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Feb. 1st, 2008 10:21 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
llywela"Malleus Maleficarum"
Dear Supernatural,
Please stick to blood, guts and gore. Teeth and maggots really squick me out.
Regards,
Jo
p.s. It's great to have you back. I really wish you were sticking around for more than four episodes.
Seriously. This episode has teeth falling out in the teaser. And maggots crawling all over food. And a man biting into them and gagging. I honest to Pete almost threw up at that point. The fact that I'm home from work sick probably contributed to this extreme visceral reaction, but still. Give me the blood and guts over maggots and teeth any day! Ick!
Kudos to the nice people providing the torrent, though. And to my cat for waking me up really early, even though I'm off sick and could have done with a lie-in. And to all the nice people uploading madly, which meant my torrent completed at the speed of light, so that I could have actually watched this episode before I left for work, if I wasn't home sick. This was mildly annoying, since it never goes so fast when I'm actually in work!
Okay, so, um, plot? Lots and lots of meaty intrigue in this one. I'm sick, though, so unlikely to be enormously coherent. Please bear with me while I ramble.
Ooooooh, minor point that I really loved? Was Sam being offended by Mrs Renee van Whatshername talking down to Dean. Dean barely noticed and just brushed it off, because people put him down quite a lot. He's used to it. But Sam really didn't like it and was all snippy about her later. I liked that.
And Sam drove the Impala. That makes, what, twice on-screen this season? That's twice more than last season!
I loved that Dean finally came out and verbalised the growing trend I've commented on a few times this season, which is that role reversal the boys have had going on, wherein Sam expresses his blithe willingness to commit what amounts to murder, thus causing Dean to swing around into Sam's more customary position of advocating the possibility of perhaps considering a slightly less bloody approach, because he's so weird out by Sam's newfound ruthless streak. Dean relies on Sam to act as his conscience, so now that Sam isn't stepping up to that task, Dean has to do it himself And it really hit hard that Sam pointed out that since Dean isn't going to be around much longer, Sam is just trying to make himself into who he believes he has to be if he's going to survive on his own. Which is Dean. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and all that, but man, that's twisted and hurt-y and kind of a sucker punch for Dean. And Sam. Sam fought so hard for his independence, and now he's just completely given it over and he's not even fighting any more, and that hurts. I always like twisted and hurt-y in an episode, though, so it's all good.
There was also angry brother tussling, which I'm sure many people enjoyed. Because Dean's gut reaction to Ruby, who he'd never actually met before, is DEMON, and she's been messing with Sam's head, which makes him all the less inclined to want to listen to or believe a word she says. But she's got this hold over Sam, that promise of Dean's life, and she's proved useful before, and Sam wants so badly to believe her, and for all that he's changed and grown more ruthless he's still Sam and his instinct is to trust people who have offered proof of their helpfulness. So there's an inherent point of conflict right there in the middle of the road screwing with the Impala.
Backstory on Ruby? Not so thrilled about that. All the 'I'm not like other demons, I remember what it's like to be human' stuff? I don't like demons to have consciences and to genuinely be on the side of good. There's something worryingly black-and-white about that, straight up choice of good or evil, and I prefer the shades of grey you get when black and white are forced to meet in the middle. I still prefer the theory where she has her eyes on a prize of her own and is willing to make use of a quid pro quo with Sam to achieve it. Seems murkier that way, less wholesome and neat than a 'good demon', somehow. Could still be the case – demons lie, right? So we'll wait and see. Also, I'm still not entirely clear on who she really is – a human who was a witch, and died centuries ago, and went to hell where she gradually became a demon, right? So the body she's wearing now is some hapless girl that this demonic spirit is possessing, I'm assuming. We haven't yet met a demon that could manifest a body of its own. So…is the name 'Ruby' attached to the demon or the girl? I'm guessing the girl, but it isn't exactly clear.
As for what she told Dean at the end? Human souls condemned to hell eventually turn into demons, their humanity gradually burned away by the centuries of torture? Like he wasn't dreading it already. And she admitted that she can't actually help him, just to really pile on the hopelessness that's been building up over the last few episodes. For all the anger, mistrust and hate Dean had directed at Ruby during the episode, he barely even blinked when she admitted that she'd lied to Sam about being able to save him. He's so resigned to his awful fate, it's heartbreaking. Even Sam has lost hope now, which is hardly surprising, but also kind of chilling, that desolate acceptance of the fact that Dean is going to die soon, end of story.
What also chilled me was Sam running out of the motel and leaving Dean bleeding on the floor. Chilling because, when you think about it, Sam always has had that streak of ruthlessness about him. We saw it way back in Faith, when he chose to spend three days solid researching in a motel room rather than spending time at the hospital with his dying brother. It paid off, but if it hadn't losing out on that time together would have been a hell of a price to pay. It's Sam, though. He makes a rapid decision and then charges at it, whether it's the right decision or not, without doubt, deviation or hesitation. And he was dashing off on a last ditch attempt to save his brother's life, but it was pretty much a wild goose chase and he was basically leaving his brother to die alone and in pain. So very single-minded, is Sam, and sometimes that's a good thing because it certainly draws results, but sometimes things are not quite so clear-cut. But I like when things are not clear-cut, so appreciated how much juice this episode provided! And remembering that fact about Sam really drives home the magnitude and awfulness of his acceptance of Dean's eventual fate. When Sam gives up on something he's set his heart on, you know things are really bad.
The death toll in this episode was pretty impressive. No one was saved, really. Except for the guy who ate the maggots. Which I'm still squicking about. But everyone else wound up dead except for our boys and Ruby, and even then only just. I really appreciated, though, that Nervous Witch Lizzie had enough gumption about her to pull herself together and do battle against the demon she'd hocked her soul to, even though she was petrified and horrified. And I love Dean's lightning reactions, grabbing Ruby's magic knife and gutting the demon with it within seconds of being released. See, I like the knife now!
Okay, shutting up now. Fuller thoughts will be posted in my full recap sometime next week.
Dear Supernatural,
Please stick to blood, guts and gore. Teeth and maggots really squick me out.
Regards,
Jo
p.s. It's great to have you back. I really wish you were sticking around for more than four episodes.
Seriously. This episode has teeth falling out in the teaser. And maggots crawling all over food. And a man biting into them and gagging. I honest to Pete almost threw up at that point. The fact that I'm home from work sick probably contributed to this extreme visceral reaction, but still. Give me the blood and guts over maggots and teeth any day! Ick!
Kudos to the nice people providing the torrent, though. And to my cat for waking me up really early, even though I'm off sick and could have done with a lie-in. And to all the nice people uploading madly, which meant my torrent completed at the speed of light, so that I could have actually watched this episode before I left for work, if I wasn't home sick. This was mildly annoying, since it never goes so fast when I'm actually in work!
Okay, so, um, plot? Lots and lots of meaty intrigue in this one. I'm sick, though, so unlikely to be enormously coherent. Please bear with me while I ramble.
Ooooooh, minor point that I really loved? Was Sam being offended by Mrs Renee van Whatshername talking down to Dean. Dean barely noticed and just brushed it off, because people put him down quite a lot. He's used to it. But Sam really didn't like it and was all snippy about her later. I liked that.
And Sam drove the Impala. That makes, what, twice on-screen this season? That's twice more than last season!
I loved that Dean finally came out and verbalised the growing trend I've commented on a few times this season, which is that role reversal the boys have had going on, wherein Sam expresses his blithe willingness to commit what amounts to murder, thus causing Dean to swing around into Sam's more customary position of advocating the possibility of perhaps considering a slightly less bloody approach, because he's so weird out by Sam's newfound ruthless streak. Dean relies on Sam to act as his conscience, so now that Sam isn't stepping up to that task, Dean has to do it himself And it really hit hard that Sam pointed out that since Dean isn't going to be around much longer, Sam is just trying to make himself into who he believes he has to be if he's going to survive on his own. Which is Dean. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and all that, but man, that's twisted and hurt-y and kind of a sucker punch for Dean. And Sam. Sam fought so hard for his independence, and now he's just completely given it over and he's not even fighting any more, and that hurts. I always like twisted and hurt-y in an episode, though, so it's all good.
There was also angry brother tussling, which I'm sure many people enjoyed. Because Dean's gut reaction to Ruby, who he'd never actually met before, is DEMON, and she's been messing with Sam's head, which makes him all the less inclined to want to listen to or believe a word she says. But she's got this hold over Sam, that promise of Dean's life, and she's proved useful before, and Sam wants so badly to believe her, and for all that he's changed and grown more ruthless he's still Sam and his instinct is to trust people who have offered proof of their helpfulness. So there's an inherent point of conflict right there in the middle of the road screwing with the Impala.
Backstory on Ruby? Not so thrilled about that. All the 'I'm not like other demons, I remember what it's like to be human' stuff? I don't like demons to have consciences and to genuinely be on the side of good. There's something worryingly black-and-white about that, straight up choice of good or evil, and I prefer the shades of grey you get when black and white are forced to meet in the middle. I still prefer the theory where she has her eyes on a prize of her own and is willing to make use of a quid pro quo with Sam to achieve it. Seems murkier that way, less wholesome and neat than a 'good demon', somehow. Could still be the case – demons lie, right? So we'll wait and see. Also, I'm still not entirely clear on who she really is – a human who was a witch, and died centuries ago, and went to hell where she gradually became a demon, right? So the body she's wearing now is some hapless girl that this demonic spirit is possessing, I'm assuming. We haven't yet met a demon that could manifest a body of its own. So…is the name 'Ruby' attached to the demon or the girl? I'm guessing the girl, but it isn't exactly clear.
As for what she told Dean at the end? Human souls condemned to hell eventually turn into demons, their humanity gradually burned away by the centuries of torture? Like he wasn't dreading it already. And she admitted that she can't actually help him, just to really pile on the hopelessness that's been building up over the last few episodes. For all the anger, mistrust and hate Dean had directed at Ruby during the episode, he barely even blinked when she admitted that she'd lied to Sam about being able to save him. He's so resigned to his awful fate, it's heartbreaking. Even Sam has lost hope now, which is hardly surprising, but also kind of chilling, that desolate acceptance of the fact that Dean is going to die soon, end of story.
What also chilled me was Sam running out of the motel and leaving Dean bleeding on the floor. Chilling because, when you think about it, Sam always has had that streak of ruthlessness about him. We saw it way back in Faith, when he chose to spend three days solid researching in a motel room rather than spending time at the hospital with his dying brother. It paid off, but if it hadn't losing out on that time together would have been a hell of a price to pay. It's Sam, though. He makes a rapid decision and then charges at it, whether it's the right decision or not, without doubt, deviation or hesitation. And he was dashing off on a last ditch attempt to save his brother's life, but it was pretty much a wild goose chase and he was basically leaving his brother to die alone and in pain. So very single-minded, is Sam, and sometimes that's a good thing because it certainly draws results, but sometimes things are not quite so clear-cut. But I like when things are not clear-cut, so appreciated how much juice this episode provided! And remembering that fact about Sam really drives home the magnitude and awfulness of his acceptance of Dean's eventual fate. When Sam gives up on something he's set his heart on, you know things are really bad.
The death toll in this episode was pretty impressive. No one was saved, really. Except for the guy who ate the maggots. Which I'm still squicking about. But everyone else wound up dead except for our boys and Ruby, and even then only just. I really appreciated, though, that Nervous Witch Lizzie had enough gumption about her to pull herself together and do battle against the demon she'd hocked her soul to, even though she was petrified and horrified. And I love Dean's lightning reactions, grabbing Ruby's magic knife and gutting the demon with it within seconds of being released. See, I like the knife now!
Okay, shutting up now. Fuller thoughts will be posted in my full recap sometime next week.
