9.15, or, And all is explained--finally!
Mar. 5th, 2014 07:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
brightly_litSo ... just got done watching 9.15, and ... am I the only one who liked it? Okay, yes, ‘anvillicious’--the word I saw most often describing this episode--is appropriate, mostly, I have to say, due to the (otherwise gorgeous) direction, as well as choices on the part of the actor who plays Harry, who was plainly all too keenly aware he was representing Sam’s position and played it thusly. If he just hadn’t done that, it would have cut down on the anvils by I’d say 30% ....
... But the thing is, frankly, we can use them. I’m not sure what’s up with these writers being so unclear about expressing what Sam’s thinking that fandom has to debate it, with precious little solid material to go on, for weeks. Maybe the SPN writers are afraid of telling instead of showing? (Because they never do that! *sigh*) My wonderful creative writing teacher once said “It’s good to make the reader wonder why something happened, but you don’t want them to be asking ‘what happened?’,” which we have to do all too often with this show these days. Why is Sam so mad? What is he thinking? How serious is it? What, specifically, is he so upset over? We finally got the answers to those questions here, lots and lots of direct dialogue explaining the matter via Harry and Ed, so at least now if fans fight over Sam and Dean’s serious relationship problems, they’ll have explicit perspectives to discuss and hash through.
People have noted the bad dialogue, and yeah, sometimes it was really bad, but I still found a lot to enjoy, because a) Harry and Ed have always sounded pretty stupid (though it used to be brilliantly stupid), so at least it was in character, and b) even when the dialogue was lousy for them to work with, those guys found every other opportunity to do something quirky or amusing or Ghostfacer-y (like ‘kicking through’ the hanging plastic flaps, running into each other hilariously on their way to view the video in the diner, etc.). I’m not sure whether it was originally scripted or not, but it’s cute that Harry makes his big departure from Ed ... having nowhere to go and no way to get there, so he walks all of 15 feet away to ask Sam and Dean for a ride. This episode was full of tiny little details like that that added many layers to the basic story. (I loved Sam’s baffled expression when Harry said he’d been “punched in the feels.”)
I, for one, am satisfied with where they left things with Sam and Dean; it seemed genuine and true to the situation. Arrgh, that wonderful little moment when they talked about playing Superman and Batman as kids (pretty appropriate choices there: Dean really does love to think of himself as all-powerful, fixing everything just by rushing in and taking action, whereas Sam recognizes he’s only human and takes the responsibility of what he does quite seriously). Sam freakin’ broke his arm ... but for Dean it’s nothing but a happy memory ... and then it turns out it’s so for Sam, as well. We see that at least they feel the same about the past, about the relationship they had then, which is a place to start. And it’s hard to argue with Sam’s statement on whether a thing can be forgiven, that it’s something you have to decide for yourself (so at least my fears that he would be villified in upcoming episodes don’t seem to be panning out).
Can I just talk about the direction? That was beautiful! New director, right? The shots were careful, delicate, and rich, gorgeously lit. It was a difficult balance, to put characters known for humor in a semi-serious situation and have them handle it semi-seriously, and it wasn’t the deftest job I’ve ever seen done with such a tricky setup, but still, pretty damn good. So kudos to you, new director.
I loved the deputy actor--great actor, great energy, he did affable and agreeable (you know something must be off when a local officer acts HAPPY to see feds) as well as he did scary and evil. Okay, yeah, the reasoning behind why they turned into murderous psychopaths was pretty weak ... and Sam and Dean--and Harry--just up and killed some more humans ... but the acting was great. And *drool*, Sam and Dean, tazed, bound and gagged? Mm mm mmm, more onscreen fanfic, thanks SPN folks!!
And DEAR GOD, could J2 get any hotter?!? HOLY CRAP, they get sexier by the week!!!! And ohhh, that suit on Jensen, with the green tie that brought out his eyes? Mmmm. Every time Jared comes onscreen, I melt. DELICIOUS. (And frankly, Ed and Harry were looking pretty fine, too! MANFLESH.)
All in all, though far from the best writing I’ve ever seen, I found it pretty enjoyable!
... But the thing is, frankly, we can use them. I’m not sure what’s up with these writers being so unclear about expressing what Sam’s thinking that fandom has to debate it, with precious little solid material to go on, for weeks. Maybe the SPN writers are afraid of telling instead of showing? (Because they never do that! *sigh*) My wonderful creative writing teacher once said “It’s good to make the reader wonder why something happened, but you don’t want them to be asking ‘what happened?’,” which we have to do all too often with this show these days. Why is Sam so mad? What is he thinking? How serious is it? What, specifically, is he so upset over? We finally got the answers to those questions here, lots and lots of direct dialogue explaining the matter via Harry and Ed, so at least now if fans fight over Sam and Dean’s serious relationship problems, they’ll have explicit perspectives to discuss and hash through.
People have noted the bad dialogue, and yeah, sometimes it was really bad, but I still found a lot to enjoy, because a) Harry and Ed have always sounded pretty stupid (though it used to be brilliantly stupid), so at least it was in character, and b) even when the dialogue was lousy for them to work with, those guys found every other opportunity to do something quirky or amusing or Ghostfacer-y (like ‘kicking through’ the hanging plastic flaps, running into each other hilariously on their way to view the video in the diner, etc.). I’m not sure whether it was originally scripted or not, but it’s cute that Harry makes his big departure from Ed ... having nowhere to go and no way to get there, so he walks all of 15 feet away to ask Sam and Dean for a ride. This episode was full of tiny little details like that that added many layers to the basic story. (I loved Sam’s baffled expression when Harry said he’d been “punched in the feels.”)
I, for one, am satisfied with where they left things with Sam and Dean; it seemed genuine and true to the situation. Arrgh, that wonderful little moment when they talked about playing Superman and Batman as kids (pretty appropriate choices there: Dean really does love to think of himself as all-powerful, fixing everything just by rushing in and taking action, whereas Sam recognizes he’s only human and takes the responsibility of what he does quite seriously). Sam freakin’ broke his arm ... but for Dean it’s nothing but a happy memory ... and then it turns out it’s so for Sam, as well. We see that at least they feel the same about the past, about the relationship they had then, which is a place to start. And it’s hard to argue with Sam’s statement on whether a thing can be forgiven, that it’s something you have to decide for yourself (so at least my fears that he would be villified in upcoming episodes don’t seem to be panning out).
Can I just talk about the direction? That was beautiful! New director, right? The shots were careful, delicate, and rich, gorgeously lit. It was a difficult balance, to put characters known for humor in a semi-serious situation and have them handle it semi-seriously, and it wasn’t the deftest job I’ve ever seen done with such a tricky setup, but still, pretty damn good. So kudos to you, new director.
I loved the deputy actor--great actor, great energy, he did affable and agreeable (you know something must be off when a local officer acts HAPPY to see feds) as well as he did scary and evil. Okay, yeah, the reasoning behind why they turned into murderous psychopaths was pretty weak ... and Sam and Dean--and Harry--just up and killed some more humans ... but the acting was great. And *drool*, Sam and Dean, tazed, bound and gagged? Mm mm mmm, more onscreen fanfic, thanks SPN folks!!
And DEAR GOD, could J2 get any hotter?!? HOLY CRAP, they get sexier by the week!!!! And ohhh, that suit on Jensen, with the green tie that brought out his eyes? Mmmm. Every time Jared comes onscreen, I melt. DELICIOUS. (And frankly, Ed and Harry were looking pretty fine, too! MANFLESH.)
All in all, though far from the best writing I’ve ever seen, I found it pretty enjoyable!
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no subject
Date: 2014-03-06 03:41 am (UTC)Sex-y ghost facers!
They are sexy when the others are not!
Sex-y ghost facers!
Staying in the show and making us hot!
Sex-y ghost-facers!
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Date: 2014-03-06 04:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-03-06 04:09 am (UTC)You could sing it to Georgie Girl - sex-y ghost-facers! Shooting up the ghosts so fancy free!
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Date: 2014-03-06 04:12 am (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2014-03-06 07:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-03-06 01:38 pm (UTC)Yes, I loved the brotherly moment. I hope they have more of it. I wasn't even aware of how much I missed them until I realized I haven't seen either of them smile since the beginning of the season.
ETA: I understand how Sam feels. This was the ultimate transgression, and he remembered the people he killed, one of which he cared deeply about. He was upset by his actions as Soulless!Sam, in fact he was pissed as hell that Dean didn't tell him. But then Cas broke his wall before it went much further. For him, what Dean this time did was unforgivable, but I can't see it being resolved unless they talk to each other. I am SO DONE with this, and I've been fine with it until now.
Do you remember last season when Sam had started the trials, and at the end of the Charlie episode, Dean went back to the bunker and hugged Sam? He needs to show Sam the same sort of unconditional love now.
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Date: 2014-03-06 06:30 pm (UTC)ME TOO. It felt very early season, sitting around talking and being brothers, the look on Dean's face, and I got a pang of, "THIS IS HOW IT USED TO BE," and how much I wish we still saw WAAAY more of that.
I think I just hit the "so done" point, too. It's time it was resolved, to some measurable degree at least.
He needs to show Sam the same sort of unconditional love now.
God how I'd love to see this. Not sure where Dean gets off being all huffy and self-pitying, given the circumstances. He could try genuinely apologizing for what he did to Sam instead of trying to excuse it.
Wonderful comment.
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Date: 2014-03-06 04:54 pm (UTC)HOLY CRAP YES on J2! JA has never done it for me that much, but I don't know what it is this season... he now TOTALLY turns my crank. Is it that a little maturity suits him? Or, as I suspect, the extra-long scruff? Or yes-- that they dress him in ways that bring out the lovely color of his eyes? I dunno, but it's HOT. Also Jared is hot. Yes. I may have mentioned that before. The HAIR! The HANDS! The... EVERYTHING! Absolutely Padalicious.
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Date: 2014-03-06 06:34 pm (UTC)PADALICIOUS. Why does this word not get used MUUUUCH more often?? This gives me the opportunity to expand on what I feel wasn't expressed vividly enough in the post above, which is that JARED PADALECKI IS SO BEAUTIFUL IT'S ALMOST INCOMPREHENSIBLE! Just sitting there being a regular dude, he is PERFECTION ITSELF. THANK YOU FOR EXISTING, JARED!! (He says, "You're welcome.")
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Date: 2014-03-06 07:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-03-06 10:17 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2014-03-07 06:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-03-06 10:17 pm (UTC)I know, I love Padalicious! I'm sure others have said it before me, but I had never heard it and actually thought it up myself. :-)
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Date: 2014-03-07 06:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-03-07 06:40 am (UTC)hee, manflesh. :-D
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Date: 2014-03-07 06:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-03-07 06:55 am (UTC)