They're super - and natural!

[exsequar]

Damn, Dead in the Water (ha, I just totally typed "Dean") is a WONDERFUL episode. Watching it with all the background I now have on the boys just makes it that much better, and Amy Acker certainly does not hurt anything at all.


I lovelovelove Dean's interactions with Lucas. Despite the shit at the beginning about how Dean doesn't know any kids, he connects with Lucas on a really deep level, and Jensen plays it to the hilt. It's absolutely gorgeous. Dean's talk about how his mom would have wanted him to be strong - my heart breaks in my chest, just like Sam's does.

can you imagine what this is like for Sam? Sam must be going through tons of guilt for abandoning Dean to go to college, and when Dean opens up about his trauma after Mary's death, he realizes that Dean never opens to HIM like that. I like that he brings it up in the car, because he's trying to mend this rift that is standing between them. Even though Dean deflects it, it's a step, because they need to get back to the point where they can actually share their emotions. Looking back on this from the perspective of having seen the whole season, in the beginning Dean was supposed to just be the emotionally-closed, non-chick-flick moment guy. However, we see that's not true at ALL. Dean has these walls erected, sure, but they're very thin and can come crashing down (see Home, see Shadows, see Salvation). This attitude of Dean's at the beginning is due to two factors, as I see it: 1) the writers do not have a full grasp on either Dean as a character or Jensen as an actor yet, and 2) more importantly, Dean is not yet ready to be open with SAM, specifically, because he is still angry at him for leaving and breaking up the family, which we now know is the most important thing in the world to Dean.

For that reason, Dean drawing the family portrait was heartrending. Oh, my woobie Dean.

I think that the guests in this episode are phenomenal. Amy Acker is just the most endearing woman ever, so sweet and open and she just makes you want to hug her. The father/sheriff is definitely a very sound actor. And Lucas is VERY very impressive. He is so haunted and listless, and then his moment of panic when he clutches at Dean's arm and whimpers - it gets to me every time. Major props to that kid.

And the scene where Andrea is in the bathtub about to be attacked - that's one of the creepiest in the whole show. It has me squirming and trying not to hide my eyes, because that is creepy. And Sam saving her... whew! *fans self* I wouldn't mind him dragging me out of my bathtub ;)


All in all, a really really top notch episode. God I love this show.

Comments

[ellieptical.livejournal.com]

This episode is so low on my list of eps. But having reread your comments, I'm looking forward to rewatching it now.

[exsequar.livejournal.com]

I think it falls by the wayside for some reason, but this is a GOOD ep. Especially for what we see of Dean. I hope you like it better this time around :)

[darkhecatemoon.livejournal.com]

Hmm. You know, I watched that episode once and went EWWWWWWW and never watched it again. I've had inklings that I should have given it another chance, but never had the time. I have, however, noticed an interesting correlation between how much I like the guest characters and how much I like the episode. Because I really didn't like Andrea.

[mona1347.livejournal.com]

OMG, I adore that ep way more than I know I should. I fast-forward through all the water-monster-spirit stuff and get to the Dean-with-the-kid every time. Because... *handwave* yes. It breaks me. And makes my ovaries ache.

he realizes that Dean never opens to HIM like that.
See, but the thing is? He does it IN FRONT of Sam. Dean does a lot of things where he knows Sam can hear/see so that he doesn't have to say/show them *to* Sam precisely, while still letting him know. Then as the series progresses, he speaks with him more and more directly until we have the scenes in Something Wicked where he comes out and tells him all about the night the Striga tried to get Sam. Then he moves away to the window to wibble and get teary and look hotter than anyone should have a right to EVER but he's still out loud about it.

*happy sigh* This is why I adore our show so much. The character consistency and development is almost entirely...well, consistent. And a lot of Dean's arc this season has been about opening himself up (wow, if you're me that's SO DIRTY) to Sam. ONLY Sam, yes. But Sam.

OMG *covers face* OTP. OTP SO BAD. *flails*

[exsequar.livejournal.com]

Good point! It goes from indirect to direct... very very good point.

The character development is magnificent, isn't it? I think that's at least a large chunk Jensen and Jared, especially Jen, because they've got really really good handles on their characters. Aren't we so lucky they were cast? :D

*flails with you* OTP FOREVER.