SPN - 5.12 "Swap Meat" - the long rambly
Jan. 30th, 2010 12:14 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
feliciakwWell, in spite of last night's ep making me very nervous for about the first half, I really did enjoy it. The case was different and gave the guys (and Sam and Dean) some interesting and fun stuff to work with. It was arch-connected without being weighted down with it.
First, I'll be upfront and say that this ep contained two of what you might call my hot button issues: satanism, and being trapped in a body that's not your own. But more on that when we get there. Right now I'll just say that's why my stomach was in knots for the first half of this episode.
There is no "then." There is only now.
And this whole opening sequence? I'd bet money Jared had waaaayyyyy too much fun with it. He just looks like it. He's got such a flair for comedy, and for playing things up without going completely OTT. I particularly liked the straw getting stuck on his lip. Ha! Jared really shined in this ep, I think.
You know what else I like? That the woman at the bar isn't a PYT (pretty young thing). It's nice to see a little variety in the age range of the woman the guys (or in this case, the clueless, overexcited teen riding in one of the guys) pick up. *shrug*
But then we get to see what the kid whose riding around in his body looks like. And the whole body swap plays out a lot like Quantum Leap. :-)
Oh, I really like the family Sam and Dean are helping. You remember way back in "Phantom Traveler," when someone for whom John and worked a case before contacted Sam and Dean? It was so nice to see that again. To see civilians who knew at least some of the score and knew enough to call the guys. And the fact that the woman used to be their babysitter? Nice additional texture. And of course Dean is all about reassuring the child in the situation. I loved that.
Sam and his salad shake also cracked me up. As did Dean's snark.
Then Dean being oh-so-subtle in asking if Sam thought about having a wife and kids. Sam has changed so much over the last five years. That's not his thing anymore. But Dean. As Sam has lost interest, Dean has started wondering what he's missed. He's mentioned so often "in passing" that he wants the wife and kids and white picket fence. Oh, Dean.
Tranqu dart to the neck: never a good thing.
Love the dynamic of confusion when Sam meets Gary's family.
I find Gary's eagerness to please amusing. Dean just finds it confusing. (Oooh, that rhymed.)
Aaaaannnndddd . . . letting the maid in is the first clue.
And this. This right here. When Gary dumps all their phones into the dumpster. That's when my stomach started clenching and my heart rate went up and I just got really, really uncomfy. Because that's John's old contact number! That's all their old and alternate contact numbers! Not only that, but. A body swap is one thing. But a body swap with no allies who know what's going on? Sam is now totally cut off from Dean and this is so not good. Give Sam back his body, you brat!
Gary screwing with the Impala. That's the second clue. The blocking and shooting of "I'm really, really sorry" . . . "Shut up!" made me laugh. Ha!
Also, I knew from previous eps (and Geo's knowledge of cars) that the Impala is an automatic. Here again is confirmation.
"I think I got asthma." And a bajillion (more) asthma fics are born! Ha!
Love the Star Wars t-shirt!
"One leather jacket, one sasquatch." Ha! Yes. The Adventures of Leather Jacket and Sasquatch. That works.
I also love the way Sam puts together a profile of Gary as he goes through the room.
Then we get to the box. And the occult paraphernalia. My stomach clenched into further knots when Sam pulled out the black cloth with the goat head printed on it. It seriously gives me the heebie-jeebies.
Luckily, there's Sam's petulant "AlrightI'mcomiiiing!!!" to make me laugh. Jared just plays that so well.
Also, I love that Sam has zero time for subtlety when he's asking questions at the breakfast table. It shows just how much he's changed in his approach when something is super urgent.
I can't really define why, but I like the interplay between Dean and Gary (or maybe it's that I like how Jensen and the young actor play it) during the Maggie Briggs exposition.
And when Gary tells Dean to turn up the music, it reminds me of the siren from last season sharing Dean's interests. Dean so wants someone to share his interests with. And I love Dean's sly little lip pout as he turns up the music. Hee! Jensen has some of the best expressions.
Where have I seen Nora before? It's driving me nuts! I used to be so good at this.
Satanic spell book. Remember those heebie-jeebies I was telling you about? But Sam is on the case. So I'll let myself breathe.
Dean and Gary heading into the basement, and yet again, something tries to trip Dean's "something's off" alert.
And then Gary's pointing the shotgun at Dean's back? Gary, what's up with that, dude? Not only is that not a good idea, but that's rock salt in that gun, and though it won't kill Dean, it will make him very angry. And probably bring back memories of Dr. Ellicott, which wasn't really a high point in the guys' reconnection. So, you know.
But Gary burns the body and saves Dean, so good for him. I still want to slap him, though.
Another tranq dart. I did mention how that's never a good thing, right? Also, Gary's friends are in on it. Ack! Sam!
I must be really noticing the minor roles in this ep, because I like their waitress, too. It's like, she's got an actual personality. And that's just from serving drinks and taking Dean's sandwich order. And she's not a PYT either. Not a flirty little thing, just an attractive woman who's pleasant to her customers.
And Dean? Honey? I would have thought you'd learned your lesson after that whole he-witch poker-for-years thing. Bacon cheeseburger with a fried egg? I can hear the arteries slamming shut as I type this.
Now, this whole conversation is so very poignant. Not really angsty per se, but . . . yeah. Dean wants to be able to share a drink and celebrate with his brother. But that's not usually Sam's style. And Sam must be drunk if he's telling Dean that Dean is a good guy. That just hurts a little. And then the look of suspicion Dean gets when Gary repeats it sincerely. Just . . . gah. And then the random hook-up that's the clencher. Because yeah, Sam is a happy drunk, but a random hook-up isn't Sam in any capacity.
The plot thickens! This was all a plan to kill Dean? What?
Okay, so we knew that all the demons are out to get Dean. But now there's a bounty, and all the witches and such are out for him, too? Along with the fringe groups that Zachariah has recruited? Sam. Dude. You've got your work cut out for you.
Okay, so Nora isn't a total idiot. She's actually got a brain and a sense of self-preservation. But Trevor? Yeah. Idiot. Gary? He might be on his way to MIT, but he's also an idiot.
Gary? Just FYI: angry!Dean is not someone you want to mess with. Especially when messing with Sam is what made him angry. Just sayin'.
Trevor? That's what happens when you deal with demons. Which is why you just. Don't.
Okay, the voice mails that Dean listens to. Shouldn't those be in Gary's voice, since they were made with Gary's vocal chords?
"Either you start talkin', or I start waterboarding." I cannot tell you why I like that line, and Jensen's delivery of that line. But I do.
When demon!Nora is telling Gary all he has to do is say yes (thus giving Lucifer permission to take over Sam's body), it suddenly occurred to me: with the Enochian sigils etched into Sam & Dean's ribs, can angels even enter their bodies? Such sigils keep angels out of buildings, right? Anyway . . .
Demon!Nora beating up on Dean is just wrong. Unless she knocked him around harder than it would seem, or Dean was playing defense because he didn't want to hurt Nora.
But Gary steps up to the plate and starts the exorcism. So yay. And I really rather liked the tag-team exorcism. Heh! Plus, it's nice to see an exorcism again, demonstrating that the knife isn't always necessary to get the job done. Ya know what I mean, guys? 'Cause, with an exorcism, Nora gets to live to see another day.
But Dean is in some serious pain there. *hugs him gently*
Yay Sam is back in his own body! *sigh of relief*
I said it before, I'll say it here: I love Dean giving Gary the smackdown. Telling it like it is. " 'My bad' ain't gonna cut it. If you were of voting age, you'd be dead, because we would kill you. And if you don't straighten up and fly right, we will kill you." Because, Gary? In case you missed it, that's what they do. They hunt and kill evil. You even assisted, buddy. And since you were practicing the black arts, with the express purpose of killing Dean? Yeah, that'll put you in the evil column in their book if you don't get your act together.
On the flip side, now that Gary and Nora have seen how it works and seen the error of their ways, I kinda wonder if they'll do a little Scooby gang ghostbusting of their own.
The exchange between Sam and Gary by the car is interesting. Sam knows what to tell Gary, knows what to say, because Sam has been there in both respects. He was a rebellious youth who didn't like his father's plans for him, and he used to want the normal, school focused life that Gary has. Sam, how times change.
And Dean. Oh, Dean. "Or we don't know what we're missing." Yeah, Dean has dreams, too.
Sam asking Dean to turn down the music and Dean being denied his loud music . . . oh, boys.
So overall, a thumbs up to this ep. I also notice that the teleplay was written by one of the writers who's been on-staff for a while. Don't know if that makes a difference, but I think it helped.
First, I'll be upfront and say that this ep contained two of what you might call my hot button issues: satanism, and being trapped in a body that's not your own. But more on that when we get there. Right now I'll just say that's why my stomach was in knots for the first half of this episode.
There is no "then." There is only now.
And this whole opening sequence? I'd bet money Jared had waaaayyyyy too much fun with it. He just looks like it. He's got such a flair for comedy, and for playing things up without going completely OTT. I particularly liked the straw getting stuck on his lip. Ha! Jared really shined in this ep, I think.
You know what else I like? That the woman at the bar isn't a PYT (pretty young thing). It's nice to see a little variety in the age range of the woman the guys (or in this case, the clueless, overexcited teen riding in one of the guys) pick up. *shrug*
But then we get to see what the kid whose riding around in his body looks like. And the whole body swap plays out a lot like Quantum Leap. :-)
Oh, I really like the family Sam and Dean are helping. You remember way back in "Phantom Traveler," when someone for whom John and worked a case before contacted Sam and Dean? It was so nice to see that again. To see civilians who knew at least some of the score and knew enough to call the guys. And the fact that the woman used to be their babysitter? Nice additional texture. And of course Dean is all about reassuring the child in the situation. I loved that.
Sam and his salad shake also cracked me up. As did Dean's snark.
Then Dean being oh-so-subtle in asking if Sam thought about having a wife and kids. Sam has changed so much over the last five years. That's not his thing anymore. But Dean. As Sam has lost interest, Dean has started wondering what he's missed. He's mentioned so often "in passing" that he wants the wife and kids and white picket fence. Oh, Dean.
Tranqu dart to the neck: never a good thing.
Love the dynamic of confusion when Sam meets Gary's family.
I find Gary's eagerness to please amusing. Dean just finds it confusing. (Oooh, that rhymed.)
Aaaaannnndddd . . . letting the maid in is the first clue.
And this. This right here. When Gary dumps all their phones into the dumpster. That's when my stomach started clenching and my heart rate went up and I just got really, really uncomfy. Because that's John's old contact number! That's all their old and alternate contact numbers! Not only that, but. A body swap is one thing. But a body swap with no allies who know what's going on? Sam is now totally cut off from Dean and this is so not good. Give Sam back his body, you brat!
Gary screwing with the Impala. That's the second clue. The blocking and shooting of "I'm really, really sorry" . . . "Shut up!" made me laugh. Ha!
Also, I knew from previous eps (and Geo's knowledge of cars) that the Impala is an automatic. Here again is confirmation.
"I think I got asthma." And a bajillion (more) asthma fics are born! Ha!
Love the Star Wars t-shirt!
"One leather jacket, one sasquatch." Ha! Yes. The Adventures of Leather Jacket and Sasquatch. That works.
I also love the way Sam puts together a profile of Gary as he goes through the room.
Then we get to the box. And the occult paraphernalia. My stomach clenched into further knots when Sam pulled out the black cloth with the goat head printed on it. It seriously gives me the heebie-jeebies.
Luckily, there's Sam's petulant "AlrightI'mcomiiiing!!!" to make me laugh. Jared just plays that so well.
Also, I love that Sam has zero time for subtlety when he's asking questions at the breakfast table. It shows just how much he's changed in his approach when something is super urgent.
I can't really define why, but I like the interplay between Dean and Gary (or maybe it's that I like how Jensen and the young actor play it) during the Maggie Briggs exposition.
And when Gary tells Dean to turn up the music, it reminds me of the siren from last season sharing Dean's interests. Dean so wants someone to share his interests with. And I love Dean's sly little lip pout as he turns up the music. Hee! Jensen has some of the best expressions.
Where have I seen Nora before? It's driving me nuts! I used to be so good at this.
Satanic spell book. Remember those heebie-jeebies I was telling you about? But Sam is on the case. So I'll let myself breathe.
Dean and Gary heading into the basement, and yet again, something tries to trip Dean's "something's off" alert.
And then Gary's pointing the shotgun at Dean's back? Gary, what's up with that, dude? Not only is that not a good idea, but that's rock salt in that gun, and though it won't kill Dean, it will make him very angry. And probably bring back memories of Dr. Ellicott, which wasn't really a high point in the guys' reconnection. So, you know.
But Gary burns the body and saves Dean, so good for him. I still want to slap him, though.
Another tranq dart. I did mention how that's never a good thing, right? Also, Gary's friends are in on it. Ack! Sam!
I must be really noticing the minor roles in this ep, because I like their waitress, too. It's like, she's got an actual personality. And that's just from serving drinks and taking Dean's sandwich order. And she's not a PYT either. Not a flirty little thing, just an attractive woman who's pleasant to her customers.
And Dean? Honey? I would have thought you'd learned your lesson after that whole he-witch poker-for-years thing. Bacon cheeseburger with a fried egg? I can hear the arteries slamming shut as I type this.
Now, this whole conversation is so very poignant. Not really angsty per se, but . . . yeah. Dean wants to be able to share a drink and celebrate with his brother. But that's not usually Sam's style. And Sam must be drunk if he's telling Dean that Dean is a good guy. That just hurts a little. And then the look of suspicion Dean gets when Gary repeats it sincerely. Just . . . gah. And then the random hook-up that's the clencher. Because yeah, Sam is a happy drunk, but a random hook-up isn't Sam in any capacity.
The plot thickens! This was all a plan to kill Dean? What?
Okay, so we knew that all the demons are out to get Dean. But now there's a bounty, and all the witches and such are out for him, too? Along with the fringe groups that Zachariah has recruited? Sam. Dude. You've got your work cut out for you.
Okay, so Nora isn't a total idiot. She's actually got a brain and a sense of self-preservation. But Trevor? Yeah. Idiot. Gary? He might be on his way to MIT, but he's also an idiot.
Gary? Just FYI: angry!Dean is not someone you want to mess with. Especially when messing with Sam is what made him angry. Just sayin'.
Trevor? That's what happens when you deal with demons. Which is why you just. Don't.
Okay, the voice mails that Dean listens to. Shouldn't those be in Gary's voice, since they were made with Gary's vocal chords?
"Either you start talkin', or I start waterboarding." I cannot tell you why I like that line, and Jensen's delivery of that line. But I do.
When demon!Nora is telling Gary all he has to do is say yes (thus giving Lucifer permission to take over Sam's body), it suddenly occurred to me: with the Enochian sigils etched into Sam & Dean's ribs, can angels even enter their bodies? Such sigils keep angels out of buildings, right? Anyway . . .
Demon!Nora beating up on Dean is just wrong. Unless she knocked him around harder than it would seem, or Dean was playing defense because he didn't want to hurt Nora.
But Gary steps up to the plate and starts the exorcism. So yay. And I really rather liked the tag-team exorcism. Heh! Plus, it's nice to see an exorcism again, demonstrating that the knife isn't always necessary to get the job done. Ya know what I mean, guys? 'Cause, with an exorcism, Nora gets to live to see another day.
But Dean is in some serious pain there. *hugs him gently*
Yay Sam is back in his own body! *sigh of relief*
I said it before, I'll say it here: I love Dean giving Gary the smackdown. Telling it like it is. " 'My bad' ain't gonna cut it. If you were of voting age, you'd be dead, because we would kill you. And if you don't straighten up and fly right, we will kill you." Because, Gary? In case you missed it, that's what they do. They hunt and kill evil. You even assisted, buddy. And since you were practicing the black arts, with the express purpose of killing Dean? Yeah, that'll put you in the evil column in their book if you don't get your act together.
On the flip side, now that Gary and Nora have seen how it works and seen the error of their ways, I kinda wonder if they'll do a little Scooby gang ghostbusting of their own.
The exchange between Sam and Gary by the car is interesting. Sam knows what to tell Gary, knows what to say, because Sam has been there in both respects. He was a rebellious youth who didn't like his father's plans for him, and he used to want the normal, school focused life that Gary has. Sam, how times change.
And Dean. Oh, Dean. "Or we don't know what we're missing." Yeah, Dean has dreams, too.
Sam asking Dean to turn down the music and Dean being denied his loud music . . . oh, boys.
So overall, a thumbs up to this ep. I also notice that the teleplay was written by one of the writers who's been on-staff for a while. Don't know if that makes a difference, but I think it helped.
