supernatural
5/21/11 19:11![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
green_appleSo, my feelings on the show in general for a bit (half-last season through this last one, at least) have been lukewarm at best and it's mostly Jensen's shoulders that keep me coming back.
I did like the finale? I mean, by itself. On its own. As an example/part of a larger body of story telling? Not so much.
I mean, the issues with the show for me remain, it's the systematic elimination of characters who aren't Winchesters and/or Bobby, and as I've said before, to me this hinders character growth tremendously and I use this season as an example of this. It feels suffocating, smothering, this laser-sharp focus that's constantly put on these guys and their suffering, it's like a spiral of self-destruction which I'd be okay with if it were used to demonstrate how harmful co-dependent relationships are, but it's not, instead the general closed-system entropy of these bonds is used as an example of true and profound love, which I'm not denying it is, but there's only so much fucked up I'm willing to deal with, yanno?
On the thing with Castiel, well, I think it makes sense, it was well explained and well set up imo. The thing with angels is their pride, this is what's always been their downfall (unless you're Balthazar, in which case you get spiked because you're a terrible liar), so it makes sense that Castiel, being cut off from his human connections fell back onto it, it' a classic story of roads to hell being paved with good intentions. So I'm generally okay with that.
It becomes problematic, though, when it hints at the larger scale the next season might be bringing/aiming for, I don't think this show does this level of epic very well, they end up biting more than they can chew and I wind up disappointed. Of course they're not writing for me, and I could always stop watching, I just like getting punished from time to time. Castiel being a god now, maybe it's just some power tripping moment? dude's miffed that everyone and their dogs turned on him and he just does not know how to deal? Foot-stomping tantrum? whatever, that bit bothered me because way to unnecessarily up the ante, show.
Sam's self-reassembly was beautiful tho, except for the part where, of course, the girl was already fridged. Just in case. And since we're at it, let's get rid of the Dr. Sword in the Stone. And female!Raphael. And yes, I know Balthazar got staked too, but the thing is that so did Gwen (in a really, really, really stupid and inconsequential way. Another one whose potential got built up when it fit the plot only to be smashed down at the earliest opportunity), Lisa got taken out of the picture, Eve was a terrible idea. Just, I mean. If you've boobs, you might as well not show, girl, you'll get tortured/staked/burnt/generally killed and no one will mourn you because you're not Bobby. Hi, my name is Evan and I'm bitter as hell about this, can you tell?
In conclusion: TOO MANY DICKS ON THE DANCE FLOOR, SUPERNATURAL. Way too many.
And Winchesters, maybe you could use the money you're not spending on therapy and invest in some padlocks? Like, since season 2 you've been failing at keeping doors closed you guys. I'm serious here.
Can someone explain to me why this was a two-parter?
Um, tho, there was this wee bit that may fall into place with this fic I'm writing for Thursday because she prompts weird stuff... it worries me when my thinking falls in semi-line with that of the people running this show.
Hey, check it! THE WORLD IS STILL HERE. Shocking, right? Maybe the Winchesters managed to prevent this one? For a change?
I did like the finale? I mean, by itself. On its own. As an example/part of a larger body of story telling? Not so much.
I mean, the issues with the show for me remain, it's the systematic elimination of characters who aren't Winchesters and/or Bobby, and as I've said before, to me this hinders character growth tremendously and I use this season as an example of this. It feels suffocating, smothering, this laser-sharp focus that's constantly put on these guys and their suffering, it's like a spiral of self-destruction which I'd be okay with if it were used to demonstrate how harmful co-dependent relationships are, but it's not, instead the general closed-system entropy of these bonds is used as an example of true and profound love, which I'm not denying it is, but there's only so much fucked up I'm willing to deal with, yanno?
On the thing with Castiel, well, I think it makes sense, it was well explained and well set up imo. The thing with angels is their pride, this is what's always been their downfall (unless you're Balthazar, in which case you get spiked because you're a terrible liar), so it makes sense that Castiel, being cut off from his human connections fell back onto it, it' a classic story of roads to hell being paved with good intentions. So I'm generally okay with that.
It becomes problematic, though, when it hints at the larger scale the next season might be bringing/aiming for, I don't think this show does this level of epic very well, they end up biting more than they can chew and I wind up disappointed. Of course they're not writing for me, and I could always stop watching, I just like getting punished from time to time. Castiel being a god now, maybe it's just some power tripping moment? dude's miffed that everyone and their dogs turned on him and he just does not know how to deal? Foot-stomping tantrum? whatever, that bit bothered me because way to unnecessarily up the ante, show.
Sam's self-reassembly was beautiful tho, except for the part where, of course, the girl was already fridged. Just in case. And since we're at it, let's get rid of the Dr. Sword in the Stone. And female!Raphael. And yes, I know Balthazar got staked too, but the thing is that so did Gwen (in a really, really, really stupid and inconsequential way. Another one whose potential got built up when it fit the plot only to be smashed down at the earliest opportunity), Lisa got taken out of the picture, Eve was a terrible idea. Just, I mean. If you've boobs, you might as well not show, girl, you'll get tortured/staked/burnt/generally killed and no one will mourn you because you're not Bobby. Hi, my name is Evan and I'm bitter as hell about this, can you tell?
In conclusion: TOO MANY DICKS ON THE DANCE FLOOR, SUPERNATURAL. Way too many.
And Winchesters, maybe you could use the money you're not spending on therapy and invest in some padlocks? Like, since season 2 you've been failing at keeping doors closed you guys. I'm serious here.
Can someone explain to me why this was a two-parter?
Um, tho, there was this wee bit that may fall into place with this fic I'm writing for Thursday because she prompts weird stuff... it worries me when my thinking falls in semi-line with that of the people running this show.
Hey, check it! THE WORLD IS STILL HERE. Shocking, right? Maybe the Winchesters managed to prevent this one? For a change?
no subject
Date: 5/21/11 23:38 (UTC)laser-sharp focus that's constantly put on these guys and their suffering
In the early seasons of this show, their suffering was shown more in the "look at how messed up these two are" way. That Dean sold his soul to save Sam at the end of season two is proof that their family is beyond messed up. If this show were on any other network station, these brothers would've outgrown it by now. However, this is the SW we're talking about: they live to produce teenage angst. Between that and the fan-service to All Things Wincest, this show has turned into the broken shell of what it once was.
Tragic.
That being said....Sam was so awefully pretty in these last two episodes (and I don't think it was a two-parter...was it?_ that I kinda forgot what the episodes were about. Who cares about that, when SAM's on the screen?? ♥_♥
no subject
Date: 5/28/11 20:12 (UTC)If this show were on any other network station, these brothers would've outgrown it by now
EXACTLY! All these years and I've seen little to no growth at all. I feel betrayed. At it's core, it remains a fairly gutsy show, yet the way it comes across and the disservice it keeps on doing to its character just rankles and sours the whole thing.
God, don't even get me started on the fan-service thing. ::headdesks::
DID YOU SEE THE PART WHERE THERE WERE TWO SAMS AT THE SAME TIME AND JP KNOCKED THAT ONE OUT OF THE FREAKIN' PARK? &hearts _ &hearts
no subject
Date: 5/28/11 23:33 (UTC)If the article writer was talking about Ellen and Jo, then I agree. However, even they were killed off in the name of building the plot's conflict in season 5. I'll never get over how they were blown all to pieces. We hadn't seen them in three seasons, and they show up in just enough episodes to get me excited about the show. THEN THE WRITERS KILLED THEM OFF.
Many of the one-episode female characters were pretty incredible, but women on the whole aren't sustainable on the show. Rather, they're cannon fodder if they're around for more than one show. It's so frustrating how, in the writer's need to show us everything from the Winchesters' POV, they wind up killing off most of the women they've met and gotten to know. Pam from season 4 is a great example.
DID YOU SEE THE PART WHERE THERE WERE TWO SAMS AT THE SAME TIME AND JP KNOCKED THAT ONE OUT OF THE FREAKIN' PARK?
YES I DID AND MY TV ALMOST WENT BLOOEY OVER ALL THAT SMOKIN' GOOD ACTING AND TEH HOTNESS! *flaily arms*
no subject
Date: 5/22/11 01:43 (UTC)no subject
Date: 5/28/11 20:16 (UTC)It feels smothering to me, and the worst part is that I cannot even imagine what kind of pay-off to all this would be even remotely satisfactory.
What makes it weirder is the SPN Fanbase (from what I gather) is mostly female...
Date: 5/22/11 09:54 (UTC)I want her back. Demons are more human and sarcastic than the Angels and they provide good banter...and is Chuck still kicking? And is next Season just going to be Dean talking Castiel off the roof...
it's kinda gotten to Mr Burns blocking the sun proportions :\Altho I think you're right, this has been building for Cas for a while, but is God going to actually show up...because THAT would be a pay off for this storyline.
Sam's self-reassembly was beautiful tho, except for the part where, of course, the girl was already fridged. Just in case. And since we're at it, let's get rid of the Dr. Sword in the Stone. And female!Raphael.
To me it was Sam talking to Sam, Sam fighting/killing/emoing at Sam...the guy's never going to be my favourite. And it made me confused on who I was rooting for - Good Sam, Bad Sam, any Sam...I would have preferred him maddened. Mad people are funny, insightful, unpredictable... Sam lurching around like he's hung over didn't really do it for me.
And ah the dead girl, I was like - OMG IT'S JO FROM EUREKA. OMG IS EURKEA CANCELLED?! ...and then I felt it was weird when she didn't get to stick around longer. Killing Bobby's lady friend seemed unnecessary - never mind that we never found out anything about Purgatory or what she was... - it was sudden and too much off camera. How'd she get to that alley anyway?
Eve...THAT got really silly very quickly so IDK I can't be sad they did away with her.
I can't help but feel the Writer's sit around thumping the table at SPN HQ shouting: "MORE GREY! WE NEED MORE SHADES OF GREY ON THIS SHOW! AND OMG EVERYONE NEEDS TO BETRAY EVERYONE ELSE AT LEAST 4 TIMES! AND NO! IF WE STOP FEEDING THE BOYS' ISSUES THEY MAY BECOME SLIGHTLY WELL ADJUSTED! QUICK. KILL SOMEONE THEY LOVE...TAKE EVERYTHING AWAY. GIVE A LITTLE BACK. THEN TAKE IT ALL OVER AGAIN! MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA..."
Of course I did manage to decide watching the Finale, that whatever Cas does, I'm on his side. He may be walking the Bad Guy line but he's my favourite, he's why I kept watching, and I think he's VERY overdue for a hug like really bad (so Dean get on that)...and maybe if he got more hugs he wouldn't need to hunt down all the people who plotted against him...and 'punish them'.
Um, tho, there was this wee bit that may fall into place with this fic I'm writing for Thursday because she prompts weird stuff...
OOOOHHHHHHHHHHHH O_O ...
Re: What makes it weirder is the SPN Fanbase (from what I gather) is mostly female...
Date: 5/28/11 20:43 (UTC)and make out with Castiel some moreI agree, Demons, I guess having been human initially, have a better grasp of what's what and what makes people tick and how taunting works better than just looking down one's nose. Also their motivations are way more interesting and relatable (is that even a word? spell-check says no).
Knowing this show, it wouldn't be too far off the target to assume that god might be putting in an appearance. Tho I thought last season's finale hinted at Chuck being god himself?
I meant the way it was conceived, the idea of an internal splitting being what allowed the "wall" to be placed, as opposed to actual erasure of memories, or the blocking of them. I'll reserve judgement on the mental health of Sam until I can see more than just a few shocked and surprised faces from him. I would expect mountains of angst (bc it's spn) and possibly some Emo Tears of Emoting Emotion, which will get wiped off by the third to fourth episode so we can get back to running around in circles and demonstrate how Nothing Was Learned.
See? Purgatory becomes irrelevant as soon as Potential for Drama and Emoting rears it's head. Who needs in-world consistency when you can have Dean making hurt eyes at Castiel? What's world building when Sam can furrow his brow some more? Who the hell needs pay-off for the damn season-long arc (that we were told about) when there's MANPAIN to be had? Way to be anti-climatic, show.
OMG! EVEN VAGUELY WELL-ADJUSTED WINCHESTERS IS A TOTAL NIGHTMARE, WHAT WOULD FANFIC BE ABOUT, THEN? It's emo porn, it hurts my soul and also my angry place. WHO THE FUCK AM I SUPPOSED TO ROOT FOR?
Thursday, this is exactly what I was thinking throughout the episode. Someone needs to give Cas a hug and tell him that it's okay to mess up, it's what we all do. but no, let's throw back in his face how much he failed at having free will and stuff. Let's remind him why we are so much better beloved by god and why we really don't deserve crap simultaneously, because that's not confusing at all. Still, it made sense that he'd betray Crowley and crown himself god, he really did not see any other way.
It's really wee. The wee bit I mentioned.