8x01 | Short Reaction

[galathea]

I just watched the S8 premiere, and usually I don’t do episode reactions, but after the summer I had, I really felt the need to get one thing off my chest right away. The in-depth review will follow later, as usual.

I guess most people will know that the spoilers about Sam's arc in S8 had me in tied up in knots all summer long, so I have to say that I am very, very relieved to find that the S8 premiere gave me enough reason to believe that not all is as it seems with Sam's storyline to at least alleviate some of my worries. After paying close attention to Sam's reactions and actions in the episode, I am under the distinct impression that there is something going on with Sam we don't know yet. The first thing that seems conspicuous is the shadowed figure watching Sam drive away from Amelia. It suggests to me that someone is keeping an eye on Sam’s activities, and that brings me back to my theory that Sam made a deal (possibly with the alpha vampire) to give up hunting for Dean's rescue - and then came to actually appreciate the life he was forced into. Moreover, Sam's subdued reaction to Dean's questions is very telling. I mean, Sam evades Dean’s questions, twice. First, when Dean asks him if he looked for him, and then again when he inquires what made Sam drop out of hunting. Sam simply doesn't answer and just allows Dean to draw his own conclusions instead - and that tells me that Sam is hiding something.

I still think that the secrecy between the brothers feels forced; it feels like a means to create conflict, and I am thoroughly tired of that. Not to mention that I am tired of the writers casting Sam in the role of the 'bad brother' just for the sake of mystery, but at the moment I am just profoundly relieved that there is at least a chance that Sam’s characterisation is a deliberate misdirection and that once we know the full story, it will all make sense. Also, the fact that, despite their secrecy, the brothers at least sit down and have series of actual conversations during the episode makes me hope that this will become a trend. Of course, I could be wrong and we have to take Sam's explanations at face value, but at the moment, I take what I can get.

Comments

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

I'm really glad you found some relief in the premiere, after being so stressed about it! *hugs*

Me, I found a lot of things to enjoy in the episode, but overall and taken as a whole, I found the writing...stale. So many of the ideas feeding into it felt repetitive and I am beyond tired of Sam's motivations being kept opaque for long stretches, making it impossible for us to understand where he's coming from and what he's thinking. Hints at some slow-to-unfold mystery to come just don't satisfy me any more and this show has done that trope to death already. And the flashbacks of how Sam met vet Amelia really bugged me - seriously, no veterinarian would insist on handing over an injured dog fresh out of surgery to the complete stranger who accidentally ran it over, especially after said stranger has clearly stated that they don't want a dog and are in no position to care for it!

I really like Dean's hair, though.

[galathea-snb.livejournal.com]

So many of the ideas feeding into it felt repetitive and I am beyond tired of Sam's motivations being kept opaque for long stretches, making it impossible for us to understand where he's coming from and what he's thinking. Hints at some slow-to-unfold mystery to come just don't satisfy me any more and this show has done that trope to death already.
AMEN! It's just treading the same narrative patterns over and over again, and as usual at the expense of Sam's characterisation. So much for a new showrunner bringing in some new ideas. However, I'll take that any day over the utter and complete assassination of Sam's character I initially feared. :)

And the flashbacks of how Sam met vet Amelia really bugged me - seriously, no veterinarian would insist on handing over an injured dog fresh out of surgery to the complete stranger who accidentally ran it over, especially after said stranger has clearly stated that they don't want a dog and are in no position to care for it!
Uh-huh. Yeah, I wasn't buying it either. Amelia's condescending attitude was out of place as well. It's not like Sam ran the dog over on purpose and he immediately took care of the dog. Plus, Amelia and Sam had no chemistry whatsoever in the episode.

Dean was very pretty - even fresh out of purgatory. LOL Dean's storyline (and characterisation) was interesting, too and I am looking forward to seeing more of the flashbacks.

[chiiyo86.livejournal.com]

I definitely think that there's more to Sam's story than we know. As you said, there was a lot of deflection on Sam's part when he explained what he'd been up to during the year, and the scene of Sam leaving at the beginning was very mysterious.

[galathea-snb.livejournal.com]

I am glad you had the same impression. Sam definitely didn't come off as someone who was totally blase about Dean's disappearance. It was clear that he didn't tell Dean the whole story and just let Dean believe what he wanted to believe.

[quickreaver.livejournal.com]

Huh! I did not notice a dark figure watching Sam! Hmmm, I wonder if Sam did, indeed, make a deal for Dean's release (and/or for the safety of Amelia) and reciprocally promised to stay out of hunting. Boy, would that explain a LOT. (Personally, I do hope it was AlphaVamp watching Sammy. I find him a delicious beast.)

Yeah, the secrecy felt a tad forced, I'll agree. Probably because the writers rushed into the reunion so fast. Hell, they rushed into everything at the speed of a fangirl's whimsy. But I do think they gave Sam enough backbone to defend himself with sensitivity towards Dean's recent plight and not come off as the 'bad brother.' He recognized his mistake with Kevin and apologized for that, straight away. But the rest? Sure, he earned his hunting-free life but I'm sure we'll discover there's more to that decision than just "Hey, here's my opportunity."

COME ON, SEASON EIGHT!

[galathea-snb.livejournal.com]

I did not notice a dark figure watching Sam!
It's pretty early in the episode. We see Sam drive away in the Impala from Amelia's house, the camera zooms sideways and we see a dark figure watching him. A deal with the alpha vampire makes sense to me because a) it was a vamp who freed Dean (and it is very conspicuous that Benny just finds Dean in purgatory and offers him to escape; it doesn't look like a coincidence) and b) only a monster would demand of Sam to stop hunting monsters. :)

I do think they gave Sam enough backbone to defend himself with sensitivity towards Dean's recent plight and not come off as the 'bad brother.'
Yeah, at least the writers allowed Sam for once to argue his case eloquently and sensibly. Even if I didn't have the feeling that there was more to the story than Sam let on, I feel that he makes a good argument. It's just that, obviously, Dean feels that Sam didn't love him enough to even look for him, and that's where my resentment of Sam as the 'bad brother' stems from.

[sweet-lyri.livejournal.com]

Like I said on the forum, I don't know if Jared was just having a lazy acting day when they filmed the scene where he brought the dog to the vet, but it felt very, very forced to me. Like, he was adamant that Roberta get the vet immediately. Which, yes, he could have been worried about the dog, but given what Sam's been through in his life, I feel like he should have a more level head. He'd taken the dog to the vet, the assistant said she was going to get the doctor...and Sam's still yelling for the doctor. It just seemed very false to me and over-acted.

I'm hoping there's a reason behind Sam's laid back attitude. Given that we saw the figure watching Sam...I think there's more going on that we're led to believe. And I have a weird feeling that the figure is actually Benny.

[galathea-snb.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it was an odd scene, and I am not sure if it was Jared's acting or the writing. Basically all the scenes with Amelia were pretty odd and strangely out of place, which is sad, because I had hopes that I would like Sam and Amelia as a couple, but so far she just doesn't make a good impression on me.

I'm hoping there's a reason behind Sam's laid back attitude. Given that we saw the figure watching Sam...I think there's more going on that we're led to believe. And I have a weird feeling that the figure is actually Benny.
Well, I am counting on the fact that there is more going on. Else I will be majorly pissed. LOL Sure, the figure could have been Benny, but I just don't really see why he would be watching Sam. *shrugs*

[sweet-lyri.livejournal.com]

I agree that all the Amelia scenes seem odd...she just seemed a little weird. Like forcing the dog onto Sam? Should a vet even do that? Considering my friend was just turned down when she tried to adopt a dog from the pound because she would be out of the house too much, it just seems a little weird that a vet would be forcing a dog onto someone they know nothing about. Like Sam said, he traveled a lot, not a great place for a dog, cooped up in a car for hours on end, and yet she practically forced Sam to take the dog anyway.

Something just doesn't add up as far as she's concerned. I think there's more going on than just Sam meeting a girl and falling for her.

As for why Benny would be watching Sam...I honestly don't know, but Benny wanted out for a reason, and he's supposed to be the Big Bad this season. It's just got my spidey sense tingling.

I also want to know whose funeral it was and whether or not Benny's feeding on humans. We know vamps can survive on animal blood from Lenore, but I'm not sure Benny would be willing to stick to that. And how would Dean feel to find out his 'brother' is feeding on people?

Jesus, one episode in and look and all these unanswered questions already!! LMFAO!!

[galathea-snb.livejournal.com]

I think there's more going on than just Sam meeting a girl and falling for her.
Hm, I hope not. I would hate to see another storyline of the 'Sam gets manipulated into trouble by a girl' variety. I hope Amelia improves. Maybe she had her own reasons why she reacted so oddly to Sam.

Benny wanted out for a reason, and he's supposed to be the Big Bad this season.
I assume every monster wants out of purgatory; it's not exactly a cosy place to live. LOL And I thought Crowley would be the Big Bad of the season, what with Sam and Dean trying to close the gates of hell once and for all.

And how would Dean feel to find out his 'brother' is feeding on people?
Actually, I wonder if Dean allowed Benny to feed on him in purgatory in exchange for his protection. I mean, if vamps and other monsters in purgatory still have their usual physical urges, an actual living human like Dean would be the equivalent of a five star meal in purgatory.

[smalltrolven.livejournal.com]

Here, here! To the brothers having actual conversations being a trend for season 8. Since there's a whole year of backstory to get through, maybe it will work out that way.

I like the idea that Sam may be reluctant to tell Dean about a deal he had to make with someone unsavvory, and that is his secret he's holding back. Maybe with the alphavamp (who could presumably get a psychic connection message through to Benny in Purgatory on how to escape).

[galathea-snb.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it would really be nice to have the brothers actually talk on a regular basis. It's one of the things I missed last year. They never really talked about the issues that plagued them last season.

Well, I think that after everything the went through together, there really shouldn't be any need for secrets between them anymore. It feels contrived that they would hide things from each other, considering that they both acknowledged several times that lying to each other only leads to bad things. It feels like they need to learn the same lesson over and over again, and I find that frustrating. While I prefer Sam having a secret over Sam just abandoning the search for Dean, I still feel that the writers used this trope way too often in the past.