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.spn 5.21; or, Make way for Max Headroom
First, a bit of Bones... Oh, Angela and Hodgins, no. Also, was the head witch lady on BSG? I swear to God I have seen her before. Also: heh, ergot.
First, @misha's write-up is far more coherent and interesting than mine. But behind the cut there is SPECIAL BONUS MISHA!
Okay, I was pretty sure based on Spoilers that I would be capslocking this review, for good or ill. Apparently the capslocking will have to wait until next week, maybe, possibly.* Well, with the exception of......
HOW FUCKING BADASS IS HE, HUH? HOW?
You cannot, cannot, CANNOT keep a good angel down. Actually, revise that: You can't keep Castiel down. This episode is definitely going in the Casifesto, because it doesn't matter if he's 100% angel or .000001% angel, he is that intrinsically awesome. Let's count the ways, shall we?
- faking out Famine, drawing him in close, and then cutting off his ring
- taking out Redshirt Demon #1
- beating the hell out of the guy in the truck
- very calmly and coolly stepping in to kill someone else with a weapon he's never really used before
I've said it before and will say it again: Cas with a direction and a goal will find a way to get there. He's so... he's so very refreshing after the convoluted mangst trail that is Dean and Sam. You want someone taken out? You want a strategy? Cas here will take him out and come up with one for you. I think some of that comes down to faith; he's had Dean fail him once (stopping Sam) and he thinks possibly twice (saying yes), but Dean--unlike God--actually comes through in the clutch. And that's enough to earn Cas's offices and something that isn't quite faith, because faith is usually billed as "the evidence of things unseen" and shouldn't require proof... but maybe trust. I'm not entirely sure where the line between those two things is. But whatever it is, it keeps him there even though he feels he's shackled and useless (and OH shades of 5.04!Cas *cries*), but he turns right around and saves the day a couple more times.
Looking back on it, there really wasn't much that was surprising except, well, the lack of Cas dying or maybe possibly dying.** What did surprise me was that they worked out a way to smash two rings into one episode in a way that did not leave me rolling my eyes with annoyance too much. I do like the additional layer added to the God-mythos, that God may be immortal but isn't necessarily eternal, that yeah, he's been around for a while, but Death was there first. It's almost Theogony-like, with the abyss as the first principle and no real explanation for why the world comes about; even Death doesn't know where he comes from. I like that the angels have sort of finagled their way into control, not because they're necessarily "better" or "more powerful", but because some of them know just enough and are willing to play dirty, like Lucifer. And I love that Death resents the hell out of that.
(Although, Death's scythe... why not try to hack away at Nick with that? Oh wait, it would save on the angst. Never mind! Carrying on.)
The other non-surprise: That this was going to come down to Sam sacrificing himself. One part of me is all "it's about time, finally," because Bobby does have a point, that Sam is hugely flawed and needs anger management counseling, but when he's not hopped up on demon blood he tries his best to live by the Winchester code of saving people and hunting things. Another part of me wants to drum her heels on the floor and shout "CAN EVERYTHING NOT BE ABOUT SAM FUCKING WINCHESTER FOR ONCE?" There are two more things to like, though: 1.) It pretty much demonstrates that the angels and their prophecies are total BS, particularly if Dean's planning on figuring out a way to cheat Death and gets away with it--I think true righteousness would be Dean actually sincerely agreeing to sacrifice Sam on the altar of saving the world, and 2.) I think that Sam is willing to do it, and that Cas is willing to see the possibilities in such a move is a sign that Cas is starting to trust Sam, too. It's been nice seeing that, as Cas really needs to like his boyfriend's brother.
Crowley: yay! Tongue!
.random note: I have the feeling they cut out something when Cas sees Crowley in Bobby's place... It just seems, IDK, kind of ridiculous that you have an angel and demon in the same room, and that Cas doesn't try to kill Crowley on sight and Crowley doesn't take potshots at the depowered angel--or make some slightly lascivious observation that the two of them apparently have similar taste in men.
* = did I mention the cruelty that is the fact that I will be out of town next week? Yes, that's right. Also, out of town without a laptop because forces are conspiring against me, and I really don't want to watch the episode and cry into the very tolerant shoulder of siris, who doesn't even watch the show. I need fannish communion that night, although I suppose the alternative, given where I'm going, is going out immediately afterward and drinking.
** = MORATORIUM ON HOW IF CAS DIES YOU WILL BE SO PISSED/STOP WATCHING THE SHOW COMMENTS, PLEASE. Believe me, I am just as anxious/resigned as you are to the very real possibility of Cas dying and not coming back in S6, and if the writers do kill him I will be seriously pissed off and feel very vengeful. So take that as read. But honestly, I don't know if I can handle hearing anything more about this in comments, because it's bringing me down hard, man. And you're totally preaching to the choir.
.next week: see * above. LOSING MY SHIT OH MY GOD.
And now, a Reader's Treasury of some of my favorite ep-related Tweets!
First, @misha's write-up is far more coherent and interesting than mine. But behind the cut there is SPECIAL BONUS MISHA!
Okay, I was pretty sure based on Spoilers that I would be capslocking this review, for good or ill. Apparently the capslocking will have to wait until next week, maybe, possibly.* Well, with the exception of......
HOW FUCKING BADASS IS HE, HUH? HOW?
You cannot, cannot, CANNOT keep a good angel down. Actually, revise that: You can't keep Castiel down. This episode is definitely going in the Casifesto, because it doesn't matter if he's 100% angel or .000001% angel, he is that intrinsically awesome. Let's count the ways, shall we?
- faking out Famine, drawing him in close, and then cutting off his ring
- taking out Redshirt Demon #1
- beating the hell out of the guy in the truck
- very calmly and coolly stepping in to kill someone else with a weapon he's never really used before
I've said it before and will say it again: Cas with a direction and a goal will find a way to get there. He's so... he's so very refreshing after the convoluted mangst trail that is Dean and Sam. You want someone taken out? You want a strategy? Cas here will take him out and come up with one for you. I think some of that comes down to faith; he's had Dean fail him once (stopping Sam) and he thinks possibly twice (saying yes), but Dean--unlike God--actually comes through in the clutch. And that's enough to earn Cas's offices and something that isn't quite faith, because faith is usually billed as "the evidence of things unseen" and shouldn't require proof... but maybe trust. I'm not entirely sure where the line between those two things is. But whatever it is, it keeps him there even though he feels he's shackled and useless (and OH shades of 5.04!Cas *cries*), but he turns right around and saves the day a couple more times.
Looking back on it, there really wasn't much that was surprising except, well, the lack of Cas dying or maybe possibly dying.** What did surprise me was that they worked out a way to smash two rings into one episode in a way that did not leave me rolling my eyes with annoyance too much. I do like the additional layer added to the God-mythos, that God may be immortal but isn't necessarily eternal, that yeah, he's been around for a while, but Death was there first. It's almost Theogony-like, with the abyss as the first principle and no real explanation for why the world comes about; even Death doesn't know where he comes from. I like that the angels have sort of finagled their way into control, not because they're necessarily "better" or "more powerful", but because some of them know just enough and are willing to play dirty, like Lucifer. And I love that Death resents the hell out of that.
(Although, Death's scythe... why not try to hack away at Nick with that? Oh wait, it would save on the angst. Never mind! Carrying on.)
The other non-surprise: That this was going to come down to Sam sacrificing himself. One part of me is all "it's about time, finally," because Bobby does have a point, that Sam is hugely flawed and needs anger management counseling, but when he's not hopped up on demon blood he tries his best to live by the Winchester code of saving people and hunting things. Another part of me wants to drum her heels on the floor and shout "CAN EVERYTHING NOT BE ABOUT SAM FUCKING WINCHESTER FOR ONCE?" There are two more things to like, though: 1.) It pretty much demonstrates that the angels and their prophecies are total BS, particularly if Dean's planning on figuring out a way to cheat Death and gets away with it--I think true righteousness would be Dean actually sincerely agreeing to sacrifice Sam on the altar of saving the world, and 2.) I think that Sam is willing to do it, and that Cas is willing to see the possibilities in such a move is a sign that Cas is starting to trust Sam, too. It's been nice seeing that, as Cas really needs to like his boyfriend's brother.
Crowley: yay! Tongue!
.random note: I have the feeling they cut out something when Cas sees Crowley in Bobby's place... It just seems, IDK, kind of ridiculous that you have an angel and demon in the same room, and that Cas doesn't try to kill Crowley on sight and Crowley doesn't take potshots at the depowered angel--or make some slightly lascivious observation that the two of them apparently have similar taste in men.
* = did I mention the cruelty that is the fact that I will be out of town next week? Yes, that's right. Also, out of town without a laptop because forces are conspiring against me, and I really don't want to watch the episode and cry into the very tolerant shoulder of siris, who doesn't even watch the show. I need fannish communion that night, although I suppose the alternative, given where I'm going, is going out immediately afterward and drinking.
** = MORATORIUM ON HOW IF CAS DIES YOU WILL BE SO PISSED/STOP WATCHING THE SHOW COMMENTS, PLEASE. Believe me, I am just as anxious/resigned as you are to the very real possibility of Cas dying and not coming back in S6, and if the writers do kill him I will be seriously pissed off and feel very vengeful. So take that as read. But honestly, I don't know if I can handle hearing anything more about this in comments, because it's bringing me down hard, man. And you're totally preaching to the choir.
.next week: see * above. LOSING MY SHIT OH MY GOD.
And now, a Reader's Treasury of some of my favorite ep-related Tweets!
Great work, CW (Clever Wizards). That was a very impressive reality show. I can't believe all that stuff really happens. #supernatural about 2 hours ago via iTweeVee
Wow. This is a shameless product placement scene. I wonder how much Chicago's deep dish pizza industry paid to get this written into the sho about 2 hours ago via iTweeVee
The smart looking Columbo guy seems like he's turning into a big gun fanatic. He should join the NRA. Start raising money for. #supernatural about 2 hours ago via iTweeVee
The guy dressed as Columbo needs to wash his face. http://itwev.com/UL2cl #supernatural about 2 hours ago via iTweeVee
I used to hunt windiegos with my dad when i was a kid. That's a weird coincidence. http://itwev.com/UL2cl #supernatural about 2 hours ago via iTweeVee
The smart looking guy has a really deep voice. So does the guy in the wheel chair that everyone keeps yelling at. http://itwev.com/UL2cl about 2 hours ago via iTweeVee
During that commercial break i had a great conversation with Obama. He's watching this show too. He asked if i could get him on it. about 2 hours ago via iTweeVee
This reality show is amazing! It has everything, murder, mayhem, homo-erotic photos, Max Headroom. http://itwev.com/UL2cl #supernatural about 3 hours ago via iTweeVee
There's that intelligent looking guy from the hospital again. http://itwev.com/UL2cl #supernatural about 3 hours ago via iTweeVee
Okay this has really changed my opinion of Max Headroom. http://itwev.com/UL2cl #supernatural about 3 hours ago via iTweeVee
This is a very unusual reality show. It's almost a like a snuff film. http://itwev.com/UL2cl #supernatural about 3 hours ago via iTweeVee
Who's that guy in the bed? He looks smart. And really muscular. http://itwev.com/UL2cl #supernatural about 3 hours ago via iTweeVee
It's Max Headroom! I didn't know he was a doctor! Wow. That guys does everything. http://itwev.com/UL2cl #supernatural