An encyclopedia of weirdness

I daresay it does not get more old-school than Bad Boys, except for, you know, actual episodes from the early seasons of the show. Adam Glass ticks all the right boxes for a classic Supernatural episode – a good old-fashioned ghost hunt, Wee!chester flashbacks, gory deaths, a salt and burn, Sam being choked and Dean being thrown into a wall, Dean connecting with kids, parallels between the ghost story and the Winchesters’ story – and the end result is a largely enjoyable trip down memory lane, both for the characters and the viewer. It is no secret how much I miss the old days of the show, so unsurprisingly Bad Boys firmly positions itself as my favourite episode of the season so far.

( Sometimes you have to do what’s best for you, even if it’s going to hurt the ones you love. )

I am sorry this review is so late, but unfortunately I have computer troubles at the moment and the damn thing just won’t let me write (or do anything, really) for more than an hour or so, before it powers down again. So, until I find a way to fix my computer, I might be tad behind with my reviews. Handwritten notes only get me so far, I am afraid.

Dog Dean Afternoon by Eric Charmelo and Nicole Snyder is a rather silly episode, that borders on (and sometimes crosses over into) the embarrassing and crude, and as such I have my fair share of problems with it. However, there is also an interesting casefile, amiable Sam and Dean interaction and some minor developments on the Ezekiel front, so the episode is not a total loss. In some respects, it even has an 'old-school' vibe, which I always appreciate, but sadly much of that appreciation was buried under the more ridiculous parts of the plot.

( He was possessed by something he couldn’t control. It was just a matter of time before it completely took over. )

I’m No Angel by Eugenie Ross-Leming and Brad Buckner puts its focus on Castiel’s struggle with his new status as a human being as well as on his attempts to evade the faction of the angels that are out for his blood – and as such the episode is of little interest to me. While there are at least some enjoyable, domestic Sam and Dean moments in the episode, there are also problematic moments where Dean’s handling of Sam’s current status is concerned, but, well, given the writers of this episode that was probably to be expected. So, overall, this is a rather short and not particularly deep review. It is just not the kind of episode that inspires the meta-writer in me.

( I lied. I do that. )

So, during the summer hiatus I came to the conclusion that Supernatural no longer warrants the kind of energy and commitment that goes into my episode reviews, and so I decided to just let it go and switch to casual viewing. However, I seem to have underestimated the difficulty of breaking an eight year long habit. I guess it is fair to say that, as long as I am watching the show, I am going to have thoughts about it, so I might as well write them down. Still, I intend to make some changes. Generally, my reviews will be less extensive, and I will not address Castiel, Crowley or the angels in any significant capacity – sorry, angels and demons bore me to tears nowadays – unless their story is in some way relevant to Sam and Dean’s. It is entirely possible, though, that my motivation to write reviews fizzles out at some point, just like it did at the end of last season, but I guess we will just have to wait and see. Now, onto the review!

As one would expect from a season opener, Jeremy Carver’s I Think I’m Gonna Like It Here looks at the aftermath of the S8 finale and sets the stage for the main plotlines of the first half of the season. My emotions while watching the episode ranged from being genuinely moved (Sam) to boredom (Castiel and Hael) to intrigue (Dean and Ezekiel) to angry disbelief (Dean’s choice), so at the very least I can say that the premiere did not leave me indifferent. In fact, if it was not for the unexpected last-minute turn of events, I would have said the season opener surprised me positively, mainly because it continues the exploration of Sam’s emotional state. Insight into Sam’s inner workings is always a plus in my book. However, the disturbing resolution to Sam’s dilemma casts a very dark shadow over the episode, and my acceptance of that resolution will largely depend on how the writers will handle the long-term consequences of it.

( What you call dying, I call leaving a legacy. )

Okay, this turned out longer than I expected. I guess I still have to work on the whole 'keeping it short' thing. But well, reviews for season premieres (and finales) tend to be more extensive anyway.