Dead Man's Blood
Jun. 19th, 2009 02:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
feliciakwOh, the chewy character development we get in this ep, plus confirmation that vampires are real.
Wow. Where to start, where to start?
After a season of introduction, establishment of characters and relationships and fighting of monsters, we now start in on the beginnings of the nitty gritty story arc. Oh, yes, we've had the whole "a demon killed Mary/Sam is psychic/WT??? does any of this mean" type of arc going on. But here's where the rubber meets the road. The introduction and acquisition of the Colt, a bona fide way to kill the demon; John closing in; and the Boys making their own intentions known. The Winchesters are together, with a single purpose, and the culmination, so it would seem, of a lifetime of obsession and revenge-seeking.
Then there's the character development we get in this ep. Let's start with our guest character, shall we?
John. Papa Winchester. The man whose disappearance instigated this whole Dean-finds-Sam-and-they-hit-the-road series. We get all sorts of insight and statement as to his motivations for what he did all these years. And though he without question screwed up in various aspects of raising his sons, I can't help but look at his motivations. He lost the woman he loved to a mysterious force. He loved his sons and wanted to protect them. This meant preparing them for the evil that had torn apart his family. For good or for ill (and it depends on whom you ask), he did what he did to protect them. Sadly, and by his own admission, he lost sight of that at some point. As he tells Sam, "I stopped being your father and became your drill sergeant." "It never occurred to me what you wanted." He didn't want his boys to be vulnerable. They are his children. He can't watch them die. And in explaining to Sam why he did what he did, I think he's asking for Sam's forgiveness. (Not sure he sees yet where he went wrong by Dean, though.) John is a good guy with a good heart . . . who became obsessed with his mission to the detriment of his relationship with his boys. Oh, John.
(At this point I will put in my own disclaimer: I view the character of John Winchester as a good, but flawed, character. I do not see him as evil. Did he make mistakes? Yes. Did he speak harshly and neglect his sons' feelings? Yes. Did he realize what he was doing? I . . . don't think so. He was so wrapped up in his own quest that he lost sight of being a father. Neither am I one to defend him tooth-and-nail, because he did screw up. Nor will I make the entire series "about John," because it's not about John. It's about Sam and Dean. John is portrayed as an influencing factor, but when everything is said and done, it's not about him. It's about Sam and Dean and their relationship and their mission and their quest. Right. So. Moving on . . . )
Sam. The argumentative child. The one who's not satisfied to follow orders without question. The one who is more like John than either probably wants to admit, at least until now. The one who has stood up to John and gone after what he wants. Who will butt heads with his father, in the process taking little note of the effect it has on his brother. And when Sam says that he and John have more in common than any other two people, I can't help but hurt a little for Dean as the odd man out. Always.
Dean. John's go-to guy, who always follows orders and gets the job done. Who has tried to be a good son. Who was left without a word, and who now has been traveling with his brother as adults, making decisions and working cases with an equal, not a superior. And when Sam asks if Dean is okay just falling in line and following orders again, we can see that Dean isn't. But his focus is on the job, and if that's what will get the job done, that's what he'll do. But working with Sam as adults and equals, Dean now has the courage to disagree with John. Dean tells both Sam and John to stand down during their argument. He calls John on the fact that John knows what Sam and Dean have been doing hasn't been safe. He agrees with Sam that the Winchesters are stronger as a family. And when John scolds them for disobeying a direct order, it is Dean--much to Sam's surprise, and John's--who points out they made the right choice.
Dean. Always caught in the middle. All Dean wants is his family back together. He's always protected Sam, and he's always protected John. And in this year traveling with Sam, he's been able to voice his own doubts and admirations.
As I watch the conversation between Sam and John now, I wonder a few things. Apparently, John has never had this type of conversation with Sam. Sam, who is going a little stir crazy and wants to be out helping Dean. John, who knows Dean can handle the job, and apparently takes Dean for granted that Dean will get a job done. And Dean does.
But when John expresses himself to Dean in criticisms, he doesn't notice the effect it has on Dean. Even when the expression isn't a criticism, Dean feels inadequate next to his father. And this year of traveling with Sam--of being on his own and making his own decisions in the how of getting things done--gives Dean the confidence to speak to his father as an equal adult. Which takes both John and Sam by surprise. *hugs Dean*
The love these guys have for each other, father-to-son, son-to-father, brother-to-brother, is almost tangible. But at least as far as John is concerned, it is best expressed in the hard-won "chick flick" moments. Because in the everyday expression of his affections? Something's lost in the translation.
These character relationships are just so freaking complex that I feel like I've said a lot without saying anything. And the developments, particularly Dean's, continue on through the subsequent seasons. As such, YMMV.
Now, about the case in general . . .
Vampires are real. Who knew?
Also? They have reflective eyes. I would love to know if it's CGI or if it's reflective lenses. I'm inclined to say CGI, but if so, good show effects people. Well played!
Also also? This is, I think, the first ep wherein we don't get the standard recap. Just a "Previously on Supernatural" minus the text. Still in Jensen's mellow tones, though.
I actually don't have a lot of "also"s for this ep. Because it just . . . is. What could be considered the first part of a 4-part mini-arc within the overall series.
And the end of the ep, with the SPN theme playing in the background, and "We go after this thing together"? Full-on victory arms! \o/
Wow. Where to start, where to start?
After a season of introduction, establishment of characters and relationships and fighting of monsters, we now start in on the beginnings of the nitty gritty story arc. Oh, yes, we've had the whole "a demon killed Mary/Sam is psychic/WT??? does any of this mean" type of arc going on. But here's where the rubber meets the road. The introduction and acquisition of the Colt, a bona fide way to kill the demon; John closing in; and the Boys making their own intentions known. The Winchesters are together, with a single purpose, and the culmination, so it would seem, of a lifetime of obsession and revenge-seeking.
Then there's the character development we get in this ep. Let's start with our guest character, shall we?
John. Papa Winchester. The man whose disappearance instigated this whole Dean-finds-Sam-and-they-hit-the-road series. We get all sorts of insight and statement as to his motivations for what he did all these years. And though he without question screwed up in various aspects of raising his sons, I can't help but look at his motivations. He lost the woman he loved to a mysterious force. He loved his sons and wanted to protect them. This meant preparing them for the evil that had torn apart his family. For good or for ill (and it depends on whom you ask), he did what he did to protect them. Sadly, and by his own admission, he lost sight of that at some point. As he tells Sam, "I stopped being your father and became your drill sergeant." "It never occurred to me what you wanted." He didn't want his boys to be vulnerable. They are his children. He can't watch them die. And in explaining to Sam why he did what he did, I think he's asking for Sam's forgiveness. (Not sure he sees yet where he went wrong by Dean, though.) John is a good guy with a good heart . . . who became obsessed with his mission to the detriment of his relationship with his boys. Oh, John.
(At this point I will put in my own disclaimer: I view the character of John Winchester as a good, but flawed, character. I do not see him as evil. Did he make mistakes? Yes. Did he speak harshly and neglect his sons' feelings? Yes. Did he realize what he was doing? I . . . don't think so. He was so wrapped up in his own quest that he lost sight of being a father. Neither am I one to defend him tooth-and-nail, because he did screw up. Nor will I make the entire series "about John," because it's not about John. It's about Sam and Dean. John is portrayed as an influencing factor, but when everything is said and done, it's not about him. It's about Sam and Dean and their relationship and their mission and their quest. Right. So. Moving on . . . )
Sam. The argumentative child. The one who's not satisfied to follow orders without question. The one who is more like John than either probably wants to admit, at least until now. The one who has stood up to John and gone after what he wants. Who will butt heads with his father, in the process taking little note of the effect it has on his brother. And when Sam says that he and John have more in common than any other two people, I can't help but hurt a little for Dean as the odd man out. Always.
Dean. John's go-to guy, who always follows orders and gets the job done. Who has tried to be a good son. Who was left without a word, and who now has been traveling with his brother as adults, making decisions and working cases with an equal, not a superior. And when Sam asks if Dean is okay just falling in line and following orders again, we can see that Dean isn't. But his focus is on the job, and if that's what will get the job done, that's what he'll do. But working with Sam as adults and equals, Dean now has the courage to disagree with John. Dean tells both Sam and John to stand down during their argument. He calls John on the fact that John knows what Sam and Dean have been doing hasn't been safe. He agrees with Sam that the Winchesters are stronger as a family. And when John scolds them for disobeying a direct order, it is Dean--much to Sam's surprise, and John's--who points out they made the right choice.
Dean. Always caught in the middle. All Dean wants is his family back together. He's always protected Sam, and he's always protected John. And in this year traveling with Sam, he's been able to voice his own doubts and admirations.
As I watch the conversation between Sam and John now, I wonder a few things. Apparently, John has never had this type of conversation with Sam. Sam, who is going a little stir crazy and wants to be out helping Dean. John, who knows Dean can handle the job, and apparently takes Dean for granted that Dean will get a job done. And Dean does.
But when John expresses himself to Dean in criticisms, he doesn't notice the effect it has on Dean. Even when the expression isn't a criticism, Dean feels inadequate next to his father. And this year of traveling with Sam--of being on his own and making his own decisions in the how of getting things done--gives Dean the confidence to speak to his father as an equal adult. Which takes both John and Sam by surprise. *hugs Dean*
The love these guys have for each other, father-to-son, son-to-father, brother-to-brother, is almost tangible. But at least as far as John is concerned, it is best expressed in the hard-won "chick flick" moments. Because in the everyday expression of his affections? Something's lost in the translation.
These character relationships are just so freaking complex that I feel like I've said a lot without saying anything. And the developments, particularly Dean's, continue on through the subsequent seasons. As such, YMMV.
Now, about the case in general . . .
Vampires are real. Who knew?
Also? They have reflective eyes. I would love to know if it's CGI or if it's reflective lenses. I'm inclined to say CGI, but if so, good show effects people. Well played!
Also also? This is, I think, the first ep wherein we don't get the standard recap. Just a "Previously on Supernatural" minus the text. Still in Jensen's mellow tones, though.
I actually don't have a lot of "also"s for this ep. Because it just . . . is. What could be considered the first part of a 4-part mini-arc within the overall series.
And the end of the ep, with the SPN theme playing in the background, and "We go after this thing together"? Full-on victory arms! \o/
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Date: 2009-06-22 06:11 pm (UTC)