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galatheaYou know, I don’t really do episode reactions because I am just not that coherent after watching the show, but, damn, sometimes an exception is in order.
Thank you, Robbie Thompson! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! ♥ ♥ I don’t think I have ever been more grateful about an episode of TV than about LARP and The Real Girl. I really, really needed this episode to keep going, because it reminded me of all the reasons why Supernatural has been my favourite show these past seven years. Essentially, it has everything I want in a Supernatural episode – humour, action and emotions, all perfectly balanced.
The things I loved most:
1) Sam and Dean being themselves, caring about each other, having short, understated moments of understanding. ♥ There is emotional continuity between the brothers, not everything is suddenly back to normal, but they try for each other. Dean offers subtle support for his brother and Sam gives back to Dean at the end, when he offers to play. Because having fun will help both of them. I thought this was really the most important message of the entire episode. It is basically the exact opposite of Kevin's statement in Torn and Frayed that he cannot enjoy a world he needs to save, and I am glad the writers build a counterpoint to Kevin's oppressive position here. Sam and Dean live such incredibly bleak lives, but being able to share moments of joy with each other makes it all bearable, it keeps them sane and connects them to the world, thus reminding them what they are fighting for in the first place. I find it really important to have this kind of balance between the angst and the light-hearted moments in the show. I am not ashamed to admit that the final scene made me cry (happy tears, I swear).
2) Of course, this is highly subjective, but I loved the plot of the episode. ♥ I am not a LARPer, but I am an obsessive gamer (mostly RPGs, online as well as offline) and I could very much relate to the story and the characters within. Plus, a return of the fairies is always welcome – and even makes sense in the context of the episode.
3) Charlie is undoubtedly one of the best characters that came out of S7 for me. Her optimism is just so infectious. We don’t have many characters whose lives are touched by the supernatural and who still enjoy their lives, and Charlie is one of them. Which makes her the perfect companion for Sam and Dean, who sometimes forget that duty and sacrifice is not all there is to life. She is also someone who is not afraid to speak her mind and I liked her conversation with Dean very much. Since I have been very unhappy with Dean’s lack of regret about his fake text message last episode, I was happy Charlie called him out on it.
I know there is so much more - as I said, not really coherent at the moment - but there will be time to mull it all over. I loved this. ♥ It made me very, very, happy. I was laughing tears. Welcome back, show. I missed you!
Okay, as usual my in-depth review will follow later in the week, but I had to get this off my chest.
Thank you, Robbie Thompson! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! ♥ ♥ I don’t think I have ever been more grateful about an episode of TV than about LARP and The Real Girl. I really, really needed this episode to keep going, because it reminded me of all the reasons why Supernatural has been my favourite show these past seven years. Essentially, it has everything I want in a Supernatural episode – humour, action and emotions, all perfectly balanced.
The things I loved most:
1) Sam and Dean being themselves, caring about each other, having short, understated moments of understanding. ♥ There is emotional continuity between the brothers, not everything is suddenly back to normal, but they try for each other. Dean offers subtle support for his brother and Sam gives back to Dean at the end, when he offers to play. Because having fun will help both of them. I thought this was really the most important message of the entire episode. It is basically the exact opposite of Kevin's statement in Torn and Frayed that he cannot enjoy a world he needs to save, and I am glad the writers build a counterpoint to Kevin's oppressive position here. Sam and Dean live such incredibly bleak lives, but being able to share moments of joy with each other makes it all bearable, it keeps them sane and connects them to the world, thus reminding them what they are fighting for in the first place. I find it really important to have this kind of balance between the angst and the light-hearted moments in the show. I am not ashamed to admit that the final scene made me cry (happy tears, I swear).
2) Of course, this is highly subjective, but I loved the plot of the episode. ♥ I am not a LARPer, but I am an obsessive gamer (mostly RPGs, online as well as offline) and I could very much relate to the story and the characters within. Plus, a return of the fairies is always welcome – and even makes sense in the context of the episode.
3) Charlie is undoubtedly one of the best characters that came out of S7 for me. Her optimism is just so infectious. We don’t have many characters whose lives are touched by the supernatural and who still enjoy their lives, and Charlie is one of them. Which makes her the perfect companion for Sam and Dean, who sometimes forget that duty and sacrifice is not all there is to life. She is also someone who is not afraid to speak her mind and I liked her conversation with Dean very much. Since I have been very unhappy with Dean’s lack of regret about his fake text message last episode, I was happy Charlie called him out on it.
I know there is so much more - as I said, not really coherent at the moment - but there will be time to mull it all over. I loved this. ♥ It made me very, very, happy. I was laughing tears. Welcome back, show. I missed you!
Okay, as usual my in-depth review will follow later in the week, but I had to get this off my chest.
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no subject
Date: 2013-01-24 08:03 pm (UTC)I like Charlie's take on her involvement in the supernatural a lot. She's not sacrificial or inclined to gloss over the damage the intrustions on her life do, but she's also willing to fight for having a place where she can exist and have fun and be herself even if monsters exist. She may be the most successful Spn character ever at integrating real reality, supernatural reality, and fantasy.
It's lovely to see Sam doing something explicitly for the partnership, for both of them, and it's also lovely to see Dean supporting Sam in low key ways and on an equality with him -- it's not often he does concern in that mode rather than in panicked older brother mode, and it's a kind of support that later season Sam has offered him quite often, so it's good to see them finding equilibrium and mutuality on it.
no subject
Date: 2013-01-24 08:16 pm (UTC)It is so rare in Supernatural to have a character that comes in contact with the Supernatural and is still able to enjoy her life. I think that's what makes her appearances so enjoyable. She is also the perfect character to bring in at this point in the story, not only because she reminds Sam and Dean that, yes, they are allowed to have fun once in a while, but also because her personality connects beautifully to the whole theme of fantasy world versus real life. Good job, Mr Thompson!
Yes, Dean's support was always there but without smothering Sam in concern, acknowledging Sam's pain, but trying to help him move past it. When Sam told Dean that having fun will help both of them, I felt my heart grow a size, I was so happy. Sorry, I am all sappy at the moment.
no subject
Date: 2013-01-24 11:56 pm (UTC)Charlie is a great character. If hate to see her overused though. I think she's going to be needed (much like Garth) to break the bleakness the show finds itself in every now and then
Perfect ep. And perfect timing,,,;)
no subject
Date: 2013-01-25 09:44 am (UTC)I love the optimism that Charlie and Garth bring to the show. Sometimes the writers just wallow too much in the angst, and when a show becomes too bleak, I just don't know why I am still watching. I need those counterpoints of hope to make all the misery worthwhile. :)
no subject
Date: 2013-01-25 07:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-25 09:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-25 10:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-26 09:13 am (UTC)