Okay. To thine own self be true? Please elaborate.

[i_speak_tongue]

Hi everybody! Sorry for being sorta flakey with the random posts and not replying to all my comments and what-not. I'm still slowly working towards being super-enthusiastic about this season of Spn. This last episode helped a lot.

LOOK! I even have some things to say about it. Meta-y, music-y things!

Comments

[corbyinoz]

What a brilliant meta. I love it when people find ways to link the symbolism and meaning of SPN with other sources, as you've done so beautifully here. I don't know the story of Peer Gynt, so thank you for that primer, but I've loved the music since I was a kid. ITHOTMK was used on a Dulux (paint) ad when I was a child, in the 60s, and I asked my parents so often about it that eventually they bought an album of it (and buying a record was a big deal for my family). It's still a favourite. And the scene in 8.05 was brilliant with its (as I thought) casual inclusion

[i_speak_tongue]

I'm so glad you liked it! Thanks! I've been a fan of that piece since I was a kid too, so it was definitely fun to see it used. I read the plot of Peer Gynt ages ago for a Music history class, and I think I saw M on PBS when I was about 12. So both are blurry memories at this point. Wikipedia came in handy for this post, let me tell you!

Dean has faced this question several times - in Dream a Little Dream, when he asked himself if he was nothing but a shadow of his father, in Veritas where he labeled himself as nothing but a killer (and then repeatedly proved different in all that came afterwards). Sam has run away from it, of course, and then struggled desperately with his demon attributes.

God. I love this show.

That is all.

[i_speak_tongue]

Please know-it-all as much as you like! I've never actually seen Peer Gynt! Only heard it performed and read the translated lyrics... years ago in college. The smaller print stuff is cut directly from the Wiki entry, so feel free to further enlighten us! I would love to see it, but have had no luck tracking down a performance, or even a subtitled version of one of the more recent film adaptations. If you have any leads, let me know!

This was in fact the first episode this season where it left me genuinely curious as to what'll happen next.

I KNOW! I feel like I'm genuinely excited about show again! YAY!

[i_speak_tongue]

they do performances up here all summer long, in the middle of the night out in the middle of nowhere. It lasts for hours, of course, but it's supposed to be very good.

THAT SOUNDS AMAZING.

And no, I haven't seen the heston version. I think my video store might carry it, but I haven't been there in ages, thanks to netflix. Lol.

[metallidean_grl]

Interesting theory to relate to the trolls in Peer Gynt to the Vampires. I hadn't thought of that angle

[i_speak_tongue]

I like this interpretation too! While mine is focused more on themes (and how they also relate to the film 'M)', yours draws parallels with the story line. Very interesting ones too! I think both interpretations can work!

[metallidean_grl]

Thanks. Very true, both interpretations can work. And that is such a magic about Supernatural. So many ways to interpret the episodes, see the characters, depending upon your own personal point of view. So much to love.

[juppschmitz]

Thankyouthankyouthankyou! You just managed to give me a focus for this season! Like, so far I've just been watching, you know, kind of being annoyed at Sam, kind of not knowing what to think of everything beyond the general awesomeness of the show in general and Dean in particular (I'm easy like that...)

But thanks to your post I'm re-evaluating things. I'm going back mentally over what we've seen so far and thinking, huh, maybe there's more to it. Maybe this time it's about finding out who somebody really is.

You know, in the premiere Sam said I'm still the same guy. and Dean replied Well, I'm not. And now, in the context of your post, my mind is overloading trying to figure this out

[i_speak_tongue]

Wow! I'm very flattered, and very pleased i could get you thinking about things! Thank you!

Seems to me like in this episode he was more like - What? Dean's actually going on a hunt by himself? But that's dangerous! I've gotta go be there with him! So, is this still the same guy? Or is it a change for him?

I know! Sam acts like he's really sure of himself, but I'm thinking it might just be that. An act. And Dean's perspective may have changed since he got back from Purgatory. But essentially, deep down, he is still a good man. I don't think that will ever change.

[smilla02]

I appreciate and thank you for making meta out of Hall of the Mountain King. I've seen people ask why this episode at this point in time, why an episode focused on Benny and his existential crisis, but to me this was the right moment, especially after Heartache and Bitten, to explore him. Benny symbolizes the quest of this season that you succinctly point out here:

we are left to wonder if it’s Dean or Sam who have the same problem. Is Dean avoiding his issues by throwing himself into hunting? Is Sam denying his nature by insisting on quitting hunting for good? I think it’s probably a bit of both.

I came to the same conclusion via a different path and your meta has now solidified that sensation. I would add Castiel in the same theme, but that may be explored later when we'll know more about Cas.

I too am interested more in the process than the outcome. And that regards Benny, but also Dean and Sam and what facing the truth about themselves may mean and what kind of men they will become.

[i_speak_tongue]

That's so cool that you had the same idea about this season, but just came to the conclusion differently! Your "five episodes, one theme" meta was wonderful. I still need to comment on it.

I'm glad this season is starting to intrigue me. It's quite a relief!