SPN - "The French Mistake"
Feb. 26th, 2011 02:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
feliciakwJust got done re-watching. Actually liked it better the second time around. Like I said before, there was some good stuff in there, and it would probably grow on me.
What bothered me last night about it is that it felt very contrived. It felt like an excuse to be self-indulgent to the point not just of distraction, but to the overall detriment of the story. It felt like it was written for a handful of people would get the jokes, and the rest of the audience was consciously missing out on something.
But individually, I liked the pieces. Weird. Re-watcing it this morning, and being able to pick up on the nuances, I think I can formulate this into liking the whole rather than just the individual parts. Because there actually was quite a bit that I did like about the ep.
See, here's the thing with meta: If it's organic to the show, it works. "Hollywood Babylon," for example, which I don't consider meta because though it's self-referential, it's not BLATANTLY WE'RE MAKING FUN OF OURSELVES SEE ISN'T THIS FUN? "Hollywood Babylon" places the boys organically in a Hollywood studio setting, with nods and shout-outs, but not in a LOOK AT US kind of way. The nods and shout-outs are part of the fabric and landscape, they don't make up the fabric and landscape.
"Monster at the End of This Book" kind of works because though it's blatantly self-referential, it's still part of the landscape and somewhat organic to the show. "The Real Ghostbusters," again, part of the landscape, and for me not so much "self-referential" of the show, but pointing out things like how Jared and Jensen's lives are occasionally appropriated by the fans.
This one, however, was such that the self-reference made up the landscape of the ep, rather than simply being nods and shout-outs as a part of the fabric of the ep. At first blush, while it was all amusing, it felt like the only reason for this ep was the HEY LOOK AT US AREN'T WE FUNNY vibe of the story. (I'm talking about the story itself, not the performances by the actors, who did a fine, fine job with what they had and I'm sure had fun with it.)
One series that did a couple of meta eps that I LOVED and worked beautifully, in a TOTALLY tongue-in-cheek "look at us" manner was Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. The episode in question was "Yes, Virginia, There Is a Hercules." The cast played producers, writers, and production crew trying to figure out how to make a show without its star, Kevin Sorbo (who was actually Hercules). It. Was. Hilarious. So totally tongue-in-cheek in a show that was itself extremely tongue-in-cheek that it just delighted me. Kevin Smith especially in that ep. But I won't bore you with the details here.
Okay. Enough of my theoretical babblings . . .
Then . . . Angel civil war. Balthazar has the weapons. Ruby was a demon.
Now . . . I should maybe preface the actual commentary with this comment: Geo loled several times during this. Not just an amused chuckle now and then, but actual LOL laughter.
Storm raging outside, bloody pic on the computer, and Dean is out of whiskey.
Bobby is a hero: he's on a supply run to replenish the supply of Hunter's Helper. Geo got a kick out of that.
Balthazar appears in a controlled panic babbling about The Godfather. He's also raiding Bobby's supernatural supplies. When Balth first showed up in "The Third Man," I didn't like him much. Well, at all, really. Then when he showed up to tell Sam how to not get his soul back, I didn't like him again. This time . . . It would seem that he's chosen a side that isn't just "his own." His motives might still be suspect, but it's nice to see a hint that he might actually be a dubious alley of sorts.
"Beer, old pizza, blood of lamb." I'm thinking I won't be raiding Bobby's fridge any time soon.
"Your Mr. Singer does keep a beautiful pantry." And just what does it say about Bobby that even supernatural beings come to him for their conjuring needs? It says that he continues to be awesome, is what it says.
Raph is on the move, Cas has gone into hiding. Balth give Sam a key (interesting that he gives it to Sam, rather than to Dean. Balth has a favorite Winchester brother? Or finds Sam to be stronger than Dean?)
Virgil (Raph's hitman) shows up. More on him later.
Balth shoves Sam and Dean through awormhole window, landing them in . . . Oz. Or a TV studio. Whichever.
Now, here's something that reminds me of Farscape and the "infinite possibilities in infinite combinations" and the butterfly effect. When Crighton and Co. were jumping wormholes all over the universe, they occasionally happened upon universes alternate to their own. This is what we have here--Sam and Dean thrown through a wormhole and ending up in an alternate reality that is not our own either. Obviously. More on that in a bit.
Tail slate, marker, title smash. And yes, the guys have indeed stepped through the looking glass. Well, not so much stepped as they were thrown bodily.
And the theme of mirrors, reflections, and distortions continues. Heh.
"The French Mistake" got a hearty laugh out of Geo. He had to explain to me where it came from (Blazing Saddles). He really liked that.
I love how confused, puzzled and perplexed Dean and Sam are.
Sam: Should we be killing anybody?
Dean: I don't think so.
Genevieve Padalecki. Huh. Permanent professional change, or just for this ep? We'll have to wait and see. (Also, I completely missed the opening credits the first time around. I'm always more interested in what the guys are doing.)
Rubber glass. Bwah.
Freeze frame, cut to black, act out. Remember this.
One of the things that does make this episode is the details. Dean/"Jensen" in the make-up chair, and Dean notices all the make-up continuity pics taped to the mirror. Most of them are bloody. Among the collection is what he looked like after he got beaten to a pulp by Lucifer. Dean's eyes get wide with confusion, and it's just a delightful little detail.
Of course he's distracted by the fact that he's wearing make-up "I'm a painted whore." Heh. Oh, Dean. We still love you.
Meanwhile, Sam's got the whole deer-in-headlights thing going because Jared is supposed to be giving an interview. Heh.
"They put freakin' make-up on us. Bastards." It's a personal, injurious assault to put make-up on Dean and his brother. I'm amused.
Dean: Why would anybody want to watch our lives?
Sam: Well, according to the interviewer, not many people do.
You know, if I quote every line I found amusing, I'll be here all day.
Sam: I'm something called a 'Jared Padalecki'.
Dean: So, what, now you're Polish?
Poor Dean. Seeing so may Impalas, some of which are in really bad condition, makes him feel sick. Aw.
Dean also comes up with the funniest prayers. "We pray that you have your ears on. Breaker, breaker." Heh.
(Yes, when I was growing up, in the age before cell phones, my mom and dad had a CB system so that my dad could call on his way home from work. I kinda miss those.)
I knew, knew that who they thought was Cas was actually Misha thinking they wanted to run lines. Ha. Still, nice Castiel exposition.
" 'Misha'? 'Jensen'? What's up with the names around here." Okay, I must admit that I am amused when they poke fun at themselves. Heh.
Oh, Misha and his tweeting. I really rather like "mishamigos." Ha.
"That's fake me. This must be fake mine."
And fake!Jensen's trailer is completely over the top, yeah? The giant aquarium does make me wonder if Jensen has a smaller version in his own trailer. I mean, he does have a motor scooter (as opposed to a helicopter). One thing that's in the trailer that makes me jealous? The freezer-on-the-bottom refrigerator. I've wanted one of those for a long time. (With a pullout drawer, rather than the door, though.)
Male modeling and "nice 'blue steel,' Sam." Bwah. I did mention that I like they can make fun of themselves.
Aw, baby Jensen in DoOL. Jensen mentioned at a con that he'd be getting residuals from the use of that clip. "Figure that one out," he said. Heh.
And with each new revelation, Dean is more desperate to get "back to Kansas." Oh, Dean. Sam's with you on that.
Dean only plays dumb. He's actually very observant. He watched every move of Balthazar's spell and is ready to reverse it.
Providing they can gather the ingredients. Which isn't going to happen with the props on the soundstage.
"At least they're talking to each other." Which makes me wonder if there was a falling out, or if this Jensen and Jared just never really clicked to begin with.
And the Impala is not the Impala, of course. (I gotta admit, I feel for the PA dude.)
So they haveClint Cliff drive them to Jared's house, and on the way discover "Dude, we're not even in America." Dean is not a happy camper. Heh.
That? Is an extremely ostentatious mansion.
Sam: I must be the star of this thing.
Dean: *snort* Yeah, right.
Because that's been a discussion/argument among the fandom for a long time.
Dean: Dude, you have a camel in your backyard.
Gen: It's an alpaca, dumbass.
Me: O.o
Dean is shocked to see "Ruby," as is Sam. Allow me to pause a moment and comment on how green Jensen's (the real Jensen's) eyes are in these shots. Because, dude. So green.
Dean trying to put two and two together about Jared and fake!Ruby . . . it's amusing on its way to awkward. But don't worry, the awkward will move to uncomfortable later.
I was delighted to see one of J&G's real wedding pics on the mantel. Why not, right? But it was such a beautiful day and beautiful dress and the pictures are fabulous.
Sam also trying to explain his odd behavior amuses me.
International Otter Adoption charity dinner. Aw, otters.
Sam and Dean watch Gen leave the room. Quite appreciatively.
Dean: Well. Looks like you did all right.
Sam: (in hearty agreement) Yeah. Yeah. (pause) I should figure out her name.
Me: Bwah.
Huge portrait of cowboy!Jared behind Jared's desk is pretty darn amusing. I assume that's from an upcoming ep.
Sam finds a wristbone of a saint. Dean's ready for a roadtrip and artifact theft, but Sam pulls out Jared's charge card. One of many, as it turns out. One of which is maxed. Heh. No problem. Dean pulls out another one.
Dean sacks out on the couch. (Shades of the season wherein Jensen was Jared's houseguest/roommate.) Sam explores the house and asks Gen when she gets home about last year's Apocalypse. Didn't happen in this 'verse. And Gen's ready to make "Jared" forget about being Sam for a while.
Mysterious package arrives at the airport. The boys are ready to start their spellwork.
No such luck.
Hm. Lois & Clark reference. Wonder if that was a nod to SV.
The acting scene . . . Yes, we've moved beyond awkward into uncomfortable, and past uncomfortable to "this is painful." Painful to watch, I mean, in an embarrassing sort of way. The thespian in me can't help but be amused, though. Heh. And again, I admit Jensen (as Dean) imitating the way Himself does Dean's voice with the uber!growly . . . it makes me laugh. "That's how he does it." Bwah!
The spell does not work.
So, back in fake!Jensen's trailer, the boys break it down. In this 'verse, there is no supernatural. The Apocalypse never happened. No monsters or ghosts. No hunters. No magic. No angels or demons or Heaven or Hell . . . or God. Which obviously twigged me. And Dean himself finds it hard to believe.
But don't go jumpin' the gun on the no angels thing, because her comes Virgil through the wormhole. (Also, Serge? But I'll get to that later.)
Dean is very ready to get back home, even if home simply means America in this reality.
They run into Virgil, and when it looks like Virg is going to smite Dean, you can hear the desperation in Sam's voice, knowing he's too far away to do anything. When was the last time we heard that?
Mojo-free zone.
Conference call with Sera in L.A.
"He sold OctoCobra? They'll buy anything." Yes, especially if it's on SyFy. Heh.
"Ever get the feeling someone's in the back seat? frowny face" It's the "frowny face" that makes that line. Heh.
After last week's closing scene, I kinda love Dean's speech to fake!Bob. "We're hunters. We're the Winchesters. Always have been and always will be. And where we're from, people don't know who we are, but you know what? We matter to that world. In fact, we even save the son of a bitch once or twice. And yeah, okay, here maybe there's some fans who give a crap about this nonsense, but . . . tell me this: What does it all mean?" Even if it's just for show, Dean acknowledges that what he and Sam do is important, AND he emphasizes the importance of what they do--and the greater picture--having and needing meaning. Because if there's nothing more, then everything they do means nothing.
Virgil holding Misha at knifepoint, and the beginning of his speech actually strikes a chord with me. "How do you do it? Live in this grubby, shabby desert, nothing greater than yourselves. Nothing but dirt when you die. No power, no magic." (Okay, I wouldn't say "magic," I'd say "supernatural," as in "beyond the natural.") Because it is in our human nature to seek out something greater than ourselves, even if we don't know that's what we're doing. We're seeking something greater than ourselves to give our lives meaning, to save us from the pains of this fallen world. And whether that belief is in a benevolent Creator, a perfect Savior, or in bettering our circumstances (income, health, etc.), we all have an inborn need to seek out that which will save us and give us meaning. In this alternate 'verse, where there is none of that, their existence without hope of something better does lead to meaninglessness and a dead end.
I think that's why h/c is so popular. We like to see our favorite characters rescued and cared for after they've been badly wounded. It speaks to something inside us, that we want to be rescued from and cared for after the wounds of this world.
However, the whole "I'm doing you a favor by killing you" is where Virgil loses me. Because where he could introduce a hope in something greater, he'd rather use Misha to hijack a demon's long distance calling plan.
Slap my mouth. He just slit Misha's throat! *slaps hand over mouth*
"The scary man" and "the attractive crying man." That's gonna look good in the police report. Heh.
Canadian money. It's very pretty.
"I am the Weaponskeeper of Heaven." Well that just got him placed on the terrorist watch list.
Sam and Dean discussing the pros and cons of going home. Dean points out that Sam's got it pretty good in this alternate universe--being a bazillionaire married to Ruby. This is Sam's chance at a good life. Sam counters with the fact that Dean was right--they don't mean the same thing in this 'verse. They're not even brothers. There's the importance of meaning again.
Kripke shows up, and promptly gets gunned down, as if by a Western gunman, complete with musical accompaniment. This amused Geo greatly. Fake!Bob is also gunned down, but PA Dude got away. Yay!
Virgil goes inside and proceeds to gun down the production crew. Except for Serge, who smoothly dodges the bullet. This made me wonder if he was actually an angel. Hm . . .
Sam and Dean take on Virgil, smack him down and grab the key. The wormhole transport symbol starts to glow, and the boys try to run. Raph grabs them and yanks them toward the window.
Freeze frame. Black out. Bwah! Another moment Geo and I both found amusing.
Now we get to the meat of the ep. All the rest of it? Just a humorous hors d'oeuvre and run around the barn for the crux of the matter.
Raphael pulls Sam and Dean back. I gotta say, I like Raph's new vessel. Wouldn't it have been awesome if Gina Torres were in the role? Yes. Yes, it would have.
Balthazar used Sam and Dean and a fake key as a diversion while he gave the weapons to Castiel. Castiel with his fantastic wings revealed by lightening. He sends Raph on his way. So it would appear that Balthazar has chosen sides, though he does make himself scarce after.
Cas zaps them back to Bobbys. The guys figure out that Cas was in on Balthazar's plan, and are understandably perturbed and indignant at being used by their friend. Dean is angry, Sam looks fretful. I can't help but think what must be going through Dean's mind knowing that his guardian angel has no trouble using him as a decoy. And . . . Cas is keeping them on a need-to-know basis. He's sorry, and he'll explain when he can, but that doesn't really put Dean and Sam at ease. Cas disappears.
The walls are solid and real, and home sweet home is moldy and termite-eaten (and with a big hole in the wall where the window used to be). Full of things that want to skin them, and they're broke.
But at least they're talking.
What bothered me last night about it is that it felt very contrived. It felt like an excuse to be self-indulgent to the point not just of distraction, but to the overall detriment of the story. It felt like it was written for a handful of people would get the jokes, and the rest of the audience was consciously missing out on something.
But individually, I liked the pieces. Weird. Re-watcing it this morning, and being able to pick up on the nuances, I think I can formulate this into liking the whole rather than just the individual parts. Because there actually was quite a bit that I did like about the ep.
See, here's the thing with meta: If it's organic to the show, it works. "Hollywood Babylon," for example, which I don't consider meta because though it's self-referential, it's not BLATANTLY WE'RE MAKING FUN OF OURSELVES SEE ISN'T THIS FUN? "Hollywood Babylon" places the boys organically in a Hollywood studio setting, with nods and shout-outs, but not in a LOOK AT US kind of way. The nods and shout-outs are part of the fabric and landscape, they don't make up the fabric and landscape.
"Monster at the End of This Book" kind of works because though it's blatantly self-referential, it's still part of the landscape and somewhat organic to the show. "The Real Ghostbusters," again, part of the landscape, and for me not so much "self-referential" of the show, but pointing out things like how Jared and Jensen's lives are occasionally appropriated by the fans.
This one, however, was such that the self-reference made up the landscape of the ep, rather than simply being nods and shout-outs as a part of the fabric of the ep. At first blush, while it was all amusing, it felt like the only reason for this ep was the HEY LOOK AT US AREN'T WE FUNNY vibe of the story. (I'm talking about the story itself, not the performances by the actors, who did a fine, fine job with what they had and I'm sure had fun with it.)
One series that did a couple of meta eps that I LOVED and worked beautifully, in a TOTALLY tongue-in-cheek "look at us" manner was Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. The episode in question was "Yes, Virginia, There Is a Hercules." The cast played producers, writers, and production crew trying to figure out how to make a show without its star, Kevin Sorbo (who was actually Hercules). It. Was. Hilarious. So totally tongue-in-cheek in a show that was itself extremely tongue-in-cheek that it just delighted me. Kevin Smith especially in that ep. But I won't bore you with the details here.
Okay. Enough of my theoretical babblings . . .
Then . . . Angel civil war. Balthazar has the weapons. Ruby was a demon.
Now . . . I should maybe preface the actual commentary with this comment: Geo loled several times during this. Not just an amused chuckle now and then, but actual LOL laughter.
Storm raging outside, bloody pic on the computer, and Dean is out of whiskey.
Bobby is a hero: he's on a supply run to replenish the supply of Hunter's Helper. Geo got a kick out of that.
Balthazar appears in a controlled panic babbling about The Godfather. He's also raiding Bobby's supernatural supplies. When Balth first showed up in "The Third Man," I didn't like him much. Well, at all, really. Then when he showed up to tell Sam how to not get his soul back, I didn't like him again. This time . . . It would seem that he's chosen a side that isn't just "his own." His motives might still be suspect, but it's nice to see a hint that he might actually be a dubious alley of sorts.
"Beer, old pizza, blood of lamb." I'm thinking I won't be raiding Bobby's fridge any time soon.
"Your Mr. Singer does keep a beautiful pantry." And just what does it say about Bobby that even supernatural beings come to him for their conjuring needs? It says that he continues to be awesome, is what it says.
Raph is on the move, Cas has gone into hiding. Balth give Sam a key (interesting that he gives it to Sam, rather than to Dean. Balth has a favorite Winchester brother? Or finds Sam to be stronger than Dean?)
Virgil (Raph's hitman) shows up. More on him later.
Balth shoves Sam and Dean through a
Now, here's something that reminds me of Farscape and the "infinite possibilities in infinite combinations" and the butterfly effect. When Crighton and Co. were jumping wormholes all over the universe, they occasionally happened upon universes alternate to their own. This is what we have here--Sam and Dean thrown through a wormhole and ending up in an alternate reality that is not our own either. Obviously. More on that in a bit.
Tail slate, marker, title smash. And yes, the guys have indeed stepped through the looking glass. Well, not so much stepped as they were thrown bodily.
And the theme of mirrors, reflections, and distortions continues. Heh.
"The French Mistake" got a hearty laugh out of Geo. He had to explain to me where it came from (Blazing Saddles). He really liked that.
I love how confused, puzzled and perplexed Dean and Sam are.
Sam: Should we be killing anybody?
Dean: I don't think so.
Genevieve Padalecki. Huh. Permanent professional change, or just for this ep? We'll have to wait and see. (Also, I completely missed the opening credits the first time around. I'm always more interested in what the guys are doing.)
Rubber glass. Bwah.
Freeze frame, cut to black, act out. Remember this.
One of the things that does make this episode is the details. Dean/"Jensen" in the make-up chair, and Dean notices all the make-up continuity pics taped to the mirror. Most of them are bloody. Among the collection is what he looked like after he got beaten to a pulp by Lucifer. Dean's eyes get wide with confusion, and it's just a delightful little detail.
Of course he's distracted by the fact that he's wearing make-up "I'm a painted whore." Heh. Oh, Dean. We still love you.
Meanwhile, Sam's got the whole deer-in-headlights thing going because Jared is supposed to be giving an interview. Heh.
"They put freakin' make-up on us. Bastards." It's a personal, injurious assault to put make-up on Dean and his brother. I'm amused.
Dean: Why would anybody want to watch our lives?
Sam: Well, according to the interviewer, not many people do.
You know, if I quote every line I found amusing, I'll be here all day.
Sam: I'm something called a 'Jared Padalecki'.
Dean: So, what, now you're Polish?
Poor Dean. Seeing so may Impalas, some of which are in really bad condition, makes him feel sick. Aw.
Dean also comes up with the funniest prayers. "We pray that you have your ears on. Breaker, breaker." Heh.
(Yes, when I was growing up, in the age before cell phones, my mom and dad had a CB system so that my dad could call on his way home from work. I kinda miss those.)
I knew, knew that who they thought was Cas was actually Misha thinking they wanted to run lines. Ha. Still, nice Castiel exposition.
" 'Misha'? 'Jensen'? What's up with the names around here." Okay, I must admit that I am amused when they poke fun at themselves. Heh.
Oh, Misha and his tweeting. I really rather like "mishamigos." Ha.
"That's fake me. This must be fake mine."
And fake!Jensen's trailer is completely over the top, yeah? The giant aquarium does make me wonder if Jensen has a smaller version in his own trailer. I mean, he does have a motor scooter (as opposed to a helicopter). One thing that's in the trailer that makes me jealous? The freezer-on-the-bottom refrigerator. I've wanted one of those for a long time. (With a pullout drawer, rather than the door, though.)
Male modeling and "nice 'blue steel,' Sam." Bwah. I did mention that I like they can make fun of themselves.
Aw, baby Jensen in DoOL. Jensen mentioned at a con that he'd be getting residuals from the use of that clip. "Figure that one out," he said. Heh.
And with each new revelation, Dean is more desperate to get "back to Kansas." Oh, Dean. Sam's with you on that.
Dean only plays dumb. He's actually very observant. He watched every move of Balthazar's spell and is ready to reverse it.
Providing they can gather the ingredients. Which isn't going to happen with the props on the soundstage.
"At least they're talking to each other." Which makes me wonder if there was a falling out, or if this Jensen and Jared just never really clicked to begin with.
And the Impala is not the Impala, of course. (I gotta admit, I feel for the PA dude.)
So they have
That? Is an extremely ostentatious mansion.
Sam: I must be the star of this thing.
Dean: *snort* Yeah, right.
Because that's been a discussion/argument among the fandom for a long time.
Dean: Dude, you have a camel in your backyard.
Gen: It's an alpaca, dumbass.
Me: O.o
Dean is shocked to see "Ruby," as is Sam. Allow me to pause a moment and comment on how green Jensen's (the real Jensen's) eyes are in these shots. Because, dude. So green.
Dean trying to put two and two together about Jared and fake!Ruby . . . it's amusing on its way to awkward. But don't worry, the awkward will move to uncomfortable later.
I was delighted to see one of J&G's real wedding pics on the mantel. Why not, right? But it was such a beautiful day and beautiful dress and the pictures are fabulous.
Sam also trying to explain his odd behavior amuses me.
International Otter Adoption charity dinner. Aw, otters.
Sam and Dean watch Gen leave the room. Quite appreciatively.
Dean: Well. Looks like you did all right.
Sam: (in hearty agreement) Yeah. Yeah. (pause) I should figure out her name.
Me: Bwah.
Huge portrait of cowboy!Jared behind Jared's desk is pretty darn amusing. I assume that's from an upcoming ep.
Sam finds a wristbone of a saint. Dean's ready for a roadtrip and artifact theft, but Sam pulls out Jared's charge card. One of many, as it turns out. One of which is maxed. Heh. No problem. Dean pulls out another one.
Dean sacks out on the couch. (Shades of the season wherein Jensen was Jared's houseguest/roommate.) Sam explores the house and asks Gen when she gets home about last year's Apocalypse. Didn't happen in this 'verse. And Gen's ready to make "Jared" forget about being Sam for a while.
Mysterious package arrives at the airport. The boys are ready to start their spellwork.
No such luck.
Hm. Lois & Clark reference. Wonder if that was a nod to SV.
The acting scene . . . Yes, we've moved beyond awkward into uncomfortable, and past uncomfortable to "this is painful." Painful to watch, I mean, in an embarrassing sort of way. The thespian in me can't help but be amused, though. Heh. And again, I admit Jensen (as Dean) imitating the way Himself does Dean's voice with the uber!growly . . . it makes me laugh. "That's how he does it." Bwah!
The spell does not work.
So, back in fake!Jensen's trailer, the boys break it down. In this 'verse, there is no supernatural. The Apocalypse never happened. No monsters or ghosts. No hunters. No magic. No angels or demons or Heaven or Hell . . . or God. Which obviously twigged me. And Dean himself finds it hard to believe.
But don't go jumpin' the gun on the no angels thing, because her comes Virgil through the wormhole. (Also, Serge? But I'll get to that later.)
Dean is very ready to get back home, even if home simply means America in this reality.
They run into Virgil, and when it looks like Virg is going to smite Dean, you can hear the desperation in Sam's voice, knowing he's too far away to do anything. When was the last time we heard that?
Mojo-free zone.
Conference call with Sera in L.A.
"He sold OctoCobra? They'll buy anything." Yes, especially if it's on SyFy. Heh.
"Ever get the feeling someone's in the back seat? frowny face" It's the "frowny face" that makes that line. Heh.
After last week's closing scene, I kinda love Dean's speech to fake!Bob. "We're hunters. We're the Winchesters. Always have been and always will be. And where we're from, people don't know who we are, but you know what? We matter to that world. In fact, we even save the son of a bitch once or twice. And yeah, okay, here maybe there's some fans who give a crap about this nonsense, but . . . tell me this: What does it all mean?" Even if it's just for show, Dean acknowledges that what he and Sam do is important, AND he emphasizes the importance of what they do--and the greater picture--having and needing meaning. Because if there's nothing more, then everything they do means nothing.
Virgil holding Misha at knifepoint, and the beginning of his speech actually strikes a chord with me. "How do you do it? Live in this grubby, shabby desert, nothing greater than yourselves. Nothing but dirt when you die. No power, no magic." (Okay, I wouldn't say "magic," I'd say "supernatural," as in "beyond the natural.") Because it is in our human nature to seek out something greater than ourselves, even if we don't know that's what we're doing. We're seeking something greater than ourselves to give our lives meaning, to save us from the pains of this fallen world. And whether that belief is in a benevolent Creator, a perfect Savior, or in bettering our circumstances (income, health, etc.), we all have an inborn need to seek out that which will save us and give us meaning. In this alternate 'verse, where there is none of that, their existence without hope of something better does lead to meaninglessness and a dead end.
I think that's why h/c is so popular. We like to see our favorite characters rescued and cared for after they've been badly wounded. It speaks to something inside us, that we want to be rescued from and cared for after the wounds of this world.
However, the whole "I'm doing you a favor by killing you" is where Virgil loses me. Because where he could introduce a hope in something greater, he'd rather use Misha to hijack a demon's long distance calling plan.
Slap my mouth. He just slit Misha's throat! *slaps hand over mouth*
"The scary man" and "the attractive crying man." That's gonna look good in the police report. Heh.
Canadian money. It's very pretty.
"I am the Weaponskeeper of Heaven." Well that just got him placed on the terrorist watch list.
Sam and Dean discussing the pros and cons of going home. Dean points out that Sam's got it pretty good in this alternate universe--being a bazillionaire married to Ruby. This is Sam's chance at a good life. Sam counters with the fact that Dean was right--they don't mean the same thing in this 'verse. They're not even brothers. There's the importance of meaning again.
Kripke shows up, and promptly gets gunned down, as if by a Western gunman, complete with musical accompaniment. This amused Geo greatly. Fake!Bob is also gunned down, but PA Dude got away. Yay!
Virgil goes inside and proceeds to gun down the production crew. Except for Serge, who smoothly dodges the bullet. This made me wonder if he was actually an angel. Hm . . .
Sam and Dean take on Virgil, smack him down and grab the key. The wormhole transport symbol starts to glow, and the boys try to run. Raph grabs them and yanks them toward the window.
Freeze frame. Black out. Bwah! Another moment Geo and I both found amusing.
Now we get to the meat of the ep. All the rest of it? Just a humorous hors d'oeuvre and run around the barn for the crux of the matter.
Raphael pulls Sam and Dean back. I gotta say, I like Raph's new vessel. Wouldn't it have been awesome if Gina Torres were in the role? Yes. Yes, it would have.
Balthazar used Sam and Dean and a fake key as a diversion while he gave the weapons to Castiel. Castiel with his fantastic wings revealed by lightening. He sends Raph on his way. So it would appear that Balthazar has chosen sides, though he does make himself scarce after.
Cas zaps them back to Bobbys. The guys figure out that Cas was in on Balthazar's plan, and are understandably perturbed and indignant at being used by their friend. Dean is angry, Sam looks fretful. I can't help but think what must be going through Dean's mind knowing that his guardian angel has no trouble using him as a decoy. And . . . Cas is keeping them on a need-to-know basis. He's sorry, and he'll explain when he can, but that doesn't really put Dean and Sam at ease. Cas disappears.
The walls are solid and real, and home sweet home is moldy and termite-eaten (and with a big hole in the wall where the window used to be). Full of things that want to skin them, and they're broke.
But at least they're talking.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2011-02-28 03:34 am (UTC)"It felt like an excuse to be self-indulgent to the point not just of distraction, but to the overall detriment of the story."
Yes. YES. I feel as though this self-referential type of thing lends itself far better to comedies. Indeed, it has become quite the popular trend nowadays--with shows like 30 Rock that is ostensibly about Tina Fey's experience on Saturday Night Live, The Office and Parks and Recreation both employ a documentary style which allows the characters to break the fourth wall and speak directly to the camera, even Community gets in on the action, using one of their characters as a device to explicitly reference television tropes while they are using them. Before that, Gary Shandling did it in his show on HBO, so did Larry David with Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Anyway, the point being (and I swear, I do have a point) while I'm sure these meta eps are extremely satisfying to the writer's, they hardly fit into the arc of Supernatural. It's become so pedantic and frankly alienating to those who only watch the show casually.
That being said, it did have some funny moments and it did bring up some interesting philosophical questions, as you pointed out. I'm glad you brought up "Hollywood Babylon" too, as I thought it seemed rather out of character of Dean to be so utterly lost on a set when he adapted so quickly in that episode. Were they really so surprised everything was fake? They already knew they were on a set. Although it was funny to see Dean fake-stabbing Sam.
Your review was so eloquent and discerning! I apologize for being long-winded, I know I rarely comment in your journal, but I do so love your SPN reviews!
P.S: good lord this comment is long. I'm really sorry.
no subject
Date: 2011-02-28 04:19 am (UTC)After re-watching, and cogitating, and reading a very enthusiastic review, I'm growing to like the ep much more than I did initially. Finding the nuance helps, so this is one for me that does play better on re-watch, whereas I think parts of MatEoTB will always bother me. (Don't get me started.)
Part of what bothered me about this ep on first blush was the specificity of the audience. There are so many in-jokes that one has to be really familiar--overly familiar--with the bts stuff to truly appreciate it. That was the primary purpose of the ep. And as knowledgeable as I like to think myself being, I'm sure I missed some things. However, the fact that they bookended it with stuff that actually advances the war in Heaven storyline along with the character notes we got does end up making it work, even if it does seem like a long trip around the barn to get to the point.
I think the difference between Dean fitting himself into the movie crew in HB and being thrust into this TV production world is that in HB, he could be himself, and he was behind the scenes. Here, everyone thinks "Dean" is a fictitious character and that Dean is actually someone else--"Jensen." The fact that they were complaining about everything being props really didn't bother me, I suppose because they were in need of the real thing, and to find out that everything they need is fake would be annoying, whether they were expecting it or not.
I think part of my initial disappointment with the ep was that I knew going in what the gimmick was going to be, and I had extreme reservations about it. I wanted to enjoy it, and I was amused, but I wonder if I would have liked it any better not knowing what was going to happen. (My problem being that I can't resist con vids, and the guys talked about the ep at the con.)
No worries about the length of the comment, really. Glad to hear from you. :-)
no subject
Date: 2011-03-01 04:54 am (UTC)I usually stay far away from spoilers, but this one was stuck in that TV Guide article a few months ago and it has been gnawing at me ever since. I'm not sure if I would have liked it better if I was struck unawares, though. Maybe it would, but maybe I needed that time to really build up how much it was going to suck in my head, so now that it really isn't that bad it is far more of a pleasant surprise.
no subject
Date: 2011-03-01 12:58 pm (UTC)They've done three meta eps now. That's quite enough, I think.