Random things about "After School Special"

[feliciakw]

Well, apparently I did like this ep overall, because I'm still thinking about it this morning.



Did anyone else notice that Sam must have skipped a grade to be in high school at the same time Dean was? (Hey, izhilzha. There's another topic of conversation for Dean and Don. Though of course Don's situation was much more extreme.) Dean was clearly a senior, and Sam, given Barry's comment about having 3 more years left, was a freshman. If they're 4 years apart in age, then Sam should have been in the 8th grade. Clearly, Sam is smart and skipped a grade to be a freshman when Dean was a senior. Also, he had not yet hit his growth spurt.

One of the things that kind of twigged me was the acting on the part of some of the supporting characters. Not Young!Sam, obviously, because Colin Ford is Young!Sam. He just is. Kudos to the casting department for getting him. But the gal whom Sam questions at the beginning of the ep? Yeah, something just . . . she wasn't bad, she just . . . didn't seem 100% natural, and I found it a little distracting. *shrug*

I'm still trying to figure out what exactly it was about Young!Dean that didn't click with me. Because really, I can't fault him for not being Jensen Ackles. There is only one Jensen Ackles. (Which is a good thing, because any more than one and the balance of the entire universe would be upset by the sheer over-awesomeness were there to be more than one of him.) But something . . . just didn't click. I'll have to ponder.

And I think I'll save the rest for when I re-watch in widescreen (thank you, kimmer1227).

In other news, I have The Sammy Song running through my head this morning. Bwah.

Comments

[kalquessa.livejournal.com]

Here's a Sammy, there's a Sammy, and another little Sammy, fuzzy Sammy, funny Sammy, Sammy, Sammy, Dean!

[andromakhe001.livejournal.com]

Actually Sam didn't skip a grade. In this episode Dean was almost 19 years old, so we can assume he probably started school late(given when his mother died and the fact that John started moving around right away he probably didn't start kindergarten at 5 but at 6).

I disliked this episode. I disliked perfect little Sam who if only had gotten to stay in one place could have brought out world peace and I disliked "loser" Dean who had snippy blondes who don't know Jack giving him lectures. The problem was the writing. I thought Dean's characterization was way way off, it doesn't fit him psychologically or with his life experiences to that point in time.

They wrote a cliche and the thing about Dean is that he's always transcended the cliches and it's like the writers instead are trying to say "no really he is that cliche".

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

I very much liked Sam's portrayal in this ep, as it seems consistent with the previous Sam that this young actor played. It also was consistent with the Sam we know, in that Sam doesn't like to use force or violence, but he will if he has to.

I'm still trying to formulate what twigged me about this portrayal of Dean (young Dean). And you might be on to something here. In another post, I made a comment that this Dean was not subtle. Jensen could play everything that this actor was given, only with more subtlety, the subtlety I'm used to seeing from Dean. Because for whatever reason--the writing, or the acting, or whatever--yes, Dean seemed off. The portrayal seemed forced. And I don't mean to sound like I'm taking it out on the actor, because he had his work cut out for him stepping into an early version of a character that Jensen Ackles has defined. But . . . yeah. Something just didn't click. And perhaps it is the element of cliche that I'm sensing.

I mentioned my theory about Sam skipping a grade to my hubby, and he mentioned that it could have been that Dean was held back a year. Which is essentially what you're saying, yes? Either way, the situation of siblings being four years apart in age, yet one being a freshman and one being a senior, is not normal. But yes, I think I can get behind your explanation as well. It makes sense.

However, didn't John stay put for a while? The guy at the garage where John worked mentioned being worried about him, about how John was starting to act weird. Wouldn't that mean that John and the boys stuck around at least a little while? Long enough for the weirdness to be noticeable, at least. Of course, if Dean wasn't talking, the school counselors might have suggested holding him out of school for a year or something. (At this point, I'm just riffing. YMMV.)

I did notice that this ep had two writers, neither of whose name I recognized. Nor did I recognize the director's name.

There are other things that concerned me about the portrayal of present-day Dean, but I'll get into that when I do a full ep review.

[izhilzha.livejournal.com]

I seriously disagree with your assessment of this episode presenting "perfect little Sam." What I saw (and what I'm pretty sure the writers intended for us to see) was a child who was then what Sam is now: so sure of himself and his ability to make the right choice that he can't always see what else is going on behind the scenes. I found that to be both insightful and interesting, given where Sam is in his arc this season.

[kimmer1227.livejournal.com]

I see the ep is up on iTunes. Well, Criss Angel, anyway. Do you still want the DVD? I have it addressed and sealed in my hands as we speak. What the frell! I'll mail it. It may take another week for After School Special (ASS) *snerk* to show up.

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

Re: iTunes . . . bzuh? Thanks for the heads up. It's about frelling time!

Yes, thank you. I'll still take the DVD. Because as you say, it might take another week for this one to get uploaded.

Thanks so much, hun! 'Tis greatly appreciated!

[kimmer1227.livejournal.com]

I bought the season pass from iTunes, so got an email about it being available. You say they raised the price per ep? That sucks!

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

Actually, no. I was mistaken. The Hi-Def (which is apparently now the default when I do my search) is $1 more than the standard, which used to be the default--if not the only-- option. It confused me greatly. So, no. I don't think your season pass is affected. That's the purpose behind getting a season pass, yes?

Still, iTunes is *points to your icon*

[kimmer1227.livejournal.com]

iTunes has HiDef? I don't remember seeing that option. Will have to check it out.

[leelust.livejournal.com]

While i was enjoying teen Sam teen Dean felt like big 'meh' to me :( OOC plus bad acting = fail.