SPN 7:02

[oselle]

Has anyone else noticed that they seem to be trying more of a serialized approach? As in, the end of each episode flows into the beginning of the next? That's not unusual between the premiere and the second episode, but they seem to be carrying it through to episode three. I like that. I've always felt that SPN would work better as a serial rather than as a series of standalones with a storyarc playing in the background and only coming to the fore during sweeps or before midseason hiatus. This latter approach worked pretty well during the first two seasons, but especially starting with season four, I really felt like they needed to start dumping the one-shots and focus on a serial story the way other shows do.

I'm not going to get my hopes up, though. I refuse to get attached to a contiguous story only to find myself back in the land of MoTWs, and the consequences of one episode being rendered immaterial or totally forgotten by the next one.

That said, it was strangely refreshing to see Sam and Dean needing medical attention, instead of just walking off injuries that would put The Incredible Hulk in intensive care. I still remember the episode in Season 4, when they not only hurled themselves through a stained-glass window, but also walked away from a three or four-story drop onto concrete with nothing more than a dislocated shoulder and few lacerations. "Drop and roll" will only take you so far.

Guy Bee, the director of this episode, is either in love with Jensen or just has the proper professional respect for the artistry of his face. The golden glow of light on Jensen during the Dean-and-Bobby scene in the kitchen was almost hilarious. I think Ben Edlund is in love with Jensen too, or maybe just with Dean. Either way, Edlund is one of the last writers on this show who gives Dean some good scenes. I am not happy at all about Castiel's dissolution, but the way Dean reverently wrapped up Castiel's trenchcoat...only Edlund would have written that. It was like Ennis with Jack's shirt at the end of Brokeback Mountain. I'm sure I'm not the only person who made the comparison.

I don't have much else to say. I like Mark Pellegrino, but as I mentioned last week, the "still in hell" concept is one that (in fandom at least) dates back to Season 4, so it doesn't feel new or fresh.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to seeing Dean in the hospital next week -- although I think this is the episode Jensen directed, so there probably won't be that much of him in it. And yes, I've seen the pictures of Dean's fantastically whumpy thigh-high cast. There is nothing wrong with that at all.

Comments

Castiel

[kinkthatwinked.livejournal.com]

I know I’m talking to a devoted Castiel fan here, but TBH, I’ve always had mixed feelings about him. In case you can’t tell yet, I’m definitely one of those fans who lives in the past. I’ll always wonder what the show would have been if the writers’ strike hadn’t happened and if Kripke was serious about Sam saving Dean from Hell if they’d had more time. And all the angel-related storylines did take things off on such a tangent it almost felt like a different show – which is why I agree with you that the best thing they could’ve done for Cas was gone through with the idea behind The End, if they were gonna keep him.

But I liked the character. He was as intimidating as a warrior of Heaven should be, when his faith was tested I empathized, when his turned his back on his brethren I cheered, when he ultimately became the angel on Dean’s shoulder he said he’d never be it felt right, and when problems bigger than the Winchesters threatened Heaven Castiel was practical in distancing himself from them, I think. Shit, you were right, there were times when his character development topped the show’s two leads, and Collins played him so fucking well! It reminds me of my feelings about Stargate SG-1; the final two seasons sucked, but I really liked Cameron Mitchell, the new character they built those seasons around. I wish I’d met Cam on a different show (like Stargate Atlantis,) and I wish they’d done something different with Cas.

I am gonna miss him, and it was both touching and fitting that Dean picked up the coat and will probably either bury or keep it; it will not just go in the damned trash.

Re: Castiel

[oselle.livejournal.com]

I’ll always wonder what the show would have been if the writers’ strike hadn’t happened and if Kripke was serious about Sam saving Dean from Hell if they’d had more time.

I'm sorry, but those writers really played the blame game with that strike. Yeah, they lost six episodes, but I'll never forget that their first episode back from the strike was a piece of Ghostfacers fluff. Kripke always claimed there were so many great stories they didn't get to tell in those six episodes -- but instead of coming back strong to make up for lost time, they blew it. Then they finally came back strong in season 4, only to let the whole thing to to hell, no pun intended.

I am gonna miss him, and it was both touching and fitting that Dean picked up the coat and will probably either bury or keep it

Oh, he's keeping it.