Supernatural's Life of Bobby ( or 7x10 ramblings)
It's not that I'm all that surprised about Bobby, but this episode still broke my heart on so many occasions right till the very end.
I dreaded what will happen since 2 weeks alright, but there were so many little things in it I liked, and which made the whole lot of it even more bittersweet.
It was nice to see Rufus again, and Bobby with little Dean playing catch. I liked Bobby's wife without her Stepford Wife get-up and the Reaper guy was really cool and reminded me of someone. I loved that Bobby got to dig up through what was eating him up, and that his fatherly love for the boys shone through to the last (and again let's notice how much of a crappy father John Winchester really was. I'm sure when Bobby threatened to shoot him it was because of how he was [not]caring [properly] for the boys). In a way what stunted him from having kids with Karen, then developed after her death allowing him to bond with the boys. The boys whose father may have been a man on a righteous crusade for his lost wife- something Bobby could definitely understand- but was also a mean, self-righteous drunk who treated his kids like crap. If there was ever a father figure better suited for a parenting gig of a particular kid- I can't think of one. Curse you John Winchester. And I guess curse you life. You have a tendency to be a mean and cranky drunk-like character yourself. Not always in a good way.
I also love that we get to see that Bobby mattered- that his life was important. Even the Reaper corroborates that,and while he may be trying to push a sale faster, he does not really need to say this and yet he does. The recognition was needed and justly served.
So all in all, in terms of on-screen deaths Bobby's was delivered in beautifully. Which still doesn't mean I'm glad it happened. It may be good for the story, but I'm not at yet at the big picture thinking stage. I'm still rather a 'screw story gimme Bobby back ' kinda girl. Incidentally I like JDM as an actor, but I never had those feelings about John. With John I was more like: 'Oh, crap. Now poor Dean will blame himself.' And if the level of fan devotion shows you how great a character was, then Bobby- you (unlike Jabba the Hutt) were a wonderful human being.
The shots of the boys in the real world dealing with the fallout reminded me on Buffy on 'The Body'-this idea that no matter how much you're used to death and killing in everyday monster-fighting life- you are still never ready for the loved ones to go. Go by regular, non monster related means- sure it was Dick killing Bobby, but with a gun, not in a supernatural way. And like Buffy dealing with Joyce's cancer, the boys were so not ready for such an end. Even more so, because now- I think- we've run out of the magical resurrection quota, so the boys are in for some desolate times ahead. And even more then Buffy and Dawn, these two idjits just can't seem to take solace in each other. I know it's unmanly (blah blah blah), but would it kill them to hug?
I found it endearing and ironic to find Robert Singer directing the episode. It can be seen in many ways I suppose- I choose to see it as a tribute. Rest in Peace Bobby Singer, I hope that you went with the Reaper- after all even Sam and Dean from your memory, are now gone. So long, and thanks for the ride.