SPN - A few more random thoughts

[feliciakw]

Henry Winchester is very young, rather naive, and not a little bit arrogant. I'm rather annoyed by his attitude (evidence of his inexperience) toward hunters. Being a Man of Letters, he describes his sect as recorders and keepers of knowledge that is then passed on to a few trusted hunters, an elite group. As Dean says, Yoda to the hunters' Jedi. So, by that description, the hunters that Henry would come to know would be the best of the best. Elite warriors with both skill and knowledge, knowledge imparted by the MoL. And still he calls them "apes"? Really, Henry? You have much to learn.

Delighted, though, that he saw the error of his thinking after working with his grandsons. And otherwise, he was a good guy.

Still chewing on this whole idea of a secret society of Men of Letters. If wiping out those four men wiped out (what was left of) the society, then there seem to be issues with the survival of the group, versus the extensive underground network of self-made, self-taught, hunter-to-hunter-training hunters, which seems to know nothing of this secret society. Though no doubt Bobby had an inkling about it, as I imagine that many books in his library were written or kept by such members. (And it was, well, a secret society, and if only the best of the best knew about it, and the society got wiped out, it makes sense that the knowledge of the group would die off in a generation or two.)

I'd love for Henry to see Sam and Dean "go ghetto on the spellwork" for a case. I'm sure they could teach him a thing or two about the practical versus the "theoretical," right?

Read a description recently of Sam and Dean as the offspring of Mary Campbell and John Winchester--something about the boys being the perfect storm of both of their familial lines. This is an excellent description, and amuses me in its verbiage. I kind of am enjoying how this highlights that they're both a mix of their parents.

I cringed when Henry broke Baby's window.

As long as Winchesters are alive, there's hope. "And hope's kinda the whole point," right?

I was also re-reading my review of "Torn and Frayed," and it would appear that bridges are being mended. Nothing like having your time-traveling grandfather fall out of your motel closet to get you focused on family, huh.

Comments

[gatorpez.livejournal.com]

I have issues with the show mending these bridges only because of dean's words and actions and it not being mutual. From what we've seen of the past few episodes, it seems once Dean took the blame, admitted his mistake and recognized Sam's sacrifice, then everything got better. But, there's been no admission from Sam of his mistakes, of his role in the events from 8.09 and no recognition of Dean's sacrifice. I'm having a hard time supporting a show that doesn't seem to care that they are putting the brothers together at the expense of one of the characters.

The show has even seemed to regress it's characters back to season 1 and season 2 characters. Last night, we had Dean say that he would do whatever to save Sam. I thought we'd gotten past the Dean that was only all about Sam. And, yet, again, there's no reciprocity from Sam.

I'm sorry if my comments harsh your squee, please let me know if you would like me to delete them.

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

Not at all. I see where you're coming from. But given that Benny played such an important part of the first half of the season, and that an entire Edlund episode was dedicated to fleshing out his backstory, I hold onto the hope that we'll see more of him, and that there will be some sort of reciprocity from Sam regarding Dean's sacrifice of his friendship with Benny.

I don't expect them to do it all in one episode. LARP gave us Dean acknowledging his part in the incident, though he voiced no guilt or self-blame or regret over Sam's decision (because it was Sam's decision, made with zero ultimatums from Dean). Only that the text message wasn't a stellar moment for him, which it really wasn't. I'm still hoping that when confronted by Benny again (and I'd be surprised if we weren't), that Sam will realize and admit that yes, Dean gave up a very important relationship as well.

Regarding Dean "doing anything" for Sam, I don't see that as a regression so much as consistent with what we've seen in the past, like the promise he made to John about saving Sam, or selling his soul to save Sam. In a lot of subtle ways, I think there were emphases on how little Henry actually knew in contrast to everything that Sam and Dean not only know but have experienced first had. What would Henry's reaction have been if Dean had told him Dean had spent the equivalent of 40 years in Hell? Or a year in Purgatory? Or that part of being from the Winchester bloodline is being an archangel vessel? Dean would have broken Henry's brain with that information, I think. I think that doing whatever it takes to save his family isn't so much about being "all about Sam" at this point--or it didn't really feel that way to me. It felt like Dean being Dean, defending the only family he knows, the only family he has left, from outsiders.

But I totally get where you're coming from, and I would find it immensely satisfying if, for a change, we got a specific acknowledgement and understanding from Sam regarding Dean and his sacrifices. Not the toss-out line we got when Sam got his soul back, but maybe even a total change of heart when it comes time for Dean to put Benny down (which is pure speculation on my part, and something I hope does not happen, but something I wouldn't be at all surprised about).

It's like I said in ficwriter's LJ, I liked certain aspects of the first half of the season, and given everything that went down, I don't want it to be brushed under the rug. I want the guys to work for and earn their reconciliation. I don't expect it all to happen in one ep, but we've still got half the season left, so I'm hopeful.