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tea_and_inkso. much. love.
Here is a meta that echoes my thoughts on the episode, and so I'll be lazy and link to it instead of pretending to come up with something original.
Though I will say that the balance this episode hit, in terms of structure, really stood up for me. The light-hearted premise (though obscure in terms of origin as it was for the majority of the episode) was masterfully explained when it came time to, you know, explain what was really going on. Throughout the episode I never worried to think about what the hell was going on, how was this situation even possible, and I'm kind of grateful that I wasn't, it means the story of these "new" characters was engrossing and interesting and I cared about them. Also? hi Sam-without-a-superiority-complex! how nice to see you.
Loved the suspenders. But mostly I loved how it was an interesting and original way of taking Dean home, of telling him this is what you do, this is who you are. You're not Sam's protector, you're not John's little soldier, you're not Hell's torturer, no, you're Dean Winchester the hunter. Period. And this is why you are the one who can stop the apocalypse. Sam was also stellar, in all of his relaxed boy glory, still with the weird dreams but this has always been a defining characteristic of our Sammy, as well as his ability to connect to people and his love for research, I may have made some victory arms when he showed up in Dean's office with half the road already legged with the link between the two victims, that was pure Sam.
Again, the balance between stand-alone and myth arc was marvelous, and I loved how the news of what was happening and why it was done was delivered without the regular handful of angst. I like the angst, but I also like the idea of psychologically functional heroes. It will take a while, a long while (I hope) for Dean and Sam to find common ground again, for their issues, both personal and with each other, to be smoothed out, but I'd like to believe that the first step in that direction has been taken. Much is said about how Sam and Dean need to sit down and have a heart-to-heart that would lead to a brotherly hug (in the more innocent minds) that would, in turn, make everything better, but it's not that simple. Before addressing the problems in their relationship, they need to deal with the problems they have with themselves, otherwise no rebuilding strategy will ever bridge the gaps in their relationship. They need to accept who they have become, and who the other has become before they can deal with whom they no longer are. They have both grown and changed so much in the last four seasons and their bond (totally typed BONG) is the only thing that has remained more or less unscathed, and it probably still is to a degree, however time has come for them open their eyes and see that since they are not who they were four years ago (hell, they're not who they were four months ago) their relationship cannot remain the same, it's some sort of chemical/physical impossibility.
Those are my two cents, anyway. Thoughts?
Here is a meta that echoes my thoughts on the episode, and so I'll be lazy and link to it instead of pretending to come up with something original.
Though I will say that the balance this episode hit, in terms of structure, really stood up for me. The light-hearted premise (though obscure in terms of origin as it was for the majority of the episode) was masterfully explained when it came time to, you know, explain what was really going on. Throughout the episode I never worried to think about what the hell was going on, how was this situation even possible, and I'm kind of grateful that I wasn't, it means the story of these "new" characters was engrossing and interesting and I cared about them. Also? hi Sam-without-a-superiority-complex! how nice to see you.
Loved the suspenders. But mostly I loved how it was an interesting and original way of taking Dean home, of telling him this is what you do, this is who you are. You're not Sam's protector, you're not John's little soldier, you're not Hell's torturer, no, you're Dean Winchester the hunter. Period. And this is why you are the one who can stop the apocalypse. Sam was also stellar, in all of his relaxed boy glory, still with the weird dreams but this has always been a defining characteristic of our Sammy, as well as his ability to connect to people and his love for research, I may have made some victory arms when he showed up in Dean's office with half the road already legged with the link between the two victims, that was pure Sam.
Again, the balance between stand-alone and myth arc was marvelous, and I loved how the news of what was happening and why it was done was delivered without the regular handful of angst. I like the angst, but I also like the idea of psychologically functional heroes. It will take a while, a long while (I hope) for Dean and Sam to find common ground again, for their issues, both personal and with each other, to be smoothed out, but I'd like to believe that the first step in that direction has been taken. Much is said about how Sam and Dean need to sit down and have a heart-to-heart that would lead to a brotherly hug (in the more innocent minds) that would, in turn, make everything better, but it's not that simple. Before addressing the problems in their relationship, they need to deal with the problems they have with themselves, otherwise no rebuilding strategy will ever bridge the gaps in their relationship. They need to accept who they have become, and who the other has become before they can deal with whom they no longer are. They have both grown and changed so much in the last four seasons and their bond (totally typed BONG) is the only thing that has remained more or less unscathed, and it probably still is to a degree, however time has come for them open their eyes and see that since they are not who they were four years ago (hell, they're not who they were four months ago) their relationship cannot remain the same, it's some sort of chemical/physical impossibility.
Those are my two cents, anyway. Thoughts?
