative steam. The first time I recall being annoyed by this was during one of the later seasons of Miami Vice, when one whole episode revolved around the two comic-relief undercover detectives who went around the in the phony exterminator van with the giant bug on top. As if I really wanted to know anything about those guys instead of the delectable Sonny Crockett (my fixation on prettyboys goes way back, alas). It became clear to me then that Miami Vice was past its prime and I think I more or less drifted away from it after that. I don't even remember watching the series finale.

This episode wasn't quite as bad as the Miami Vice bug-guys debacle but I still didn't understand the point of it. If the intent was specifically to create a Dean-lite episode so that Jensen would be able to direct, then the time would have been better spent by focusing on Sam, about whom we still know nothing except that, as usual, "something's wrong" with him.

However, as adored as Jensen seems to be by the entire cast and crew, I still find it unlikely that they'd create an entire episode just for him to direct. That may have been part of it, but I rather suspect that the writers are nowhere near as weary of Bobby as the audience has become, and thought it would be both fun and funny to have an episode that was all about him.

The one little thing I liked was that scene of Bobby manning his makeshift switchboard...I have always kind of wondered what Bobby does all day. Of course, that scene only makes you question why someone who appears to be both the 911 and the 411 for the entire hunter community had never heard of the Campbells but...oh, never mind.

The scene of Bobby torturing the demon in his cellar was both revolting and infuriating and I'm not surprised that it came from Andrew Dabb & Daniel Loflin, whose writing debut was the unforgivably ugly "Yellow Fever" back in Season 4. First of all, the very image of a scruffy guy with a young woman imprisoned in his backwoods basement only calls to mind Silence of the Lambs and the myriad serial-killer flicks that mimicked it (the prisoner screaming for help while the peach-cobbler neighbor lady was at the door also recalled serial-killer horror movies and was not remotely amusing). Second, I suppose we finally have to abandon once and for all any concern for the human hosts of these demons because, between scenes like this and all of Sam's demon-blood drinking, these unfortunate possessed people are apparently collateral damage whenever the situation demands.

What pisses me off the most, however, is that Bobby was torturing that chick. Now, we've been told since Dean's return from hell that TORTURE IS BAD. Dean succumbing to becoming a torturer (after being tortured for 30 years) was so BAD that it opened the First Seal and unleashed the Apocalypse. Upon Dean's return to earth, he's twice been forced back into that role -- the first, when the angels ordered him to torture Alistair for information in "Head of a Pin." The second, in "The End," when 2009!Dean finds out that his future self has started torturing again to uncover the whereabouts of the Colt. In both of these cases, it's obvious that TORTURE IS BAD and that Dean will only do it under extreme coercion or because something "is broken" inside him, as 2009!Dean pointed out to his 2014 version. Just two weeks ago, the repellent Campbells were sneering at Dean over what he'd done in hell and there was a fair amount of audience uproar over why Sam would tell the repellent Campbells such an awful secret about Dean...awful because, of course, TORTURE IS BAD.

Apparently TORTURE IS BAD only when Dean does it. Bobby went about his inquisition with no more reluctance or compunction than...The Inquisition. Making it all worse is that Bobby tortured that woman for his own selfish ends. Whenever Dean was reduced to such cruelty, it was either under duress (30 years of torture) or because there was something larger at stake (finding the Colt and killing Lucifer). Bobby does it for no reason other than to save his own ass. Then he compounds his crime by torching her to cinders, even after she's divulged the information he needs. We all know that Bobby knows how to do an exorcism, so his murder of that woman was nothing more than spiteful sadism. If two years of yelling at Dean didn't make you hate Bobby, then that certainly should have.

Speaking of yelling at Dean, I figured that there'd be some yelling at Dean in this episode, considering it was, after all, about Bobby. While I'm happy that Bobby was at least yelling at both Dean and Sam this time around, I was still left unmoved by Bobby's ire. I've heard Bobby tell Dean to "sack up" so many times that it has no effect on me anymore and it seemed no more justified here than it ever has. Also, unless I'm mistaken, neither Sam nor Dean even knew that Crowley had broken his promise, so it was ridiculous for Bobby to get so furious at them without explaining what was going on. When he does explain, they of course jump to help him. Considering that Bobby has a whole ten years to figure this out, it seemed pretty selfish of him to be in such an angry panic -- I don't recall a similar sense of urgency when Dean's one-year clock was ticking. This whole scene felt to me like more of the writers' favorite "poking fun at the Winchesters" or "taking them down a peg." I got the impression that Bobby was supposed to be speaking as a stand-in for the audience -- all that criticism of their "issues" was the tip-off. Parts of Bobby's speech could have been lifted straight off the TWoP message boards...which is exactly where that kind of shit needs to stay. The writers who created all these endless Winchester "issues" in the first place are not doing themselves or the audience any favors by using Bobby to mock or hang a lampshade on them. It's a dumb stunt that's neither enlightening nor amusing.

This scene did yield one pleasant surprise -- that little look that Sam gave Dean when Bobby complained about how they called him to "bitch about each other." It was such a tiny thing and yet it was the most charmingly open moment I've seen pass between these two characters in a very long time. We talk a lot out here about how the show needs to repair Sam and Dean's relationship...hell, even Jensen has told Sera that she needs to "give Sam his soul back." This little moment was the first inkling that Sam even still has a soul. I'm sure the writers have stalled on repairing Sam and Dean's relationship because they think it will require BIG DRAMA. It doesn't have to. Sometimes the smallest things can pack the biggest punch.

Other things...

Considering the legions of fallen angels that exist in folklore and literature, the notion that a 400-year-old Scotsman dumb enough to sell his soul to enlarge his prick is the new king of hell is beyond stupid. Crack open the first book of Paradise Lost and you've got a rogue's gallery of Beelzebubs, Molochs, Belials and Astaroths to choose from. And can anyone tell me why a Scotsman would develop an English accent in hell?

While we're on the subject of Scotsmen, I'm glad they didn't write Dean's legendary fear of flying out of existence, but find it very hard to believe that either Sam or Dean would have a passport, or anything close to the necessary documentation it takes to get one. Hunters may have all sorts of underground resources but high-end black ops they're not. Even on domestic flights they scan your driver's license to make sure it's not a fake. This could have easily been gotten around by having the erstwhile Crowley expiring in the Colonies instead of his native soil, and they hardly had to send the Winchesters all the way to Scotland to keep them out of the episode. There was a widespread rumor last year that Jensen's wedding was supposed to take place in Scotland, and part of me wonders if shipping Dean and Sam off to the Hebrides, of all places, wasn't some kind of inside joke.

I did enjoy the tiny rental car though, and for a moment I was completely baffled as to what the steering wheel -- and Dean -- were doing on the wrong side of the car.

That is all.

Comments

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

I thought the same thing about Bobby's speech. Not only does he seem to make this speech every time he appears, but the man's been lying to Dean about Sam even being alive for a year so really? Dean and Sam both are already calling him all the time to talk about each other? It's just that whole "you have issues" thing--it is total lampshading that brings you out of the story because within this universe the issues they have with each other, like the things people deal with in real life, are not issues, they're stuff going on in your life that's important.

I mean, a friend of mine is always dealing with a couple of family members who are married and have a totally toxic relationship that they try to drag everyone into and is hopeless. But Sam and Dean aren't a couple at each other's throats. Their issues are supposed to be tied to actual life and death things. So it's kind of like...enough already, and if Bobby keeps complaining about it it's going to be his own whininess that needs to get lampshaded. It's not powerful when Bobby's always yelling at somebody this way.

[oselle.livejournal.com]

I dunno, I just glanced over at TWoP and read through three pages of comments that were overwhelmingly positive...and everyone seemed to like the lampshading in particular, either because Bobby voiced their own frustrations or because they thought he was justified in what he said.

I don't get that at all. Like you said, it just brings you out of the story. If I'm frustrated by Sam-and-Dean angst, I want the writers to fix the problem not hang a lampshade on it by making Bobby my mouthpiece. And even within the show we've never seen Sam or Dean call upon Bobby unless it was a dire emergency...unless we're supposed to imagine that Sam and Dean are always phoning Bobby up just to vent, which I highly doubt.

[mangokulfi.livejournal.com]

What I didn't get was why they needed the big conflict between Bobby and the boys' in the first place. It seemed like a ridiculously contrived excuse just to give Bobby yet another reason to yell and act put-upon. Which is pretty rich coming from the guy who spent all of season 5 whining and taking his frustrations out on everyone else (except Sam of course) for the choices that he, himself, made. I guess we should just be grateful that he included Sam in his tirade this time. But at least he apologized for being such an ass this time, which is more than he's done in the past.

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 we're supposed to see it as Dean being more open with his feelings after living in a relatively healthy relationship for the first time in his life, but it still felt kind OOC "soft" in the sense that I don't think Dean would call someone selfish just because they didn't have time to listen to him. I think he would just say that person was being a big dick and to call him back when said person got their head out of their ass and hang up. Or something.

Having said that, there was a lot I liked about this episode including Rufus, Crowley and the Sheriff and I thought the episode was had good pacing and felt more action-packed than the last three and it was a pretty fun romp. Naturally I'm giving Jensen credit for how it.

I have finally decided that the only way I can enjoy this show anymore is to just accept that the writers have one set of standards for Dean's behavior and everyone else gets let off the hook no matter how immoral, hypocritical, whiny or douchey they are. I choose to fanwank that it's because Dean is the true hero and moral center of the show and therefore needs to be held to those higher standards.

I was TWoP last night and I'm actually surprised at how overwhelmingly positive the response was for such Dean and Sam lite episode. I think a lot of that is goodwill towards Jensen and relief that he didn't fuck up the show and actually gave it back some of the more fun elements that have been missing for a while. But I also noted that a lot of people also felt the phone convo climax was the weakest part of the episode. *shrug*

[salty-catfish.livejournal.com]

Can I just say YESYESYES to all of you points? I was so incredibly appalled by the torture scene. (And I got the impression we were supposed to... cheer on, because Bobby is so hard-boiled? Or something.) Demons still use vessels, right? And I just ranted far too long to my sister about Bobby's Speeches *laughes*. I wanted to hug Sam for his "You just have to ask", wtf Bobby wtf. Giving Dean some answers is the least he could do after that year, I'm surprised Dean is still on speaking terms at all.
And yes, I loved that little shared look between Sam and Dean. I hope they'll build on that.
I also enjoyed the continuity with the flight but yeah, it would be too much of a hurdle (wouldn't their mugshots and fingerprints still be in some databases, too?).
I'm also not a fan of suprise!lore, I get the impression they are telling us a lot of tragedy could have been averted if evereyone just did their research properly. Uh?

Stop trying to make sense of this show, brain.

[oselle.livejournal.com]

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.

[oselle.livejournal.com]

And I got the impression we were supposed to... cheer on, because Bobby is so hard-boiled?

That's certainly the way it was presented. Meanwhile you go back five years and you've got Bobby telling Dean to go easy on Meg because that's "a real girl in there" and what happened to that guy? And can you imagine the uproar if Dean had been the one acting this way?

I really dislike these two writers and their juvenile bullshit. Frankly, I think that whole scene was about getting a pretty actress in a skimpy dress and tying her up. If I were running this show I'd have given both of these guys their walking papers a long time ago.

[mangokulfi.livejournal.com]

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. Yeah but beyond just pandering to TWoP, I think the writers just thinks it's funny to take Dean down a peg or give every episode. I guess it's switch up from having someone call him stupid so that's something. The other thing that I have observed is that whenever they want to prop another character, the do it at Dean's expense. I guess it's because they don't think Dean can be damaged in the audience's estimation. What they don't get is that all they're doing is damaging the other character.

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. Absolutely the quality of an episode is dependent primarily on the writing (and acting) but director's have a lot of influence over acting choices and also pacing and the visual elements of story-telling so they too can really screw stuff up even where there is a reasonably good script. For eg. Croatoan, I thought had all the elements to make a block buster episode, but the I never got the feel of the massive threat from zombiefied town so it felt really flat to me. Another example would be in the manwitch episode where the final poker game for old Dean's life should have been tense and anxious but I didn't get any of that between the leisurely chatting that Sam was doing while he was drawing out the bluff juxtaposed with Dean having a heart attack and twitching on the floor. Mind you, that epi wasn't teribly well-written either but still, in terms of pacing and visual story-telling, that felt very much like a directorial fail to me. Anyway, I thought it was good that Jensen didn't fall into the trap of letting the show get too static while people were doing their blabbing and he kept things moving along nicely with lots of stuff happening in the background of shots while characters were interacting and things like 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. Again I agree for the most part. But I think I've just come to realize that kind of brilliance is almost accidental on this show so I'm always happily surprised when they get the dramatic vs. comic vs. action elements balanced and I feel they managed to get that mostly right this episode even though ITA on how horrifying the demon torture scene was.

[salty-catfish.livejournal.com]

Well, his legs were paralyzed. That would change anyone.

[twirlycurls.livejournal.com]

I completely agree. The LAST freaking character I want speaking for me is whiny, inconsistent, selfish Bobby. I just about blew a gasket when he went off on Sam and Dean for not somehow just knowing that he had a problem he could use their help with. Once again -- what an asshole. As you said, he didn't have anything close to this sort of urgency when *Dean* could count his time left in days, but Bobby with only ten years left can't even pause to listen to Dean's concerns? Ass.

[twirlycurls.livejournal.com]

"I'm not surprised that it came from Andrew Dabb & Daniel Loflin, whose writing debut was the unforgivably ugly "Yellow Fever" back in Season 4."

Oh, that explains a lot of things. "Yellow Fever" is one of my least-favorite episodes ever (well, except for the final minute or so.)

"Bobby does it for no reason other than to save his own ass."

Good point. You make a LOT of really good points, and that's so refreshing after reading five pages of gushing over at TWoP. I was starting to wonder if I was the only person with issues with this episode and who really dislikes Bobby (who IMO isn't a character anymore, but a mouthpiece for the lazy writers. Shut up, Bobby.)

[oxer12.livejournal.com]

I did enjoy the little dialogue Crowley had with himself, playing both Bobby's and his side of the conversation. That was funny. :)

Other than that, I was mostly reading my LOTR reunion issue of EW during the rest of the ep.

[ghyste.livejournal.com]

However, as adored as Jensen seems to be by the entire cast and crew, I still find it unlikely that they'd create an entire episode just for him to direct. That may have been part of it, but I rather suspect that the writers are nowhere near as weary of Bobby as the audience has become, and thought it would be both fun and funny to have an episode that was all about him.

I tend to think that it was a combination of the fact that the writers still lurve Bobby, the Directing gig was a sweetner for Jensen and it gave Jared the time off the Js are so often heard agitating for.

I had some of the same problems with the Demon scene as you, but the torture aspect passed me by. On reflection you are completely right – it seems that torture is only bad when Dean does it.

There was a widespread rumor last year that Jensen's wedding was supposed to take place in Scotland, and part of me wonders if shipping Dean and Sam off to the Hebrides, of all places, wasn't some kind of inside joke.

I’ve pondered on the Scotland stuff myself – between the faux Campbell Clan, the trip there and the Highlander shout-outs it’s being kind of hammered home at the moment along with the stuff about souls and the paying of debts. Since the Campbells weren’t the MacLeod’s usual foes (that dubious pleasure goes to some of my own ancestors) I don’t think they’re setting up some sort of ancient feud, but I like your explanation better than my own of SG having family ties there.

[oselle.livejournal.com]

That WAS funny and I especially liked the line about "cornpone, homespun comeback" because OMG SO TRUE.

[oselle.livejournal.com]

I tend to think that it was a combination of the fact that the writers still lurve Bobby, the Directing gig was a sweetner for Jensen and it gave Jared the time off the Js are so often heard agitating for.

I read a comment somewhere that they actually DID write this episode with Jensen in mind as director. If that's true, then again, I wish they'd used a Jensen-lite episode to focus on Sam, which seems a little more important than giving Jared a vacation, especially since at the time they filmed this episode Jared would have been relatively fresh off the three-month summer hiatus.

the Campbells weren’t the MacLeod’s usual foes (that dubious pleasure goes to some of my own ancestors) I don’t think they’re setting up some sort of ancient feud

The actor Gavin MacLeod played Captain Stubing on '70's cheesefest The Love Boat. I have absolutely no doubt this was why the writers chose the name MacLeod, and specifically, Gavin MacLeod, for Crowley's seafaring son. Because what could be more hilarious than a Love Boat reference?

Since you're of Scottish descent maybe you can tell me why a Scotsman would develop an English accent in hell??

[pedx.livejournal.com]

Oh Bobby -- I am so over you.

It was obvious what was coming as soon as they made Dean hang up on Bobby. Are we supposed to believe that Dean is so unprofessional and incompetent as to NOT get the scoop on ways to take down the lamia? Also, why does the only resource for killing lamias exist in the Sioux Falls library? Yeah, Bobby has a creaky old house full of dusty books but I refuse to believe he's the only reason any hunter can get anything done.

ARGH ARGH ARRRGH.

[oselle.livejournal.com]

The other thing that I have observed is that whenever they want to prop another character, the do it at Dean's expense. I guess it's because they don't think Dean can be damaged in the audience's estimation.

I agree and for the most part, that's true. I'd actually have to see Dean doing something awful for me to think less of him; no amount of other characters yelling at him or humiliating him is going to do the job. However, as you say, it will make me think less of the other characters, not to mention the writers.

Croatoan, I thought had all the elements to make a block buster episode, but the I never got the feel of the massive threat from zombiefied town so it felt really flat to me.

LOL, I'd suspect this had more to do with a low budget. It's hard to pull off a zombie apocalypse with a cast of...fives. And since that was Season Two, I'll bet they blew most of the season's budget on "Nightshifter." Helicopters and SWAT teams don't come cheap.

that kind of brilliance is almost accidental on this show

I know, I know. I can't understand why after all this time I keep expecting the show to live up to its potential.

[oselle.livejournal.com]

I think that at least some of the love for this episode is about love for Jensen. Also I'm sure that a lot of people (like me) thought an episode all about Bobby would be a crushing bore and it turned out not to be that bad. I saw the same thing with the reaction to Lisa and Ben -- people were dreading that relationship and because it turned out not to be that bad, suddenly people just LOVE Lisa. Speaking for myself "not that bad" doesn't equal "OMG love it" but hey, that's just me.

[oselle.livejournal.com]

why does the only resource for killing lamias exist in the Sioux Falls library?

Because it's so funny to show Bobby breaking into a library?

Seriously, how many ancient leather-bound books of lore do you think are shelved in the Sioux Falls public library? In any public library?

[ghyste.livejournal.com]

Since you're of Scottish descent maybe you can tell me why a Scotsman would develop an English accent in hell??

I't's a well known fact that in TV any long-lived evil creature from the United Kngdom will end up with a mockney accent :D

The actor Gavin MacLeod played Captain Stubing on '70's cheesefest The Love Boat. I have absolutely no doubt this was why the writers chose the name MacLeod, and specifically, Gavin MacLeod, for Crowley's seafaring son. Because what could be more hilarious than a Love Boat

Ah, I assumed that since they used the (wrongly attributed) MacLeod castle from the first Highlander film in the background that that was what they were going for.

[oselle.livejournal.com]

I't's a well known fact that in TV any long-lived evil creature from the United Kngdom will end up with a mockney accent

LOL, I figured as much!

Ah, I assumed that since they used the (wrongly attributed) MacLeod castle from the first Highlander film in the background that that was what they were going for.

Well, I'm sure that mashing up a Highlander reference with a Love Boat reference was high art for this crowd. They did seem to spend an inordinate amount of time displaying that castle, didn't they? Were they worried that we wouldn't get that the boys were in Scotland?