9.12, or, The Impala, aka the therapist's couch

[brightly_lit]

I actually quite liked this one. I wouldn't put it in the annals of great episodes, but I would put it WAY above last week's. I always adore Garth, I thought J2 did an AMAZING job handling the tension between the brothers throughout the episode, the direction was steady and careful. Little moments like Sam catching Dean lying about having info on the case and coolly snatching it out of his hand, Dean at the table with his cooked steak while everyone else eats raw entrails (and the good-Christian down-home family feel of it all), DJ Quall's amazing performance as Garth, all added to the pleasure of watching. Most of all, I felt like Glass managed to pull together and keep in focus a bunch of issues--the distance between the brothers, Dean's off-the-rails attitude these past few months, lingering feelings about Kevin--that have been all over the place and only haphazardly addressed in other episodes.

Again, if the MotW was being used as a metaphor for Sam and Dean (though all too often that falls by the wayside these days), then they're revisiting a question they've brought up before but never thoroughly addressed, which is, "What if the monster is a friend (or brother)? Can it be good? Do you kill it anyway?" If Dean is becoming a monster (or Sam, if we're really going end!verse--I still hold out hope for this, based on certain recent discussions at spn_bunker)--Dean, who was always the KILL IT! KILL IT NOW! guy--what then? Could get interesting.

Even if Sam and Dean's talk at the end was maddeningly vague (what exactly are these 'terms,' Sam?), I'm just happy they DID talk, the fact of something wrong between them was addressed frankly if carefully, Sam expressed himself and put his foot down a little, and HALLELUJAH, Sam finally called Dean on his "But we're family!" excuse for everything/cure-all/nerve tonic.

I seem to be the only person whose thoughts went this direction, but familiar-character Garth becoming a lovable monster who lives in a family of werewolves near Chicago, where the spin-off is supposed to take place, in which groups/families of hunters and monsters interact ... could it be that Garth will be a regular on the spin-off?? As far as I'm concerned, that would be pure awesomeness. (I think I did hear they intend to bring some more minor SPN characters over to the spin-off--Garth would be a great one for that.)

So anyway, yeah, I found it enjoyable and entertaining, even if the werewolf stuff seemed unnecessary and exposition-heavy. Which brings me to a curiosity: Why DO they seem to feel a need to "update" the lore on a monster pretty much every time it appears in a new episode? Regarding the episode, Adam Glass said on Twitter that after nine seasons, he felt it was "time" to introduce new werewolf mythology, and ... why? Because there have been SOOO many eps with the original werewolf mythology introduced in "Heart" that we're getting bored with it?? In fact, I think they've added something to the mythology (that may or may not fit in with what they've already presented) every single time we've seen werewolves, vampires, or shapeshifters (if only that the one in "Nightshifter" could shift much more quickly than the one they encountered before, which I took for a plotting convenience, but anyway ...). Hey, SPN writers, a) if the fans can write umpteen jillion fics about Sam and Dean encountering these classic monsters and still find something new to do with it, then you could, too, and b) fans LIKE knowing and being able to keep up with a (cohesive, consistent) mythology! We don't need a bunch of new crap thrown at us every single time we see a monster! In fact, if you relied on previously established mythology, you could spend less time on exposition. But I digress. On to more important matters, like ...

Was it just me, or is Dean looking extra amazing lately? Yeehaw! Maybe it's the extra-long stubble, mmm .... And the preview for next week!! Looks like they got my keep-Sam-in-one-layer memo!! YES.

Comments

[cuddyclothes.livejournal.com]

Yeah, another reviewer examined the "mythology" closely and there are so!many!things! wrong with it. But then if I thought about too hard, I'd get "when did demons get the power to throw the Winchesters against the wall?" "Is there a factory that makes angel blades? HOW COME THERE'S SO DAMN MANY OF 'EM?" "When did ghosts get the power to throw the Winchesters against the wall?" "When did everything get the power to throw the Winchesters against the wall, for that matter?"

Hey, SPN writers, a) if the fans can write umpteen jillion fics about Sam and Dean encountering these classic monsters and still find something new to do with it, then you could, too, and b) fans LIKE knowing and being able to keep up with a (cohesive, consistent) mythology! We don't need a bunch of new crap thrown at us every single time we see a monster! In fact, if you relied on previously established mythology, you could spend less time on exposition. But I digress.

BWAAHAAAHAA!

Thank God they got your keep-Sam-one-layer and went you one better! Shorts AND a tank top!!

[brightly-lit.livejournal.com]

"Is there a factory that makes angel blades?"

RIGHT?? It's getting ridiculous.

Shorts AND a tank top!

Yeeees ....

[alexisjane.livejournal.com]

I'm having many many thoughts. Imma go have a think.

Also, YES! Dean is looking especially fine in the last few eps and I don't know what the one layer thing is and do not watch any promo stuff of anykind (it better not be a spoiler *hard stare*) so I am greatly looking forward to Tuesday to find out what the hell that's about : ) x

[brightly-lit.livejournal.com]

septembers_coda and I were just giggling over at the Bunker that we have to treat one of the boys being in but one layer as a spoiler. SPOILER! You will see ... things ... regarding the boys. Things will be seen! (Is that unspoilery enough for you? Actually, it sounds dirtier even than I intended! Which will only pique your curiosity the more ....) *looks up innocently* ;->

[alexisjane.livejournal.com]

a) I'm not buying the innocent face for one minute.
b) I'm not buying that you didn't mean that to sound that filthy and
c) Hey! Don't mock my Obsessive Compulsive fear of spoilers! : P
On the couple of occasions where I've gotten suckered into looking at a pic as it's "only of their face, doesn't give anything away" it's utterly ruined the ep for me as there's no such thing where the boys are concerned! I live in fear of the accidental gif or Kripke interview quote. Actually bloody Robert Singer was the worst for that, could not keep a plot line in his pants for five minutes!
Anyway.
I believe I may have seen a Sam wearing what I can only imagine is 'one layer' on pinterest and although I can't say I'm not...curious...as to whether or not there will be nipplage given that the one layer looks mighty flimsy, I'm really hoping that there will be some naked Dean action at least once this season. Yes, with butt cheeks...I live in hope.
As for Dean looking so hot so suddenly, might have a little something to do with actor of said role finally getting a storyline that he can get his teeth into. He has looked bored out of his mind since ep 1. Thankfully I'm anticipating dark times ahead, which is super awesome for everyone, esp. if we're managing to turn you Sam Girls ; ) x

[brightly-lit.livejournal.com]

What? You don't trust this face? *bats eyelashes*

Robert Singer was the worst for that, could not keep a plot line in his pants for five minutes!

bahaha--He gets REALLY excited about the show!

I must confess I'm not a big fan of that cut and type of fabric on a guy, but your nipplage idea, I must admit, is intriguing ...

I do not mind expanding my Sam!girlness to include Dean!girlness one bit!

[septembers-coda.livejournal.com]

GREAT review. Agreed on all points! Although honestly, the new werewolf mythology doesn't bug me; I thought it was rather interestingly presented, and I liked the pastor character. I even liked his wife, because frumpy middle aged ladies beating the crap out of Sam and/or Dean? Always good value. :-)

I have been feeling like an unfaithful Sam girl, because HOLY SHIT DEAN. It's like he's suddenly INFUSED WITH BEAUTIFUL SENSUALITY. And yeah, the stubble really works for him. And beautiful green eyes are beautiful. I know I'm quite lonely in this fandom, having never found Jensen a third as attractive as Jared, (which, of course, is still outstandingly attractive) but, ummm.... the gap is closing. :-}

[brightly-lit.livejournal.com]

I loved the pastor character ... but why did they call him Pastor Jim?? That kind of bugged me, too, like they forgot there's another important character in canon by that name.

I have been feeling like an unfaithful Sam girl, because HOLY SHIT DEAN.

RIGHT?? Oh, the eyes. He's just got some amazing fire lighting him up from the inside lately ...

[jessm78.livejournal.com]

Honestly? I absolutely love your review, because I pretty much agree. So many of my friends seemed to hate it, call it a "train wreck", hate Garth, hate what Sam said at the end, etc. I'm like you - I like Garth, and I just like the fact that the boys DID talk in the end.

Ooh, that's a really good thought. It would be pretty cool if Garth would be a regular in the spin-off. Oh wow, really? Yeah, I could see Garth maybe being one of them, then.

Though I have to say that the thought of end!verse actually happening kinda scares me. I know there's no way this show would end on good terms with the boys riding off into the sunset, etc. But I just think about how painful it would be to see Sam as Lucifer's vessel and Dean having to kill him. Though if we do get a 10th season, wouldn't that stretch beyond 2014 unlike The End? Eh, still something to think about I suppose.

I was definitely enjoying Dean's extra-long stubble. Yum! I have a feeling I'll have to keep some more pillows on the floor for all the falling over I'm sure to do next week when we see Sam in one layer. :D

[brightly-lit.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who liked it! When I first posted this review, I felt like the lone voice in the wilds saying she thought it was good, but I've seen a few more positive reviews since then.

But I just think about how painful it would be to see Sam as Lucifer's vessel and Dean having to kill him.

Oh, lord, that WOULD be terrible. I don't think this crop of writers would use it as a way to end the show. (I'm of the opinion that it should never end! :-) ) I do think it would be cool, though, if Dean met himself from the past and Lucy turned out to be right when he said no matter what they did, they would always end up there. But then maybe Sam could overpower him, or Dean would have some spell up his sleeve, or something, and the world could go back to (relatively) normal--by SPN's standards. Because you're right--not only could this show not continue if one of them killed the other (permanently, anyway), but the spin-off couldn't exist in that world, either.

Ah, and another lover of Dean's delicious break-up beard. ha, pillows! :-D

Thanks for commenting.