SPN REACTION: Episode 3.02

[caffienekitty]

MAJOR MAJOR SPOILERS FOR EPISODE 3.02, plus non-spoiler-based theorizing and hypersonic random babbling. Also slight spoiler for Origins Issue 2


(Please remember, no spoilers whatsoever for unaired episodes in comments, please!)

Is. Freaking. Smug.

Well, half-smug. Yes, new girl is a demon, oh, but she just wants to help Sam discover his past, and help him figure out a way to get that mean ol' red-eyed demon off Dean's back. Such a nice helpful demonic shadow, so selfless and understanding...

Shyeah, right. She's totally gonna lead Sam down the path of "Just try this, see if it works, maybe you've still got powers, it'll help your brother, it's just a blood ritual ya wuss, no biggie..." etc, etc, until he goes evil and then she'll reveal she's been part of the plot all along when it's too late for Sam to turn back and the whole "Guardian (*grin* Tolkasa) of the Boy King" thing will come out and...

Sam's totally not telling any of this to Dean. I doubt he'll even say he's seen the blonde again. And Sam is so toast because of it! Bwahahahahaah!!! The inevitable discovery and shout-down between the two of them will be freaking epic! *rubs hands and chortles gleefully* Oh, the pain! Oh, the anguish! Oh, the eventual reconciliation and redemption of everyone! Whee! *twirls*

*koff* Anyway, back to the episode at hand.

Kid? Cute, also pretty much inevitable that the question of Dean having a sprog would come up, the way Dean has been living his life. Interesting to know that Sam and John went on an extended hunt alone together when Sam was... *digs out calculator, good god I suck* fifteen. Oh, that had to have been a barrel of fun... Teen Sammy in his prime angsting years, alone with John in the cab of the truck for miles and miles and miles...

Anyway, the kid in the episode might have been over the top and kind of cartoony at the start with all the 'exactly like Dean' stuff, but I think it was worth it for the end, with Dean being thinky and wistful, and before that those little micro-second glances Dean was doing at the kid during the rescue, like he was seeing himself. And the snarky horndog armor Dean's been wearing since the YED bit the dust shows a tiny crack and see Dean's still there under the neutronium shell. But not cracking in front of Sam, no no, because Dean has to keep his face up around Sam, and stuff. *nods* Ooo! I think I had a thought. It's gone now, but it will be back or I'll hunt it down, or something.

Plus, Sam and Dean toasted an evil realtor in this episode, which, given the crap I've been dealing with from realtors lately, I truly, deeply appreciated. *nods*

Also, the "Sam finds out about everyone his mom knew" montage he did not say Mary's uncle was found in a lake in a station wagon apparently ravaged by a large demonic dog, (although I was too busy dancing with glee I think at that point and may have missed it) the comics are even more invalidated. Huzzah!!

Is. Smug. Liek. Whoa.

Also also. The changeling kids needed to be wearing gas masks. *nods* Zombie kids calling their Mummy are freaking creepy.

The Anti-Christ thing being stated outright? One, it was a demon that said it, so, grain of salt. Two, kind of saw it coming in season one, really. Three, I'm hoping between this and the toss off 'Baby Hitler' reference in 'Hunted' they're going to get into a 'nature vs nurture' kind of thing, where regardless of what Sam was intended to be by what force, the way he was raised will win out over the hordes of Hell, etc.

Much as I'm a total sucker for a dark fate, the idea that the world has already been saved because Dean let the intended future Lord of the Underworld have the last of the Lucky Charms makes me grin. Not that it won't take a lot of slogging through tasty angst, woe and dire serious strife and demon-butt-kicking to get there, but in the end, this is a show about a family, and if the strength of that family is what wins out in the end after everything else fails... *grin*

There's stuff that could be nitpicked about this episode, but... Nitpick, Schmitpick. Maybe later, when my brain's spun down. At the moment, my squee shall not be harshed. *spins*

(Please remember, no spoilers whatsoever for unaired episodes in comments, please!)

Comments

[ficwriter1966.livejournal.com]

Howdy, o co-chair of squee!

All most excellent points, and if it unspools like this, I will be squeeing along with you. Did the ep have anvils? Sure. Could it have been done more delicately and gently if the episode was 3 hours long? Sure. But I'm good with it. I'm filled with happy happy happy over it. As I mentioned over in my "review" (cough), if the similarities between Dean and Ben had been more subtle, Dean would have needed days to notice them. But it's a 39 minute story. So - anvil. It's television. Anvils abound.

"the idea that the world has already been saved because Dean let the intended future Lord of the Underworld have the last of the Lucky Charms makes me grin"
Hee. Me too.

[tolakasa]

*grins back*

[anteka.livejournal.com]

Much as I'm a total sucker for a dark fate, the idea that the world has already been saved because Dean let the intended future Lord of the Underworld have the last of the Lucky Charms makes me grin.

You win. That is all.

[anteka.livejournal.com]

No, really, I have more to say. :)

I think Ben had to be over-the-top in the beginning to make a point, and make that point quickly. Once he settled down and started acting like a real kid I thought he was fine.

I also would like to bow down to your massive intuition that knew Ruby was a demon. *high five* What are next week's Lotto numbers? :)

I think you're right on the money as far as Ruby's role. It's pretty well established that Sam is going to do ANYTHING for Dean. The questions is, how far can Ruby push him? With Dean's life on the line, I think pretty far. This should be a good season. I can't wait to see what's coming up for us. :)

[tigriswolf]

"Much as I'm a total sucker for a dark fate, the idea that the world has already been saved because Dean let the intended future Lord of the Underworld have the last of the Lucky Charms makes me grin." -- This sentence had me giggling. Awesome.

[caffienekitty]

Oh, I know, and it was funny, too. And the kid had a toy Impala (I think must watch again) which I may have made silly noises over.

Could it have been done more delicately and gently if the episode was 3 hours long?

Oh please? Can we have 3 hour long episodes, canwecanwecanwe??? If I became a billionaire tomorrow, I would buy the CW, have it simul-cast world wide (ditch half their other programming) and make every episode of Supernatural three hours long so the writers can take their time to explore stuff more subtly. *nods*

[caffienekitty]

*grins back at your grinning back*

(You realize this may start a vicious circle, and neither of us may ever stop grinning...) ;-)

[caffienekitty]

Yay! I win! *giggle*

[caffienekitty]

Heh, cool! I don't often see you comment on my stuff, so twice on one post is kinda nifty!

*nods at the rationale for Ben being over the top*

I also would like to bow down to your massive intuition that knew Ruby was a demon. *high five* What are next week's Lotto numbers? :)

Ha! Unfortunately, I have no clue. However, if they were part of a TV plot-twist or character development, I might be able to figure them out.

This should be a good season. I can't wait to see what's coming up for us. :)

Oh hell yeah! :-D

[tolakasa]

Oh, have no fear, for I am bipolar, and sooner or later a depressive episode is bound to kick in. :)

[caffienekitty]

*grins* *wriggles with glee*

[caffienekitty]

Awww. *pets you some more*

[tolakasa]

For some reason, that just makes me giggle.

[sadelyrate.livejournal.com]

I'll just be over here and nodding, 'kay? :)

Sam's totally not telling any of this to Dean. I doubt he'll even say he's seen the blonde again.
*shakes her head* I thought we taught those boys better last season... Apparently not. Keeping secrets is bad for you, Winchesters.
And I'm happy with 'Buffy'. Black eyes make everything better. *glee*
Though the jury's still out, methinks, on whether or not we've 'met' her before...;)

As for the inevitable Dean Finds Out?
Episode 3x09. Just saying. ;)
I don't know anything at all, since I'm a fellow spoilerphobe, but...
S1: Sam has a secret, Dean learns of it in Home (1x09)
S2: Dean has a secret, Sam learns of it (more or less) in Croatoan (2x09)
S3: Sam has a secret, Dean has a secret, the cat gets out of the bag in 3x09?

[longhairedlady.livejournal.com]

She's totally gonna lead Sam down the path of "Just try this, see if it works, maybe you've still got powers, it'll help your brother, it's just a blood ritual ya wuss, no biggie..." etc, etc,

Oh man, I hope so! Good thoughts!

[caffienekitty]

See? Grinning and giggling, it's a vicious circle I tell you! :-D

[caffienekitty]

Though the jury's still out, methinks, on whether or not we've 'met' her before...;)


Hmm... Interesting. Especially considering Meg seemed to have her own agenda. Hmm. Highly ponderable.

3x09

Wonder if they'll do the "pre-winter hiatus cliffhanger" again. In terms of general season arc patterns, I think you're quite right, and if it's not in 09, it'll be right in the vicinity.

[caffienekitty]

*cackles evilly*

[sadelyrate.livejournal.com]

I don't think TPTB are going to go that way, but I'm already comparing that BED's incarnations with 'Buffy'. :)
It would just fit... 'Meg' apparently was aware of Daddy's plans and so's 'Buffy'; last time we saw 'Meg' she was pissed off about them. They both have throwaway comments about guys' lengths, "Fine", both are blonds...
The only problem is that 'Meg' has been after the boys' blood (or at least Dean's) before, so why would she offer to help Sam? Knows that way it's sweeter?

*ponders*

Oh, and that icon? *adores*

[sadelyrate.livejournal.com]

Dear Demon Jesus, where's my inner proofreader when I need it?

I meant... Both Meg and 'Buffy' have comments about tall guys.
Though now I'm thinking with the downstairs brain again... *sigh*

[caffienekitty]

The only problem is that 'Meg' has been after the boys' blood (or at least Dean's) before, so why would she offer to help Sam? Knows that way it's sweeter?

Probably. I've always thought the initial plan in "Scarecrow" was to get Sam to trust her and follow her to California where she could work on him without Dean's influence. "Shadow" I figured she had the Daevas ordered to kll Dean and John, but 'let Sam get away' since they didn't seem to be hurting him as bad as the other two, then she'd swap to a different body, become a sympathetic shoulder for an embittered angry Sam who's had what's left of his family torn apart in front of him, and subsequently nudging him to the dark side would be simple.

*breathes*

But things went weird, or YED changed the orders on her and things went haywire. I got the feeling she was kind of frustrated at YED's orders often, and really, I don't think that YED was the sharpest knife in the drawer, tactically speaking.

I think it could be her, though this one's more of an annoying chatterbox than she ever was. We'll know for certain if she ever says 'Howdy'. ;-D

(And thank you! I do a lot of pondering so I needed to make an icon. Go ahead and snag if you want (with credit, please :-) ) I'm going to be doing a compiled icon post of the backlog of icons I've made since the last time I posted once I get my ducks in a row, and it'll be up for snagging there, likely, but go ahead and take an advance copy if you like.)

[caffienekitty]

*grin* I wouldn't be surprised if 'Buffy' did start offering comments about comparative lengths. :-P

Oh, it'll be so interesting when Dean inevitably becomes aware of her. Oooo! I'm all excited for the season again!

[sadelyrate.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Meg sounds aggravated at the end of Scarecrow, when the YED seems to essentially answer her "Why?" with "Because I say so." :)

'Howdy' being the Secret Handshake ID Phrase of the Demon-kind...

I'm already juggling around with the icons I have, but... If I ever happen to start using any of yours, I'll definitely credit!
Thank You!

[sadelyrate.livejournal.com]

For some strange reason, I can't get rid of the image of Dean putting a number of bullets into her out of principle alone. And 'Buffy' just getting up, slightly pissed off because he ruined her clothes. :)
If Sam's able to keep her a secret, I'm guessing that revelation might wait 'till 3x09 (or longer, too, perhaps).

This season... *adores*
And there's at least 20 episodes more! *squee*