aesc: (sam I am)
aesc ([personal profile] aesc) wrote2009-03-26 10:26 pm
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SPN 4.17; or, a bit more coherent than I was earlier tonight

It feels so odd to be able to watch an episode the night it comes out.


Okay, getting out of the way stuff I didn't like or was uncertain about:
-Jesus, they kill Uriel and then give us this guy, wtf? COME ON. I mean, I am all for meeting new angels and stuff, but did you have to kill Uriel so soon and replace him? Again, I say: COME THE FUCK ON. (Why yes, I'm still annoyed, why do you ask?)
-Not that I disliked it, but I'm uncertain... Was this really the way to go about convincing Dean he should be okay with everything? I've never tried to coach someone through the apocalypse, so I don't know, but stripping them of their memories and dropping them in middle management and trying to demonstrate that they still have a Destiny does not seem to be the way to do it.
-Also, we sort of had this already with "What Is and What Can Never Be," which had a lot more emotional punch at the end. Once I thought of that episode, the ending here paled for me.
-the Castiel fangirl in me is disappointed by his absence (he would have fit in so well there, heh), but I'm happy he wasn't involved in Zachariah's mindfuckery.

Now the awesomesauce:
-GHOSTFACERS. I made a shrill, happy noise when I saw AJ Buckley's name in the credits, but this surpassed all expectations. Dean takes them as authorities omfg how awesome is that?
-pretty much the entirety of Dean's existence. PRIUS. NPR. CLEANSING. HIS APARTMENT. THE FACT THAT HE WEARS SUSPENDERS.
-Smith & Wesson. I have to give it to Zachariah, I admit, he knows how to set up a scenario (however, see point re: "What Is..." above)
-Sam's lip gloss, and as [livejournal.com profile] unamaga pointed out, everyone's spray tan
-Dean manages to break my heart at the most unexpected moments. Things will be going along quite well, and then there's this pause, like when he tells Sam he doesn't believe in destiny, and my heart goes *creaksnap*

Overall: I enjoyed it! I recall reading an interview with Sera Gamble where she remarked that this episode would be lighter, and a definite change from 4.16 and the previous episodes in the major arc. Well, this is probably the only way they could have worked a lighter episode in and not have it be a complete one-off. And we got Dean managing to look sexy in the douchiest office clothes ever invented, and Sam in his polo shirt and the two of them not knowing each other but kicking ass anyway, and that pleases me immensely.

Tonight's theme music is brought to you by [livejournal.com profile] amberlynne. THANKS AMBERS!!

.eta: Just a PSA to remind you that the sign-ups for Sweet Charity's final round close tomorrow at 8PM GMT. So those of you thinking about signing on, the time is at hand!

[identity profile] unamaga.livejournal.com 2009-03-27 02:40 am (UTC)(link)
I don't think I will ever get over Dean's face when the rock station came on. And I'm almost impressed with the SPN crew for the fact that Zachariel is the angel that rules over memory. (I know this because of my learnings. >.>) GO TEAM!

[identity profile] aesc.livejournal.com 2009-03-27 02:49 am (UTC)(link)
*dies!* He was all, "gimme back my NPR!" (Just... PRIUS. NPR.)

Also, the SPN crew needs to hire a medievalist to help them with this stuff *koff* Just sayin'. (I CAN EDUCATE JENSEN AND JARED ON THEIR CHURCH LATINS, SPN CREW!)

since you mentione dyour learnings...

[identity profile] olympia-m.livejournal.com 2009-03-27 03:44 pm (UTC)(link)
is it okay to ask you a question? is there an angel who presides over possibilities? future ones?

sorry I'm so randomly stalkerish, and I'll try not to bother you again like this, but-- I need help with that...

Re: since you mentione dyour learnings...

[identity profile] unamaga.livejournal.com 2009-03-27 04:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Hey, no need to apologize! Ieiaiel, according to the site where I found Castiel and Zachriel, is angel of the future. Only one I could find, but there are a few more linked with foresight itself?

(Amusingly enough, Kabniel is an angel invoked to cure stupidity. Castiel only wishes he had enough favors to call in with Kabniel to cure Dean Winchester.)

Re: since you mentione dyour learnings...

[identity profile] olympia-m.livejournal.com 2009-03-27 04:12 pm (UTC)(link)
oh, thank you!!!! can you also give me the link to the site? :):)

I'll make a note of your help :):) hope you won't mind...

Re: since you mentione dyour learnings...

[identity profile] unamaga.livejournal.com 2009-03-27 04:17 pm (UTC)(link)
This (http://www.sarahsarchangels.com/angelofday.html) is the site. It's not, you know, the most ACADEMIC source ever, but it's good for inspiration and ideas, and it has a ton of information on it I've struggled to find through google before. No need to put a note about me since none of the info is really mine, haha. Just glad to be a help!

Re: since you mentione dyour learnings...

[identity profile] olympia-m.livejournal.com 2009-03-27 04:24 pm (UTC)(link)
thank you!

I can mention that you helped with answering random questions :) (credit ought to be given, where credit is due *G*)

[identity profile] leopardchic79.livejournal.com 2009-03-27 02:44 am (UTC)(link)
Ghostfacers?! I might have squealed!

they kill Uriel and then give us this guy, wtf?
I wonder if he'll be a recurring character? Because I can not, in any way, take him seriously. It's Russel from Wayne's World for God's sake!! I can't take Russel seriously. pshaw. lol

[identity profile] aesc.livejournal.com 2009-03-27 02:47 am (UTC)(link)
Bwahahaha! You're right! I was wondering where I'd seen him.
ext_11786: (Default)

[identity profile] dotfic.livejournal.com 2009-03-27 03:23 am (UTC)(link)
Yes! Thank you, we just brain-twinned, on Zachariah, and how not to get Dean up on his feet again, and I am so glad Castiel was not involved in this.

It was adorable! But I'm not not sure what to think and suspect the show has something else up its sleeve.

[identity profile] aesc.livejournal.com 2009-03-27 01:20 pm (UTC)(link)
I think the one thing you can always count on with SPN is that there's something else on its sleeve. I was burbly and happy for most of the episode, too busy being entertained, but then later I started Thinking.
ext_2998: Skull and stupid bones (Default)

[identity profile] verstehen.livejournal.com 2009-03-27 04:54 am (UTC)(link)
Personally, I'm loving Dean's family. You know, Bob, Ellen and Jo.

[identity profile] aesc.livejournal.com 2009-03-27 01:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes, yes, this is true as well! Also a good thing.
elderwitty: a close-up of the center, swirling petals of a deep pink tea rose (Default)

[personal profile] elderwitty 2009-03-27 06:27 am (UTC)(link)
I have to say that I really liked it. All the points mentioned above, as well as my personal favorite - the microwave ding in the dark just before the break. I know. I KNOW - I'm just. not. right. I'm eating popcorn RIGHT NOW.

Also, the director seemed to have a lot to say about Sam's khaki-clad ass. Which is never gonna not be okay by me. Sam's surprisingly tiny khaki-clad ass is my new personal savior. There may will be an icon forthcoming. I'm just saying.

And if the C-fucking-W doesn't get over the giant freakin' logo soon, I'm not going to be responsible for my actions. I'm ex-postal, ya know. You'd think that eventually, in self-defense if nothing else, the shows on the network would start shooting so that the really important stuff (Dean's facial thoughts on classic cars and fornication , for example) wouldn't get overridden by stinking Reaper.

I missed the girl GhostFacer (Anna?).

[identity profile] aesc.livejournal.com 2009-03-27 01:23 pm (UTC)(link)
I also really liked, in a horrible sort of way, the note above the microwave, admonishing people not to microwave fish XD

And if the C-fucking-W doesn't get over the giant freakin' logo soon, I'm not going to be responsible for my actions.

I think it's part of a plot to get desperate graphics makers to buy the iTunes HD logoless version. No, actually, I'm convinced that's what it is. There were so many awesome graphics-worthy caps that the stupid logo ended up wrecking. GRAH.
elderwitty: a close-up of the center, swirling petals of a deep pink tea rose (Default)

[personal profile] elderwitty 2009-03-27 05:25 pm (UTC)(link)
I also really liked, in a horrible sort of way, the note above the microwave, admonishing people not to microwave fish XD

'Cause it stinks! I like that bit, too. And Dean's, "God, I'm starving!" made me laugh out loud.

On the Zachariah front, I read it as him telling Dean, not that he would be okay...or even should be okay with it, but that this is what he was meant to do. More that his destiny led him here and that whatever he could accomplish was what he was going to accomplish. In a stupid, convoluted, angellike logic, it sounds like he's trying to relieve Dean of some of his crushing burden of guilt (It's not your fault you started it, and if you can't fix it - well, that's destiny, too.) and give him a pep talk of sorts (See how good you are it without even a clue?).

Did it suck as a plan? Yes. Did he fail? Yes. Does Dean feel any better? Probably not. But Zachariah could have had good intentions.

Of course, I tend to ascribe positive motives to everybody, until proven otherwise, almost to the point of Pollyana-ism. And, yet, I'm a massive pessimist. Parse that conundrum, pfft!

[identity profile] not-sally.livejournal.com 2009-03-27 06:40 am (UTC)(link)
I've never tried to coach someone through the apocalypse
I ♥ you. Marry me?

[identity profile] aesc.livejournal.com 2009-03-27 01:23 pm (UTC)(link)
I have always wanted to flee to Canada!
ext_13391: (Default)

[identity profile] smilla02.livejournal.com 2009-03-27 09:59 am (UTC)(link)
I'm feeling pretty hollow with this episode, hon. It's like a very shiny package and you keep thinking that what's inside must be as shiny only to discover that it's hm, empty.

I loved what you loved: Dean was smoking hot OMG!, Sam was truly, truly pretty. And I loved the 'I don't believe in destiny' line because it is one of the most true aspect of Dean and the only one I think will give him strenght to stand up again. The ending? Not so much. Like you, I'm glad that Castiel wasn't involved. And the new angel was maed of fail. I'd get Uriel back now, please.

[identity profile] aesc.livejournal.com 2009-03-27 01:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes, I seriously, SERIOUSLY want Uriel back. STUPID. WRITERS. GAH.

I really did enjoy the episode, and I still do like it, but only when I don't connect it very closely with the past two eps--the entire scenario doesn't quite ring true to me, and I've never been a huge fan of those sorts of "but it was only a DREAM!!!" type devices, even though the dream may serve a speciic purpose--in this case, to get Dean to realize he's meant to be a hunter.

(Which, still... if he's destined to be a hunter, fine, great. But that's only part of it. The real issue, in my head, is the fact that Dean's exhausted. He spent forty years in Hell and he remembers it, he's busted up and Sam isn't quite there for him, not in the same way. There's a whole lot more going on than Dean questioning his vocation.)

And, in closing, I want Uriel back now too, please.

[identity profile] just-ruth.livejournal.com 2009-03-27 12:07 pm (UTC)(link)
I have got to find that Willie Nelson song! That and his album "Countryman" where he sings Bob Marley songs.

[identity profile] aesc.livejournal.com 2009-03-27 01:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Here's the song! (http://www.box.net/shared/c919qq216s) And now I realize I have to find that album, too :D