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

[oxer12.livejournal.com]

I am cautiously optimistic, although I'm sure I'm going to have my heart stomped on soon. I haven't forgotten how kick-ass the first 4 eps. of Season 4 were, only to go downhill. Although, Cas. So there was that. ;)

I have to say I like the first 2 eps. of this season much better than last season. The scene with the Dean and the trenchcoat - eeee! I agree, only Ben Edlund would have written that. Sera sure as shit wouldn't have.

[kinkthatwinked.livejournal.com]

Okay, you know me with the looong responses. :) I’m actually gonna break this up into two posts.

I gotta give it to them, they know how to start a season strong when they really want to. Right now it looks like they’re really making an effort to give us that ‘Dean and Sam alone against the world’ feel they had in the early seasons. I guess the writers finally figured out they lost that at some point, and some of us really missed that.

I have a LJ friend who wouldn’t mind seeing Castiel, Bobby AND the Impala wrenched from the brothers’ lives because she wants them sent through a real emotional wringer, the kind that comes from loved ones instead of the latest Big Bad Monster. While wondering if they’d really go so far as to kill Bobby here, I began to see her point. With each passing minute it felt more like two desperate guys just trying to hold their family and sanity together against near-impossible odds, just like back in the day.

For me personally, the best part was when Dean asked Sam what was wrong, and Sam actually manned up and TOLD DEAN THE FUCKING TRUTH for a change! The truth, whole and nothing but! Does this mean all is better, between Dean and Sam or between Show and me? Hell no. But I will go so far as to say that one exchange did more to convince me they’re serious about strengthening the show’s central bond than the fifth and sixth seasons combined. But only if they keep it up.

And it was nice to see them suffer some real injuries, wasn’t it? Not since Sam’s forearm cast in the second season (what was up with that, anyway?) have we seen anything worse than some strategically placed bloody scratches. They’re making an effort to give us some real repercussions to the hunter’s life, both physically and mentally. Also nice to see them in the ambulance side by side; again, it almost feels like the old show. Mortal peril and suspense and above all their brotherly bond … if only the writers keep it up. Besides, they know we fans love us some injured!Dean. :D

I think you’re right about Ben Edlund. I keep thinking about Dean on the phone with Bobby’s voicemail, letting us see how close he really is to crumbling. Grieving Castiel, watching Sam crack, quietly panicking for Bobby and jarred by the torched house (and John’s journal, I think) Dean showed us he has well and truly had it, and did it without his usual tear fest. While Dean looks soooo pretty crying, I do miss the days when he didn’t do it at the drop of a hat; there are other ways to show a man is on the edge, and Edlund gets that.

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.

[lsketch42.livejournal.com]

"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."

Agreed. I like the serial method. It keeps the writers accountable for continuity ( for a few minutes at the beginning of each episode at least.) I feel like it makes the season more consistent than when they do standalones.

"Either way, Edlund is one of the last writers on this show who gives Dean some good scenes."

Did he write this one? I actually wondered about that, seeing as Dean had some decent material to work with this week. It was a nice to watch :)

[ghyste.livejournal.com]

I’ve always been less bothered by the lack of continuity on the physical injuries front than the lack of continuity in characterisation and that's what I'd like to see improving. Not that incapacitated Dean is in any way a bad thing, thou unestand!

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

You are not the only person who made that comparision.