SPN - "Jump the Shark"

[feliciakw]

Oookay. It's been a week, and every time I think about doing this, I get so exhausted. Why? Because there's so freakin' much chewy goodness in this ep, there ain't no way I'm gonna be able to cover it all. Let's get started, shall we?



Then: Sam, John, they are not different. Except for the drinking demon blood thing. And Dean, who kills things to save people, and is very angry that his brother could turn into something he'd have to hunt.

Now:

A woman being chased through her house, and she ends up barricading herself in the bedroom. But you know, you know, you just know something's gonna grab her from under the bed. The same way you know not to let your arm hang off the bed when you're asleep, right? Right? RIGHT???? And as she's struggling and grabbing for anything she can, she knocks over the nightstand and IT'S A PICTURE OF JOHN!!!! *gasp!!!* *flailflail*

And Li'l Bro and SiL and Geo all look at me funny.

Opening title. (Hey, does anyone know of an animated icon of the opening title? If so, could you point me in that direction?)

How much to I love this opening scene with the Boys? So very, very much. I love seeing glimpses of their day-to-day lives. I love that Sam is brushing his teeth. I love that Dean is cranky from sleeping in the front seat of the Impala. I love that he lacks coordination as he stumbles/falls out of the car. I love that he's hungry now (that's my Dean). And how he hates tuna. Or hates tuna that's been left out overnight (and slept on by his ginormous brother). Or hates tuna but hates left-out-over-night-and-slept-on-by-his-ginormous-brother more. Whatever. I love it.

Then there's the call. Yay for phones in the glovebox! *gasp!* at the son reveal! (Okay, yes, I was totally expecting it, but still. *gasp*)

Geo laughed out loud at the "Cousin Oliver's Diner." We had to pause to explain it to Bro and SiL, but Geo got a huge kick out of it.

I love how Dean doesn't even consider any other possibility other than it's a trap.

Okay, janglyjewels pointed out the poster inside the doorway for the Fonzarelli Water Skiing Championship. Now, I know that a couple of my good f-listies are way too young to remember the ep, but that's where the term "jump the shark" came from. I won't go into details of the ep, but what I do remember of the ep was that I, as a child, was very bothered but that particular cliffhanger. See, as a small child, I took the whole "jumping over a shark tank" thing very seriously. What if he didn't make it? He'd die! Evel Knivel, the famous daredevil (who, incidently, was played by George Eads in a made-for-TV movie), was popular around that time, and those stunts bothered me, too. Because what if he didn't make the jump? He would go up in a flaming ball of wrecked motorcycle or fall down the cliffs of the Grand Canyon and die. It was very bothersome to me.

But the poster in the doorway of Cousin Oliver's Diner? Hilarious!

I love that Dean is so focused on laying a trap for the baddie. Holy water in case of demon possession; silver cutlery in case of shapeshifter. Move the extra chair to the wall, and Sam and Dean both sit with their backs to the wall. This thing is going down.

However, Waitress needs to work on her customer service skills.

And I love Sam's expression. He knows that pointing out the obvious is going to hurt Dean. But he's gotta be logical. And I like the insight we get into John.

"Hunter rolls into town, kills the monster, saves the girl, sometimes the girl's grateful." Dean, you should know exactly what Sam is talking about. You've used that approach your own self.

And the brother annoyance! Dean not wanting to hear about Dad!sex and Sam poking Dean with it like an annoying little brother! And Sam is so proud of himself. Hee!

Then we get Adam's backstory, and Dean's just getting angrier by the moment. I like how he's doing a Han Solo with his ivory handled Colt, until he sees that the kid isn't phased by silver. His indignation just hurts, then we get . . .

The baseball conversation. Oh, Dean. To know that John went out of his way give Adam things that he never gave the sons he actually raised. To know that John didn't even take one afternoon out of their lives to take him to do something special on one of his b-days (or, I assume, Sam's b-days).

Then to see a pic of John with a woman not Mary, not Dean's mom. Oh, Dean.

Then Adam asks Dean about John, because Dean knew him better. Apparently, Dean didn't know Dad as well as he thought.

For Kate to leave those kinds of scratch marks on the floor? That's gotta hurt.

Rock, paper, scissors, and Dean's expression right as he throws "scissors" is that he knows that this time he's gonna win, but NO! I love Dean's full-body flail-y frustration. It makes me laugh.

Ickyness in the ventilation duct is icky!

Gun cleaning!

Kim Manor!!! Oh, Kim. We miss you so. (You know, I was thinking about this, and I think that just as good as a big, splashy memorial would be to put these little tidbits remembering him throughout the series. You know?)

I also like how the camera rack focuses between Dean and Sam in this scene, sort of making a distinction that the brothers are not going to agree on how to approach this.

"Godzilla's just a movie." And Bigfoot is a hoax. :-)

"You're my brothers. And you're telling me the truth, right?" Wow, Adam is a very trusting soul.

And I love that even though Dean feels betrayed by John, he still wants to respect John's wishes. And he immediately understands that John was trying to protect Adam.

"Do I get a say in this?"
"No!" And this makes me laugh also. Because while they might disagree on how to approach the situation, Sam and Dean do agree that Adam doesn't get to decide. Heh. And Dean's "No!" sounds very authoritative and "I'm the head of this family and you'll do as I say," while Sam's is very patient, complete with the "hold on a minute and let me talk to him" index finger.

"But Dean said--" Because Dean is the head of the family. Hee.

"I know what Dean said." Because Sam's going to do as he does, regardless of what the head of the family says. Heh.

And again with the revenge. Seriously, Sam's been a bit vengeance-driven since Jess, huh. And it just gets worse with each loss.

Also, kalquessa? You often make light of Dean's ivory handled pimp gun. And yet you fail to comment on Sam's pearl handled pistol? Because really, would you really expect a guy who drinks demon blood to carry a pearl handled pistol? You would? Okay. Just checking.

Undertaker dude looks familiar. Where have I seen him before? Hey, izhilzha. Was he a monk at St. Sebastian's? I think he was.

Bartender chick looks familiar. Where have I seen her before?

"It's never over." Oh, Sam. Shades of "Criss Angel."

Ooh, nice key catch, Sam.

And Dean and Adam pull Sam out from under the truck and away from MotW. It's at this point I decide that Adam can be a recurring character. *nods*

The Winchesters must be the only guests at that motel. You'd think a shotgun blast would raise a couple eyebrows at least.

" . . . Dad's girl." It seems that Dean can adjust to the idea of John having a girl after Mary more easily than he can adjust to the idea of another son. But it's getting easier.

Dean wants to take Adam to Bobby's for safe keeping. Yes, Dean is serious about protecting the kid and hunting the thing.

Sam wants to use Adam as bait. Now, there's been mention made of the fact that this is exactly what S1 Dean wanted to do in "Something Wicked." Again with the role reversal. Sam wants to train Adam and get him ready, whereas Dean wants to protect him.

So while we've got some role reversal going, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Dean has almost always been in the hunt for the "saving people, hunting things." Yes, he also wanted to kill the thing that killed Mary, but his family has always been foremost to him. Sam might be the one who relates to people better, but he's in the hunt for the revenge. It's an interesting and somewhat unexpected dichotomy.

Sam with a protégé is interesting. And kinda entertaining.

Dean wants nothing to do with the training.

And Sam gives Adam the same speech, essentially, that Dean gave Sam in "Skin." But somehow, it seems . . . harder . . . than when Dean said it. Maybe because it's such a 180º for Sam. Dean's losing his brother. Sam's losing his "Sammy-ness," if that makes sense. Oh, boys.

Sam and Dean talking in the hall, and I'm trying to figure out what set they're jusing and if I've seen it before.

I really like the way Sam is admitting that Dad was right. That's so real, in that when we're young, we don't think our parents know what they're talking about. But when we find ourselves in their place, we see that they were right. "The older we get, the smarter our parents become." Indeed. And yet . . .

Dean, who used to scoff the "normal" life, has resigned himself to the fact that it's too late for him and Sam, and he accepts that. He wants that normal life, but he knows he'll never have that. But if he can give that to Adam, he wants to. Both brothers are starting to see John in a more realistic light. Sam realizing that John did, in fact, do the best he could and that John was right about things, and Dean realizing (as he did in DaLDoM) that John was flawed, that he could have given them some normality, or more normality than they had, anyway. That they could have taken a day out of hunting to do something fun with Sam and Dean for their b-days. This is just such a switch from the boys we met four years ago. It's fascinating.

"What makes Adam so special?"
"What, are you jealous of the kid?"
"Are you?"

And there it is. Both Sam and Dean are jealous of Adam, for different reasons. From either perspective, Adam had what neither Sam nor Dean could.

And the fact that Sam now sees "normal" as nothing more than a façade, that there's nothing but evil and darkness and monsters . . . just . . . ouch. Dean still wants to save people, but it's like Sam doesn't see a point.

"He's a Winchester. He's already cursed." Um, Sam? Your curse came from your mom. The Campbell side of your fam. And since Adam isn't a Campbell . . .

And Dean is so freakin' determined to save Adam and give him the chance at a normal life.

Ack! Another crawl space. Poor Dean. *snicker*

Okay, ick. That place must stink.

"Sloppy Joe." Oh, Dean. You and your tacky, tacky asides.

Trapped by a cave-in! No! Dean!

Wait! Who . . . how . . . Okay, Sam says she's not real, so . . . I believe him. Adam! Listen to Sam!

Kate's in the coffin!

Earnest Adam suddenly becomes Evil Adam!

Dean finds Adams body in a coffin! Oh, noez!!!!

Okay, now. We're just gonna skip the Sam torture this time around. Suffice to say it's very squicky and cringe-inducing and icky and made me flail and squirm. Slicing open veins for bleeding? Poking fingers in holes in Sam's side, then licking the blood-coated fingers? Just . . . *squirm*

However, suddenly ghoul!Kate looks familiar. Bzuh?

And Adam really was Sam and Dean's brother. Oh, Boys. Sadly, no recurring appearances from Adam in future eps. Seeing as how real!Adam is in a coffin in a crypt. Dead.

Also, this means that Adam really was cursed through his Winchester-ness. Sorry, Sam. I take back what I said about the Campbells. But that's totally why you are cursed.

BTW, as soon as they come back from commercial, when Sam is tied down to the table? I will say that in the opening shot, Jared is very, very pretty.

Dean escapes through the roof! And wow, is he strong and athletic.

Rescue scene! And wow, Dean's in quite a state to be beating ghoul!Adam to death rather than doing something much more efficient, like retrieving the gun and shooting him.

And I really expected Dean to tell Sam to lie still while he (Dean) wrapped the sliced-open arms. But Dean tending to his injured brother is FTW, so I won't complain too much.

Funeral pyre for Adam.

"He was still our brother."
"Maybe we can bring him back. Get a hold of Cas. Call in a favor." Um, Sam? What? No. That's just . . . not a good idea, 'kay? You can't just go bringing back anyone you darn well please. You and Dean are exceptions to the rule because you're, you know, the leads of the show and the vehicles of this story. And Dean needs to stop the Apocalypse, so there is that.

I'm glad to know that Dean seems to believe that there actually is a better place.

Sam and John are practically the same person.
"You're more like him than I will ever be."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"You can take that however you want."

Oh. Oh, boys.

Comments

[sarcasticval.livejournal.com]

"He's a Winchester. He's already cursed." Um, Sam? Your curse came from your mom. The Campbell side of your fam. And since Adam isn't a Campbell . . .

I had that exact same thought!

[leelust.livejournal.com]

Good review.
"Hunter rolls into town, kills the monster, saves the girl, sometimes the girl's grateful." Dean, you should know exactly what Sam is talking about. You've used that approach your own self.
Hmm, really? I didn't remember that Dean would use that on hunts. he sure picked up women but i don't remember him getting it from saved ones.

Sam wants to use Adam as bait. Now, there's been mention made of the fact that this is exactly what S1 Dean wanted to do in "Something Wicked." Again with the role reversal.
Actually i don't see it as role reversal. It seems similar but 2 cases are too different. When in 118 they knew exactly what the bad 'guy' was and how to kill it it was appropriate to use Michael as bait (they had time to enter and kill it and also Dean didn't want Michael to be involved in revenge for the rest of his life). In 419 case they didn't know who's the bad guy is and how to kill it so it was way more dangerous for civilian Adam and also Sam consistently lead Adam to embrace his future as revenge. Driving by his own revenge Sam didn't want to see any signs or even admit that Dean could be right and it's a trap.

Sam realizing that John did, in fact, do the best he could and that John was right about things
Can you, please, clarify this because i'm confused because i didn't see when John was right there.

"You're more like him than I will ever be."
I'd say Amen to that.

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

Re: the role reversal . . . I see where you're coming from, and that actually plays into my theory of how it's role reversal (Dean wanting to use an innocent as bait, Sam disagreeing vs. Sam wanting to use an innocent as bait and Dean disagreeing) and how with Dean it's always been (mostly) about the saving people (they had things under control with Michael) and with Sam it's been primarily about revenge (using Adam to help Adam get revenge on what killed his mom).

Re: John being right . . . John was right to teach Sam and Dean to protect themselves against the monsters of the world. Had John not learned and taught the boys to defend themselves and others after that horrific night in Sam's nursery, many, many people, including John, Dean, and possibly Sam would be dead. Could John maybe have given them a little more "normal" than he did. That's up to fanfic. But he did let Sam play soccer (he was in a championship league, even). Dean professed not to want normal; he wanted to emulate John. But in the bigger picture, did John do the best he could and was he right to teach the boys to defend themselves against what had killed Mary? Yes.

So from a certain point of view, both Sam and Dean are correct. Sam is correct that John was right to teach the boys to defend themselves and save others. Dean is right that John didn't have a choice with them, but he did with Adam, and he wanted Adam to have as normal a life as possible. The problem comes in Sam's extreme view of there's nothing real but darkness and evil and advocating revenge. And the problem with Dean's argument is that now that they've determined that Adam is a target, Adam does need to know how to defend himself.

Actually, kroki_refur does a really good job of explaining it.

[kalquessa.livejournal.com]

I liked Refur's explanation, and that she made the distiction that it's not being John that's inherently a bad thing, it's Sam being John that is...kinda worrisome.

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

Hunter rolls into town, kills the monster, saves the girl, sometimes the girl's grateful." Dean, you should know exactly what Sam is talking about. You've used that approach your own self.

Hmm, really? I didn't remember that Dean would use that on hunts. he sure picked up women but i don't remember him getting it from saved ones.
****

There was no sex involved, but he played the hunter hero to Haley in "Wendigo." (to which her reply was, "Must you cheapen the moment?" And he, in response, grins and says, "Yeah.") And he was going to go out with Jamie anyway in "Monster Movie," but their cute little conversation leads me to believe that his saving her life was not, shall we say, detrimental to his chances of getting her in bed.

So while it's true that we've never seen it on screen, given Dean's appreciation of the ladies and his willingness to fall into bed, I'm thinking the scenario Sam is describing is not completely foreign to him. I'm extrapolating. Ya know?

[kalquessa.livejournal.com]

Also, [info]kalquessa? You often make light of Dean's ivory handled pimp gun. And yet you fail to comment on Sam's pearl handled pistol?

I don't make fun of Sam's pearl-inlayed 9mm because I WANT IT FOR MY VERY OWN. *covets* I have no idea what a big, strapping lad like Sam is using a pearl-handled sissy-pistol for (surely someone who drinks demon blood could swing a .45) but it is the perfect weapon for a girl who likes pretty shiny things that also happen to go BOOM! (I just happen to be such a girl. For the record.)

The Winchesters must be the only guests at that motel. You'd think a shotgun blast would raise a couple eyebrows at least.

I know, I was like, "Really? No one is alarmed by the discharge of firearms in the parking lot?"

Um, Sam? What? No.

Yeah, my reaction to that was "Right. Because that's worked out so well before. Sam." *eyeroll*

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

Re: the pearl inlayed pistol: So, what you're saying is that Refur is right and Sam is a pretty, pretty princess? I . . . think I'm insulted on his behalf.

You, however, are a pistol-packin' mama in the guise of a pretty, pretty princess, so you're entitled.

I know, I was like, "Really? No one is alarmed by the discharge of firearms in the parking lot?"

Well, given the places the Boys usually stay at, I'm going with the explanation that a discharge of firearms probably isn't all that unusual. The manager will get around to calling the cops eventually. Maybe.

I need a gun icon.

[kalquessa.livejournal.com]

Yes, Sam's pretty, pretty princesshood is indicated by his choice of firearm even more strongly than by his toothbrush color. *nod*

Although, I'm reasonably sure that it was originally Dean's gun (he uses it a few times in S1 before it becomes the one that Sam uses all the time) which leads me to believe that Dean just has a thing for trolling pawn shops for the pimpest weapons he can lay hands on. Possibly while running errands to find Sam a new pink/purple toothbrush.

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

You see, now I want to see Dean (and Sam) doing a pawn shop run.

Because it needs to happen.

And because all sorts of cursed objects and questionable characters end up in pawn shops.

[kalquessa.livejournal.com]

MAYBE THAT'S WHERE THEY GOT THE GRENADE LAUNCHER!!!

(Except I'm reasonably sure that pawning a grenade launcher is, like, nine kinds of illegal. But still.)