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snick_backupSam, Interrupted
Which really wasn't all that much about Sam, really.
This was a solid, satisfying casefic-style episode. Any day we can get the boys to talk about their feelings to total strangers is a good day in my book. And they get themselves checked into the psych hospital just by telling the truth! Hee!
Of course, the psychoanalysis is that much better because Dean's psychiatrist is a product of his own subconscious. You know, for a guy who's so allergic to emotional honesty and talking things out, Dean is spectacularly self-aware, and he also seems to have quite the grasp of pop psychology. Fic authors often characterize him as being in denial, but I don't think that's really accurate; whatever denial he manages to cling to, he does so by conscious choice on his part (as spelled out in the last scene of the ep).
I actually really appreciate that; self-awareness is a very appealing characteristic to me, both in characters and in real-life people.
So tell me, all: Does Dean really sleep only 3-4 hours every couple of nights, and drink 50+ drinks a week? I have trouble believing either of those numbers. Although, from what we know, his statement that he's never been in a relationship longer than two months is completely true.
So Sam is angry, and he doesn't know why. Uh huh. Are we going to go anywhere with that, I wonder, or did we just figure we'd throw that out there and see if it hit any targets?
High!Sam is fabulous. Of course. The "I love you"! And then the nose-tweak, with accompanying sound effect! OTOH, I have certainly never seen Sam be a happy drunk. Not sure where Dean got that from.
Important canonical note: Dean doesn't own any elephant books. *g*
Okay, either Dean or Urban Dictionary doesn't understand the meaning of 'thrape.' I thought maybe it was a portmanteau of 'rape' and 'therapy', but apparently not, in which case Dean's use of it was just... weird. My only comfort at times like this is that Sam looks as confused as I am.
I found the wraith's MO a bit opaque - she intentionally makes people go crazy because then their brains taste better, but she doesn't have to, right? She could eat sane brains just fine. Anyway. That motivation wasn't as elegant as I'd have liked.
Overall, though, a fun ep. I liked.
---
Swap Meat
Y'all, this was a terribly disappointment. I'd heard vaguely that there was a bodyswap ep coming up, and do you know how excited I was to see Jared and Jensen play their character opposites? I was VERY EXCITED. You have no idea.
And instead we get... this. We don't even get to watch Jared play the kid for more than a few minutes (and what golden moments they were!), and then he's just Sam in funny clothes. Meanwhile we throw our random teen actor in with Jensen and expect Jensen to somehow pretend the same chemistry he's had with Jared for four and a half seasons now. What? What?!
Under other circumstances, I'd actually have liked the story fine. The kid's enthusiasm was a lot of fun, as was Dean's ongoing confusion and skepticism. (Aside: I'm quite fond of Dean's Peaked Eyebrows of Skepticism.) And I liked that the kid was dissuaded from murdering simply because he liked him and thought he was cool.
Still. I am easily pleased; all I wanted was forty minutes of Jared being Dean and Jensen being Sam. Was that so much to ask? Really?
Also, AAAAAAAAGH NON-LINEAR INTRO! Y'all, I am so tired of the show plopping us in the middle of a scene and then backing us up 36 hours or whatever. SO TIRED. Give me some credit, yeah? Let me figure out the story on my own, like in "It's a Terrible Life"! ENOUGH WITH THE FAKE-OUTS.
That said, best bit of the whole ep? Watching Jared play the kid at the bar. That was excellent. See, Jared is totally capable! Why didn't we let him do that the whole ep? Second best bit of the ep: Sam cracking the locker combo. HEE! Good to see those hunting skills coming in handy.
Original entry posted at Dreamwidth. Feel free to reply here or there. (
DW replies)
Which really wasn't all that much about Sam, really.
This was a solid, satisfying casefic-style episode. Any day we can get the boys to talk about their feelings to total strangers is a good day in my book. And they get themselves checked into the psych hospital just by telling the truth! Hee!
Of course, the psychoanalysis is that much better because Dean's psychiatrist is a product of his own subconscious. You know, for a guy who's so allergic to emotional honesty and talking things out, Dean is spectacularly self-aware, and he also seems to have quite the grasp of pop psychology. Fic authors often characterize him as being in denial, but I don't think that's really accurate; whatever denial he manages to cling to, he does so by conscious choice on his part (as spelled out in the last scene of the ep).
I actually really appreciate that; self-awareness is a very appealing characteristic to me, both in characters and in real-life people.
So tell me, all: Does Dean really sleep only 3-4 hours every couple of nights, and drink 50+ drinks a week? I have trouble believing either of those numbers. Although, from what we know, his statement that he's never been in a relationship longer than two months is completely true.
So Sam is angry, and he doesn't know why. Uh huh. Are we going to go anywhere with that, I wonder, or did we just figure we'd throw that out there and see if it hit any targets?
High!Sam is fabulous. Of course. The "I love you"! And then the nose-tweak, with accompanying sound effect! OTOH, I have certainly never seen Sam be a happy drunk. Not sure where Dean got that from.
Important canonical note: Dean doesn't own any elephant books. *g*
Okay, either Dean or Urban Dictionary doesn't understand the meaning of 'thrape.' I thought maybe it was a portmanteau of 'rape' and 'therapy', but apparently not, in which case Dean's use of it was just... weird. My only comfort at times like this is that Sam looks as confused as I am.
I found the wraith's MO a bit opaque - she intentionally makes people go crazy because then their brains taste better, but she doesn't have to, right? She could eat sane brains just fine. Anyway. That motivation wasn't as elegant as I'd have liked.
Overall, though, a fun ep. I liked.
Swap Meat
Y'all, this was a terribly disappointment. I'd heard vaguely that there was a bodyswap ep coming up, and do you know how excited I was to see Jared and Jensen play their character opposites? I was VERY EXCITED. You have no idea.
And instead we get... this. We don't even get to watch Jared play the kid for more than a few minutes (and what golden moments they were!), and then he's just Sam in funny clothes. Meanwhile we throw our random teen actor in with Jensen and expect Jensen to somehow pretend the same chemistry he's had with Jared for four and a half seasons now. What? What?!
Under other circumstances, I'd actually have liked the story fine. The kid's enthusiasm was a lot of fun, as was Dean's ongoing confusion and skepticism. (Aside: I'm quite fond of Dean's Peaked Eyebrows of Skepticism.) And I liked that the kid was dissuaded from murdering simply because he liked him and thought he was cool.
Still. I am easily pleased; all I wanted was forty minutes of Jared being Dean and Jensen being Sam. Was that so much to ask? Really?
Also, AAAAAAAAGH NON-LINEAR INTRO! Y'all, I am so tired of the show plopping us in the middle of a scene and then backing us up 36 hours or whatever. SO TIRED. Give me some credit, yeah? Let me figure out the story on my own, like in "It's a Terrible Life"! ENOUGH WITH THE FAKE-OUTS.
That said, best bit of the whole ep? Watching Jared play the kid at the bar. That was excellent. See, Jared is totally capable! Why didn't we let him do that the whole ep? Second best bit of the ep: Sam cracking the locker combo. HEE! Good to see those hunting skills coming in handy.
Original entry posted at Dreamwidth. Feel free to reply here or there. (
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no subject
Date: 2011-08-02 10:26 pm (UTC)The body swap thing was weird. For Sam and Dean to swap would have been fun acting wise, but as others have pointed, out Sam and Dean live in each other's pockets, and practically have the exact same lives, so there's none of the usual body swap drama that involves navigating another person's life. (However, I'm sure the Wincesters would have loved it.) The way they did the ep was a little wierd. While it would have been fun to see Jared play the kid the entire time, I doubt they could have found an actor who could nail the vibe of Sam in another body.
Y'all, I am so tired of the show plopping us in the middle of a scene and then backing us up 36 hours or whatever.
They do seem to rely on this a lot. But I must say, there's one S6 episode where it's completely awesome.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-02 10:30 pm (UTC)That is indeed a difficulty. This is one of those places where I think Jared just has a lot more range than a lot of actors probably including Jensen, I think, and can get away with parts that other folks can't. Although clearly what they really needed to do was bring in Enver from Dollhouse, because he'd been wonderful as Sam. Because he's wonderful as everybody.
They do seem to rely on this a lot. But I must say, there's one S6 episode where it's completely awesome.
Yeah? Really? I look forward to that, then; I have trouble imagining how that could redeem that gimmick after using it so poorly so often.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-02 10:34 pm (UTC)You'll know it when you see it. :)
And YES to Enver!Sam! Or Enver!Anyone. THAT would sure solve the problem of all these body hopping demons that come out differently each time.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-02 10:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-03 12:21 am (UTC)Yessss, totally agreed. It's one of my favourite things about Dean too. I love characters who know just how messed up they are, but are great at acting like it's nothing to them.
That said, best bit of the whole ep? Watching Jared play the kid at the bar. That was excellent. See, Jared is totally capable! Why didn't we let him do that the whole ep?
I KNOOOW. That part cracks my shit up so much. Jared's delivery of "I would love to do the sex with you"?!!! Hysterical.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-03 06:17 am (UTC)Dean vs. Sam competition aside, I am totally a Jared fangirl at this point. Jensen's a fabulous Dean, but Jared's a fabulous so many things.