Supernatural episode reaction
Overall I enjoyed it, though I'm a little annoyed with not having Sam's reaction when his memories were returned (assuming they were, someone should write that), I have more to say on the reason for that decision but it will be in the next post.
I think it was really interesting that Sam was able to remember his past life, I wonder if that had anything to do with his abilities or if it was just Zachariah was less thorough. I'm curious that they did this to both Winchesters -- did they want to avoid dealing with an upset Sam while trying to rearrange Dean's head?
They are definitely listening to the fans in regards to Dean's "whining," though I think Dean is completely justified and that it is hardly at the point where it could be called that. I can understand the audience's frustration with the repeated choice to focus on Dean's dealing with Hell, but from the viewpoint where we assume Dean's a real human being, the occasional need to vent over such a traumatic experience is hardly unrealistic or worthy of scorn. I'd be disappointed if he wasn't severely messed up by it.
Are we supposed to see Zachariah as some kind of authority when he tells Dean that his destiny will work out the way it's supposed to (and could he be any more vague about what that is?). Last episode made it pretty clear that the angels had their own issues, so I am not that confident in Zachariah's assurance, which I assume is coming from his own faith in God. Given that Anna used to be Castiel's superior I don't see why Dean would be impressed about Zachariah's position, though that was probably only Zachariah's perspective on the matter. I'm left thinking that Zachariah is only telling Dean what he wants needs to hear to help things. I'm happy to see another angel on the show, given that Show hasn't been clear what they're about or how they work. It was interesting that they had someone other than Castiel step in on Dean's behalf. I'm curious why. Was there a reason to doubt Castiel could do it? Was it just a matter of someone lower down on the food chain turning traitor and it being passed up the ladder?
And reading other people's reviews has shown me the obvious conclusion that they needed someone who would NOT make Dean more suicidal. :P
I do not expect Dean's issues to be cleared up by this, particularly the massive guilt for starting off the apocalypse, but hopefully a fresh start will remind him what he loved about the job in the first place and help with his general world weariness. On the other hand, I'm curious about this way of curing his depression. Would it help someone depressed if they could live a different life for a few weeks without remembering their past depression and be given a new perspective about what they loved about their former life before regaining their memories? We can't really test this one out, but I'll go with the idea that it at least let him step back and look at the situation more objectively and with less "Doomed, DOOMED, DOOOOOOMED!" running through his head. The situation still sucks though, so I still expect future angst.
Dean assuming Sam was coming on to him -- how much you want to bet that it was not the first time someone chatted him up in that elevator? Dean's body language through that little interaction was very "Oh great, please not again."
I loved Sam and his helpful tech support! He was just kind, understanding, sweet Sammy as he told people over and over to turn their printer off then on - right up until he smashed the phone. And immediately after he went back to looking harmless and adorable. Hee. I cannot take Sam seriously with his floppy hair and minus his Death Glare of DOOM™. I am really curious about how much of Sam's current attitude toward life leaked into his mindwiped behaviour. It's kind of frustrating that I can't tell, but I expect it to be a lot clearer at the end of the season when they start bringing the thread of Sam's storyline back into focus (WHICH THEY WILL! ABSOLUTELY!).
I loved seeing the Ghostfacers again, particularly with their commentary on what jerks the Winchesters are. Nice that they still credited them, although I suspect that had more to do with properly citing sources than any desire to give them that credit.
I loved the montage of Dean going through his day and being good at it. He did seem genuinely happy working with people, and it does remind me that Dean has always seemed more of a social animal than Sam.
I loved the effect when Zachariah returned Dean's memory and the color washed out, reminding us that the real Supernatural eschews bright color! I'm wondering when they dropped Dean and Sam into this life. I kind of love the idea that the angels took Dean straight from his hospital bed (and does that mean Dean did receive angelic healing and will have no scars from Alastair?
I'm still hoping that the next episode will start up where this one left off so we get an idea of how Sam took the whole thing (I'm betting angry at the angels and maybe unconciously scared of how easy it was for them to alter their entire lives). Although, given that he was able to partly remember I wonder if he wouldn't take it as a failure of the angels ability to fully affect him. I also wonder if that wouldn't be true.
I think it was really interesting that Sam was able to remember his past life, I wonder if that had anything to do with his abilities or if it was just Zachariah was less thorough. I'm curious that they did this to both Winchesters -- did they want to avoid dealing with an upset Sam while trying to rearrange Dean's head?
They are definitely listening to the fans in regards to Dean's "whining," though I think Dean is completely justified and that it is hardly at the point where it could be called that. I can understand the audience's frustration with the repeated choice to focus on Dean's dealing with Hell, but from the viewpoint where we assume Dean's a real human being, the occasional need to vent over such a traumatic experience is hardly unrealistic or worthy of scorn. I'd be disappointed if he wasn't severely messed up by it.
Are we supposed to see Zachariah as some kind of authority when he tells Dean that his destiny will work out the way it's supposed to (and could he be any more vague about what that is?). Last episode made it pretty clear that the angels had their own issues, so I am not that confident in Zachariah's assurance, which I assume is coming from his own faith in God. Given that Anna used to be Castiel's superior I don't see why Dean would be impressed about Zachariah's position, though that was probably only Zachariah's perspective on the matter. I'm left thinking that Zachariah is only telling Dean what he wants needs to hear to help things. I'm happy to see another angel on the show, given that Show hasn't been clear what they're about or how they work. It was interesting that they had someone other than Castiel step in on Dean's behalf. I'm curious why. Was there a reason to doubt Castiel could do it? Was it just a matter of someone lower down on the food chain turning traitor and it being passed up the ladder?
And reading other people's reviews has shown me the obvious conclusion that they needed someone who would NOT make Dean more suicidal. :P
I do not expect Dean's issues to be cleared up by this, particularly the massive guilt for starting off the apocalypse, but hopefully a fresh start will remind him what he loved about the job in the first place and help with his general world weariness. On the other hand, I'm curious about this way of curing his depression. Would it help someone depressed if they could live a different life for a few weeks without remembering their past depression and be given a new perspective about what they loved about their former life before regaining their memories? We can't really test this one out, but I'll go with the idea that it at least let him step back and look at the situation more objectively and with less "Doomed, DOOMED, DOOOOOOMED!" running through his head. The situation still sucks though, so I still expect future angst.
Dean assuming Sam was coming on to him -- how much you want to bet that it was not the first time someone chatted him up in that elevator? Dean's body language through that little interaction was very "Oh great, please not again."
I loved Sam and his helpful tech support! He was just kind, understanding, sweet Sammy as he told people over and over to turn their printer off then on - right up until he smashed the phone. And immediately after he went back to looking harmless and adorable. Hee. I cannot take Sam seriously with his floppy hair and minus his Death Glare of DOOM™. I am really curious about how much of Sam's current attitude toward life leaked into his mindwiped behaviour. It's kind of frustrating that I can't tell, but I expect it to be a lot clearer at the end of the season when they start bringing the thread of Sam's storyline back into focus (WHICH THEY WILL! ABSOLUTELY!).
I loved seeing the Ghostfacers again, particularly with their commentary on what jerks the Winchesters are. Nice that they still credited them, although I suspect that had more to do with properly citing sources than any desire to give them that credit.
I loved the montage of Dean going through his day and being good at it. He did seem genuinely happy working with people, and it does remind me that Dean has always seemed more of a social animal than Sam.
I loved the effect when Zachariah returned Dean's memory and the color washed out, reminding us that the real Supernatural eschews bright color! I'm wondering when they dropped Dean and Sam into this life. I kind of love the idea that the angels took Dean straight from his hospital bed (and does that mean Dean did receive angelic healing and will have no scars from Alastair?
I'm still hoping that the next episode will start up where this one left off so we get an idea of how Sam took the whole thing (I'm betting angry at the angels and maybe unconciously scared of how easy it was for them to alter their entire lives). Although, given that he was able to partly remember I wonder if he wouldn't take it as a failure of the angels ability to fully affect him. I also wonder if that wouldn't be true.