Say Wha...?

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:19:18 GMT

SPN 5.08 Changing Channels

Holy cow. Gotta admit, I did not see that one coming. I was slightly spoiled (based on some media coverage) for this episode, but kudos to them for keeping the true twist under wraps. Holy cow.

Credits theme song:

Town to town, two lane roads
the family biz, two hunting bros
living the lie, just to get by.
As long as we're moving forward
there's nothing we can't do.
Together we'll face the day.
You and I won't run away.
When the demons come out to play
together we'll face the day.

Theme of the show in a nutshell. Yeah, rocky roads abound, but at the core family is the key. The question of the hour is will it hold? Faulkner would say "the center cannot hold" -- but Sam and Dean are all about being the exception to the rule, so what does that leave us with? A glossy facade of "everything's fixed! See how well we can play the game?!?!" Ahem.

Next scene.

Sam wants to "talk it out" with the presumed Trickster. Try to enlist him as an ally. Echoes of Old Sam, the one who looks at the shades of grey, who asks the extra question about the possibility that "supernatural" doesn't necessarily mean "evil." Point in his behalf.

Dean calls the Trickster a "bloody, violent monster", and isn't really interested in an alliance with a lethal jokester. Cue the more "black and white" point of view he consistently represents in this regard. It's not that he won't make allowance for the benefit of the doubt when given evidence, it's that he's not inclined to give the benefit for the doubt without said evidence.

So far so good. We see how they balance each other -- Sam reminds Dean that sometimes the black and white view cuts off other possibilities that need to be considered, and Dean serves as a reminder to Sam that he needs to not forget about having some lines that you do not cross. And a creature that plays lethal jokes on those he feels deserves it is a killer.

But then Sam says:

The world is going to end, Dean. We don't have the luxury of a moral stand.

*jaw hits floor* Really, Sam? Isn't that the kind of thinking that got Lucifer released? Doesn't the ghost of NurseCindy haunt you a little bit more than ... this? It would appear that TPTB are aware Sam isn't done with his redemption arc... that there is still work he needs to do on this front. Yay to the nth, because I would have been frustrated if Sam's redemption story consisted of throwing out some apologies, wearing the puppy eyes, giving up drinking demon blood... and that's it. There are still some deep down attitude adjustments needing to be made.

You're afraid to operate again... You're afraid to love.

Despite this being the Trickster's chosen reality, there are still buried truths within the game. What is Sam afraid of? Trusting himself. Trusting in his own abilities to do the right thing and get the right results. For good reason, considering how shaky his grip on having a "moral stand" is when he gets caught up in looking at the Big Picture.

Maybe Sam should ask Bobby for some translation help. Those questions posed on the game show were not random.

What was the name of the demon you chose over your own brother?

What was interesting to me wasn't the fact that this question came up, it was the context of revisiting this issue. Sam couldn't understand the question, and therefore didn't have an answer. I'm wondering if this is significant because of the framing of the question -- noncomprehension because of a language/communication barrier. Isn't that one of the reasons why he chose a demon over Dean? Because of a total breakdown in communication between them?

Would your Mother and Father still be alive if your brother was never born?

Dean also didn't understand, but he gave the right answer. Yes, Dean got it right because they were starting to figure out the Trickster's game. That being said, the "previouslies" section contained the reminding flashback to what has been Sam's focus of guilt, "I killed [Lilith], and set Lucifer free", and now here is the reminder of what Dean saw as the real betrayal in the choices Sam made. He chose Big Picture thinking at the expense of both family loyalty and conscience. Yet another tie-in to that reminder that Sam still has some work in front of him on this front.

Or cut to a different POV from the same scene: the Trickster chose the questions. Questions designed to revisit the question of 1) family betrayal and 2) blame/rejection.

Cue up the Big Reveal: The Trickster is actually the Archangel Gabriel gone AWOL playing games with humans because he ran away from his own family drama. Echoing the same sentiments as the other Archangel Raphael in wanting the big showdown to happen so that it can just "be over".

I love my Father. My brothers. Love them. But watching them turn on each other? Tear at each other's throats? I couldn't bear it! So I left. And now it's happening all over again? ... Heaven, Hell, I don't care who wins! I just want it to be over.

It's about two brothers who loved each other, and betrayed each other. You think you'd be able to relate... Think about it. Michael. The big brother. Loyal to an absent father. And Lucifer, the little brother. Rebellious of daddy's plan. You were born to this, boys. It's your Destiny. It was always you.

Like all the other angels, Gabriel holds a belief in Destiny that blinds him to one thing: thinking that Destiny excludes choice. Humans, however, were created with free will. In a word: Choice. And maybe looking at the example of humans instead of down on the humans, Gabriel, Raphael, Zachariah and even Lucifer could come to a different understanding of their own existence. Anna once said that there was "no choice", only obedience to their orders in their existence. Yet Lucifer chose to rebel. Anna chose to fall. Zachariah and Co. have chosen to jumpstart the Apocalypse, manipulating things so that something that could have easily been prevented by some simple honesty with Sam instead got it's official kickoff. Choices on display -- and they hide behind the "it's Destiny" chant. With choice comes accountability, which both the angels and Lucifer are not accepting for themselves.

Maybe instead of seeing Sam and Dean as Lucifer and Michael mirrors, they should look at Sam and Dean as examples of what *could* be.

And for the record? This isn't about some Prize Fight between your brothers. Or some Destiny that can't be stopped! This is about YOU being too afraid to stand up to your family.

Sam isn't just a "rebellious against Daddy's plan" younger son. He was also willing to stand up to John when John was in the wrong. Dean isn't just the "loyal to an absent father" big brother. We saw him reject John's "save or kill Sam" orders, because he didn't believe in it. Both boys have demonstrated willingness to stand up to their family and call each other out when they feel the other is in the wrong. It's how they can successfully act as a check and balance on each other.

Look at the angelic family we've met so far. Castiel is the only one who has chosen to make a stand based on his own belief of right vs. wrong. Castiel is living proof that the angels' rationalizations of "Destiny" is an empty excuse for their choices.

Remember that question Dean asked the "Trickster" before the big reveal?

Heaven or Hell? Which side are you on?

Castiel gave the right answer back in Lucifer Rising. He chose the unvoiced third side: Humanity’s side. Represented as acting on conscience instead of agenda.

... it's going to end bloody for all of us. That's just how it's got to be.

All that stuff he was spouting in there, you think he was telling the truth?
I think he believes it.

If acting on belief can make it become a reality, then this:

As long as we're moving forward
there's nothing we can't do.
Together we'll face the day.
You and I won't run away.
When the demons come out to play
together we'll face the day.

... can be made a reality because Sam and Dean DO believe in this. Unlike the angels, they're trying to break patterns of the past. They are looking to move forward. Together. And they're not running from facing hard truths about themselves, each other or the overwhelming odds against them.

There are no guarantees. But there is hope.

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:10:57 GMT

Criminal Minds tonight:

Umm. Morgan tells his Not!Girlfriend about his Complicated!Promotion BEFORE he breaks it to the team? REEEEEAAALLLLYYY starting off on the right foot there, Morgan. Now, a part of me gets it, I do. Telling the team has got to be one of the most uncomfortable things he's had to face, looking at the questions on their faces, etc. Whereas telling Not!GF... it can actually be a matter of pride, of ability. Still, I call it questionable leader behavior.

Morgan showing reluctance to give Hotch orders... that was both expected and amusing. Hotch does have an intimidating demeanor, even when he's being a fully cooperative team player.

Can you find her eyes for us?

Such a simple question. And yet it's not a gruesome question, it's a question of being able to put a victim at true rest in the eyes of the other victims, those who have lost their loved one. Humanizing, in an odd way.

Have you thought about how this is going to end? ... What happens when he's asked to step down?

Thing is, once upon a time... Hotch WAS Morgan. The young gun who was ambitious, talented and yes, got promoted. Politics may get the short straw with Morgan, but they get the same treatment from Hotch. Kinda what got him into trouble with Strauss in the first place.
Wouldn't it be interesting if the real question ends up being... does Hotch want his old leadership job back? Or does he get comfortable with being a team player, still catching the unsub, and having so much less stress to deal with in his life on the political level? More time for, say... family?

Morgan is trying SO HARD. It doesn't go unnoticed... but there is such a thing as being TOO involved.

And here by episode's end...

Hotch takes down the unsub and is in the position of telling Morgan "would you have?"

But... "he doesn't have to write [the reports] anymore, why's he still here?"

Aaaannd here we get yet another possibility when it comes to Hotch's mental frame of mind: Less demands on his time dealing with other cases/politics means more time to spend tracking down his Unsub No. 1, Foyet.

Now I'm not sure how this is going to play out, but DAMN I can't wait to see.

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:51:50 GMT

So You Think You Can Dance tonight:

I'm trying to start talking more about this show, because I really love it but have never talked much about it.

I won't be talking about all the dances, just the ones where something really stood out for me.

The VW number -- Jakob/Katherine(?) I agree with the judges. The number didn't have enough "waltz" factor. I remember the Mark/Courtney VW, where they WALTZED, and they FLOATED. This number pandered too much to the known skills of the individuals instead of staying true enough to the category. They twirled, didn't float.

Bollywood routine -- awesome. Just... yeah. Wow. And credit for that goes to the guy. Sorry judges, but while Mollee wad good, her partner stole the show for their routine.

Umm.. 2nd hip hop routine, mechanic/hot chick number. Really enjoy this partnership, and I think Kevin is a tad underrated by the judges in the face of their obvious love of his partner.

Legacy/Kathryn's contemporary routine: lovely. Just... a balanced number between the two, I watched both of them in this number. I loved it. New choreographer? I like her.

The Wade Robson number -- I really loved the concept. I wish the dancers had kicked it up just a notch more in their performance. When they showed the practice footage, and you saw Wade demonstrating the moves, it was... he has a quality as a dancer himself that he is obviously able to translate through his choreo. The pair that drew him... they did well, as I said, but just not quite up to the crash test dummies level, or Rashamalah(?) group number, etc. It had the potential. I hate to say it, but I do think one or two of the other pairs in this season could have done a tad better justice to the choreo if they had drawn it. Then again, what do I know, lol. It was good. And among my fav routines -- I just wish it had been my unquestioning fav routine, because the potential was there.

Ryan and Ellenore's AT number -- One teeny criticism which consists of wishing the donchos(?) (leg flicks) had had more speed, more snap. Otherwise, YEAH. The attitiude, the character, was THERE. Oh yeah. Mmmm. Probably my second favorite AT I've seen on the show. (Mark/Chelsie's AT being my fav.)

Anywho... thanks to baseball, the voting/elimination format is all screwed, so... whatever about the eliminations. No comment. Honestly, they were among the weakest numbers of the night, so... I don't have a good enough idea of what versilitity, etc, they can bring to the table yet.

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:10:34 GMT

Castle tonight:

B-I-T-C-H.
She can spell, Detective.

Hee! The episode where Alexis finally interjects herself into the investigation, willing to be a truant because fangrrl comes before schoolgirl. I love these little moments when Alexis isn't just a responsible adult in a teen's body, but a regular girl, capable of being just as susceptible as any other girl (or fan, gender-neutral) when there's a big thing going down in their celebrity's life. Down to knowing those little details that only other superfans would really keep track of.

What did Hayley do to her?
She got famous.

Oh, ouch. Nice indictment on the perils of jealousy that can arise from those who are supposed to be close to celebrity.

You thought you sounded so smart when you started that sentence...

Zing! Castle got one to counter the ... what was it... 12-year-old(?) crack earlier?

Everybody looks like a killer to me.
You didn't say that about Skye.
Just - let me have this moment.

Borrowing a quote/insight from Beckett to reflect a new line of thought of his own. I do like. Not totally stealing, because he's applying it to his own gut reaction to a new piece of info.

She hated Obama!

LMAO!!!!

Aaaannd back to the obsessive-type -- or merely dedicatated fan-type -- or grieving fan-type compulsively going over the last parts of dead-celebritry's life, dissecting final bits into bitty pieces.

Ian is the priest from SPN.

And I must give credit to this show for improving on the sympathy factor for the victims. This is now the second recent victim that I have really felt for, not just being a body on a slab or punchline to a weird death scenerio, but a human being that felt ... real. And tragic. Bringing gravitas to the usual humor that still plays within the show.

I approve. A lot.

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 03:00:10 GMT

SPN 5.07 The Curious Case of Dean Winchester

He that is thy friend indeed,
He will help thee in thy need:
If thou sorrow, he will weep;
If thou wake, he cannot sleep;
Thus of every grief in heart
He with thee doth bear a part.
These are certain signs to know
Faithful friend from flattering foe.
-- William Shakespeare

Desperate people do dumb things. Things they know deep down are wrong, but they find a way to justify it just this one time.

Any other stiffs in town?... Check them out.
You think they're connected?
Call it a hunch.

The premise of this "hunt" called back to mind Time is on My Side, when Sam led Dean into a "hunt", only his intention was not to kill the bad guy but rather use his mojo to save his brother. This time it's Bobby setting the boys up, intending to use Patrick's mojo to get his health and legs back.

It's the kind of thinking that leads to broken seals and lost years. And now we know that Bobby IS just as much a Winchester as the boys are. That pity party hat is firmly ensconced on his head, and he's ... well, frankly... wallowing. I don't say this without sympathy for him. It's human, and I appreciate the fact that Bobby is human enough to NOT deal with his disability with good grace. Were he to just adjust magnificently to the change in his circumstances I'd be crying foul on the writers.

They're my years! I can do what I want.

I like my characters flawed. Heroes, Big Damn Heroes even, but relatably human. Bobby's final conversation with Dean just about made me cry.

What exactly am I living for, huh? The damn Apocalypse? Watching men die bloody while I sit in this chair, can't take a step to help 'em?
Bobby-
No, no. It's the facts. I'm old, I'm broke down. And I can't... I ain't a Hunter no more. I'm useless. And if I wasn't such a coward I've have stuck a gun in my mouth the day I got home from the hospital.

Back again to perceptions. Dean lets him see a different viewpoint. One that isn't about mobility. Reminds him that being important and useful is a matter of how one looks at things. Because through Dean's eyes... Bobby is family. And that MAKES him important, because he provides support for and influence on the boys. More importantly, this is a two-way street. Family doesn't just give OR take. This is one of the few times we've seen Bobby being on the other side of this equation. Bobby is finding it difficult to separate pity from support. It's to his credit that he'd rather give than take, but everyone needs help sometimes. The trick is knowing when to ask for or accept it, and when to stand on one's own. Aaaaaand it's not the first time we've seen this idea come up on the Show, merely Bobby's turn at this particular wheel. I am really enjoying this tie-in to the theme of the importance of family, and how they can be a source of strength when you're down if you'll let them be.

Changing subjects but not topics... Patrick is an interesting "bad guy". Not so stuck in the moustache-twirling villain 2D character trope, more shades of the Trickster, really. He's looking for some adventure, enjoying beating others at their own game, enjoying the world over a seeming eternity.

I'm not a murderer.

He doesn't want to kill. Although he has little problem taking enough years to put someone on the brink of death. Is that the sop to his conscience, how he justifies what he does? He can tell himself he has clean hands? That the other players knew the terms, and their years were their own to lose? Or is it the fact that, from the horse's mouth: "I don't like cheating", and anyone who is willing to try to cheat their own natural years deserves whatever they get? He did, after all, see Dean's payment of years as also covering the cost of trying to "cheat" the effects of the game. And not being a cheat was definitely a matter of pride for him.

Or is this too maybe a matter of family? How he tried to "cheat" by making himself a family (Lia, his female partner) in an unnatural way, but by so doing she had to leave behind her own family... and breaking the rules always ALWAYS demands a price. Maybe he could salve his own conscience by occasionally giving an old man a few extra years to attend his granddaughter’s bar mitzvah. But apparently not even the most agile witch can beat paying the Piper in some fashion. He could take or give years, but he couldn't beat the house odds of family winning out in the end. Lia chose to give up the game, to put herself back in the same state her left behind daughter was in.

Why oh why would she suddenly decide now of all times to make this choice, destroying Patrick and/or herself?

Lady, this don't add up for squat. Why would you want that?
I have my reasons.

I'd say family was the final trigger. Watching Dean sacrifice his years for his chosen family, Bobby. Seeing Sam, so desperate to save his brother. These weren't people playing for greed or selfish reasons, their actions were motivated on the behalf of family.

And to take that further, depending on what SPN's rules of the Afterlife are (those Reapers are still playing coy on a definitive answer)... Lia chose to rejoin her family. Patrick was an adventure, excitement and fun. But ultimately not family. We know this because of his initial assumption that Dean was coming after him for messing with his wife or girlfriend or mother or sister. She may have been the closest thing to family he had, but close didn't prove to be enough. Contrast that with this:

No matter what shape you're in -- bottom line, you're family. Now I don't know if you noticed, but me and Sam, we don't have much left. I can't do this without you. I can't. So don't you DARE think about checking out. I don't want to hear that again.
Okay.
Okay. Good.
Thanks.

How does the one guy who supposedly beat the odds, won a lot of free years and abandoned his wife ("please don't tell her I'm alive") fit into that? Just because we weren't shown his specific consequences doesn't mean that he won't have to pay the Piper himself... oh wait. We did see his mirror. Back to Lia, who came to regret leaving her family for the different, seemingly more adventurous life. Just because he hasn't gotten there yet doesn't mean his time won't come.

And what about Sam? His reactions in that showndown game with Patrick are something I'm thinking about long and hard.

I like you, Sam. I do. You're smart, and your heart's clearly in the right place. I can tell a lot about a guy by looking at him.
You mean you're psychic.
Noooo. That'd be cheating. I'm talking about good old-fashioned intuition.
Let's jut play.
We ARE playing.

You're in over your head here, Sam. I mean, ye can keep making these moves, playing it cautious, playing the percentages. But I'm still gonna kick your ass into the nursing home.

Keep playing.

Sam tried playing it Dean and Bobby's way. That didn't work out so well, and it ended up coming down to Sam playing the game for himself, his way.

If you've ever watched the World Series of Poker on ESPN you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. The great players can talk to give themselves information on their opponents. Also to sell a hand they don't actually have. The lesser players talk and give up information about hands to the better players. Sam proved himself to be the underestimated player in the bunch.

So. When it's about your brother you just get so emotional your brain just flies right out the window.
Go to hell.
Good to know.

The truth ended up being that Sam played Patrick on tilt because 1) he was reeling from finding out his lover had turned on him, and 2) his bent pride in being unable to conceive that Sam could USE his desperation to save his brother to actually win. THAT is freaking awesome.

Well played. You know that whole ... going out of your head bit... very Method. Well, there's more to you than meets the eye.

No tricks. You actually beat the guy.
Just lucky.

It's true. Sam WAS lucky in getting the winning hand at the right time. But he was smart enough to play it to his advantage. Sam is VERY good at using the puppy eyes to his advantage. And good for him in this instance.

Finally, a little sign that the boys are turning being family into a strength instead of a weakness to be exploited by the bad guys. Sam took the honors in the confrontation with their opponent, while Dean provided a reminder to Bobby that family can be used for support when you're the one feeling the hot seat.

Once again, I have to say how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE the different ways the theme of family was played in the episode. And there's so much I didn't even get around to talking about yet. Whee!

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:39:23 GMT

Huh. Well, I forgot that Criminal Minds was not a new ep tonight but rather a repeat, so after anticipating all day... *sigh* On the upside - I really do need an early night, and CM usually requires some unwinding time post ep, so I guess that works out. Fiiiiiine.

At least I KNOW we get a new SPN tomorrow night! YAY!!!!

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:03:50 GMT

Castle tonight:

OMG LMAO!!! First the Firefly fourth wall bustage, and then the Buffy call-out --- HEHEHEHEHEHEEE!!!

"Oh Castle, the things you don't know about me could sell a book." Now THAT is clever. Well-played, Beckett.

"Fine. But I am not sleeping with her." - Awww. Whoring yourself for the job - but with standards. Hee!

"You want to bite me, you buy me dinner." Castle is not amused at being bit. But I am. Does that make me a bad person?

Aaaand senior party gone awry. You know what? I really liked this bit. Nothing too dramatic, but for once Alexis wasn't oh so in control and responsible -- she was a kid who went to a party, and her friend got into trouble. And so she called dad for help. She trusts her dad without standing on any false pride that she can handle it herself, and she has to stand down and let her dad's judgement of not covering for her friend stand as the final word. Showing a dynamic that for once Castle isn't just the fun guy who happens to be her dad, but he's her Dad. You know?

And finally -- the question gets raised of what got Castle into the murder writing biz. Of course he dodged it, and kinda answered it when he told his daughter that he just doesn't always get human behavior. But -- my gut is saying red flag. They'll come back to this question.

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:48:03 GMT

Quick drive-by post

Got my own laptop last week -- first personal computer I've ever had. I also apparently have access to free Wifi at my place -- I'm assuming the couple of open networks my new pet is picking up is coming from one (or more) of the businesses just down the block. The connection is spotty and intermittent, but hey, free internet access, and if/when I get frustrated with it I can always go the library or a Starbucks or something and use their wireless access.

Now I just need to finish learning all the ins and outs of Fuzzy.

Also -- my sis had her baby this week, so I'm an aunt again. *big grin*

I watched White Collar make its premiere, and

This is another charming, lightweight popcorn show with humor and quips, along with likable main characters so far. I approve and will continue watching.

I find it interesting that Mr. Thief is presented from the getgo as a huge romantic and that's his obvious weakness/blind spot. It balances his smarts and keeps him from looking like a moron for getting caught, because we know from the top that he's got these issues in play. It's refreshing to have a show be upfront about that, instead of trying to play him as this cool, calm and collected guy who secretly has this inner angst.

Also like that the federal dude isn't a moron who just got lucky catching his man. He's smart and capable, and he too has his own emotional blind spots that are pretty much the opposite. It's a nice balance, and I'm looking forward to seeing this partnership develop.

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 05:36:20 GMT

Criminal Minds tonight:

Three cheers for continuity! Straus having no reason to give Hotch the benefit of the doubt/looking for a reason to get him out of his current position -- check.

Morgan with his trust issues, coupled with his deep sense of loyalty. Check.

And Hotch, with his NON "narcissist" ability to evaluate both himself and the situation without letting ego or pride dictate his final judgement. Check and double check.

Also -- the victim that fights to survive -- usually does. In a show that can be depressingly realistic in showing that no, the good guys don't always win, and sometimes the bad guys even win on a huge scale -- it's good to see the occasional case where the victim wins, but more, the good people win. Those grandparents... putting the welfare of their granddaughter above all... that's another echo of that theme of submitting personal ego for the greater good.

Morgan and Hotch have a fascinating relationship, these times we do get to see it showcased. Because it isn't all smooth sailing, but there is an underlying mutual respect that still shines, even when doubts or questions hang around as the white elephant in the room.

Hotch stepping down, for the sake of the team. On the one hand... damn. You know? Because.. he really shouldn't have to. He IS the leader of that team. The bitch of it that I suspect will prove to be is... he IS the leader of that team. All due respect to Morgan, but putting Hotch in a technically lower position... that's not just about ego. That's about a whole lot of other factors that are going to spin the tean dynamics into a new twist. One doesn't have to have the title to be a leader. And this is going to complicate things more than he or Morgan may at first think, not because of abilities, but because of perceptions of the others. Face it -- we've got Reid, who thinks Hotch can take multiple stab wounds without BLINKING. We've got Garcia, who has a decidedly equal-to-equal way of relating to Morgan, and then Garcia and Hotch, who while having an obvious friendship -- let's just say that if Hotch ordered her to jump, she'd probably ask how high and NOT ask if this order was authorized from Morgan. You know what I mean? Spin everyone else and 1) their perception of Hotch and 2) their perception of Morgan into the mix?

I expect them to continue doing the job. But there are definitely going to be some challenges. I am really anticipating what TPTB do with this new development -- they are among the best at surprising me with good character writing that is both consistent and yet still capable of that shocking twist. So... BRING IT. I guess if they're going to do a November Sweeps special, this is already proving to be a twist to the expected "catch Foyet at all costs" dealio -- because we're already starting to pay the costs preemptively. Or something like that.

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:29:51 GMT

Lie to Me last night -- another familiar guest star that made me happy to see.

Oh HI THAR Cromartie... I mean, John Henry... I mean...

Hee. Good job with this character. I didn't see a shred of past characters played in his performance -- he really is a rather talented and versatile guy. Obviously this was a one shot guest spot, but wouldn't it be awesome if he were to make his way up to Canada and guest as say... a hunter or something on that Other Show? *g*

Hmm. Okay. Guess I'm not saying much about the ep. It was decent, but I was just having fun watching my favoriate Metal Man back in action.

And Castle continues to be an amusing delight.

I especially liked that the reason Castle agreed to continue writing the Nicki Heat series instead of taking that "other offer" was for the money, not just the partnership. Because, duh, obviously he wanted to stay a part of the gang. BUT. The fact that he got the perfect excuse is great, so he's not just sentimental but also a businessman. Awesome.

Also, I loved his agent. She was just so... agenty. Eye on the money. Which is her job, so it's kinda amusing instead of annoying or crass.

I must also say that this was one of the most effectively sentimental episodes in getting me to feel for the victims. Most of the time they are not the focus of the sentiment, but this time... I felt bad. And kudos to the writers for not making the mom a cliche of an evil rich bitch, but rather a good person who simply didn't know what was really going on. And for trying to do the right thing when she did learn.

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:52:18 GMT

SPN 5.06 I Believe the Children Are Our Future

If a problem has no solution, it may not be a problem, but a fact – not to be solved, but to be coped with over time.
-- Shimon Peres

RL has been kicking it up a notch this week, and I’m honestly not sure how much of that is bleeding over into my reaction of this episode. On first viewing I didn’t know what to think. I didn’t know if I liked the episode or disliked it. So I watched it again when I got the chance. And I still am not quite sure. But I did come to one realization: I’ll bet (not having had time to check yet) there are a lot of mixed reviews out there. I’ll also guess that it’s because we all bring our own filters to this viewing experience: what do I believe is appropriate behavior with children, what do you believe, what should they be told, how should they be sheltered, the question of lying or honesty, etc. And there isn’t an answer. Everyone is different, and will have a different place they put their lines. So if there isn’t an easy solution, maybe the real answer is that it’s not about figuring out the “right” or “wrong” of it, but looking at how the characters cope with what they are given.

Look at how the filters each of these characters wear colors their own responses to the situation at hand.

Start with Dean.

I had a hunch, I went with it.

Sure, he could have been wrong and joybuzzed Sam to death. It actually reminded me of that moment in Route 666 when Dean and Sam reversed their roles in this kind of leap of faith resulting in a potentially dangerous judgment call scenario.

DEAN: Maybe? Maybe?! What if you were wrong?
SAM: Huh. Honestly, that thought hadn’t occurred to me.

Trusting one’s own judgment has been a recurring theme this year especially. When to trust it, when to acknowledge that the foundation there might be shaky.

But heck, that melts into small potatoes compared to this bit:

You’re a superhero.
I am?

Is Dean lying to Jesse? Or is it a truth that he believes, considering Jesse’s power and providing he makes the right choices? I’d say it is a truth, colored by his own filters of how he views anyone who is willing to make a stand and fight against evil. Add the powers and you get an upgrade from “Dad’s a hero” to “you’re a superhero.” Or maybe I’m just hearing a loud echo from A Very Supernatural Christmas, and the logic a young Dean told himself and believed in to give himself the only comfort he could with the knowledge that he had.

But really, while perspective plays an important part of what “truth” is, take off those rose-tinted glasses and Dean admits:

We destroyed that kid’s life by telling him the truth.

Back to the question of the hour. Was being honest the right call? Was being honest about Every Single Thing the right call? Could they have been honest without lying, but also without disclosing everything that would rip away the foundation of a kid’s life and beliefs? I don’t know.

Jump to Sam.

Wait. We’re the good guys. We don’t just kill children.
A year ago you would have done whatever it took to win this war.
Things change!

They do indeed. Sam learned an incredibly painful lesson. Unfortunately it took being proven wrong on this front, rather than having let his conscience be his guide in the first place. Again, I’m hearing a loud echo from the past here.

I’m about to bleed and drink an innocent woman while she watches.
And save the world as a result. (4.22)

The good news is that Sam has taken this lesson to heart. He now knows beyond doubt that crossing certain lines under the aegis of “the greater good” comes with a price not worth paying.

You’ve got choices, Jesse. But if you make the wrong ones it will haunt you for the rest of your life.
Why are you telling me this?
Because I have to believe someone can make the right choice. Even if I couldn’t.

There’s a huge parallel drawn between Sam and Jesse, and Sam brings his own filters to the table in what he sees as the “right” course of action to take.

You say that Jesse is destined to go Darkside, fine. But he hasn’t yet. So if we lay it all out for him, about what he is, the Apocalypse, everything, he might make the right choice.

Sam wants to give Jesse full disclosure. He wanted that for himself, and a part of him believes that if he had been given this disclosure himself he might not have made the choices he made with Ruby. Castiel’s response of “You didn’t [make the right choice]” wasn’t entirely fair to Sam, considering that he WAS being deceived and manipulated. Wasn’t one of Ruby’s mantras to Sam “I’ve never lied to you” (3.16)? Was that the truth? Or was Sam given enough information that he COULD have made different choices, even without having every single piece of the puzzle laid out for him? Let me put it this way: Should Sam have to be told that killing Nurse Cindy was wrong because it would lead to killing Lilith and releasing Lucifer? Didn’t Sam already know that killing innocent people is wrong, period? That WHAT you do is part of what makes who you are? Didn’t Sam himself say that earlier that year? So he HAD the knowledge he needed to make a better choice.

That being said: go back to the demon’s logic. Same trick Ruby used.

They treated you like a child. Nobody’s trusted you. Everybody’s lied to you. Doesn’t that make you angry? See? It does make you angry. But I’m telling you the truth Jesse. Wouldn’t it be better if there were no lies? Come with me, you can wash it all clean. Start over. Imagine that. A world without lies.

What was part of Sam’s frustration that led him down the slippery slope? Angels telling him not to use his powers without telling him WHY it was supposedly bad. What using them would lead to, when he saw that he was able to do some good with them. Feeling untrusted. Wanting to prove that he could be trusted, that he could make something good of what he was. It’s not hard to imagine that a small part of Sam wanted to make everyone who doubted him have to recant. That’s only human. Of course, just because someone says they’re telling you the truth doesn’t make it so. Back to perspective. “A world without lies.” A world without humans, going with Lucifer’s agenda. Back to Lucifer’s claim of “I don’t lie.” Honesty can be twisted into a lie, the same as lies can be twisted into a seeming truth, or even turned into a truth, made a reality by acting on a belief.

What’s the biggest different between Sam and Jesse on this front? “They treated you like a child.” Jesse IS a child. Back to the question of how much honesty is too much honesty?

Dean’s approach was to sugarcoat the truth, put the most positive possible spin on it. You have powers, be a superhero. Sam wanted to go the full disclosure approach. Castiel chose to not trust the choice Jesse might make, his perspective tainted by the mistakes of the past. He ends up being the most hampered by baggage from the past, making it only fair that his voice ended up carrying the least amount of weight in the debate.

If I were to try to sum up the different reactions and choices, I’d say that Castiel has a lot of growing and learning to do – he’s still working out the differences between “bigger picture” thinking and balancing that with “there is a right and there is a wrong here”, Sam is making progress from hard lessons learned and can provide a voice to advocate the merits of honesty, and Dean… just marches to the tune of his own drummer. And they can all take a lesson from the example a little boy just set for them.

You’d be handy in a fight, kid.
What if I don’t want to fight?

In the end, there was a solution none of them offered Jesse that he found for himself: he chose to remove himself from the equation. He didn’t have to fight, to be Darkside OR a superhero. He found a third option.

We’ve been saying all along as concerns Sam and Dean’s supposed “destinies” that they need to choose for themselves who they are and what they do. Maybe it’s not about who’s the most honest or the biggest liar, but just about trying to make the best choice with the information you have on hand.

Final note on the episode:

I won’t go without my mom or dad.

No one gave the mom or dad a choice in the matter. And this is now a family divided. I wonder if that’s going to come back up at some point, considering Kripke’s been saying that family is one of the themes of this season. Isolation makes a person vulnerable. And Jesse IS just a kid. So unless Jesse zapped himself out of existence, we may be seeing him again. Speculation only, but I’d be interested in knowing for sure what Jesse did with himself. The difference between tragic closure (“We destroyed that kid’s life”) and unfinished business.

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 02:24:23 GMT

I get new Castle tonight. Yay!

Fall is very beautiful in these parts, all ORANGE and YELLOW and RED. Yay!

Congestion gathering up in my lungs. BOO!

Don't want. Can't afford to get sick, dammit.

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 20:11:05 GMT

An extra thought on SPN 5.05

Because I want to give Sam credit where due, and this thought has been niggling my brain until I finally focused on it…

I think I missed this on my first pass through the episode because my head was still ringing from the “Dean needs to adjust his attitude” anvil that we got whacked with. Part of what left me feeling a bit uneven on how the approach and resolution of that was handled was it felt a bit one-sided. Yes, Dean needed to make some changes in his approach to their partnership. I already discussed that, so I won’t rehash that side of it.

But what about Sam? What changes in approach is he personally making, contributing to the compromise that all successful partnerships need?

Maybe I’m going to give too much credit to the writing in going with this line of thought. But 1) the writers do usually love their parallels and mirrors, whether they are opposite or shared reflections; and 2) two quotes from Sam at the episode’s bookends have stuck with me, leaving me with the hope that maybe it means what I think it means.

First quote up:

So, what’s with this job? … We got bigger problems, don’t you think?
I’m sure the Apocalypse will still be there when we get back.
Right. Yeah. But I mean, if the Colt is really out there somewhere-
We’ve been looking for three weeks, we’ve got bubkiss.
Okay, but Dean, if we’re going to ice the Devil-

This red-flagged my attention, because dammit Sam, have you learned nothing about tunnel vision and where it can lead you? Where’s the change? Tunnel vision was the path of revenge, and last episode you claimed to want redemption, not revenge. This means shifting from thinking only about the “bigger picture”, because in the meantime the little picture guys are still getting eaten up by monsters, and they need saving too.

So. Then Dean is a jackass, Sam calls him out on it, Dean rethinks his behavior and admits that he was wrong. He backed up his apology with actions by handing over his keys to Sam. Yada yada.

Sam followed his acceptance of Dean’s apology with this bit that red-flagged my attention, because it sounded like Dean’s words, only they were coming out of Sam’s mouth.

So where do we go from here?
The way I see it, we got one shot at surviving this… Maybe I am on deck for the Devil, maybe the same with you and Michael, maybe there’s no changing that.
Well, that’s encouraging.
But we can stop wringing our hands over it. We gotta just grab onto whatever’s in front of us, kick its ass, and go down fighting.

Sam seems to have made his own attitude adjustment, accepting that he needs to be more open about jobs that take him away from focusing solely on the Colt/way to maybe kill Lucifer. Dean may have been an ass about how he handled it, but he made the right call in taking this job, because Sam apparently got reminded just what ALL of the job entails – that it’s not only about fighting Destiny, but about fighting to protect the little people. He figured it out, and I’m proud of him for making that change in his own attitude.

Here's the balance the boys bring to each other -- sometimes they need to call the other out on something, and sometimes the message comes from leading by example.

Now here’s to hoping that I’m right on this read, and that he doesn’t backslide on this change.

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 00:56:55 GMT

SPN 5.05 Fallen Idols

You can always tell a real friend: when you make a fool of yourself, he doesn’t feel you’ve done a permanent job.
-- Lawrence Peter

Two issues are at play between Dean and Sam this episode, trust and partnership.

Dean has trouble engaging in a partnership without trust. He demonstrates it by being an ass. It’s not just this episode, with Sam. Think back when he first met Castiel, and what kind of behavior he exhibited to him. Those early days were marked by Dean throwing in-your-face bad attitude at Castiel. The turning point for when his behavior started to soften up, treating Castiel as a friend, etc, came when he actually started to trust Castiel. Trust that Castiel earned – the hard way. Proof, actions, choices. Yes, Castiel made some misjudgements along the way, but ultimately he proved himself to Dean’s satisfaction.

So is it any surprise, really, that Sam being in the trust doghouse, got this:

World’s smallest violin, pal.

I think we still got some trust building to do.

How long am I going to be on double secret probation?
Until I say so.

Now, quite honestly my own reaction to Sam pushing for trust Right! Now! stems from a similar inner place that I think Dean’s does. He hasn’t earned it. Being sorry – however full and genuine it is – doesn’t equate with putting in the effort and time to earn trust. And no, I’m not talking about starting the Apocalypse. I’m talking about the year of repeated lies and sneaking out, continuing to lie when confronted with said dishonesty, etc. So yeah, I’m petty enough to actually beat Dean to the punch in telling my TV screen “world’s smallest violin”, Sam.

However. Sam was right.

… if we’re going to be a team, you and I, it has to be a two-way street.

They can’t function as partners without putting trust on the table. Since Dean committed to working with Sam, he has to honor the spirit of that commitment. If it’s just not possible for Dean, then they shouldn’t be working together.

Sam’s different from Dean because he finds it easier to act in accord with someone even if trust is a limited thing. (Cue how Ruby got her opening with him in the first place.) So, as much as I kinda called Sam a passive-aggressive little bitch during the episode, I’ll say it again – within the context of working together as partners and rebuilding what’s been damaged between them, he was right. Holding a grudge and engaging in petty “how’s it feel to be on the other end of being shut out” behavior doesn’t help one bit.

As much as Dean can be (and in this episode was) a jackass – I hope Sam realized how lucky he is to have him. Because after everything that went down last year, very few people would be as gracious in apologizing as Dean was.

Point is, I was so worried about watching your every move that I didn’t see what it was actually doing to you. So for that I’m sorry.

Now if Sam ever tries to apologize to Dean again I hope he shows the same deeper understanding of the personal damage that’s being addressed. Because I’ve heard him make a blanket apology, several times, for starting the Apocalypse. For being wrong. But I have not heard him address the personal damage HE contributed to the broken bond. Heck, Dean’s extreme bitchy behavior is the manifestation of that damage.

Fortunately, neither boy sees the other as having done a permanent job of turning themselves into untenable fools. Both have made mistakes with each other. But they’re both willing to work together to fix it and become something better.

That’s all the hope I need on this show.

Random final notes:

Aww, Dean and his relationship with cars… he cut it perilously close to stepping out on his Baby. Lol.

So apparently we now have one Pagan god that is A-Ok with the Apocalypse. And whose fatal flaw was Ego and Pride. Willing to steal the idolatry from wearing a false face to get more. Theme of the season, Pride is.

The fourth wall jabs were hysterical. I laughed out loud several times. And Paris, to give her credit, was a good sport about the roasting.

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:39:14 GMT

Criminal Minds last night:

Reid v. Garcia, with the "very smart girl" for the win = me LOLing.

Also, umm Reid... didja think Hotch wouldn't catch you upgrading your doctor's orders? Because the man may totally put unreal expectations on himself, but he keeps an eagle eye out on y'all, and you know it. I love how Reid was just caught out and benched. No big drama, just.. yup. You're with Garcia, not on the plane.

You know what? I'm surprised at how much Rossi is pushing to protect Hotch from his own psyche. And I don't know why. He's shown himself to be aware and even concerned about the welfare of the team members before, but this just seems to be a new level of directness he's exhibiting. I approve. A LOT. Maybe it's because this time he knows that Hotch is senior to the rest of the team so it's not like their concern for him will get through on the same level as the words/advice coming from someone Hotch is more inclined to see as an equal, possibly even senior. And it's not preaching at Hotch telling him what's best for him, but rather letting him know that 1) he is cared for and having his back watched, and 2) learn from MY mistakes (instead of "you're making a mistake").

And the mirroring of the Hotch/Reid thing with the Rossi/Hotch thing -- they ARE a family and they are totally looking out for each other, in their own unique ways. I wouldn't have it any other way.

The gore was unusally high in this ep, even for this show. I did have to look away from the TV screen for a few moments during... THOSE scenes.

New SPN tonight! Whee!!!

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:43:10 GMT

Lie to Me last night:

James Marsters guest-starring! Hi thar!!! Did a double take since there was no "Spike" to his voice or demeanor. Too bad he didn't survive. I was kinda thinking he'd make a good recurring -- not a bad guy, but someone who nonetheless can keep things from being too easy for the wifey and co.

Most of the time I'm not terribly impressed by a show taking a case and making it So VERY Personal -- but this time, I actually liked very much how they pulled that off. The difficulty of straddling that fine line between protecting your teen daughter, making sure she's able to protect herself, and being able to communicate your fears, feelings, etc with each other. Well done, show.

Also interesting how they handled the subject of seeming sexual assault, and who was the victim -- turns out it's possible to have both parties be victims and nobody wins, not really. The girl wasn't a skank (although she was a tool), and the boy was a randy young man who could have been more careful but didn't knowingly do wrong. Also -- If you want to avoid certain labels or impressions by others, you might want to carefully consider who you call friend. You are who you associate with, to a certain extent.

Now I'd like to see them do a little more with Torres and Basement Boy. Since I can't even remember his name, that kinda makes my point there.

and Castle last night:

Awwwww, everyone's ready to call Rick that stereotypical lech with a penchant for hot chicks (which, okay, he IS), but turns out he does have a gallant side. Not only with the NOT pursuing said model after discovering her identity, but bringing her under his wing via his daughter, instead of playing sugar daddy figure. Well played, Castle!

Kinda saw the guilty husband coming, if only because the photographer was too obvious. Still, kinda wish they had gotten something concrete on him to bust him with. It's an ugly world the beautiful people live in, that's for sure.

Beckett was ticked about not getting an advance copy? HA!!!! That cracks me up.

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:37:04 GMT

Just another random thought on SPN's 5.04

Dean's description of Lucifer.

I know what you are… You’re the same thing, only bigger. The same brand of cockroach I would squash in my own life. An ugly, evil belly-to-the-ground supernatural piece of crap. The only difference between them and you is the size of your ego.

The Serpent from the Garden of Eden aspect of the "belly-to-the-ground" part of the descriptor is obvious.

But it struck me that isn't there an additional level of wordplay possible?

How are cowards usually described? Yellowed bellied, yes? Also various incarnations of this, belly crawling, etc.

Did Dean just call out Lucifer for being a COWARD?!?!

Ha!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now for further comparison of this whole Dean calling out a monster on their ego and So Mizundastood!!! crap we can go back to Monster Movie.

Shifter: Everywhere I ran, everywhere I tried to hide, people found me, dragged me out, attacked me. Called me "freak," called me "monster." Then I found... them. The great monsters. In their movies, they were strong, they were feared. They were beautiful. And now I am like them. Commanding. Terrifying.

Kinda like Lucifer's "boo-hoo, I'm being called a monster" spiel.

Dean: You do realize what happens at the end of every monster movie?
Shifter: Ah. But this movie is mine. And in it, the monster wins.

So confident that he's got control over the outcome. Ego and pride on full display.

And yet we all know how that ended. No wonder Dean says that Lucifer's just the same thing, different day. And while the shifter was too yellow-bellied to put himself out there as an adult and find someone to alleviate his loneliness through legitimate means, at least he had the guts to name himself for the monster that he acted as.

Lucifer is too cowardly to look in the mirror and see his own true reflection, too caught up in the blinding self-service of his own perceptions. Doesn't have the guts to look at his own actions and consequences and think that maybe, maybe he's wrong to do what he's doing.

I dunno. But I know that it tickles me to think that Dean sees him as a cowardly monster bent on damning the human race because of his own screwed up perceptions. Now I hope Dean or Sam gets a chance to call him a coward to his face in THIS timeline. It just seems like an amusingly arbitrary reaction the usual pain, despair and temptation he usually presents to his victims.

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 18:35:36 GMT

SPN 5.04 The End

There is no witness so dreadful, no accuser so terrible, as the conscience that dwells in the heart of every man.
-- Polybius

I stole this quote from this week’s Criminal Minds -- my shows have got to stop mirroring each other, or analysis bleed will start happening, lol.

Conscience. What is it that separates man from animal? Our ability to choose, to make decisions. Animals are subject to their instincts, and outside the mores of morality because they cannot even comprehend it.

What is the difference between a man and a monster? Conscience. Or lack thereof.

But then where does Fate step into it? Because if our actions and choices are only subject to Fate, then doesn’t that remove the whole conscience issue? Do what is inevitable -- responsibility for the choices made is negated by the cheat that it wasn’t really a choice, after all.

Sorta the question of the hour, really.

Let’s see if I can keep this short and sweet (for me).

Your choices have consequences.

Here’s the thing: the angels - Lucifer included - cannot have it both ways. Zachariah keeps jumping between telling Dean there is no choice, this is what MUST happen. Except when he’s berating Dean for making the wrong choice, because the irritating son of a bitch keeps holding to his own choice.

Lucifer is going for the absolute sell: this is what WILL happen. Must happen, will happen, blah blah blah. Funny how he had to make a choice to directly disobey a Divine directive that ticked him off, smarted his pride, and how he’s choosing to further his disapproval and disobedience to the point of attempting to exterminate his Father’s most beloved creation (according to him). Again – can’t have it both ways. So words cannot express how thrilled I was to finally have someone call him out on his bullshit and name him for the monster that he is. Because if "it’s not what you are, it’s what you do", then attempting to commit genocide of the entire species of the human race over bent-out pride makes a monster in my book. Thank you Dean, for calling it.

You’re not fooling me, you know that? With this sympathy for the devil crap. I know what you are… You’re the same thing, only bigger. The same brand of cockroach I would squash in my own life. An ugly, evil belly-to-the-ground supernatural piece of crap. The only difference between them and you is the size of your ego.

Interesting wording. Lucifer calling humans the monsters, Dean responding by telling Lucifer that he’s the bigger monster - the kind of monster he hunts Every Single Day. Bigger, to be sure, but just one more of the same old, same old. In short, he denies Lucifer any specialness, even in category of opponent. Have I mentioned how much I love this guy?

I know you won’t [stop]. I know you won’t say Yes to Michael either. And I know you won’t kill Sam. Whatever you do, you will always end up here.

On the surface Lucifer has a better handle on Dean than Zachariah. Except for one thing he underestimates. It seems to me that he's counting on Dean continuing to say No to Michael as his own safety net from defeat. Because Dean's just a human, in the end. No special powers of his own, right?

These people count on you, they trust you!
They trust me to kill the Devil and to save the world. And that’s exactly what I’m going to do.

Back to trust. There is a power Lucifer discounts Dean as possessing, which is ironic considering his own modus operadus of persuasion.

People trust him. Count on him. We saw it back in 5.01 when he made that speech in Bobby's hospital room about how the angels and demons can just find another planet, this one is theirs and he'll kick all their butts for messing with the humans. Sure, Bobby called him crazy. But both he and Sam also were comforted by it. Responded to it. In short - he's got influence over those around him. He is also influenced by those around him. Part of that checks and balances thing.

You don’t trust yourself?
Absolutely not.

There we are. And really, it's just one more mirror of the boys. FutureDean is unable to trust. His biggest problem. Going it solo, trusting no one, not completely. Not even himself. Part of Dean’s problem, really, isn’t about not trusting Sam. It’s about doubting himself, in the here and now. Terrified that he’s making the wrong choices, but trying to do what he believes is necessary, regardless. Take this issue and give it five years' growth.

The end result? Both Dean and Sam broken. No longer themselves. Sam apparently broke by giving up the fight and his humanity, saying Yes. Dean broke by giving up his humanity in the name of continuing to fight.

Inevitable? Yeah right. Back to conscience. Throw trust into the mix.

There’s got to be another way.
Yeah, that’s what I thought… I’m begging you, say Yes. But you won’t. ‘Cause I didn’t. Because that’s just not us, is it?

So Dean does the math. If he won't say Yes, because he just can't be false to himself, then what's left?

Divided we fall. Leaving:

Oh, I learned a lesson, alright. Just not the one you wanted to teach.

United we stand.

I just know that we’re all we’ve got. More than that - we keep each other human.

So what do we do now?
We make our own future.

Dean is going to trust that he and Sam can turn their greatest weakness (family) into their greatest strength. Trust that while they've each had their falls from grace in this department, they have learned from their mistakes. Still terrified that this might cost the world everything. But he’s standing as witness to the worst he can become. The worst Sam can become. And he does not want that for either of them. Time to trust his own gut that choice matters and the lifelong tenet that family should stick together. Now he's betting the fate of the world on it.

Just a final note here to say that Jensen Ackles kicked ass playing his duel roles. And thank you TPTB for not going with the cliche of putting FutureDean in very different clothes or hair or the obvious scar to create the distinction between the two Deans. For trusting the performances to speak for themselves. It worked for me. Huzzah. Mmmm.

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 01:17:53 GMT

Castle night:

So Much FUN!!!

The betting, the race to solve the crime, the punishment if you lost... The slightly abashed "Are we actually hoping that a murder DOESN'T get solved?"

Castle having "proper English word usage" issues -- LOVE.

And for bonus the women on this show are just as smart and liable to put together the pieces and call the guys out on their crap when needed ("stop staring at the girls").

This show is a delight. Banter and partnerships and friendships and family. It makes me feel good to watch it.

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:03:36 GMT

My new job has definitely taken a bite out of how much computer time I have access to, because I'm working several more hours a week, and we are not allowed to use the internet for personal use, not even on our break time. So -- SPN reaction posts are here on out going to run a couple of days late. Dems the breaks.

SPN 5.03 Free to be You and Me

Holy crap. I don’t even know where to begin. There’s so much I’m not even going to get to in this episode commentary – I know I’ll be referring back to this one later. A lot.

So.

Freedom. Chains. Family draaaaaama. You know things are bad when the angels have worse daddy issues than the Winchester boys.

Let’s talk about family. Interesting juxtaposition in how it’s depicted as being both a path to freedom and the ties that bind.

Dean. Man, has he got issues coming up to the surface, for the first time in… ever, that he’s let himself acknowledge.

It’s been a long time since I’ve laughed that hard. It’s been more than a long time. Years.

I spent so much time worrying about [Sam]… I mean, I’ve had more fun with you in the past 24 hours than I’ve had with Sam in years… I’ve been so chained to my family, but now that I’m alone… hell, I’m happy.

When humans want something really, really bad, we lie.

Let’s break this down. Dean claims that he’s never felt so free, despite the threat of angel possession breathing down his neck. He seems to be in the process of rebelling against all claims on him, even Sam’s. And yet what does he do? Ironic how he doesn’t see that he’s turned Castiel into that family he feels compelled to help and look out for – be it educating Castiel on the art of lying or trying to get his adopted little brother figure laid, or counseling Castiel when seeing his doubts and flagging hope. Or simply responding to a direct plea for help, because he is shown trust that he’ll do just that.

I need your help. Because you are the only one who will help me. Please.

Maybe there’s the real key to Dean’s disconnect from his conscious feelings about his family vs. what’s there underneath. He confuses a moment of badly needed laughter (factor into the math those 40 years in hell, and umm. Yeah) with freedom from family. But he was happy WITH Castiel (aka adopted brother figure), not alone. Dean was right about one thing, though – when humans want something really, really bad, what do they often do? Dean’s lying to himself right now, because he wants to believe he’s okay, that he’s happier alone without the ties that bind.

So what’s the real difference in why he’s responding to Castiel and rejecting Sam? In a word: Trust. There are a lot of reasons, really, but this is one of the big ones. Castiel came to him for help, trusting him to have his back. But it’s not just that. He sees trust in a different form being exhibited by Castiel. Back in 4.22 Dean told Castiel to believe in his own sense of right and wrong, and not to just take Zachariah’s word on it. Castiel did just that, and acted on it. And now:

There were times when I was looking for my dad when all logic said that he was dead. But I knew, in my heart, that he was still alive. Who cares what some ninja turtle says, Cas. What do you believe?

Dean thinks it’s crazy, but it doesn’t stop him from advocating that Castiel trust himself. He’s consistent in this regard – screw “rational”, go with your gut. I can’t help thinking this is something Sam could benefit from hearing, right about now.

Trust has become such a fragile and precious commodity in their world. But it makes for one heck of a protection when it can be tapped into. Look at the other side of the coin: Raphael wants to drag Dean off to Michael so he can become possessed. Talk about true chains negating one’s sense of self.

I take it that’s not Raphael anymore.
Just an empty vessel.
So is that what I’m looking at if Michael jumps my bones?
No, not at all. Michael is much more powerful. It’ll be far worse for you.

Dean’s gut has told him HELL NO to the idea of angelic possession. His trust in his own gut has protected him being turned into a shell to be used as a tool by the angels playing their own game of rebellion against daddy.

Two Big Brothers: Dean and Raphael. What do they have in common, and what’s different?

Raphael has written off his little brother Castiel as a wayward rebel who is delusional at best in his current course of action. Ouch to that mirror of Dean. I think we got our first real reason why Dean needs to do some attitude adjusting of his own in how he looks at the bigger picture of his relationship with Sam. It’s not just the rejection of his brother – it’s the timing. Sucks that the first time he’s letting himself take a breather from his family and letting himself feel the hurt and distrust, etc., and now I’m saying he’s got to suck it up and be better than that. But … bigger picture. Same thing I said about Sam last week; turnabout is fair play. Dean has shown himself to be the bigger man in the stakes of considering what’s best for all – he needs to take that to the next level now.

On the flip side of the coin, the biggest contrast between Raphael and Dean comes down to this:

There’s no other explanation. He’s gone for good… Who ran off and disappeared. Who left no instructions and a world to run… This is funny to you? You’re living in a Godless universe.
And? What, you and the other kids just decided to throw an apocalypse while he’s gone?
We’re tired. We just want it to be over. We just want… Paradise.
So what, God dies and makes you the boss and you think you can do whatever you want?
Yes! And whatever we want, we get!

Both have felt abandoned by their respective fathers, both have been exhausted to the point of just wanting everything over with. But – let me go back a second, all the way back to S1.

Sam: A closure? What closure? People don’t just disappear, Dean. Other people just stop looking for them.
Dean: Something you want to say to me?
Sam: The trail for dad—It’s getting colder every day.
Dean: Exactly, so what are we supposed to do?
Sam: I don’t know. Something, anything.
Dean: You know what? I’m sick of this attitude. You don’t think I wanna find dad as much as you do?
Sam: Yeah, I know you do, it’s just—
Dean: I’m the one that’s been with him every single day for the past two years, while you’ve been off to college going to pep rallies. We will find dad, but until then, we’re gonna kill everything bad between here and there. Okay? (1.03 Dead in the Water)

Dean keeps looking out for the world, not just his own interests. I’m getting a lot of mileage out of this, but it’s the basic attitude that informs his decisions when it comes to acting on his declaration from Lucifer Rising, when he passionately advocated for protection of man from the machinations of the angels and demons: There is a right and there is a wrong here, and you know it!

Judging by Raphael’s angry outburst at the end, Dean hit a nerve. Because it’s not right to get what you want at the expense of others. And deep down Raphael probably knows it. But hey – back to “when humans want something really, really bad, we lie.” Humans aren’t the only ones who do this.

Just take a look at Lucifer, and his approach to Sam.

He starts out wearing the face of a lie – Jessica’s face instead of his own/vessel’s. He guilt-trips Sam, then tells him he can’t change, than says he wants to give Sam “a gift. I want to give you everything.” Sam rejects him at every point.

People can change. There is reason for hope.

Lucifer switches tactics, apologizes to Sam and then plays the destiny card.

I will never lie to you. I will never trick you. But you will say Yes to me… It had to be you, Sam. It always had to be you.

Lucifer really, really wants to get inside Sam’s skin. Presenting the idea of giving a “gift” to Sam – when we find out what it is? Possession. Judging by what we learned of Raphael’s possession, and Castiel’s assessment of what would happen to Dean if he gives his consent… Yeah. Not even close to a gift. He’s studying Sam, watching his reactions, shifting his argument points in trying to get that consent.

Bringing us to the Little Brothers Mirror of Sam and Castiel.

Castiel was encouraged by Dean to trust his own gut, to believe in himself, no matter if Dean himself or Raphael or anyone else thought he was crazy. And he’s doing this, as scary and alone and unsure of everything as he is. And the one rock he’s clinging to is his substitute big brother. He’s committed to being in it with Dean, come what may.

Sam? He made a statement of hope. Now he’s got to trust his own gut, and believe in himself. Not taking Lucifer’s, or other angry hunters, or even Dean’s words about his trustworthiness over his own faith in himself. This may end up being the biggest challenge of all: Lucifer playing the destiny card on Sam, because that’s the thing that tripped him up last year, listening to the outside voice tell him what “the truth” is, instead of listening to his heart, and trusting that to lead him true.

But he’s made a real beginning – believing that he can change. Now he needs to trust the right person be his family and rock of support.

Because when you choose your family those ties that bind are a two-way street, and ropes can be used to pull one up just as much as they can tie a person down.

Whew! Okay -- two final things I'm just noting because I'm curious about:
1. Twice now Castiel has gotten Dean's whereabouts from others since carving those sigels onto his ribs. He called Sam in 5.02, and here he called Bobby. Why not call Dean directly?
2. Twice in this episode Castiel asked about Sam, evincing a nonspecifically verbalized concern for the state of separation between Sam and Dean. Hmm. As much as Castiel is dealing with his own family rebellion and adoption issues... this is interesting. I wonder what it means.

Okay, now I'm off to read everyone else's reactions!

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:46:53 GMT

Criminal Minds season premiere last night:

Okay, first off -- I screwed up my DVR recording, so I only got the 2nd half of the ep. *cue exhausted anger* That being said -- that was enough to catch up and understand everything that happened. I think.

Colored me truly shocked. I did not expect them to go there with Hotch. What was it I was saying earlier about SPN, and how few shows actually "go there" in terms of having a strong, masculine character be the victim of assault, with the psychological implications of rape? Not happening on network TV. Not very often at all. But CM went there. Wow.

I am just hurting so bad for Hotch -- he's clearly going to have some serious mental issues and stresses.

The good news: he has a team that completely has his back. Something Mr. Unsub probably underestimates, because sociopaths like that just can't understand it. I knew the unsub would want to break Hotch, but DAMN. Just saying again -- I'm still shocked the writers went there that explicitly. DUUUUUDDEEE.

*HUGS HOTCH HARD*

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 02:08:14 GMT

Spoiler-free reaction to Castle's premiere last night: I adore this show. This show is such a happy show to visit. It makes Mondays worth it.

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:57:41 GMT

So I survived my first day at my new job. :)

However, there's one thing -- at the end of the day I went for the new employee drug screening test, and I forgot to note to them on the paperwork that I did take Nyquil last night. Now I'm feeling paranoid that that's going to screw up my results. OMG I must be a secret junkie! Lol.

Also -- I discovered that I will not have internet access at work. AT ALL. Not for breaks, nada. So. This means that my computer time will be far more limited these days, and my SPN reviews will definitely be running a couple of days late. Which sucks, because that means I'll need to avoid everyone's comments until I get my own thoughts down unbiased by reactions of the F-list. Ah well. Priorities, right?

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 19:53:18 GMT

A thought struck me in the middle of the night last night, and now I can't quite shake it. About Sam and Dean parallels. Maybe I'm just smoking the really good stuff, I dunno.

This exchange between War and Sam, looking past the confirmation of what's going on with Sam -- there's another level possibly at play here.

Sam: I'm gonna kill you myself.
War: That's adorable. Especially since you're my poster child... Save your protests for your brother. I can see inside your head.

How does War operate? By "removing inhibitions".

Cue Sam's slide to hell, so to speak, turning into a monster.

But wait. This isn't about that bad rotten Sam. The opposite, actually. Looking for that parallel, the mirroring character. Bigger picture sense.

Did the "mentor" vibe hit anyone else in how War addressed Sam?

Back up to last year.

Alastair to Dean: You can't run, not from me. I'm inside that angsty little noggin of yours. (4.15)

Alastair: You have not disappointed me so far... I carved you into a new animal,Dean. There is no going back. (4.16)

So. Both of them had a very powerful figure who worked to remove their inhibitions, turn them into monsters. Got into their heads far enough to actually get results.

Alastair said there was no going back. But we've seen Dean come back from that. It's been a painful process, but he stuck it out and has chosen to be Dean Winchester, NOT Alastair's poster child for man turned monster.

So. Now it's Sam's turn. And like it took Dean a little bit of time to work through some of his denial and repression issues, so too Sam appears to be needing these first couple of episodes to start setting aside his own self-denial. I'm guessing that if the mirror continues to hold Sam's still a work in progress in the matter of coming back from his fall from grace. But he'll get there.

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:41:09 GMT

The Vampire Diaries last night: Well. There were fewer montages. That was an improvement.

Damon manages to bring a charisma to his presence that is enjoyable to watch.

Umm. That’s all I got, I think. Still dragged on the pacing, still far too cliché and obvious. So much bad acting. Oh my. IF I keep watching it’ll be simply to watch the bad boy strut his stuff.

SPN 5.02 Good God, Y’All!

Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance.
-- Samuel Johnson

Clever, clever play on the episode title. I love it so hard – misdirect us into thinking it refers to Castiel and his newfound mission, only to realize that it’s from the song War, and DUH! *flails with squee* Yeah, I was a bit slow on the uptake until we got the reveal of who the Big Bad of the episode was.

War has an interesting MO, and it called back to DemonCasey’s words from Sin City.

I barely lifted a finger.
That's it?
You don't get it. All you got to do is nudge humans in the right direction.

War, genocide --it's only getting worse. This past century, you people racked up a body count that amazed even us. It's our turn now, and we're gonna do it right this time.

Now War’s words:

I really haven’t had to do too much. I mean, take out a bridge here, lay in a little hallucination there. Sit back, pop some corn, watch the show. Frankly, you are really vicious little animals, Sam… All I do is remove inhibitions.

He’s not killing anyone. He’s not the monster. We are. Well, according to him. Providing a nudge to opportunity and motives, and what does he get?

They think we’re demons, we think they’re demons. What if there are no demons at all and we’re just killing each other?

It’s sickening, on deeper thought. The body count that was racked up in that town, and every single body was an innocent person, and everyone who killed thought it was in self-defense. So easy to get caught up in the pack mentality instead of stepping back, thinking things through and trying to make sure of the facts before taking action. Ignorance kills.

Case in point: Sam.

Now, I’m commenting on Sam in the spirit of tough love. He messed up. Not just last year, but here on this case. How so?

I had to slit some kid’s throat… I just wish I could save people, like I used to.

Back in that Quickie Mart, when he killed those supposedly possessed kids with the demon-killing knife. What usually happens when it’s used to ice a demon? We get the flashy light show. This time there wasn’t. It acted as a regular knife. And Sam didn’t notice. Their first real big clue that could have helped them figure things out more quickly, and he failed to see what was right in front of him. Too distracted by his own issues.

Callback to Pam and Chuck’s warnings to him last year, and how he went so wrong.

If you think you have good intentions… think again. (4.15)

… If that’s what this is.
What else would it be?
I don’t know. Maybe the demon blood makes you feel stronger. More in control.
No. That’s not true. (4.18)

Now Sam gets to say adios to his denial. He’s forced to dig deeper into his own motives – and he’s finally seeing what he should have seen earlier. Two seers tried to clue him in. Now War jumps on the train, albeit just to twist the knife.

Save your protests for your brother. I can see inside your head. And man, it is one track city in there. Blood, blood, blood. Lust for power. Same as always. You want to be strong again. But not just strong. Stronger than everybody. Good intentions, quick slide to hell, buddy boy.

Summary of Sam’s past year in a nutshell.

Of the good? Sam finally starts to be honest with himself, and seeing that the problem of what’s gone wrong goes deeper than being wrong about killing Lilith and breaking the final seal.

The problem’s not the demon blood… The problem’s me. How far I’ll go. There’s something in me that scares the hell out of me…
So what are you saying?
I’m in no shape to be hunting. I need to step back. I’m dangerous. Maybe it’s best if we go our separate ways.

Remember my tough love position? Here’s some more. He’s right – he’s not in great shape to be fighting the fight right now. We saw that with his failure to catch on that the kids he killed were not possessed. In terms of dealing with his “addiction” issues, he’s making the right call. He’s doing what’s best for him.

But.

SAM YOU FRIGGING IDIOT!!!

These are not “normal circumstances”. He helped unleash the Apocalypse. And now he’s going to back off and let everyone else clean up the mess? Seriously? He’s going to leave Dean to fight alone because he’s “dangerous”? He just CONFIRMS to Dean (from Dean’s perspective) that Dean was right to believe he can’t count on Sam to have his back because off Sam goes to do what he’s got to do and he wonders why Dean doesn’t try to hold onto him and keep him as a partner?

SERIOUSLY?

Because it’s going to be too hard for Sam to worry about whether he’s doing the right thing?

Newsflash, Sam. Dean’s got the same damn problem on his plate. You know, with the whole wanted by the Angels and refusal to play ball with them. With wondering how the hell he’s supposed to fight this impossible war, and … let me jump back to the top of the episode for a moment.

Your plan to kill Lucifer –
Yeah, you want to help?
No. It’s foolish. It can’t be done.
Oh, well thanks for the support.

I can’t even fathom how alone Dean must feel right now. Castiel is off doing his own mission, Bobby is mired in his pity party and physically benched from being an active partner, and now Sam.

I don’t even know what to say. Time to man up, Sammy, spank your inner moppet, and get your ass back in gear. You don’t trust yourself? Fine. Fair enough. Question yourself, but do the damn job. The world has bigger problems that aren’t going to come with any easy answers. Period.

*ahem* I may have vented a little there. Hopefully it doesn’t take Sam too long to figure this out for himself.