Supernatural 2x12 Night Shifter
Jan. 26th, 2007 09:58 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
exsequarOkay, I know I haven't said anything about Night Shifter yet. This is for one reason...
The ending pretty much blew the wind out of my sails. Not necessarily in a bad way, but the boys looked so fucking broken that it damn near tore my heart out. All squee was forgotten at the looks on their faces. That hurt, man. They are in a really, really bad position, and it makes me ache with worry for them.
That aside, though, I've rewatched some bits and pieces. I think my favorite part was how Dean was so sad that Ronald (shit, I just typed Rodney... *facepalm*) died. In fact, Dean bonding with Ron through the whole first half was wonderful. I love that Dean identifies with anyone offbeat, quirky, marching to the beat of their own drummer - see Ash, Andy. Dean appreciates that because it's what he's like - he's always been outside of normal, so he likes people who are willing to just be themselves, even if it means nothing like normal. He sympathizes with their ostracism by society. I really liked that he appreciated all of Ron's hard work, even if his conclusion was a bit off base (MANDROID, heehee), because it was Ron's enthusiasm and willingness to believe that strongly that really impressed Dean. I love Dean. And I'm sad Ron died.
Sam was scaring me a bit this episode. With his whole hardass, asshole FBI agent act, and through the whole thing he just seemed a bit.... cold. I don't know. Sam's usual warmth and spark were missing to me. And that worries me. Sammy :(
The SamandDeanness took a bit of a different face this episode than last week (and previously to that, really) - here they were first and foremost a team of hunters. They work together so impeccably well, it continues to blow me away. I love when Dean comes to Sam outside the vault and whispers to him and their faces are about 5 inches apart and they're silhouetted... that's hot. Want icon *g* But they just communicate by saying so little, and they're always on the same page, and it's gorgeous and makes me squee.
Then, of course, Sam is the Bonnie to Dean's Clyde, so. HEE. ♥
I loved the touch of the "breaking news" interrupting the previouslies literally mid-word - it certainly fooled Michelle and I! I realized a little sooner than her that it was part of the show, but that was only because I knew the plot summary. How clever!
I liked Hendrickson a lot. No-nonsense, ball busting FBI agent - I can definitely see him being a formidable opponent for our boys (unlike Pete, the cop from TUS) and I want him to come back. I actually liked the other cop too, the one whose toes Hendrickson tread on, but I doubt we'll see him again. It throws me a little that our two major villains this season are black men, since I'm taking a race class right now and that's at the forefront of my mind... but anyway :P They're both great actors, so.
But speaking of him, OMG YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUT JOHN LIKE THAT. Dean's face was so painful and blank and terrible to see. "He was a hero." Oh, DEAN! Only Dean gets to call John an ass, honestly. (I wonder if Sam's gonna call him on that, since apparently he remembers? I doubt it - he's not that cruel.) Once again, we get a glimpse of how their lives seem to anyone on the outside who bothers to take a look - "I can't decide what kind of crazy he was." Ouch. That's just so... ouch. Regardless of what we think of John's fathering skills, he was NOT crazy, and he loved his sons more than the world. To hear him disrespected and dismissed like that is painful.
Overall this episode felt really tight, very well plotted and suspenseful. Ben Edlund's writing is amazing, obviously. I'm so pleased we have him on the team :D I loved the twist of the shapeshifter pretending to be the dead girl in an attempt to get them to actually kill the other girl (I'm so glad our boys figured it out in time, holy crap).
ALSO I LOVED SAM TAKING OUT TWO SWAT TEAM MEMBERS WITH HIS BARE HANDS, HOLYFUCK. I think that might be the HOTTEST THING IN THE HISTORY OF EVER. Sam needs to beat people up with long guns on a regular basis. It was scorching in Benders, it was scorching here, and just needs to happen all the time.
ETA: OH CRAP. Ash's post just reminded me of one of my favorite moments - the synchronized badge presentation! How they slap against the glass and the boys are just like 'Yeah, we mean business.' It's HOT like BURNING. /ETA.
One touch I liked was when Sam got put in the vault with the hostages, he immediately admitted that Dean was his brother. It's like, once their cover is blown, everyone has to know they're brothers in order to even remotely comprehend the kind of teamwork they are capable of. Dean feels naked without a weapon; Sam feels naked without his identity as Dean's brother, and vice versa. That just spoke volumes to me. They're out of costume, they're working a job, they're using their real names - they have to be identified as brothers too. It's essential to who they are.
So much love for these boys. This episode was darker and more stressful than I anticipated, but I'm proud of it for that. The show is treading some serious ground, and maturing gracefully as it does. It just keeps raising the bar. Yay :)
Well that got long and thinky! Huh :)
The ending pretty much blew the wind out of my sails. Not necessarily in a bad way, but the boys looked so fucking broken that it damn near tore my heart out. All squee was forgotten at the looks on their faces. That hurt, man. They are in a really, really bad position, and it makes me ache with worry for them.
That aside, though, I've rewatched some bits and pieces. I think my favorite part was how Dean was so sad that Ronald (shit, I just typed Rodney... *facepalm*) died. In fact, Dean bonding with Ron through the whole first half was wonderful. I love that Dean identifies with anyone offbeat, quirky, marching to the beat of their own drummer - see Ash, Andy. Dean appreciates that because it's what he's like - he's always been outside of normal, so he likes people who are willing to just be themselves, even if it means nothing like normal. He sympathizes with their ostracism by society. I really liked that he appreciated all of Ron's hard work, even if his conclusion was a bit off base (MANDROID, heehee), because it was Ron's enthusiasm and willingness to believe that strongly that really impressed Dean. I love Dean. And I'm sad Ron died.
Sam was scaring me a bit this episode. With his whole hardass, asshole FBI agent act, and through the whole thing he just seemed a bit.... cold. I don't know. Sam's usual warmth and spark were missing to me. And that worries me. Sammy :(
The SamandDeanness took a bit of a different face this episode than last week (and previously to that, really) - here they were first and foremost a team of hunters. They work together so impeccably well, it continues to blow me away. I love when Dean comes to Sam outside the vault and whispers to him and their faces are about 5 inches apart and they're silhouetted... that's hot. Want icon *g* But they just communicate by saying so little, and they're always on the same page, and it's gorgeous and makes me squee.
Then, of course, Sam is the Bonnie to Dean's Clyde, so. HEE. ♥
I loved the touch of the "breaking news" interrupting the previouslies literally mid-word - it certainly fooled Michelle and I! I realized a little sooner than her that it was part of the show, but that was only because I knew the plot summary. How clever!
I liked Hendrickson a lot. No-nonsense, ball busting FBI agent - I can definitely see him being a formidable opponent for our boys (unlike Pete, the cop from TUS) and I want him to come back. I actually liked the other cop too, the one whose toes Hendrickson tread on, but I doubt we'll see him again. It throws me a little that our two major villains this season are black men, since I'm taking a race class right now and that's at the forefront of my mind... but anyway :P They're both great actors, so.
But speaking of him, OMG YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUT JOHN LIKE THAT. Dean's face was so painful and blank and terrible to see. "He was a hero." Oh, DEAN! Only Dean gets to call John an ass, honestly. (I wonder if Sam's gonna call him on that, since apparently he remembers? I doubt it - he's not that cruel.) Once again, we get a glimpse of how their lives seem to anyone on the outside who bothers to take a look - "I can't decide what kind of crazy he was." Ouch. That's just so... ouch. Regardless of what we think of John's fathering skills, he was NOT crazy, and he loved his sons more than the world. To hear him disrespected and dismissed like that is painful.
Overall this episode felt really tight, very well plotted and suspenseful. Ben Edlund's writing is amazing, obviously. I'm so pleased we have him on the team :D I loved the twist of the shapeshifter pretending to be the dead girl in an attempt to get them to actually kill the other girl (I'm so glad our boys figured it out in time, holy crap).
ALSO I LOVED SAM TAKING OUT TWO SWAT TEAM MEMBERS WITH HIS BARE HANDS, HOLYFUCK. I think that might be the HOTTEST THING IN THE HISTORY OF EVER. Sam needs to beat people up with long guns on a regular basis. It was scorching in Benders, it was scorching here, and just needs to happen all the time.
ETA: OH CRAP. Ash's post just reminded me of one of my favorite moments - the synchronized badge presentation! How they slap against the glass and the boys are just like 'Yeah, we mean business.' It's HOT like BURNING. /ETA.
One touch I liked was when Sam got put in the vault with the hostages, he immediately admitted that Dean was his brother. It's like, once their cover is blown, everyone has to know they're brothers in order to even remotely comprehend the kind of teamwork they are capable of. Dean feels naked without a weapon; Sam feels naked without his identity as Dean's brother, and vice versa. That just spoke volumes to me. They're out of costume, they're working a job, they're using their real names - they have to be identified as brothers too. It's essential to who they are.
So much love for these boys. This episode was darker and more stressful than I anticipated, but I'm proud of it for that. The show is treading some serious ground, and maturing gracefully as it does. It just keeps raising the bar. Yay :)
Well that got long and thinky! Huh :)
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no subject
Date: 2007-01-26 03:29 pm (UTC)The look on Sam's face at the end said to me that he know realizes he never, ever gets to be Sam Winchester with any kind of normal life. Any attempt at normality as Sam Winchester is over and it broke Sam's heart (and mine).
As to Dean, at the end, he says, "We're so screwed." Before that, he didn't let on that the wanted man thing bugged him but once Sam is screwed too, it is tragic to Dean. Poor Dean - I'd like him once to care about his own hide.
And Yes about Ronald - Dean really connects to the loner, freak thing. Dean gets to be beautiful externally but he sees himself as a Ronald or Andy.
no subject
Date: 2007-01-26 03:39 pm (UTC)WORD. The look on Sam's face at the end totally broke me. There were a million of expressions there, all of it not very comforting for Sam. That's two thumbs up for Jared for beautifully conveying that.
no subject
Date: 2007-01-26 04:19 pm (UTC)I know!! I loved their reactions when Sherry fainted. All "Wha?!?!"
And then Dean kinda shrugs "Whatever" and pulls up for the kill. That shouldn't be as funny as it was!! *g*
no subject
Date: 2007-01-26 06:06 pm (UTC)But then, there was a black cop among those arresting Gordon. Sterling K Brown is obviously a kickass actor, and the role itself is pretty race neutral, as is the Hendrickson one (also an effective actor from what we've seen). So I'm giving Krip and crew the benefit of the doubt. Besides, I know this isn't Heroes, and the tone of the show would be a little dampened by a rainbow pallete. On TV, I like my Wonderbead America with my enormous, cornfed boys!
no subject
Date: 2007-01-26 06:42 pm (UTC)Can I say how I *love* this about Dean? I loved him bonding with Ron, and that part where Ron dies and Dean looks so crestfallen. Gave me shills.
It throws me a little that our two major villains this season are black men
Good point, no one else has really brought this up. But it definitely crossed my mind too. Yet unlike some shows in this genre (won't name names), SPN has not disappointed me with race. I *love* both the characters of Henricksen and Gordon, and how they toe the line of "hero/villian." And the complexity SPN has given these two men doesn't fit any stereotyping. Also: I know "Route 666"/Cassie is much hated in the fandom, but I applaud the writers for dealing with race in the way they did there too and the choice of pairing Dean with an African American woman just spoke volumes.
PS: This episode was amazing. Seriously. I'm still on a high from it. And yes, the brothers are so terriby screwed.
no subject
Date: 2007-01-26 06:44 pm (UTC)Apart from that, I'm happy how they pull off this perfect balance between suspense, smartness and humor during the last eps.
no subject
Date: 2007-01-26 08:45 pm (UTC)WLEKFJAWSD DEAN STANDING UP FOR JOHN *ded*
I was thinking the SAME thing about Sam. There were parts in the episode where I was convinced Sam was the shapeshifter because he was so... cold! And dark! :( This makes me worry even more...
no subject
Date: 2007-01-26 10:33 pm (UTC)I see what you mean about the Sam-scariness, although, for me, I chalk it up to them needing to get the job done. NOW. As soon as they figure out how much the whole situation has gone to shit, it's just click, and they're the scary, efficient hunters their Dad raised them to be. As for Sam's brusqueness with Ron, I think maybe it's got to do with the fears he expressed about not being able to save people, or just not being able to do anything to keep them from being in a position where they might end up dying. I think Sam sees Ron as a potential victim, right from the get go, and he's gonna do everything in his power (even if that means being cold and mean, and not Sam) to keep that from happening. Which of course, is a double edged sword, because that could also be a road he unwittingly follows right to the end, when those desires get twisted into something else and he walks that line between demon hunter and no better than demon.
Which might be a little, er...extreme. My melodrama is showing ;D All the same, I loved how fricking tight the whole ep was. God, I was tense the whole time, so much so I was convinced it was gonna be a two-parter because the tension was just not letting up. Ah yeah, those final few minutes tore me to shreds, too. Oh, boys D:
no subject
Date: 2009-04-11 03:06 am (UTC)I'm going back through all of my season 2 and 1 Supernatural posts, and my heart is aching because the show used to be SO FUCKING GOOD. I had so many thoughts about it, and shared my joy with so many people. I miss it. :(
no subject
Date: 2007-01-26 10:34 pm (UTC)Ew and I'm scared he might increasingly act like that. You know, the whole 'evil!Sammy' coming into play and all. I don't want Sam to get cold hearted, not now not ever. =(
no subject
Date: 2007-01-26 10:36 pm (UTC)It seriously hurts sometimes to take a long hard look at the position the boys are in. Just...I can't think of any way for there to be a happy ending. Not just with this running-from-the-law story arc, but everything. Sam won't be happy hunting for the rest of his life, and Dean won't be happy without Sam...where does that leave us? *is worried*
Sam occasionally freaked me the hell out too in this ep. Angry and cold and eesh. *shivers*
no subject
Date: 2007-01-26 11:04 pm (UTC)Hendrickson is an FBI agent tracking a criminal who he believes likes to torture people to death. This makes him someone who is doing his job.
To him, Dean is a bad person. A monster.
From his pov of that of someone outside the hunting subculture, his position is morally and ethically correct. The only thing wrong here is his information.
He isn't a villain.
He is an antagonist.
no subject
Date: 2007-01-26 11:07 pm (UTC)And the end? Poor, poor boys. Leave them alone, Agent Hendrickson!
no subject
Date: 2007-01-26 11:35 pm (UTC)Besides, both Gordon and Hendrickson are interesting, complicated characters that believe they are doing the right thing. Which is a good thing. I hope we see Hendrickson again. : )
no subject
Date: 2007-01-27 05:43 am (UTC)I know exactly what you mean. That is, I type my posts as the episode airs. They turn into mostly squee and not really anything of merit, but I can speculate and comment on every detail I please, and it's fun for me. People can skip it if they want, you know? But I had just spent an hour and 55 minutes typing fun little comments, and then that hit and I was floored. The scene was so beautifully done - complete silence, I think, until they say that they're screwed. Maybe the sound of the car doors closing. But after that, I just... I wanted to speculate and think how could this possibly work out??, but at the same time I felt the emotion conveyed there - that they are completely lost. Oh, boys. I wanna know what happens NOW!
This show breaks me over and over, and I keep coming back for more.
no subject
Date: 2007-01-27 11:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-30 01:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-03 04:10 pm (UTC)I really love the way you said that, because it is true and when I read that I was like "Omg, YES!" Because Sam really does mention the brother thing quite often and if you put it that way it is quite an integral part of him.
Loved your review of this. Friended you. Hi! *waves* :D
no subject
Date: 2007-02-03 04:54 pm (UTC)Hello hello! Welcome to the crazy land of my journal! *g*