Off-Topic += Supernatural 7x02 Reaction Post

[blue_bells]

I hear the divide on the new season of Supernatural is 50/50.

Well, I'm in. I thought I'd be bored by Sam's reliving of the Cage -- and then the show reminded me whose company he'd kept.

So, your enjoyment of Supernatural season seven is going to depend on your interest in:

1) overdue creature FX and investment in the Leviathans' agenda (nice dental care);
2) brotherly angst and ripe material for the Sam/Dean shippers ("Do you want to know what's real? Me. I'm real, Sammy.");
3) Lucifer. I went an entire season convinced we would never see any of Raphael's brothers again, so to say that I'm over the moon he's back and tormenting is an understatement.

Though, Sam's now going to start self-harming to keep the hallucinations of Lucifer at bay and Castiel is allegedly gone (I say allegedly because Cas is The Angel Who Would Not Stay Down and this is SPN, so I don't believe for a minute the show won't pounce on a future opportunity to bring him back). This could drive a whole lot of fans off the show or to dismay, which is a shame because for the first time in years, I vaguely care about Sam and Dean again.

I believe that has to do with the fact the episode was written by Ben Edlund who appears to have composed some of my favourite episodes. He has a talent for writing critical and intimate moments between characters that reminds us they're more than set pieces, he shows their vulnerability, and because of that the characters have the opportunity to rebuild and show their strength. I loved that quiet moment in the kitchen between Dean and Bobby, even if Dean characteristically stonewalled him. When Sam was digging into his wound and Dean was shouting at his brother to look at him in the warehouse, it was the first time in seasons that I felt a real connection between them again. I'm looking forward to it.

I am intrigued by the fact Lucifer says Sam is his only source of entertainment, though. Where in the Cage are Michael and Adam? Did they get their own honeymoon suite or something? What-the-sh*t is going on there?

So, season seven. You've got me for the meantime. Yes, now I want to write Sam/Lucifer and Sam/Dean and Lucifer/Sam/Dean, but in line with my rationing of time, I'm just going to enjoy a few morsels of what's been written by other people since the airing.

Also, I watched Torchwood season four and it was fan-freaking-tastic ("Did you see Ianto?" *soblovesob*). I loved everyone and everything, the writing was wonderful, that ending was so cathartic, and other TW fans may not agree, but I actually enjoyed this more than any of what Torchwood ever offered before. Well done, team.

Comments

[jane_potter]

These first two episodes were easily ten times better than the entire last season. Episode 2 alone has single-handedly made me love SPN like it's season 1 all over again. I feel like one half of an old married couple that's been distant and feuding for a long time, only to have finally made up and found the motherfucking passion again.

They've given us action, motion (almost too much, too fast at a few points, but that's about my only complaint), swathes and swathes of potential plot, character development, mending of relationships that have been strained and broken for too long-- GUH. Watching these two episodes, I actually had the lucid thought that the writers were literally listening to the two big things that a lot of the fans (myself included) wanted: bring back the brothers that we started with, and fix Dean and Cas (I admit my shipper bias). It's like Christmas in goddamn October, I tell you!

Is Cas dead? I really don't think so. That was one of the points at which I felt it moved too fast: Godstiel-->Death-->Cas's breakdown-->ritual-->monsters gone-->Dean and Cas reconcile (kind of)-->OH WAIT LEVIATHAN-->trenchcoat in the water-->"rest in peace" in the space of one episode and a little bit? (And that was all Dean felt about it? After that conversation, that was really his entire reaction to Cas being apparently dead? C'mon, Ackles, emote a little!) We know there's a head honcho Leviathan still off-screen somewhere. If he's not wearing Cas, I'll eat my hat.

I agree entirely with what you said in your 7x01 post, about Dean and Sam failing to develop. It was frustrating the hell out of me, the whole "no really I'm fine" thing over and over again for seasons on end, so when Bobby laid down that verbal bitchslap to Dean in the kitchen-- YES. I would have liked even a second of hesitation out of Dean, a flinch... but no, of course not, Dean. The fact that we had that belated flinch come out in the voicemail at the end of 7x02 had me sighing in relief. It's about time. And I adored that the writers finally linked Dean's and Sam's experiences in Hell together, to explicitly show both the audience and the characters that those mutual experiences mean there's now no reason for Dean and Sam to keep lying to each other and trying to pretend that they're fine. They both know what kind of shit goes down in Hell, and what that does to a person. They don't have to keep that wall up between them any more (pun intended).

Now if the show can just stop horrifying me with the fridge logic of Adam's fate, then I'll be all the way over the moon. *chinhands*

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bluebells/]

I couldn't agree more: for me, season six came into its own in the last three episodes; talk about extended birthing pains for a new creative director. Season seven feels the closest we've had to seasons one and two in years, I just hope that we don't lose it too soon. I'm cautious because we're only two episodes in.

I'm really glad the writers have showed they're listening because since season four, it really felt as though the Show expanded its universe faster than it could contend with. It bit off more than it could chew and everything suffered for it. I feel as though they're readdressing their foundations: brothers and the family you choose, what family actually means, e.g. supporting each other, instead of just growling all the time.

They're not going to fix Dean and Cas (or Sam and Dean) until Dean comes to the table. I understand he's hurting a lot for what's happened since season four/five and his head is probably still spinning because he doesn't make the time to ACTUALLY get his marbles in the box, but he needs to work on his empathy and see things from the other side, or he'll either lose or destroy the people he has left.

We are tired of Sam and Dean saying they're fine because we know they're not, they also know the other is lying, and it's just frustrating. It's wearying; it's insanity to do the same thing over and over expect a different result. Stop asking the question unless you give them a reason to tell you the truth, Dean. Like, support: forcing Dean to empathise through his experience of Hell now that Sam has his soul back was the smartest thing they've done for him in seasons.

Yes, join our camp of Cthulustiel! It's the only conclusion that makes sense.

If the show ties up Adam's fate (since it debunked my happy myth that Adam had been sent to Heaven when Sam jumped the Cage), I would be beyond the moon; I'd be past the asteroid belt and on my way to the former planetary member of the solar system. I'd love to see Sam hallucinate him, too; I'd like to think that's in the cards for episodes coming up.

[jane_potter]

"Cthulustiel"
*chokes on drink*
*cackles*

"They're not going to fix Dean and Cas (or Sam and Dean) until Dean comes to the table. I understand he's hurting a lot for what's happened since season four/five and his head is probably still spinning because he doesn't make the time to ACTUALLY get his marbles in the box, but he needs to work on his empathy and see things from the other side, or he'll either lose or destroy the people he has left."
THIS. ALL OF THIS. One of the things that pissed me off about Dean in season 6 was him being told, "Dude, you're just using Castiel as a tool when you need him, despite also knowing that he's off fighting a goddamn heavenly war for the existence of your entire planet," and then proceeding to complain when Cas didn't come to him for help immediately, and, worse yet, blaming Cas for screwing up. Everybody screws up. I think if Dean had taken the time to find out what Cas was really up against, he would have gotten behind Cas a lot more, but nooo, all Dean could see in the end is that Cas made a deal with a demon and grabbed for power.

RRRRGHHH.

/pants

"Stop asking the question unless you give them a reason to tell you the truth [unless you give them a reason to think you'll help/care], Dean. Like, support: forcing Dean to empathise through his experience of Hell now that Sam has his soul back was the smartest thing they've done for him in seasons."
And this, yes.

But. If Dean keeps up the way he has in these first two episodes, I think he's on the road to not screwing it up anymore.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bluebells/]

I think we can summarize this with: head out of behind and walk a mile on the other side of the fence, Dean. If he'd managed the one mile, Cas might have made it, we'll never know, but he still has a chance with Sam and Bobby. We'll keep our fingers crossed.

[jane_potter]

"If he'd managed the one mile, Cas might have made it, we'll never know"
Which is the heartbreak.

*shutting up now* XD

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bluebells/]

I think it's safe to say, "We concur, Doctor". XD