13.01 reaction / review

[ash48]

Show is back \o/. Initially I didn't think I had much to say about this episode, but I've pondered on it over the last couple of hours since watching and there's a couple of things I have to say it seems...*g*

Comments

[harrigan]

I *loved* a little of this, I hated a little of this, I was pleasantly surprised by a little of this, and I yawned over a little of this. But all in all, it was more good than not good! I'll be back for more!

[ash48]

Oooh, curious which bits you hated...

I confess I was a little bored at times. And I felt a little uncomfortable at times also. I'm not fond of Dean begging for help (especially from "god" who's treated them appallingly), but I appreciated their attempt to connect the scene to Home.

[harrigan]

Yeah, pretty much what you said!

So many of us viewers have lost loved ones and had to carry on with that pain and loss. We don't get do-overs. It made me angry that the writers had Dean demanding that 'God' return Cas. And Mary. And Crowley.

I did appreciate the parallels with Home. And it made Sam's scene with Jack re: dealing with grief all the more poignant. (LOVED that!) But it diminishes every sacrifice they make, if they believe they don't really have to suffer loss after all. They just have to know influential people...

[borgmama1of5]

As you articulated, the different way each brother has of grieving--and the toll of the quantity of losses this time--was perfectly portrayed...Jensen and Jared cannot get enough praise!

[ash48]

Yeah, their performances where spot on. They seem to always give their all - even after all these years. :)

[ash48]

I did have a feeling this ep would inspire you to leave a review.

Haha! You know me well! :)

Do you think we as viewers are perhaps coming of age, too?

Hmmm, that's a good question. Hee, I certainly know I'm a lot older than when all this started!

But...yeah. Maybe? I think we still want certain things from the show (and I appreciate that not all fans want the same thing) and when the show can demonstrated that it has grown up with the fans it's heartening. Unfortunately, the fact that the show has different writers means they may not all see it the same way. I suppose we'll have to wait and see. If the show can still inspired fans that are now 13 years older than when it started then they've got to be doing something right...*g*

*hugs*

[caranfindel]

I concur!

[ash48]

Cool! *off to check out your review*

(always amazed at how detailed they are. And wonderfully humorous too...)

x

[fanspired]

I have felt that Dabb's strength as show-runner has been the psychology and emotional element. He does seem to have a respect for the original conception of the characters that I felt Carver lacked. In seasons 8 and 9, all was sacrificed to the manufacturing of artificial drama. Plus I hated the fact that Carver seemed to think he could only create drama by having the brothers at each other's throats and making Dean a mindless thug.

Like you, though, I'm still frustrated that all the supernatural opponents have been dis-empowered so that the climax of every episode boils down to yet another stock punch-up. In the early seasons of the show there were relatively few fist fights. The boys were pitted against supernaturally powerful opponents, and they had to beat them with their wits.

But it is good to see Sam and Dean portrayed as having achieved a mature relationship that acknowledges their past experience.

[ash48]

Your whole first paragraph. YES! Very much. Even though I felt last season lacked the oomph of previous seasons (maybe the brothers being on the same page was something we were just not used to) it was refreshing to not have to witness them in conflict all the time. I don't think I'll ever forgive Caver for some of the things he made the brothers fight about.

The boys were pitted against supernaturally powerful opponents, and they had to beat them with their wits.

Yes. It's infuriates me so much. Both demons and angels are WAY more powerful than humans and yet they resort to using their fists.