Supernatural 4x03: In the Beginning

[moonshayde]

Okay, so here are my thoughts on last night's episode.



It was good. I'm not as squeeful as everyone else, but that doesn't mean it wasn't an awesome episode. I'm a Deangirl and it was perfect for him. I was a little disappointed at the lack of Sam, and I would have loved for them to both have gone back in time, but I understand it wouldn't have fit the plot. Also, I heard that JP wasn't around much anyway? So if that is how they had to write around him, it was a decent way to do it.

I'm not sure exactly what is going on with me or why I am having difficulty truly enjoying the show this year. I'm very tense about it, which is ridiclous because I honestly have loved every episode we've seen so far. Maybe it's all my real life stress bleeding into my fandoms. Then again, I've always been very twitchy and concerned about the Sam plot, so much so that it's part of the reason I walked from the show in S2. It concerns me more than it should and hinders some of my enjoyment. But if they end up doing some kind of Luke Skywalker plot, or if Sam is redeemed and the brothers end up working together in the end, I'll be okay.

Anyway...

Some highlights I enjoyed:

Mary was a hunter and so was her family. I didn't see that coming. I have been waiting for a Mary episode for a long time, since when I saw "Home" I was always curious as to her reaction to Sam.

Samuel being hard like John, and then when the Colt makes an appearance, he praises Dean. Dean's not stupid enough to give people the Colt.

The going to Hell again line.

John getting the Impala.

The Back to the Future references. Given I've JUST written a time travel story for SPN fandom, this amused me greatly.

Dean looking YED directly in the eyes and telling him he's the one to kill him; YED looking slightly unnerved by it, but ultimately ignores it due to his arrogance. I want to go back and watch the YED/Dean scenes from the past seasons to see if/how they connect.

Hell flashbacks. More please? And I hope Dean gets them stronger, harder, and when he's awake when Sam is around eventually. Because I am mean like that.

I've always seen Sam a lot like John, but this episode showed also how much he's like Mary. Dean, to me, seems the least like them, though he has some obvious traits. I find he's a bit more like his maternal grandparents.

The whole episode was awesome and I have no real complaints with it. Though, I think maybe I've got some psychic link going on with the writers. Or I'm predictible. How I envisioned the opening of "Lazarus Rising" was fairly accurate. I just wrote a long plotty time travel fic so some of the references and events in this episode made me raise my eyebrows. And I've just found out that the next SPN fic I was going to write is the exact premise of an upcoming episode. I mean EXACT. To the point where I can't write it. *crosses off the list*

All three episodes so far have been solid. If the rest of the season is this good, I would argue S4 will be there best/most consistently good season yet.

Hopefully, I will get out of my funk soon so I can enjoy the episodes in a less detached way.

ETA: I also am starting to think Ruby is one of YED's. Or at least furthering YED's plans. I was hoping she would stay an ambiguous figure, but who knows. There could be a twist. Like maybe the good guys are actually the bad guys and the bad guys are the good guys. I doubt that, though, and I wouldn't like that. My preference is that both Sam and Dean figure out their just pawns used by both sides and say, the hell with it, and strike out on their own. One can dream ;)

ETA2: I'm starting to think I know part of the reason why the Sam storyarc of evilness bugs me. I feel stupid for not realizing this before. I think it's because we almost never see Sam struggle with it. I'm seriously invested in everything Dean goes through, good and bad, because the actor gets really meaty stuff to work with. Sam has moments of insight where we can see what's happening, but most of the time we only see little hints and glimpses. This is a great way to build suspense and mystery, but if you want people to really connect with the character, you do need to really dig deep into him. I think it's a catch-22 for Sam. His personality is way more closed off than Dean so you have to keep him in character. Then, if you give away too much, you have no story. Don't give enough, and the audience can get frustrated. I think if we knew more about what is going on with Sam, it would be easier to follow his arc. Like how at the end of LR he thinks he's really helping people. I just feel like we need more Sam depth to go with the Dean depth and maybe then I wouldn't be so nervous about his storyline. Just my two cents.

Comments

[maychorian.livejournal.com]

Hell flashbacks. More please? And I hope Dean gets them stronger, harder, and when he's awake when Sam is around eventually. Because I am mean like that.

YES YES SO VERY YES.


I've been having a little bit of the same detachment issues as you have, at least in the past couple of weeks. It's just personal stuff, but I'm sad that it's tainting my show. Need to get past this depression thing so I can enjoy Supernatural more fully! Yes, that's a good motivation for seeking help.

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

I think depression is a huge part of it, Though, no offense, it makes me feel a little better knowing I am not the only one. I'm in a pretty bad bit of depression right now - I'm just really pretending to be normal online and offline right now.

But bring on the flashbacks please. I'd love like a reversal of S1 and S2 with Sam. Sam's nightmares turned into visions and he had some difficulty dealing with them for a while. I want to see Dean go through flashbacks, slowly and then more hard pressed and then have Sam there to witness it. It might give them both some perspective being in each other's shoes, sort of.

[maychorian.livejournal.com]

Me take offense? No way. Depression sucks. I haven't had a bad one since my junior year of college, and then this hit me all of a sudden and it's like having the world ripped out from under me. Just, you know, off-balance, everything seems to be the wrong colors. Things that would make me really happy don't quite do it, and it makes me all kinds of sad. I miss my unadulterated squee from "Lazarus Rising." That was awesome.

And yeah, I think the role-reversal thing would be very cool. If only, you know, Sam wasn't having this evil thing going on. Maybe they'll take care of it right away, like in the next episode, and then they can go back to being angsty brothers and always on the same page again. ::lives in hope::

[jessm78.livejournal.com]

First... *hugs* I know how you feel about it. I've been very nervous this season, and we've only had three episodes so far. The Sam-is-evil or whatever plot is worrying me. I try to be confident that Kripke won't mess things up and it'll all be okay in the end, but it's hard sometimes. I honestly hope Dean can pull Sam away from the dark side before Castiel can get to him. Sam may think that he's using his powers for good, but apparently Castiel and his kind don't agree. I think something big is going to happen, but I hope my fears can be put to rest. I want both boys to survive this. I want them to work together. *sits on pins and needles*

You know I'm more of a Sam girl. *grin* And I was disappointed that he wasn't in this ep (yeah, JP wasn't around for most of it. Heard something about him going to Hawaii). But I think it fit the plot very well, especially with the point Castiel was trying to make. And Dean rocked. :D

I want more Hell flashbacks, too.

It sounds like your funk may be feeding into the detachment somewhat... though like I said, I've been pretty nervous/worried about this season too. I hope things get better for you so you can be a little more active in your enjoyment of the show. :) *hugs*

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

Normally, "so and so going evil" as a plot doesn't bug me. Historically, I enjoy those types of plots. For whatever reason, it sets me off in SPN. I'm starting to wonder if it's because we never actually see much on Sam's side. See him struggle. See him try to work it out. We get a little, but not enough for me to latch onto him and invest in him. We see glimpses of it, sure, but not enough for me to get hooked. Hmm. I added that to my post.

I'm sure my RL situation has everything to do with my unease with SPN, aside from fandom issues and my concerns with the Sam plot. I'm hypersensitive right now and it shows.

[meg-tdj.livejournal.com]

yeah, JP wasn't around for most of it. Heard something about him going to Hawaii

...

Please tell me he was filming an episode of Lost. PLEASE. ;)

[superbadgirl]

It must be personal bleeding over, because I have to say this year is far more excitable than last year. ;)

And you're right about Sam, which frustrates me to no end. I want so much more for him, and I think he deserves it. (Being contrary, all the Dean lurve makes me want to fight for Sam even more...) I don't think TPTB even know what's happening for him out in fandomland. Sam's a character we actually all should be able to connect to, though many wouldn't want to. I don't like thinking about the darkness within, but it's there.

They should step it up, and move the action forward at a faster pace, IMO. Wheel-spinning isn't interesting. Cardboard evil isn't interesting. I want motion, and I want depth. Dang it.

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

A lot of it is my personal life. I know it. But like I said it is rooted in Sam concerns. I just could never really figure out what they were before. I think I finally have.

I'm a lot like Dean so I connect to him very easily. But even if I didn't, there is enough for me to be able to based on the material the show gives. I should be able to say the same about Sam. The fact that I can't is problematic.

Incidentally, it was a lot of Dean disgust I saw online from last season that made me rally for him ;) Probably one of the reasons I became so invested in the show during S3. yes, it was a rocky season, but I still defend it like crazy. The impact of the strike and a couple of early season missteps really impacted it hard. But I still defend it ;)

[superbadgirl]

There's a difference between not being happy with character development (I knew what they were going for with Dean last year, but for me it simply wasn't effective.) and ragging on a character. I see a lot of "Dean only" women ragging on Sam and wishing him away, just as I see a lot of "Sam only" women ragging on Dean and wishing him away.

Frankly, I don't understand either of those mentalities, because I love both guys.

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

Because I am procrastinating...

I think last season's biggest problem wasn't necessarily the character devlopment, but the length of time they spent on nonproductive stuff. I don't have an issue the way they presented Dean, for example, at the beginning. But it went on too long. S3 should have been a forward momentum psuh to find out a way to save Dean. By the time they actually started to do that, the season was over. That is what annoyed me so much. it should have been a fantastic season.

But I understand what you mean by the more "extreme" fan mentality. I can't stand it.

[superbadgirl]

I get frustrated by people on my flist who make caustic and mean jibes in such a subtle way they can deny it if called on it. I think I dislike that more than the blatant hate.

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

You have people who do that? Oh that is very sad. The show isn't the show without both they boys. I obviously favor Dean, but I'm truly happy when there is good stuff for both of them.

I hate that.

[meg-tdj.livejournal.com]

I think it's because we almost never see Sam struggle with it. I'm seriously invested in everything Dean goes through, good and bad, because the actor gets really meaty stuff to work with. Sam has moments of insight where we can see what's happening, but most of the time we only see little hints and glimpses. This is a great way to build suspense and mystery, but if you want people to really connect with the character, you do need to really dig deep into him.

Now you know why so many Sam fans are disappointed in the show and feel that Dean is the writers' pet. ;)

[lyore.livejournal.com]

As soon the whole time travel thing started I thought of your fic! Crazy timing.