Last night’s Supernatural was really fun television. The one-liners and quips, already the show’s calling card, were incredibly effective tonight. They were all really, really hilarious, and it brought back fond memories of early Supernatural. There are so many more than I didn’t write down. It was a truly quippy episode, which was good, because the underlying plot wasn’t exactly what you would call good. Or acceptable. Or even adequate. It was, quite frankly, a little boring.
There were more than a few red herrings: the butler, the silverware, the “ghosts”. But the episode tried a little to hard to convince us of all of those things, which is always a flashing neon sign that says LIES. The acting was superb, as was the dialogue and characters, but the plot was just so meh.
The only good thing about the plot, to me, was the fact that it brought up Bobby. I miss Bobby on Supernatural. One of the things that I hold sacred is the idea of ‘pacing’; making sure the episode doesn’t move too quickly or too slowly. I like to think of it as a lazy river; you know you’re going somewhere, you can see the path you’re on, but you’re allowed to enjoy a leisurely float.
Okay, that was hella lame once I typed it out. The reason I bring it up is because, in Bobby Singer, you had a character able to hold long stretches of screen time by himself. In Bobby you had a character that could pop up and give a Winchester-break. Now, especially the last few episodes, that pacing hasn’t been there. Castiel has become the new Bobby in that regard, but he hasn’t shown up for the last three episodes in any sort of meaningful capacity.
Quick sidebar: I’ve mentioned this a few time recently, but I feel like its worth bringing up: I don’t miss Castiel’s storyline. At all. I don’t give a crap about anything they’re doing with him. If the Winchester’s are a broken record, Cas is somehow even more broken record-y. It’s the same crap, over and over and over (and over) again, and it’s been that way since Season 7. I don’t care about the damn angels! I don’t! There hasn’t been dramatic tension in Angel Land since Cas went nova and turned into Trenchcoat!God. What is there to say at this point? Are we just expected to angel pop-culture jokes for the rest of eternity?
Look, I’ll be real: I am much of a shipper. Destiel is fine, cool, whatever. But I don’t care if Dean and Cas ever consummate their big gay love for one another because ITS BORING. BORING BORING BORING. This show is BORING when it lets those two get together. The subtext that they’ll only acknowledge three times a year (almost always in a jokey meta way) isn’t compelling, or interesting; it’s just lame. They don’t even mine it for friendship! They just keep punting on it! Like they do everything else on this damn show! Just keep kicking the can further down the line!
That got away from me a bit; sincerest apologies. But I think my points are valid. And once again, we’re watching a Supernatural episode that hits us with a barrage of quips, instead of something fresh. Bring back Chuck, but for real. Bring back Lucifer, but for real. Even Metatron would better than this. This show needs to shake up the power dynamics; right now it is totally resting on the Winchester laurels and while Padalecki and Ackles are more than up to the task (as they always are) this show is suffering because it refuses to do, well, anything.
I didn’t set out to be this negative; I really wanted to just write this piece and be done with it. But I’m just so sick and tired of watching a good cast and crew go to waste. I am. I just am. I want something interesting.
Perhaps, maybe, just blow up the show. Just blow this crap up. Take Sam and Dean off the road and put them in Hell. Have them always running. Manufacture the damn tension if need be. Turn Dean into a real Knight of Hell AND LET HIM WREACK HAVOC HOLY GOD HOW COOL WOULD IT’VE BEEN IF DEAN JUST TRIED TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD?!?!?!?! The parallel between Lucifer!Sam and Demon!Dean would’ve been incredible!
But its not that.
I want to make clear; I enjoyed this episode. Pretty much all episodes this season have been, at worst, solid workmanlike efforts. I’d just like to see something else.
Here are those one liners!
(to Sam by the dictionary definition of a cougar) “Do you work out?”
(Sam to Dean) “I think they’re called WASP’s.”
DEAN (about his jacket): “This is canvas.”
HEDDY: “I’m 39!”
DASH: “And have been since 03.”
HEDDY: “Fine. It’s a mahogany sunfish.”
HEDDY: “Oh wait, go back; he owns an island.”
SAM: “Grey Gardens cleared.” (My second favorite).
DASH: “We’re in love!”
AMBER: “We’re sleeping together.”
OLIVIA: “In the attic!”
AMBER: “Like the movie!”
HEDDY: “Oh, Amber.”
And my personal favorite: “An emoticon of a peeled banana?!”
Grade: B
Photo via CW
Follow Us
