12.10 reaction and meta rec.
Feb. 7th, 2017 07:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ash48I confess that ep wasn't really my cup of tea. I'm not sure if it didn't grab me because I was feeling pretty grumpy going into the ep (having a blue with my daughter will do that to me), or if I was genuinely just annoyed with it.
I felt that it was a well structure episode with some great performance from the guest stars, but I really do struggle with anything angel related these days. I think what might have set me off on the wrong foot was Dean being so damn churlish and petulant with Cas. I get being angry with Cas's decision for the consequence-inviting death of Billie - but the silent treatment? Really? I actually feel for the destiel fans sometimes. They really do set these two up with romantic overtones - with full knowledge that Dean and Cas are never going to be a couple. Is it to appease (tease?) a section of fandom? I dunno - but it makes it difficult for me to watch. I really want to believe Dean and Cas (and Sam dammit!) are best friends, but I seldom really feel it. I also want to see them as three brothers - but there's always something just slightly off about that for me as well.
Maybe it was just lacking some humour or something (or maybe I was! *g*)
And perhaps it is just about what flavour of character I like to see. I love Dean like he was in last week's episode. Strong and stoic and badass - not pouty and moody like he was in this one. Just my personal preference. I also prefer a solid Cas - not constantly second guessing himself and making mistakes (which I know is part of his character arc, but still...).
Perhaps this is an episode I will look back on and see the layers they were playing with in it. Sam and Dean are still working closely together, which is always a bonus, and there were some nice little moments between them which I really enjoyed. And I liked Sam connecting with Lily (her performance was excellent) - it was nice to see a reference to Sam being soulless.
Meta Rec- if you haven't already seen
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frozen_delight's meta Do I look like Paris Hilton? Dean as SPN's Cinematic Female Other I recommend you take a look. It's an in-depth look on the way Dean is filmed in the show. I confess some of it is a little over my head (the term "female-other" is something I haven't come across before), but there's certainly lots of pretty and some great observations.Curiously, I have never considered Dean feminised - or perhaps I'm thinking of "feminine" (?). I wonder if that differs for everyone. If I had to pick one brother over the other as more "feminine" it would be Sam - but I actually see them both as very masculine. I feel like the way Jensen is filmed as in recognition to his stunning good looks. The camera adores him and the show takes advantage of that. :)
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Date: 2017-02-07 11:42 am (UTC)Sigh.
However, I still found I liked this one - it's redeeming features were enough to keep my attention. Though like you, I miss BAMF Cas.
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Date: 2017-02-07 11:48 am (UTC)From what I've read many did enjoy it, so I do think I just wasn't really in the mood (though angel stuff is pretty yawn inducing for me most of the time...)
xx
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Date: 2017-02-07 11:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-02-07 12:05 pm (UTC)I thought Alicia Witt as Lily was wonderful, and I found her story line interesting and it held my attention, and like you said her scenes with Sam were very enjoyable. I hope to see her again (I do wonder if her use of 'angel magic' is going to crop up in relation to those cosmic consequences'?!)
I can see where you are coming from with sulky Dean, and a 'weaker' Cas (for lack of a better world). But for me he was more thoughtful, wondering how he might feel about killing Kelly's baby, knowing that despite the consequences he feels like he made the right decision in killing Billie. I saw some character growth, I think, and I hope we see him talking and interacting more with the brothers, as a team, as I think that might perhaps bring them more together like you mentioned.
All in all, for an angel centered episode I thought it was pretty decent, and there were some precious bother moments too (Sam calling Dean out on storming into the room!!! LOVED IT!!!)
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Date: 2017-02-08 11:56 am (UTC)So happy you enjoyed it and I'm hearing that from so many that Im thinking it probably was my mood more than anything that had me at odds with it.
I was curious about the reminders of how far Cas has come - they really made a point of that. He certainly has changed and I suspect he is still in the process of changing. I'd love to see him become more confident and even become his own "person" as time goes on.
I'm determined to watch it again to pick up on things I missed. :)
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Date: 2017-02-08 01:19 pm (UTC)Like you say, I'd love to see Cas become more of his own person as times goes on. Take care ♥
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Date: 2017-02-07 02:33 pm (UTC)It might be a broad generalisation but he does tend to be portrayed as the sexier one. The one which we all lust over on a regular basis.
Is that a form of feminisation simply by dint of the female of the species being subjected to this kind of treatment a lot, or more so in the media?
Of course I could be way off base because my brain isn't fabulous as Meta or at grasping high end ideas on not a lot of sleep, lol.
As for the episode, I kinda loved it. I'm not a huge fan of Dean being a pouty puss but I do kind of get where he was coming from. Never one to be outright with his grouches, he was snarking about Castiel's stupidity because he was worried, not angry. We all know Dean's not so good with all the chick flick moments ;)
I loved the moments between Sam and Dean, there were some stellar bro-moments in this episode.
I've already said how much I love Alicia Witt over at my place, and the interactions between Sam and Castiel in this episode and the last even spawned a Sassy fic from, lol.
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Date: 2017-02-08 12:05 pm (UTC)It might be a broad generalisation but he does tend to be portrayed as the sexier one
I think this is generally true - though Sam definitely gets his fair share at times. :) They definitely film Dean differently to Sam (and maybe it would just take longer to scan up Jared's body! ;D)
And yes! I did read your reaction and was so happy to see how much you enjoyed it. Ive seen a lot of positive comments about the ep and I'm going to watch it again (not so grumpy next time :D).
<3
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Date: 2017-02-09 08:23 pm (UTC)I hope the re-watch gave you a little more joy :) ♥
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Date: 2017-02-07 03:34 pm (UTC)Maybe it's because I've seen thousands of older films, but most male stars are presented this way. It's called "appealing to the fans". Sorry, some metas just bug me more than others. Anything that makes me think of Jensen and Jared laughing hysterically when they read it tends to drop off my radar.
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Date: 2017-02-08 12:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-02-08 08:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-02-07 08:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-02-08 12:09 pm (UTC)x
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Date: 2017-02-08 02:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-02-08 12:15 pm (UTC)Perhaps because I tuned out of much of this ep I missed some key points. After so many positive comments I feel like I need to go back and rewatch - which I'm planning to do soon.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. :)
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Date: 2017-02-17 09:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-02-17 11:59 am (UTC)