Meta: Supernatural 1×17-1×18

[rusty_halo]

Previously: 1×14-1×16

1x17: Hell House

AAAAAHHH NO NOT THE GHOSTFACERS. I'm sorry, I fucking hate these guys. THEY ARE NOT FUNNY. :( They're a tired nerd cliché with nothing approaching even the wit of, say, the Trio, of which they are a blatant ripoff. Go away and stop boring me with your boringness, Ghostfacers.

But anyway, this is a good concept for an episode--the idea that believing in a story can make it real has all kinds of interesting implications.

Sam and Dean pranking each other is annoying, but I suppose makes sense as a way to diffuse the tension of finding/losing their dad, and of their disagreement about letting him go. There's real anger simmering underneath, but they're acting it out in a basically harmless way. (On a Doylist level, it's nice to have a lighter episode to balance out the recent heavy ones.) I'm personally squicked by practical jokes, but it is nice to see the boys acting like brothers and having the kind of brotherly bonding fun that they'll remember fondly in retrospect. Also it's kind of worth it for the entire scene of exposition Sam delivers while struggling not to writhe in discomfort from the itching powder, and for Dean's "I barely have any skin left on my palm."

Dean, in general, does a lot of annoying-older-brother things--he starts the pranking, he teases Sam a lot, in 1x04 he wipes the sulfur from his hand onto Sam's jacket. We know that Dean loves Sam more than anything in the world, that Dean would die for him, so why all the annoying shit? On an anthropological (?) level, a lot of this comes across as an assertion of possession, and also of dominance--Sam is his to protect but also to tease, he loves Sam but sees himself as the one in charge. We also know that Dean is somewhat insecure about Sam being smarter than him, so Dean--not exactly a paragon of emotional maturity--responds by teasing Sam about it. And it also diffuses the tension over how blatantly Dean adores and needs Sam, if he can also rip on Sam and tease him like a normal brother.

Dean: People believe in Santa Claus; how come I'm not getting hooked up every Christmas?

Sam: Because you're a bad person.

Jared's deadpan delivery is great here. 99% of the time, if I notice him acting well, it's a comedy moment.

Just have to say, I love how much creativity goes into the set designs for the hotels they stay in. They're just in the background, usually unobtrusive, but obviously a lot of thought goes into the nifty little kitsch/Americana details. How many places like these diners and motels really exist anymore? I've taken a few road trips and always ended up at generic fast food chains and generic motel chains, places that are indistinguishable no matter what state you're in. In a lot of ways this show seems like a tribute to a version of America that's already gone. (Also it reminds me of Sam & Max. A lot.)

Sam wonders how many of the monsters they've killed only existed because people believed in them. That... kind of doesn't make sense (doesn't that special symbol need to be involved?) but it is the closest I've heard to a decent justification for why they don't go public with the news that monsters exist.

Bechdel test: Two girls talk briefly about the dare before one goes into the house and gets killed.

1x18: Something Wicked

Ah, the fucked-up family Winchester. John leaves tiny Dean in a hotel room watching even tinier Sam, with the instruction to shoot first, ask questions later. No child that age should ever have to bear such responsibility, plus, y'know, no wonder Dean's grown into such a messed up adult--who raises their child to shoot first, question later?! And who leaves small children alone for days??!!

No wonder guilt and weight-of-the-world responsibility are adult Dean's defining traits--he still blames himself for a mistake he made when he was, what, eleven? And in no way was old enough to be held responsible. And yet John blames him too--I kind of hate John for furthering Dean's martyr complex. Sam has Dean to tell him that bad things aren't his fault, but there's no responsible adult figure to be there for Dean the way Dean is there for Sam.

I like how they built up several episodes of Dean inexplicably, disturbingly following John's orders blindly while Sam looks on, angry and boggled, and now here we see the reason why and it actually makes sense. Not that it's right, but you certainly understand why Dean does it--the last time he disobeyed his father, Sam almost died. It makes 1x22 particularly effective in its reversal, that it comes down to Dean disobeying, begging Sam not to obey, when we know just how difficult it is for Dean to disobey his father.

Little Dean gives little Sam his Lucky Charms. Awww. And the way Dean remembers Sam giving him the prize--Dean adores Sam so much. You really see here how much their dynamic is not just brothers, but Dean as parental figure.

Ah, is this the second time the boys are mistaken for a gay couple?

Dean bonds with the kid. Of course. When does Dean ever not bond with kids? It's so cute. I think it makes sense for Dean as a character, both because he "gets" kids in a way because he's so id-driven too, but also because he spent his whole life raising Sam and easily falls into that older brother role with every kid he meets. And he's fantastic with this kid--tells him the truth, lets him make his own decision, reassures him that they won't be mad if the kid changes his mind, and promises to keep him safe. ♥♥♥ Dean.

The previous towns visited by the shtriga are Ogdenville, North Haverbrook, and Brockway--these are the towns devastated by the monorail in The Simpsons. (It must be at least ten years since I've seen that episode--I can't believe I recognized the town names!)

The monster is too reminiscent of Harry Potter's Dementors--the robes hiding their faces and the sucking out the soul through the mouth are basically the same special effect.

Dean's willing to risk the kid, Michael, for the greater good; Sam goes along reluctantly. Dean's right that this is the best chance they have, but it's interesting how Dean tends to advocate for the ends being worth the means in early seasons, only to end up on the opposite side of the argument more often in later seasons once Sam gets more ruthless.

Dean spends this whole episode more subdued than usual, devastated over the sick kids, blaming and hating himself. The whole thing is basically Dean-centric emo porn. I approve.

This episode is a good illustration of why Dean is such a lovable character despite his many, many, many flaws--because underneath it all, he loves so deeply and cares so much.

Sam: I wish I could have that kind of innocence.

Dean: If it means anything, sometimes I wish you could, too.

Me: *melts into a gooey fangirl puddle*

(Because Dean loves Sam so much, and because Dean doesn't even think to mourn for his own lost innocence, but for Sam's.)

Bechdel test: No.

Next: 1x19-1x20

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