SPN 5.20 - The Devil You Know
May. 2nd, 2010 04:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
feliciakwWell, like I said, I don't have many thinky thoughts on this one. There wasn't anything that I found to be an earthshattering reveal in the overall arch. It was more interesting to me to see the character dynamics and attitudes and challenges that the characters faced in this one.
Then . . . lots of stuff I didn't really need a refresher on, not really.
Now . . .
Medical lab exposition. Swine flu. Demon experiment.
Boys posing as CDC peeps. It might sound weird, but I was kind of amused that though the entire scene was played with everyone in surgical masks, you could still just about see their facial expressions. I can't really explain it. It just tickled me.
Dean: "Hey, check it out. I look like the King of Pop."
Sam: *eyeroll*
Dean: Too soon?
Sam: *bitchface behind the surgical mask*
Dean: Too soon.
This little throwaway exchange amuses me, as does much of the throwaway banter throughout the series.
Crying statues! Like weeping angels? Hey, can we have an ep about the crying statues? Or maybe half an ep? Like a B-line or something?
Also, the boys amuse me when they're trying to play their way out of an awkward conversation. Heh!
I really rather like Crowley as a guest demon. And much of that comes from the actor, I'm sure. I've not seen much of his work, but he seems like he's a really good character actor.
And though Crowley is a demon, and demons lie and cannot be trusted, I'm more inclined to believe him than I ever was to believe Ruby. Crowley doesn't try to conceal his self-serving ways. You know he's gonna throw you under the bus when you're no longer of use, and yet . . . he's got this convincing way about him that maybe, maybe it will work out. Which is oh so dangerous regardless of who's playing that card (Ruby, Crowley, Lucifer). Anyway, I like the way the actor plays the character.
I am also kinda proud of Sammy that he knows not to trust demons anymore. Of course, Crowley sending them on a suicide mission was no way to endear himself to Sam (or Dean), but it's nice to see that Sam learned from his past experiences. At least in this respect.
Crowley bugged the Impala? Oh, that's . . . not good.
I also kind of like that he wants in on Sam and Dean's plan. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend." But that often does not work out well in the end. Be careful, boys!
Executive!demon (aka Brady) has a very freaky looking bowl on his desk. I wonder if he keeps candy in it when he's not using it as a cell phone.
Ick!!!!
I do like how the Newton's Cradle kinetic balls start bouncing by themselves while the electricity goes wacky. Because electric fixture going on the fritz? It happens. But an object at rest no longer remaining at rest, but no outside observable force is acting upon it? That's creepy.
Wait. Is Brady wearing Dean Smith's shirt and tie? . . . *toddles off to check screen caps* Yes, I believe it is the same shirt (the one Dean's wearing when he calls the guy in to talk about the invoice/billing/whatever form). And the tie is remarkably similar. Ah, wardrobe people. Spotting your reuses is almost as fun as recurring set pieces.
Oh! I think I get what Pestilence's scheme is: start an outbreak of swine flu to get the public panicked and demanding a vaccine. Then incorporate the croatoan virus into the vaccine. I get it. (Yeah, I wasn't really paying attention when I watched it before.)
Dean knows he's taking a risk working with Crowley. He's trying to go into this with his eyes open. And I like to think that part of why Sam's angry at being left behind is not just because he wants in on the hunt, but because he wants to be there to watch Dean's back.
Oh, and Dean opts--after some thought--to go with Crowley. See, Sam? That's what it's like to have your brother work with a demon rather than you. However, I'd like you to note that Dean is going in with much skepticism, and he's not leaving you beaten and bloodied on the floor. He'll be back. Thank you for trusting him and staying put.
Of course, there's a reason Crowley wanted Dean to go along. As bait.
I kind of love Bobby calling Sam on his plan. Poor Bobby. Boys are gonna give him an ulcer if he doesn't already have one. And I like that Bobby will call Sam on his self-destructive behavior when push comes to shove. Bobby tells it like it is. Thanks, Bobby.
Dean. Oh, Dean. *hands him ice packs for his bruises*
"That's what you get for working with a demon." Reminds me of the song The Snake.
Oh! Exec!demon has history with Sam? And Dean is so not please with working on lack of info.
Sam is waiting, has not gone off half cocked. Yay. Also? Dean trusts Sam enough to bring Exec!demon Brady back to Sam. \o/ Progress, boys. You're making progress.
"I need you to stay on mission. Okay? Focused. . . . I'm doin' this because I trust you." \o/ Progress, boys.
And . . . Sam has had demons spying on him and manipulating him since sophomore year college. Ouch. In a way it makes sense, if YED wanted to keep an eye on Sam. I think this is a variation on an old plot point they'd toyed with for the pilot. I can accept this reveal (but I'm glad they didn't ret-con to the early draft of the pilot).
I very much like that Sam did learn his lesson about trusting the likes of Ruby.
Sam locks Dean in the bathroom and goes to have a little chat with Brady. Now, aside from the added layer that we get to the background goings-on, Brady says something that strikes me as kind of odd. He says that Sam was "our favorite," which YED did say way back when, that Sam was his favorite of the special children. The thing is . . . if this whole thing is "destiny" and "fate" and cannot be avoided, then it wouldn't really matter who was YED's favorite, would it. Because it's "destiny" and no matter what anyone does to try to change things, "all roads lead to the same destination" or whatever.
Brady taunts Sam. Don't do it, Sam! No! And he doesn't! \o/ I was so glad. Then someone pointed out that Sam was testing himself, pushing himself then controlling his reaction. As an exercise for his earlier not-so-bright idea. *facepalm* Oh, Sammy.
You know? I really rather like Crowley as a villain. He's so freakin' manipulative. "I told him we were . . . wait for it . . . lovers in league against Satan." He will do anything to forward his own agenda, which is why the boys should not be trusting him, and yet what makes him such a fun villain.
Oh, Dean. Dean knows a hellhound when he hears it. "Was that a hellhound?" "I'd say yeah." "Why was that a hellhound?"
Now, apparently I'm the only one I know of who thinks Dean can still see the hellhounds. And I do think he can. His focus on them is very specific, while others just kind of look aimlessly around the room. I like the idea that he can still see them. As a hold-over from the Pit, traumatic, but useful.
Crowley's parting words to Brady: Crowley knows full well that Sam isn't letting Brady out of this alive. "I'm going to do you a favor" . . . and leave you here for Sam to kill.
"We're the ones you should be afraid of." Oh, yeah. I like that line. A lot.
Brady says something that . . . caught my attention, because it's oh so true. "You're the one who trusted us. You're the one who let us into your life, let us whisper in your ear over and over and over again." And it's so true. We choose what to give attention to in our lives. We decide who we're going to trust and what we're going to focus on. It's why Proverbs makes the admonition "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." (Proverbs 4:23, NIV) Or as Today's NIV translates it: "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." It's also the reasoning behind Philippians 4:8 . . . "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." (NIV) Whatever we focus our energies and attention on, whomever we listen to most, whatever we fill our lives with, that is what will determine our actions and the course of our lives. We can't always control what goes on around us, but we can certainly choose how we respond and from what motivation.
The rest of the conversation, Brady's taunting, saying that there was no difference between demons and Sam . . . that's all balderdash and said to manipulate Sam and try to weaken him. He'll have none of it.
He's exercising more control over his anger in this episode, which is a good thing, and I'm very yay! about it. But at the same time, it kind of makes me nervous for his plans.
Dean. Oh, Dean. Grim observation of what's going on with Sam. Letting Sam do what he needs to do, but grimly watching what it does to Sam, and Sam's response to Brady: "Interesting theory."
And I kind of love the composition of that last 2-shot of Sam walking away and Dean standing in the alley. It's so evocative . . . I'm tempted to ask for a story based on that shot.
Rufus! \o/ Maybe he will show up again before the end of the season?
Now we have Crowley's offer to Bobby. And I . . . I don't know what to make of it. Because on the surface, it seems like a viable option, particularly with the guarantee that the sale is only temporary. But since when has the guarantee of a demon been worth anything? Oh, Bobby. What will the boys say?
Trailer for next week: *flail*
If this seems like it's been piecemeal, that's because it has been. I've had a very busy weekend and it's been difficult getting any amount of time to do this. So there ya go.
Then . . . lots of stuff I didn't really need a refresher on, not really.
Now . . .
Medical lab exposition. Swine flu. Demon experiment.
Boys posing as CDC peeps. It might sound weird, but I was kind of amused that though the entire scene was played with everyone in surgical masks, you could still just about see their facial expressions. I can't really explain it. It just tickled me.
Dean: "Hey, check it out. I look like the King of Pop."
Sam: *eyeroll*
Dean: Too soon?
Sam: *bitchface behind the surgical mask*
Dean: Too soon.
This little throwaway exchange amuses me, as does much of the throwaway banter throughout the series.
Crying statues! Like weeping angels? Hey, can we have an ep about the crying statues? Or maybe half an ep? Like a B-line or something?
Also, the boys amuse me when they're trying to play their way out of an awkward conversation. Heh!
I really rather like Crowley as a guest demon. And much of that comes from the actor, I'm sure. I've not seen much of his work, but he seems like he's a really good character actor.
And though Crowley is a demon, and demons lie and cannot be trusted, I'm more inclined to believe him than I ever was to believe Ruby. Crowley doesn't try to conceal his self-serving ways. You know he's gonna throw you under the bus when you're no longer of use, and yet . . . he's got this convincing way about him that maybe, maybe it will work out. Which is oh so dangerous regardless of who's playing that card (Ruby, Crowley, Lucifer). Anyway, I like the way the actor plays the character.
I am also kinda proud of Sammy that he knows not to trust demons anymore. Of course, Crowley sending them on a suicide mission was no way to endear himself to Sam (or Dean), but it's nice to see that Sam learned from his past experiences. At least in this respect.
Crowley bugged the Impala? Oh, that's . . . not good.
I also kind of like that he wants in on Sam and Dean's plan. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend." But that often does not work out well in the end. Be careful, boys!
Executive!demon (aka Brady) has a very freaky looking bowl on his desk. I wonder if he keeps candy in it when he's not using it as a cell phone.
Ick!!!!
I do like how the Newton's Cradle kinetic balls start bouncing by themselves while the electricity goes wacky. Because electric fixture going on the fritz? It happens. But an object at rest no longer remaining at rest, but no outside observable force is acting upon it? That's creepy.
Wait. Is Brady wearing Dean Smith's shirt and tie? . . . *toddles off to check screen caps* Yes, I believe it is the same shirt (the one Dean's wearing when he calls the guy in to talk about the invoice/billing/whatever form). And the tie is remarkably similar. Ah, wardrobe people. Spotting your reuses is almost as fun as recurring set pieces.
Oh! I think I get what Pestilence's scheme is: start an outbreak of swine flu to get the public panicked and demanding a vaccine. Then incorporate the croatoan virus into the vaccine. I get it. (Yeah, I wasn't really paying attention when I watched it before.)
Dean knows he's taking a risk working with Crowley. He's trying to go into this with his eyes open. And I like to think that part of why Sam's angry at being left behind is not just because he wants in on the hunt, but because he wants to be there to watch Dean's back.
Oh, and Dean opts--after some thought--to go with Crowley. See, Sam? That's what it's like to have your brother work with a demon rather than you. However, I'd like you to note that Dean is going in with much skepticism, and he's not leaving you beaten and bloodied on the floor. He'll be back. Thank you for trusting him and staying put.
Of course, there's a reason Crowley wanted Dean to go along. As bait.
I kind of love Bobby calling Sam on his plan. Poor Bobby. Boys are gonna give him an ulcer if he doesn't already have one. And I like that Bobby will call Sam on his self-destructive behavior when push comes to shove. Bobby tells it like it is. Thanks, Bobby.
Dean. Oh, Dean. *hands him ice packs for his bruises*
"That's what you get for working with a demon." Reminds me of the song The Snake.
Oh! Exec!demon has history with Sam? And Dean is so not please with working on lack of info.
Sam is waiting, has not gone off half cocked. Yay. Also? Dean trusts Sam enough to bring Exec!demon Brady back to Sam. \o/ Progress, boys. You're making progress.
"I need you to stay on mission. Okay? Focused. . . . I'm doin' this because I trust you." \o/ Progress, boys.
And . . . Sam has had demons spying on him and manipulating him since sophomore year college. Ouch. In a way it makes sense, if YED wanted to keep an eye on Sam. I think this is a variation on an old plot point they'd toyed with for the pilot. I can accept this reveal (but I'm glad they didn't ret-con to the early draft of the pilot).
I very much like that Sam did learn his lesson about trusting the likes of Ruby.
Sam locks Dean in the bathroom and goes to have a little chat with Brady. Now, aside from the added layer that we get to the background goings-on, Brady says something that strikes me as kind of odd. He says that Sam was "our favorite," which YED did say way back when, that Sam was his favorite of the special children. The thing is . . . if this whole thing is "destiny" and "fate" and cannot be avoided, then it wouldn't really matter who was YED's favorite, would it. Because it's "destiny" and no matter what anyone does to try to change things, "all roads lead to the same destination" or whatever.
Brady taunts Sam. Don't do it, Sam! No! And he doesn't! \o/ I was so glad. Then someone pointed out that Sam was testing himself, pushing himself then controlling his reaction. As an exercise for his earlier not-so-bright idea. *facepalm* Oh, Sammy.
You know? I really rather like Crowley as a villain. He's so freakin' manipulative. "I told him we were . . . wait for it . . . lovers in league against Satan." He will do anything to forward his own agenda, which is why the boys should not be trusting him, and yet what makes him such a fun villain.
Oh, Dean. Dean knows a hellhound when he hears it. "Was that a hellhound?" "I'd say yeah." "Why was that a hellhound?"
Now, apparently I'm the only one I know of who thinks Dean can still see the hellhounds. And I do think he can. His focus on them is very specific, while others just kind of look aimlessly around the room. I like the idea that he can still see them. As a hold-over from the Pit, traumatic, but useful.
Crowley's parting words to Brady: Crowley knows full well that Sam isn't letting Brady out of this alive. "I'm going to do you a favor" . . . and leave you here for Sam to kill.
"We're the ones you should be afraid of." Oh, yeah. I like that line. A lot.
Brady says something that . . . caught my attention, because it's oh so true. "You're the one who trusted us. You're the one who let us into your life, let us whisper in your ear over and over and over again." And it's so true. We choose what to give attention to in our lives. We decide who we're going to trust and what we're going to focus on. It's why Proverbs makes the admonition "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." (Proverbs 4:23, NIV) Or as Today's NIV translates it: "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." It's also the reasoning behind Philippians 4:8 . . . "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." (NIV) Whatever we focus our energies and attention on, whomever we listen to most, whatever we fill our lives with, that is what will determine our actions and the course of our lives. We can't always control what goes on around us, but we can certainly choose how we respond and from what motivation.
The rest of the conversation, Brady's taunting, saying that there was no difference between demons and Sam . . . that's all balderdash and said to manipulate Sam and try to weaken him. He'll have none of it.
He's exercising more control over his anger in this episode, which is a good thing, and I'm very yay! about it. But at the same time, it kind of makes me nervous for his plans.
Dean. Oh, Dean. Grim observation of what's going on with Sam. Letting Sam do what he needs to do, but grimly watching what it does to Sam, and Sam's response to Brady: "Interesting theory."
And I kind of love the composition of that last 2-shot of Sam walking away and Dean standing in the alley. It's so evocative . . . I'm tempted to ask for a story based on that shot.
Rufus! \o/ Maybe he will show up again before the end of the season?
Now we have Crowley's offer to Bobby. And I . . . I don't know what to make of it. Because on the surface, it seems like a viable option, particularly with the guarantee that the sale is only temporary. But since when has the guarantee of a demon been worth anything? Oh, Bobby. What will the boys say?
Trailer for next week: *flail*
If this seems like it's been piecemeal, that's because it has been. I've had a very busy weekend and it's been difficult getting any amount of time to do this. So there ya go.
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Date: 2010-05-02 09:10 pm (UTC)I enjoyed watching the great chemistry between Jensen and Mark Sheppard.